"THE HEADLESS PARTY'

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1806, 19 July 1913, Page 5

"THE HEADLESS PARTY'

GREY SEAT REBUFF. ' ' REFORM CANDIDATES GREAT FIGHT. (By Oorrcenondcnt.} Hokitika, July 18. Discussing tho Grey by-election this morning, tho "West Coast Times" says;— "Three clear-cut issues were presented to the electors. The Reform Party's candidate, who gained tho honour of heading tlie'poll, ha.-> a definite jwlitical platform, a, policy which, while offering sound progress, contains provisions which are moderate and practicable. . . . The policy enunciated by the Reform Party shows conclusively that tlio men now in'" charge of the Dominion aro keenly alive to their responsibilities, and are mindful that progress can only be accomplished along practical linos. Tho liel'orm candidate stood for sane and sound government, and that cause is bound to triumph. The candidate who stood in "the interest! of Labour enunciated an impossible and highly, revolutionary policy, and ho would not bo able to do anything to further tho extreme ideas indicated by his platform were ho to bo returned as tho member for Grey. "Tho Liberal candidate carried a big burden, Ho hud to strive against tlm sins and lollies of the old party, while tho leaderless state v 'if tlio Opposition and its utter barrenness, el' political ideas helped tho Upposilir- candidate to arrive at the position ,ii tlie bottom of the poll. "Tho voting was intensely interesting. For the first time the West Coast has had the opportunity of expressing its opinion of tho present Government, and all supporters of Reform must bo highly de .lighted with the result of the pulling, To secure over two thousand votes m such a am all electorate, and to accomplish that great feat against a close combination oi tlio whole ai the press of the electorate, and a campaign ol misrepresentation, is a remarkable accomplishment, and one of which any liinn might well be proud. Mr. Michel, who carried tho Reform colours, fought valiantly and persistently, lie had to surmount great., obstacles, yet despite tho strong influences which were brought to bear against hla . candidature he had the great satisfaction of beating tho other candidates and qualifying for the second ballot." The position of Mr. Webb came as no surprise to us. The Social-Democratic party, or tho Federation of Labour or whatever it might be called, has always had a strong backing among tho miners, but there is no disguising tho significant shrinkage of the Labour vote. In the contest of 1911 the Labour candidate scored 251)9 votes against Sir Arthur Guinness, but in a straight-out fight tho Labour support decreased by over dflO votes. Wo aro sorry that a man of Mr. Hannan 8 standing in the community should have been, persuaded «>y the representatives of tho headless Opposition that the cause oi the so-called Lib-oral party still held the adherents wliifth. supported it in. previous years. "We havo stated again and again that the Opposition party is aspenl force and dying cause, and yesterday'; polling substantiated our stateniente. In 1911 the liberals scored SG77 votes in tlia Grey electorate, but in 1913, when represented by tho strongest man. availablo. their voting strength fell to 1982, amd doubtless many votes were given to Mr, Hannan on account of his personal popin larity. A shrinkage of 1C95 volca in eighteen months is most significant. A perusal of these figures must convincl even the most biassed supporter of till old party that tho Opposition, cause 11 hopelessly defunct. As wo say, wo aw' sorry that Mr. Hannan should have beei persuaded into contesting tho Groy seal • in the interests of tho headless Opposition, and then to foco defeat, but tho cause is hopeless, and no doubt tho defeated Liberal candidate ,is beginning to' ask himself wliv ho did not sound public opinion a little more catefully before consenting to stand as a supporter of tin present Opposition. In another article, tho "Times' Bay( tho question which will bo submitted to tho electors of Grey during tho next few days is: Which shall prevail—oonstitu> tional government or mobocracyP Th< people have the choice of being represented by Mr. Webb or Mr. Michel, am wo trust that tho moderate people in tin electorate will cast their votes both care fully and sensibly. Tho question at issu< is extreme Labour and tho liberal use ol tlio strike weapon, against moderate pro crc«s and the enforcement of coustifcu* tional government. Can tho people oi Groy afford to endorse;tho formerF