WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1919, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Special Correspondent]

LABOUR’S AIISTAKE,

NOT PLAYING THE GAME.

WELLINGTON, November 21

“Bad advocates of a good policy” Avas the laconic reply of a former pillar of the Labour Party .-.when he Avas asked this morning for his opinion of the men Avho had succeeded him and his colleagues in the leadership of the AA-orkers’ forces. “We had hoped for the absorption of all the progressive elements into our party,” he Avent on to say, “hut not by the methods hoav being employed by the so-called Social-Demo-crats.” The immediate cause of his lament was the discreditable demonstration made by the followers of Mr H. E. Holland and Air R. Semple, presumably at the instigation of their chiefs, at Air' J. P. (Luke’s meeting in Wellington North on Tuesday evening Air Peter Fraser practically gave it the stamp of his approval. There Avere scarcely thirty people at his'oAvn meeting, which like all other meetings of the Labour candidates, Ava s alloAved to pass off AA’ithout the slightest interruption, and in explaining the sparseness of the attendance the candidate said most of his friends Avere at Air Pirani’g meeting “putting a few questions to the Liberal candidate.” He Avould have liked to be there himself, but it would not have been considered good form fo him to have joined in the heckling. That is the pass to which the Social-Demo-crats have brought electioneering in the Capital City, under the very shadow of Parliamentary House, a.nd it is little Avonder they have lost ground in the estimation of many people Avho at one time Avere disposed to look kindly upon their poliev. THE OTHER PARTIES.

The general opinion here is that the Reform and Liberal Parties Avill be so closely balanced iii the new Parliamen that the tip of the scale Avill depend upon the v;otes of the Labour members. But the Labour members are not at all likely to be a united party Indeed Air Veitch and Air Smith have declined to associate themseh'es Avith the Social-Democrats, and it is highly improbable the extremists Avill obtain any accession of the strength at ' the polls. The popular prediction js that the best they can reasonably expect is to' remain a party of five, Avith Air AlcCombs and Air Walker, exercising so much independence as to be unreliable in any attempt to force the hands of either of the old parties. It is accepted a,s certain liOAveA'er, that three or four additional independent Labour candidates Avill make their way into the House and that Avith these Avill rest largely the responsibility of determining the fate of leaders. DATE OF ELECTION.

When it. Avas rumoured that the election Avould be held in the third Aveek of December, Air Massey was deluged with telegrams from various sources protecting against the polling taking place so near the Christmas holidays and seriously disturbing tlie coAirse of seasonable business. No doubt the Prime Minister gave full consideration to the representations, that AA'ere made to him, but as a matter of fact, December 17th \va s the earliest possible date by Avhicli the necessary arrangements could be completed. It Avas not a question of giving an advantage to this side or that, but a qAiestion of Avhat the Electoral Department could do, and it avos plain the Department could not be ready before the date decided upon. This explanation is due to Air Alassey, though ,it still remains to be discovered Avliy Avitli ample notice of Avhat was required, the preparations could not haA r e been put in hand earlier.