THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1905. Ms TAYLOR AT WAIMATE.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 130, 25 November 1905, Page 3

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1905. Ms TAYLOR AT WAIMATE.

Mr T. E. Taylor, the much-talked-of M.H.R. for Christchurch city, has no reason to complain of the reception he met with in Waimate. At the start of his address it looked as if there would be some little disturbance, but as soon as the speech began it held the large audience intent. Naturally, being known as one of the best speakers in the House and with a long experience?Mr Taylor had a tale to tell and told it well. Although avowedly speaking to “further Mr Dash’s candidature he was too sensible and practised a politician to overstep the mark, but contented himself with pointing out the beauties of Independence and what could be done by a band of them in the House, touching lightly on the qualities of the Waitaki Independent candidate in passing. Mr Taylor’s strong' condemnation of the Government’s administration was, of course, expected, but in no way did he overstep the mark. Naturally a good deal of the speech was “ platform,” - the padding used to clothe the dry bones and liven it up, Mr Tayldr’s r .ged humorous answers from'

Government when asked questions being of this nature, but there was less of this than is usually net with, the candidate having more matter than time at his disposal. Throughout, the speech was such as to delight an Opposition audience, and though it is not likely to influence the election by one vote, yet it has served to put Mr Taylor and his party before the electors here in a more favourable light. He has opinions, and is not the least afraid to express them, and if he were always as temperate as I. its on Wednesday night but a It exception could be taken to his utterances, save by strong party followers. But we can well imagine that the Premier would sooner see horns, hoof and tail in the next Parliament, especially if he manages to rally round him a few more “ Independents” to vdte as a party, It occurs to us that it would be an interesting thing to know what Mr Taylor would do if he had a majority of Independents. Would he sternly place his foot on the “ spoils to victors ” policy, and appoint some of the present Opposition, some of the present Government and some Independents as his Ministers, or would he give all the portfolios to ths men who had ranged themselves under hie banner. “ Independent ” sounds nice, and we like the idea, but does it work out in practice were the unexpected to happen and an Independent to be asked to form a Ministry ? [Since the above was written we have received correspondence making a similar query.]

THE METHOD OF VOTING.

It is hardly o be expected that the average elector, who finds his time fully occupied in making a living, should be conversant with the final outcome of the political hurly-burly. Proposal follows proposal with bewildering rapidity, and at the end of a session the adult male or female has added unto the original lot about another score of commandments. There has been introduced into municipal ballot papers the idea of marking a cross opposite the name a voter wished to vote against. Whether this was due to a smouldering idea that striking out a man’s name with a pencil was equal to defacing hie fair name and fame and would thus bring offenders under the new Libel Act we know not, suffice it to say that the proposal was carried in regard to local elections. But, and on this point we have several anxious enquiries, let us state that both the electoral and licensing polls will be decided in the usual way, by striking out names or proposals against which the elector desires to vote. The candidates’ names will be in alphabetical order and the three issues of the licensing poll are, as usual, (1) continuance, (2) reduction and (3) no-license. By drawing the pencil through line (1) the voter easts a vote - for reduction and no-license, through (1) and (2) the vote is cast for no-license, and through (2) and (3) the vote is cast for continuance as at present. There is absolutely no change, and voters would do well to reassure themselves on this point. Why the Government suggested

any alteration or why they adopted the idea of a cross for elections it is not easy to see. The education of years has made it natural for people to strike out what they do not want in a ballot paper, and to in any way change the procedure without extensive educating is but ensuring additional trouble, ex pense and dissatisfaction.