The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1911. OTAKPS NEW MEMBER.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 December 1911, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1911. OTAKPS NEW MEMBER.

All those electors who voted on principle for the return of Mr Robertson are well entitled to their success; for assuredly they have worked loyally and earnestly and persistently to ensure his election, and the contest lias been conducted on clean and fair lines by them and. by their principals; for that matter, by all sides. But those "Opposition Party supporters whio backed the Labour-Socialists' endeavours have less reason for rejoicing, for while they have succeeded in placing a Labour-Socialist 'in Parliament the Opposition Party has failed to oust the Ward Government. At present that Government has a problematical, though incongruous majority, tailed off by the successful Labour candidates who have promised to support the Government conditionally ; and the surety of gaining two out iof the throe .Maori seats to 'he contested next week—probably all three—makes a narrow working majority almost certain. All the same, an element of instability has been introduced into Parliament, and the leaven of unrest will ferment so much that a general election within eighteen months' time or less

is extremely likely. The now member for tlie electorate is entitled to congratulation on Lis success, but we would be disguising our feelinfs did w<?' not express a hope that tlie typo of Socialism wihich tlie Maoriland Worker and tlie Federation of Labour supports will receive no active backing from him. "That" type is the rod rag variety, and if Mr Robertson adheres to it- there can be no donbt on tlie point th.it bis political career will be the carecr of a political comet, which astonishes by its rapid appearance and tilien disappears almost as suddenly. We liavo been assured by some of Mr Robertson's supporters that he is not a. Socialist of the brand we have referred to; but the fact remains that he is claimed to ,be of that brand. He is now at the parting of the ways, and to save himself he should say definitely where he does stand. Regarding Mr Robertson's election, it is quite fair comment to say that Mr Robertson was elected not because of ibis Labour views and not beoause of his Socialistic views. It was his advocacy of a. bare majority on the licensing polls issue, ■and his. undertaking to vote against the Ward Government on a No-con-fidence motion, that brought into one political bucket the elements of Opposition fire, and Prohibition water which proved to be his welltried opponent's undoing.