NOT A WASTE OF TIME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3459, 27 February 1912, Page 5

NOT A WASTE OF TIME.

3UT HAVING A COGO EFFECT ON THE COUNTRY. MR SMITH’£> VIEWS. Me R. W. Smith (Waimari.no) said the Debate was not a waste of time, but was having a good effect on the country, and' if the elections Were held again next week the result would be very different. He complained of the circulation of an anonymous letter in liis electorate within three days of the poll. This he said was illegal, as it was a matter calculated to influence the votes. If his Party were beaten on the coming Division one redeeming feature would be that the other side -would have a chance, of looking behind the curtain and the public would look for the revelations that had been hinted at, but there would not he any. Mr Smith then proceeded to summarise the measures carried out by the present Government for the assistance of the farmers. He declared that the Reform Party had been weak and inconsistent in its charges advanced against the Government, and that the Government had conferred substantial benefits', on the farmer, whereas the Opposition only offered vague promises.

all that had been said by the Opposition about a “taihoa” policy in reference to Native lands, they were unable to get a man to use his head against the Native Alinister at the general election.

The Opposition was trying to secure credit to itself for the whole of the legislation that it had fought hard against year in and year out.