WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1919, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Spbciai Correspondent)

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES. WELLINGTON, November 20,

Never before have so many “Indethe hustings, as are appearing in the present election campaign. There are Independent Reformers, Independent Liberals and Independent Labourites. Whether their multitude is due to a revolt against the narrowing ties of party or to a desire to stand as well as may be with all the conflicting elements it is hard to say. Perhaps both these factors have had something to do with the development of a state of affairs that is proving very embarrassing to the party leaders. But - whatever the cause, it is certain the presence of an army of Independents in the field is going to materially affect the result of the approaching election. Independent is a sweet-sounding phrase that tickles the ears of people unacquainted with the game of politics and in the present contest it will contribute largely to he vote splitting that is menacing both the older parties, to the substantial advantage, of course of the Labour Party.. MENTAL RESERVATIONISTS.

In addition to the frankly avowed independence of a considerable number of there is tue mental reservation of other candidates which will enable them to cross the floor of the House should tucii a course appear necessary to .save tue country from the expense and unrest, of anotner appeal to th e electors. At least one candidate for a rural constituency in Wellington province has announced this as his intention and his friends appear to be taking no exception to bis light regard for las party obligations. There are, mUeect, many other candidates who have expressed themselves to much the sain o effect in demanding that in the event of tue two bidet parties being closely balanced at the polls the occupancy of the Treasury Benches shall not be left to the determination of a little group of extremists. There must be a strong Government from one side or the other, they insist and minor party differences must not stop the way. party.

Meanwhile the party spirit, so far as the great mass of the electors is concerned, is much less pronounced than it was in the days before the war. Some of the active participants in the fight and most of the party newspapers are doing their best to revive the old bad methods, but outside the official Labour Party they are achieving little success. Th e Social Democrats, incongruous a s it may seem side by, side with their demands for fair play, freedom of speech and the rest, seem to think it good tactics to harrass Reform and Liberal candidates, especially Liberal, candidates, in every way they can, ithff already have managed to prevent,several of tlieir opponents getting a heaj-ing. Their object appears to drive the two older parties into some sort of coalition, but they, and other people, who have been dreaming of a development of this kind, may as well dismiss tlieir fond delusion at once. The Reformers and the Liberals, by the deliberate choice of their leaders, are now as far apart as they ever have been. THE LIQUOR QUESTION.

If the parliamentary contest is arousing little general interest, the liquor poll is arousing less. The agents of the conflicting parties are busy in searching the rolls and distributing literature, but the public for all the enthusiasm it is displaying about the issue might be utterly -indifferent to the result. Notwithstanding this apparent apathy among th 6 people who are to deckle the question, however, both parties profess to be confident of the result coming their way. Th e Prohibitionists count upon polling a largely increased soldiers’ vote and the Moderates upon the electors accepting the recent referendum as the last word on the subject. As far as may be judged from the attitude of the man in th© street this is a fairly accurate diagnosis of the position. He does not wish to he worried about the matter.