WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1922, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

DUNEDIN NORTH ELECTION. ITS SIGNIFICANCE. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN.

WELLINGTON, June 23. The politicians are attaching to the result of,the Dunedin North election the significance which seems host to suit their party predilections. Air Massoy himself led off by declaring confidently that tlie voting showed the electors for all practical purposes had resolved themselves into two camps, Reform and Extreme Labour, and that future contests necessarily would he between these two forces. The Liberals, on the other hand, claim to have been the deciding factor in the election. They had no systematic organisation in the constituency and their votes were dissipated between the three candidates, hut an analysis of tiie figures shows that the sane progressive element was in an overwhelming majority. Their .argument seems a little obscure, hut quite probably the whole of their votes were not concentrated on Air Begg. Official Lafiocr is taking full credit for its victory and seeing in it the handwriting on Die wall which forebodes the disappearance of the old order. In the eyes of .Mr Holland and his friends it was indeed a famous victory. DEFECTIVE ELECTORAL BY.STEAL

The local newspapers comment upon the result of the election follows the particular bent of the journals. The "Post,” with its specious assumption of independence, discusses the iniquities of the electoral system. "Proportionately to the votes polled.” it says,

“Official Labour lias done little more than hold its own. It owes ils victory to the division of the opposing forces and for once the Government is hit by the absurdity of .the system which allows a candidate to win by a minority vote. It is, however, hut fair that the Labour Paity, which has consistently championed proportional representation, should occasionally profit In the chances of ail unscientific system, which it is doing its best to amend. If the Government were to lose half-a-dozen by-elections in the same way, it would probably discover the need to provide some rational substitute for the second ballot to he irresistible.” The “Post” like Air .Massey, consigns the Liberal Party to extinction and gives it no useful place in the politics of the country.

THE REFORAI VIEW. The "Dominion.” perhaps a little chastened l>v what happened in Dunedin North on AYednesday. does not (Hike such outrageous fun at the United Progressive Liberal anti Aloderntc Labour Party as it might..have done had the Reform candidate secured the tew score additional votes required to place him at the head of the poll. "The self-stvlcd United Party,” it says.

“seems in need of some sort of adhesive plaster to hold it together. Perhaps the fact that it has no policy accounts for the fact that its members are at variance.” No doubt it was the absence of this policy, for which, presumably Air AYilford is responsible, that drove the Liberals into opposing camps in the recent contest. The official leader of the party has not yet made up his mind to any pronouncement in regard to the proposal of the Post and Telegraph Association to affiliate with the Alliance ot Labour, while his first lieutenant and more stable colleague, ATr Statlmm, has declared emphatically against any such embarrassing commitment. A house divided agijinst itself in this fashion can scarcely hope to make an effective appeal to the constituencies.

INCONCLUSIVE. The “New Zealand Times,” which in these days in .shaping its party Steps very warily, declares that the contest was wholly inconclusive nnd proved nothing. “The so-called Liberals” it says, “who polled only 90S votes, in 1 spite of Die ojforts of Air Statlmm anil! Air Sidev and perhaps someone else, made a poor show. They can, of course, console themselves with the tact that •1000 electors did not record their votes, But they can scarcely hope to monopolise the consolation. The consolation is open to all-comers. With the Labour hold on the seat weakened, under the camoiillage of victory certainly, hut nevertheless weakened, and the Reform Party proved to he consciously in liocd of nt least a change of name, with all it implies, and 1001) voters silently disfranchised tor five months, the Dunedin North scat oilers a mystery for December next.. The by-election, so tar from settling the question of the seat, has shown that the opportunity for securing it. five or six months hence, is open to all and sundry.” All things taken into account it truly appears none of the parties has any great occasion for rejoicing.