The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1913. THE SECOND BALLOT IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 January 1913, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1913. THE SECOND BALLOT IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

New South Wales provides the latest illustration of political vagaries occasioned by the Second Ballot. In the latest instance there is unlikely to be any of the disgraceful bargaining that sometimes disgraces such secondary contests in Germany and other places, but nevertheless there will 'be seen the coalition, in a patched-up peace, of warring sections of labour to defeat a Libera] candidate who has won out by a majority of well over six hundred votes over his nearest opponent. The third candidate in position is the official representative of Labour, second place beng filled by the socalled renegade—ex-Minister Beeby. This politician 'resigned his seat by way of protest against the "solidarity" principles adopted by the Labour Party. He stands for a reasonable rogree of personal freedom being allowed even to Labour members. He puts his own case as follows:—"When I resigned my portfolio I was quite prepared to go into private lifo rather than continue in Parliament under the existing system. It seemed to mo worth while having a try to awake interest in the advisability of a definite reform movement, but if I have anticipated public opinion, and the time is not ripe for the change, I will go back into private lifo without any resentment. lam not posing as a John the Baptist in the wilderness,'-' he continued, "but as a man who, after five years' experience of Parliament, has formed very clear opinions on the weaknesses of the present system. I'iam prepared, either in the House or out of it, to assist in creating a new body of public thought which, oven if it does not become a very definite factor at present must ultimately prevail." Tbo second ballot will be watched with feelings of interest throughout Australia. Nothing is more cloudy than the prospects of a second ballot, but at this distance from the smoko of action there does 6eeni to be a clear prospect that Independent Labour win win out. The official Labour vote,' we should think-,is almost certain to go to Mr Beebynow, for the election of his opponent eventually would send the Labour Government from office, and it.-is not lifrely. that tho Labour Party's upholding of the principles of "solidarity" pledges would allow it to expedite the alternative of a Labour Government defeat.