WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

M ILIT AXT PR OHI BIT TON. XEW LIXE OF ATTACK. [Special To Tiik Gcahdian.] WELUXGTOX, April 0. Though no official announcement yet has been made on the subject there seems little doubt that in their next triennial campaign the Prohibitionists will make themselves heard and felt In the political arena. They are not attempting to disguise tire fact that they took an active part in the recent Tnuranga election and that they regard tim success of their efforts its distinctly encouraging. Their main object itt-t now i- to secure the removal of the State Control i.-,sue front the ballot | paper anil they claim to have Mr MacMillan, the successor to Sir William ! lorries in Parliament, fully pledged to their wishes. It is understood that i lie same t ill-ties will be employed in the Oamai'U by-election and that every good Prohibitionist in the constituency, whatever his political views anil party predilections may he, will he called upon to support the candidate who will go the furthercst towards reducing the licensing poll to a duel between Continuance and Xo License. Just how far the new policy will assist the prohibition cause is a question on which there is much difference of opinion even among those who wish it well. There tire many who will resent the introduction of party polities into the campaign and more than a few who will disapprove of bargaining with the

candidates. TDK P.OXE OF COXTF.XTIOX. The ‘‘whole hogger-.” among the prohibitionists regard the State Control issue mainly as a wicked design of the .Moderates to delay the progress of reform, Imt among the less irreconcilable members of their party there are quite a number who would he content to see the issue retained on the ballot paper provided the system of preferential voting were applied to the licensing poll. These folk argue that with the two main parties so evenly balanced, ns the recent ballots have shown them to he, the thirty thousand old electors who east their votes for State Control should ho required to decide between them by expressing a preference for either Continuance or Xo License. This would mean that each elector would indicate his lirst preference with the figure “one” and his second preference with the figure "two” and that the issue with the fewest number on first preferences would be struck out and the second preference of its supporters distributed according to their markings between the other issues, so ensuring one of thorn an absolute majority. It is generally believed that this is the system Mr Massey is considering in connection with the parliamentary elections and if lie gave it that, much recognition he scarcely could withhold it from the licensing poll. THE MAYORAL MEDDLE. T’lie contest for the mayoral chair here is providing another illustration of the ineflieiency of the present electoral system. Till yesterday there were four candidates in the held—Mr R. A. Wtighl, M.P., the present mayor, Air L. McKenzie, tt seasoned city councillor. Mr 0. Mitchell, the late member for Wellington South, and Mr P. Eraser, M.P., the vicechairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party—-but Mr Wright anil Mr Mitchell submitted themselves to a hallo! of representative electors and the lat-

ter gentleman subsequently retired in onjcr, as his friends said, to save the city from the wild-cat schemes altrihuted to the Labour candidate. This will largely improve Mr Wright's chances of being re-elected, bill (lie defeat of Mr Eraser, with his better organisation and the greater enthusiasm of his followers, is by no means assured, and it is still on the cards that his success, by minority vote, will provide another argument for electoral reform. Ii is a curious thing, by the way. that the oflicial Labour Party , while strongly advocating proportional representation to secure for all parties a voice in the counsels of the cotniuiiitities and the liatinii, is strongly eppused to preferential voting which, in the case of single elect orates, would insure the represenration of the majority. VOTE SPLITTING.' ,\ii illustration of the Labour Parly's tendencies in ihis direction is afforded by lice reiteration tin; morning of its del m Inina I ion to put up a candidate in every constituency at the next genera I election, irrespective of the effect I his may 'nave upon the chances of either Deform or l.ibenl candidates. Of course this was Mm policy employed by the party at Die list general election, with the mod •lien lion that when Labour had no Imp• ■ of prejudicing the chances of either of the other candidates ii stood out of the fray. Its reiteration of iis former pious resolution is doubtless intended lo for!her embarrass the Liberal Party and to hasten the time when it hopes that party will fall into the arms n! llofoim. The only means, short o' proportional repre' : ciilat ion, l,y which Mr Massey can defeat I act ic s of Uiihind is In introduce preferential voting. and probably be would have the assistance of a majority of the members ef the Liberal Party in pas-mg this radical cure for the vagaries ef an ine-poiisible minority through Parliament.