THE LESSON OP THE FIRST BALLOT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1928, 10 December 1913, Page 4

THE LESSON OP THE FIRST BALLOT.

The Lyttelton by-election confirms in a very striking manner the view we have expressed for the past year, that is that the future of New Zealand politics lies between the extreme Radical-Social element on the one side, and the Progressive Moderates on the other. It was clearly demonstrated at the Grey by-election a few months ago that Wardist Liberalism had- completely lost its hold on the country. We say completely because the Grey electorate had for more than twenty years returned, usually by overwhelming majorities, a supporter of the so-called Liberal party, and the fact that at tho byelection in question the candidate of that party should have been at the bottom of the poll in a field of three was most significant evidence, of the very marked change of feeling. Tho candidate who then represented the party Was the strongest procurable—a, gentleman of recognised ability, of long residence in tho district, and personally popular. Yet, as stated, he was at the bottom of the poll and the Second Ballot was fought out between tho Reform candidate who headed tlio poll at the First Ballot and the representative of the' Labour-Social-ist organisation, known as tho Red Federation. For reasons which we need not recapitulate the majority of the Liberal vote at the Second Ballot was turned against the Reform candidate and the seat went to the Labour-Socialists. Naturally it was claimed as a victory for the revolutionary policy of the Red Federation. As a matter of fact it could be more truly said that tho result was the outcome of the personal bitterness and sectarian feeling generated daring the struggle preceding the First Ballot and insidiously directed nguinst the Reform candidate during the period between the two ballot's. To-day with the experience of lied Federation methods to guide ihnu the electors of Grey, in all probability, would view the situation in a very different light and refuse to play into the hands of (he extremists who have shown how little regard they have for the interests of the community generally during the present industrial crisis which is the product of their mischievous and lawless teachings and practices. Tho Lyttelton seat.. V&c the Grei 1

scat, has been for over 20 years a stronghold of "Liberalism." Elec tion filter election has been won )i;; candidates representing the Continuous Ministry, mid in recent timethere, as at Grey, the Deform party has not even attempted to run a candidate. At yesterday's poll, for tho first time in many years, the party was represented, and the figures published elsewhere disclose the turn of. tho tide. The Liberal party had throe candidates in the field, and despite the advantages which this gave tiiem iii the matter of personal, as distinct from party, votes, the combined votes of the three totalled several hundred short of the number polled hy the Deform candidate. There is no escape from this further striking demonstration of the loss of confidence in the party which at present carries the banner of Liberalism. If in two electorates such aa Grey and Lyitclton which it has held, practically unchallenged, for something like 20 years, us candi- | dates cannot poll as many votes as cither _ the Deform or the LabourSocialist candidates, it must be apparent that its hold on the country has been lost completely. It now remains for the supporters of the party to make up their minds as to tho side upon which they will in future range themselves. As we have frequently pointed out the choice plainly lies between the Progressive Moderates, represented by the Deform party, and the Radical extremists and Labour-Socialists, represented by the Ded Federation, otherwise the Social-Democrats. At the Grey election, smarting under the bitterness of defeat and for reasons explained above, the Liberal section threw in its lot with the Red Federation. On the present occasion it may do the -game thing although wo doubt the power of its leaders, in the face of recent strike happenings, to compel any large section to vote for the lied federation. But could Sin Joseph Ward and his following, in viow of the exposure of the tyrannical and lawless methods of the Federation, justify their action should they decide to assist Mi;. M'CoMDsJn his endeavour to win the seat? What possible excuse could they give to the public for throwing whatever influence they may possess on the side of the candidate who represents a'revolutionary organisation which has declared war on the community ? The voting at the First Ballot has left the issue to be fought out between the Government candidate, representing the forces of law and order, and the Red Federation candidate, who stands for the revolutionary teachings of the Bempi.es, the ftiCKEys, and the-YouNGS. The Liberal party owes it to the public to declare on which side it proposes to range itself in the Second Ballot struggle. It cannot remain inactive at the present critical stage of affairs, without openly admitting a« indifference to the welfare of the public which should condemn it utterly in the eyes of its own supporters as well as in the eyes of those who differ from it qn ordinary party issues,