WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE BY-ELECTION. A PERSONAL DUEL. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, March 2J The Taur.inga by-election, which still forms the chief topic: of discussion and .speculation here, seems to have resolved itself into a personal contest between Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward. Mr MacMillan, the Beform candidate, whose name was occasionally mentioned during the early stages of the contest as Sir William I lorries’legatee, is now entirely overshadowed bv bis political chief, and people at a distance have no means of learning anything about his politics or his personality. It is assumed, however, that he is a good party man of a type dear to the heart of every political leader and that the official Reform vote, whatever its strength may he. will go to him unanimously. Sir Joseph Ward’s attitude towards the parties L ics- plain. Judging from the temperate and conciliatory tone of his speeches he is not seeking re-ad-mission to Parliament for the purpose of fomenting further party strife. One might assume from his published words indeed, that lie is prepared to set the party question aside altogether for tintime being and to act as a sort cl’ benevolent mediator between the '-on tending tones. But. however hemming a rule of that kind might he to a politician of his long experience it probably is not one in which he would l-e welcomed l>v his old party opponents. COUNTRY- NOT PARTY. Under this title the “Post” hist evening read the Prime Minister a severe lecture upon his inconsistency in making a purely party contest of this by-election after his repeated appeals to the electors and llicir representatives in Parliament i,< put party aside and consider only the interests of the country. “Sir Joseph Ward’s statement and his conduct of the campaign hitherto,’’ it said, “warrant 1 1n* belief that he i- sincerely desirous of promoting political stability. ... By conducting his ,-lcction campaign without the assistance of other speakers ‘Li Joseph has given jirnof (hat ho desires to keep tic party issue in the background. Unfortunately his example in this respect has not been followed. I fence (in* danger arises of personal and party considerations obtruding themselves when all attention should he given In the national welfare.” The evening journal,goes on to say iloii Mr Ms- ■-<-- and Sir Joseph Ward arc both men anxious to serve their country, and though they may have ililfcrency.s as In methods, it believes these difforeitccs would lie rc-iuove-1 by coinnunis-uiso cousihern I ion of the greater principles at stake. The “Post'-” solution of the whole problem is. ol course, -i coalition between 'h-e I’'-formers and tin Liberals, hut '!“■ suggest ion app--sirs to have been ■■'•b'cted by both parties, and apparently the only ait enia tm- to a dissolution remaining is some such temporary ar--1 rangeinent between Die "best brains." -is Sir Joseph Ward him.,elf lias lieon

■dv: "eating. AVn.i.fNG TO COALESCE. The "Dominion'’ throws some Help on Ibis question in iis I ruling columns this morning. "Mr Massey." it says, "made it clear I hat the members "f lb" Reform Parly were perfectly willing to coalesce with (be laterals ■m n'lisonable terms, and broke off lenlafive mypil a:> I ions ilmi end only: boeau-e (bo conditions submitted bv Die I 'h"i'als were humiliating : ml positively insulting. This plain statoment is an absolute contrast to Ibe mistv generalities in which Sir Joseph Ward has indulged since ho opened his campaign in lie Taimam a ■••cetiirate. The T.iberaV Candida!e has declared himself emplial ieallv of opinion that I lie nrcscnl political dilfieiilries of the Dominion cannot bo settled without cooperation. As yet. however, be lias given no definite indication of what lie really means or of what In- is prepared to do in the direction of effective cooperation. On the contrary, bis reported utterances rather suggest that lie refuses to consider eo-opera!ion except on conditions which obviously malm it impossibly" To ibis. Sir to-" Ward’s friends, spending npnareittlv with authority. retort Dial I hi' ev-l.ibcral lender knows nothing whatever of the “tentative negotiations’' mentioned by Mr Alassey ami Ilia' his own suggestion is for an arrangement (bill would be neither humiliating nor insulting to the party in office. WITH THE GLOVES OFF. Meanwhile the Reform newspapers, whatever may lie Mr Ma--ev's wished in the matter, are fighting the Tattningn liy-elcc'ion in a fashion that yvill! make il extremely diliicidl for the "hest. brains" to get Vogel imr after the contest is over. Just now they *r« attempting to make mueli capital out of Sir Joseph's comparison let ween the Rixtuinn figures nf New Zealand ami these of tlm Australian Slates. Sir Joseph took the figures lor 1020-1021. whir!" probably were Hie only ones lie had in his possession af the time, and shined that Hie rale of taxation per head of pupuhiiinn was subsl antiall.v higher in New Zealand Hum were the rates in tDo Australian States. His figures and deductions appear to have been correct enough, but his critics have taken the figures for 1021-1022. which shewed a large reduction in the revenue from Custom/; duties and fueoine tax. due to lessoned imports and shrunken im-mn and frrm tb.is basts It tv •h> •aned rhlo-ilo it" m f 'b Joseph’s ability as a financier. OF course bv using' the older fig-ires S'm Joseph |-I*d himself open to ibis • i; of thing, and with tlie strenuous battle going on in Taiou'Ug.i one eanrot be very angry with bis opponents for having made n-o of their opportunity.