WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

THE OAMARU ELECTION. THE SHADOW BEFORE. [Special To The Guardian.] WELLINGTON. May 2. The result of the Oainaru by-election did not take Wellington by surprse. The reports coming from the constituency itself had created an impression in the c-ity that Mr Macpherson was rather more than holding his own against the onslaughts of the Prime -Minister and his army of camp followers and that the electors were going to confirm their verdict of Decent her with added emphasis. Even the “Dominion,” which, of course, looked with a sympathetic and kindly eve up-

on Air bee’s candidature was not f-o arrogantly confident as it had been at every stage of the Tauranga contest. “Much will depend," it said yesterday morning alien discussing editorially the prospect.-, of the contest, "on whether Ihe electors decide to treat

the contest from the party or the personal standpoint. In the' town of Oainaru itself Mr Maephorson is certain to have a good inapority, hut tlu country districts may turn the scale in favour of Air bee.” These were not the inspiring words of the ‘'victorious attitude,” but they reflected the thoughts that were in tlie minds of those who wished Air Atassey and Air bee well, bate in the afternoon Air A\ iltord sent messages to his friends Here which indicated very closely the result so far as it is known to-dav. THE SPORTING INSTINCT.

The •'Dominion’’ this morning after

referring to the sporting instinct which resents any attempt to unseat a duly elected member, makes something in the way of an apology for Air Lee's initiation of the proceedings against Mr .Macpherson. “It is probable.” it

says, "that in ordinary circumstances Air Lee would not have troubled to petition to upset the election, but in view of the state of parties and tl e petitions by opponents of the flov-' "i----ment to upset tlie election of Air Pa viand Sir Aiaui Poinare he no douot felt it his duty to the Government and lo his party to do so. Though his action was justified bv the eircuni'.vi i os

nil by the judgment of the FlcHoi on it, it no doubt, as usual ill stud-

eases, militated against bis elia ices of success in the contest by gaining for his opponent a sympathy vote.” This is all very well a> an explanation of Mr Lee’s decision to go to law—which must have been approved by his colleagues—but it lias to be remembered that the proceedings neither in Air Parr’s ease nor in Sir Maui Pomaro’s ease were taken at the instigation of the party with which Air Macpherson

is associated. LIBERAL JUKI RATION. The “New Zealand Times’’ finds in the result of the contest much occasion for jubilation. “Victory!” it exclaims. “A Liberal victory! Tn these degenerate days a rare thing. But a thing of promise of the best. After long travail the turning point lias come, and Liberalism in New Zealand can look forward with serene confidence to the future. Afr ALncpherson. who carried the biboral flag, has won. His majority at the polls is 310; tlie absent votes (as revised) are 200; Mr bee—the ‘second strongest man of the Cabinet’—cannot win them all, and if he did ho would still ho behind. lie is down and out. After the detailed judgment of the Elect ion Petition Court, the defeated candidate cannot, hope for any more technicalities to reverse the verdict of the constituency.” Tie "Times” then proceeds to a picturesque description cf the incidents of the light and concludes with a high eulogy of Air Alnc'pherson and Mr AVili’ord. ‘•Between them," it says, “they have replaced .Liberalism on the old pedestal, from which the thoughtless removed it. Tn that we have the significance of the Liberal victory at Oainaru.” The claim may he a little extravagant, but, as custom goes, it is eminently appropriate to the occasion. THE PAR'IYES. It goes without saying that, much additional significance is given to the Oainaru decision by the fact that the Priinso Afinister made the contest, not merely a trial of strength between file candidates, in which their personality would have counted largely, but more particularly a set duel between the Government and the Opposition -Mr .Massey and his colleagues must now realise that they are distinctly out of favour in a constituency where the scales were very evenly balanced at the general election. They had their victory in Tauranga, but even here they lost some hundreds of the majority they polled last December. AVlint they will do in the circumstances remains to lie seen, but the general opinion here, in what may be regarded as political circles, is that the Government will be sadly hampered in both legislation and administration unless it can reach some good understanding with a section of the Opposition. There is a strong feeling here, shared by many of his political opponents, that ATr Alassey should attend the Imperial Cbm Terence this year, but obviously it would he impossible for him to leave the Dominion without some assurance of the cessation of party hostilities.