The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is in- Corporate the west coast Times.) FRIDAY, JULY 13th, 1923 THE POLITICAL GAME.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is inCorporate the west coast Times.) FRIDAY, JULY 13th, 1923 THE POLITICAL GAME.

Tin: i olitioal o;uue at Wellingtoii continues to be played with safety for the Government. Gilbert and Sullivan in one of their song hits laid it down mat "tilings ueie seldom what they seem.” And from all accounts that appears to .-uni up the political outlook. Mr .Massey’s star is said to he w*il;ilie v, ith hi-> party, out he is to go Home, and the business < I the Home will l,u shaped to that end. It is now certain, almost-, that electoral reform will le brought down this session, and as Mr Massey in the dim past when he rej ealed the .-second Ballot, piomised le bring d-wi: something in its place, he will lie v set- a hunt making good that protnis h.v enacting preferential voting. '1 idc a half wav limi.se to propoiiion.il representation, which the Lanor party would have. K is believed however, that (die Reform and Lihcriil

panic- will vote for ] referential voting with snigl" electoia; es, so that ii Here are a ore titan tw.> candidates for one s at 1 will he the duly of those voting to indicate limit prelcronce by iiumhering the candidates in the order of merit the elector prol'eis. This will, of course, have its hearing on lullin' triangular contests, if the law is enacted as suggested. Proportional representation may lie applied to the l pper House, if the Act already on the statutes is brought into being tor an elective Upper HoU.se. Of other immediate legislation, that affecting gaming will he uf interest. With the piineipal racing and trotting organisations sitting in eonfeienec in Wellington, this week, it may he expected that tlie suhiecl is being pressed specially. There is some douhtAis to what the Labor party will do. Whore is the suggestion, if not the fear, that that party might try to kill a gaming measure with kindness, by Kinging down a series of amendments which would have the. object of delaying the measure, and so Lading to its withdrawal. On a former occasion something ol this nature occurred, and tfceio is some speculation whether like tactics, offici 1 or otherwise, might not emtio to pass again. It seems most likely that Parliament will he brought to a close next month, and it depends how matters ea 11 le locussed in the meantime. Lucre is a general disposition to help the Government through, for it is in the tor that when Air Massey returns from England things political will eonio to pass. Ihe Reform advantage at present is due entirely to the votes ol Liberal opponents and this state of affairs is not satisfactory. Tl seems to he on the cards that a dissolution will not he improbable in the New A'ear. and that the parties will go to the country under a fresh voting system, and Reform it- is suggested with a new leader —ollo ot .dr .Massey’s present, colleagues.