THE SECOND BALLOT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1815, 30 July 1913, Page 7

THE SECOND BALLOT.

$ — SYDNEY COMMENT ON GREY ELECTION. Tho "Sydney Daily Telegraph," in commenting 011 the result of tho Grey by-election, snys:—The decision of a defeated "Liberal" candidate in a New Zealand by-election to cast his.support for the Labour nominee at the second ballot sharply instances one of tho prominent defects ,of that system devised for assuring tho triumph of a majority of eloctors. Tho Liberal who represents the party formerly led by Sir Joseph Ward, was retired 011 tho first ballot, in which the Government candidate polled beat and the' Labourite next. As between Liberal and Ministerialist there must bo much closer political identity than between Liberal and Labonrito. In fact, if tho Labour man represents the Unity Congress recently held 111 New Zealand, lie stands for Socialism, the general and national strike where it is considered lteccsiary by a fmionistic junta, and other phases of wild politics and violent economics which Sir Joseph Ward would be among the last of public men to countenance. Yet rather 'than the Government should win the seat, tho Liberals evidently proposed to put their forces at the disposal of Labour. What this mcaiw is that tho second ballot gives opportunity for the formation and expression of angry party dissensions, in which such strong political animosities are fomented that presently' those who should stand united against a common foe aro found craving support for him rather than for tho temporarily successful rival. Thus the feeon d l->l!ot d™s not really express tho majority's political will, but its division in'to inilamed and recklcw fictions. As we know from experience in this State, it also -provides opportunity for political bargaining between elections, which is perhaps ifa worst feature. Hut unquestionably it wreaks great harm by facilitating tho blotting out of tho party line.