AN ELECTION FORECAST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5714, 6 November 1896, Page 6 (Supplement)

AN ELECTION FORECAST.

{Colonist, Summary for England.)

The general election for members for the next New Zealand Parliament is close at hand, and in many electorates candidates are busy addressing the electors. The election will be fought strictly on party lines, and it is quite evident the bulk of the electors will take no notice oil j the polling day of many of the candidates, but will,go straight for either a Ministerial or Opposition candidate. Some of the candidates are using the terms "True Liberals," "Independents," and "National Association" candidates, but the electors are well aware that those using' these terms are in fact Oppositionists, trying to get into Parliament under a disguise. Such candidfites will not be trusted by the bulk of the electors. The mass of the people hate anything resembling deception. The Seddon Ministry is certain to be returned to power. No Ministry of late years has had to pass through such troublous times and meet as great difficulties — and it has successfully weathered all the storms. The electors fully recognise that in the present Ministry they have capable men who have honestly tried to give them what they long desired in the past to secure, namely, government by the people, for the people. The electors on going to the ballot will not forget that among other useful measures they arc indebted to the present Government for the abolition of the hateful property tax, and the imposition of those fairer levies, the income and graduated land taxes ; the breaking up of several big estates, thus giving the needed impetus to settlement ; the liberalising of the land laws, and advances to settlers ; the valuable aidt given to the dairying and fruit industries ; the securing of the representation of labour in the Legislative Council ; the providing of healthier and better accommodation for factory employes and shearers ; the securing to shop assistants the much-prized half-holiday, and the attempt to secure an old age pension for the toilers.