A TOUCHSTONE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5667, 11 September 1896, Page 6 (Supplement)

A TOUCHSTONE.

—. — '» -. •;•'. . ■;. :''.: Now that tihe. general election is within measurable <Estance, the Wdikatb Times says it woaM be well if the farmers asked themselves a few plain questions concerning the legislation and administration of the last five or six years. What the Opposition Press have so persistently preached since the Liberal Party took office is not & doctrine of their own, challenging comparison with the policy of the Goyernnient, but an unending sermon of abuse. They have been wise in their generation, certainly, because there is not a rag of their old traditional policy capable of inspiring a feeling of respect, and there does not appear to bo intelligence enough in the whole Parliamentary Party to create anything new. Now, the Government ought to be judged not by what the Opposition choose to say about their administration, but by what we here know about the measures they have placed on the Statute Book, and by the manner in which they have conducted those departments of the public service that touch our interests. What have they done in connection with the lands of the colony ? Is it not a fact that they, alone of all Governments, have taken effective measures to retain these lands for the people, and for the purposes of legitimate settlement? Have they not done what no previous Government had the courage to do — cry " hands off " to the land shark ? Again, what other Adminisstration ever approached the subject of close settlement with such courage and such determination ? Despite all the vigorous attacks made upon the Land for Settlements Act, is not the measure more popular to-day than, it ever was ? We need not pause to ask whether there is amongst - the farming .class - any indication of. -.a change- of oil the subject of the land and income-tax versus property-tax, nor do-we think it will be necessary to do more than indicate the wide difference that exists between the present enlightened sysfcem of railway management ana> the old scheme under which the lines were mismanaged by irresponsible Commissioners. We may also leave the banking legislation (which saved the country from a terrible crisis), and a host of other things, out of the calculation. Let us simply take the measures referred to above, and ask ourselves whether they are measures calculated to advance the interests of the colony as a whole, and. of Waikato in particular. Tf the answer be an affirmative, and we believe it must be, then acquiescence in them should be made a touchstone for candidates.