WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1922, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

GENERAL ELECTION. THE NOMINATIONS. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. . WELLINGTON, Nov. 29 The nominations for the general election received on Monday contained few surprises and threw little additional light upon the prospects of the approaching eqntest. The Reformers have a candidate ‘in practically every eonstitueiicy, and in several more than one, while the Liberals are unrepresented in some twenty-five and the Flollandites in thirty-three. There are Independent Reformers, Independent Liberals and Independent Labourites, in addition to straight out Independents, in tlie field, and a fair proportion of them seem likely to succeed and tc have an opportunity to display tlie quality of their independence. One of the candidates for the new Hamilton seat, an Irishman of course, has dubbed himself a Progressive Oppositionist, a title which will allow him to he the Government whichever party may succeed at the polls. One result of the Reformers contesting practically every seat will he a clear demonstration of the number of votes that stand behind ?the Government. The only candidate returned unopposed is Air S. K. Williams, tlie elect of Bay of Plenty, and by no member of the old House was the compliment better deserved. “STRONG AND STABLE.”

The “Dominion” continues to appea’ to the electors to “concentrate” and so assure the retention of a strong and stable Government in office. “The Reform Party, alone of those competing for support,” it says, “is in a position to offer the country the kind of Government it needs. No one seriously expects that the Holland and Wilford groups will obtain enough support between them to enable them to oust the present Government. The danger actually raised, chiefly oil account of tlie Reform vote-splitting threatened in

some electorates, is that the Government’s majority may he so reduced as to leave it less favourably nlacod than’it should lie to deal with the difficult problems which arc hound to arise during tin* next year or two. In the interests of general welfare and prosperity, financial and industrial conditions must he re-established as soon as possible on a normal basis. If good nrogress is to ho made in this direction, stable and assured Government is indispeiistble.” This appeal conies naturally and properly enough from a friend of the party and its iteration ami reiteration are part of the political game. THE OTHER SIDE. Tn the circumstances it is curious lo , find quite a number of financial and commercial men in the city, friends and supporters of Air Massey, who wish to sec the Reform majority material!'’ reduced. They argue that an unassailable majority at D>e hack of nnv Government renders it mnrb less susceptible to public opinion than it should be and more prone to lanneb out on legislative adventures of a perilous character. Tt is doubtful if those gentlemen, when the. time conics, will actually cast their votes against Reform, reducing a majority for merely disciplinary purposes being an extremely hazardous proceeding: but it is certain that at the moment they are not giving Mr Massev the assistance he has received from them on some former occasions. The Liberals and the Labourites, on their part, without admitting for a moment that a reduction of *ho Reform majority is the summit of their ambition, are clamouring loudly . for a strong opposition in order ihat the country mav he assured against (h ! reactionary legislation they believe ' r ■ Massey and his supjxirtors have in contemplation. I THE LIBERAL AIEASURES

Tt lias to lio said f r ATr Afassev that lie lias repealed none* of tlio Liberal measures lie denounc 'd so fervidly ivhe 11 they were passing through Parliament and that on the whole lie has administered them during his term of oflico with a very fair conception of their spirit and purpose. Hut it is not altogether surprising that some of his critics still remain a little sceptical as to the quality of his Liberalism. .Mr .1. A. Nash, the Pcform candidate for Palmerston North, for instance, has' been telling his audiences that ho hopes to see the life of Parliament extended from three years to live years in order that members may not have the nightmare of a general election constantly liariassing them Air Nash’s .ambition lies j u the direction of the Treasury benches and pending its realisation he does not mind flying an occasional kite on behalf of their prc :

sent occupants. Other members of the party have been talking in a similar fashion of amendments to the land laws and tho licensing laws, and the timid souls on the other side of politics have grown extremely suspicious.