The Star. MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1922. UNDER A CLOUD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16906, 4 December 1922, Page 6

The Star. MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1922. UNDER A CLOUD.

The Conservatives are getting more nervous with the approach of polling day. They are really afraid that the writing is on t-he wall, and that their Reform Government has been weighed m the balance and found wanting. The 1 best they can hope for in Canterbury ; 1 s that they will hold what seats they i have, though they confess that their 1 tenure is precarious. In South Canj terbury it is expected that Mr T. Ruri nett will be deieated for Temuka. Mr J Relies ton may win Timaru against th«1 Labour nominee, but in that event he I will merely replace Mr James Oraigie. who threw in his lot with the Government. Further south there are some good prospects of changes. The Hon It. I*. Lee is being challenged b) Mr J. -V. Maepherson, and there is a likelihood that the Oarnaru seat will return to the Liberals. The Clutha seat is being contested by two members of the present Parliament, Messrs A S. Malcolm (Reform) and John Edie (Liberal). The Bruce electorate disappeared during the redistribution of seats, and a large part of it was in eluded in Glut ha. It is quite likely that Mr Edie will win. Awarua. which replaced Sir Joseph Ward with Mr J. R. Hamilton, is being given an opportunity to return a Liberal. Mr P. dc la Perrelle. Mr de la Perrelle is a journalist, and has been prominently associated with public affairs in Southland for some years. Mr has not been a conspicuous success in Parliament, and it is reported that the Liberal candidate ha? an even chance of beating him. As far Wallace 13 concerned the Liberals are confident that Mr J C Thomson will be electe.l once more. He was defeated at Inst election by Mr Adam Hamilton, the margin of votes being only forty-three. There are other changes which may be effected to the advantage of the Liberals, but if they succeed in these constituencies they will deal the Govern ment a heavy blow. It is evident that the Government has declined in favour with all classes of the com - munitv. and that the X>ominion desires and requires a change. The com mercial community is labouring nnde” a heavy leaden of taxation which the Government should have been in a position to ease. There is keen dissatisfaction among the workers, who find the margin between their wages and the cost of living an ever-narrow-ing one. The dissatisfaction with the Government's administration of public services is universal. The electors in North and fionth have had more than enough of Reform, aud will grasp th Q opportrmity to turn out the Ministry which has made such a snd mess of the country’s affairs. The Liberal Partv has come forward with a practicahlo urogram me. which is designed t,n secure orooweef? without revolution, and justice without class favouritism Tt is the one practical alternative to a continuance of the present Government. hut it make« its arvpeni on th«» wider ground of ability to serve the countrv at a time whe-n what is most required is a. period of Liberalism.