WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

PARTY AMITIES. REFORM RETIRES FROM HI'TT. (Special to ’‘Guardim”.) WELLINGTON. August 27. Tilt l I’iict: LliuL it is a good tactical move need not detract in any way from the credit due to the Reform Organisation for having withdrawn its candidate from the I!lilt constituency and urged the Reform electors to give their support to Mr T. M. V\ illord, the l.iheral candidate. Sir I'rancis Roll in suggesting this course to the L'etone hraiich of the political Reform League put the position with his accustomed grace and clarity. AA hile he did not agree with Mr Milford s polities, lie said, and in other circumstances'would have strongly advised the l’etone branch of the League to carry on and capture ihe seat for the Reform Party and the Government, he suggested that under all the circumstances, considering Mr \\ illord s long connection with the constituency, the Lift that his health had broken down and that he now was a sick man. the more chivalrous course would lie not to oppose his return, so fur as the members of the League were concerned. and to do their best to keep the Labour Socialist out of Parliament. Nothing could be more admirable in tone and spirit and if the Reform electors of the constituency endorse the decision of the Longue Mr WilOrel’s way will be made easy at the approaching election. RESULT STILL WITH ELECTORS.

It J|iis to be remembered, however, that no chivalrous arrangement ol this kind can be fully effective unless it is frankly accepted by the rank and lilc of the party concerned. At the last general election Mr M illord won me Hutt seat with 2.707 votes, while 2007 voter, were cast for the Labour candidate and 2317 for the Reform, candidate'. the successful candidate, thus being in a minority of L 77 ett the votes actually polled. Making allowance' for llie growth of the Labour Party in the coustilitencv during tie interval—which is admitted by both the older parties—this means that a substantial [majority ol the Rctorm voters in the electorate must be loyal to their leaders’ decision to make the sitting member's position secure. At previous elections both Relormcrs and Liberals, acting c|tiite within their rights and doubtless according to the dictates of their political consciences, have- voted for the Labour candidate when there "'as no candidate ol their own particular colour in the betel, ll this practice should bo followed in the Hutt by any considerable number of the electors to whom Sir Francis lie’ll addressed his chivalrous appeal then the purpose of the appeal will be in peril. The Reform organisation may be trusted to elo its best in the matter, but without the hearty co-opera-tion of the Reform electors it. may fail IS IT A PRECEDENT? Though what has been done in the Hutt electorate may not serve as a precedent for what should be done in oilier electorates, it will be well to bear in mind that there are other scats in much the same position as the Hull seat, with the fortunate difference that their present occupants arc not stricken by ill-health. Ibe Napier, AVaimarino. Wellington East, Christchurch East, ami AVc-lland seats •it the last general election ediviously were won lev Labour, through the vote splitting between Ridormers and Liberals. In Napier and Wellington East the Liberals were the intruders and in AVnimarino, Christchurch East and Westland, the Reformers. Altogether there are twenty-four minoritv representatives in the lleni.se —that is members who re*ccived fewer titan a majority of the votes pedicel— ten '[•cninting Air I sit! and Air Witty! being Rc!'.inner.-, seven Liberals, ami •e-ee n f,abulln 1 e.’s. and it is only tali' In sav i leaf wnili’ I lie’ I aboill' Party has profiled bv vote-split ting i l self it also has helped the two older parties, with cheery impartiality, by the sain*" process. The remedy tor this, ol course. would be a saner system ol elec lion, hut while a majority of the members of tlm [louse remain in eomplaconl ignorance' of this problem it is not likely to oblain much favour from those in authority.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END. The Prime Afinisler’s proposal to give Government business precedence in the House on Wednesdays for the remainder of the session provoked some emphatic protests and plain talking from the Opposition. Ihe custom for main' years Hint lies been to set m-ide Wednesdays during the earlier pari of the session for private member-.’ Rills and the termination ol this |oi ivilege usually is resented by a more or less iiulignant display of fore:'. On this otcision, however, the prole-ting members added to the asm i i ion ol ll.eir rights sumo very enusil- ohserva I inns concerning the Government ’> meikoiN. The new Leader of ihe Opposition merely asked lor an indie alien ol ihe* character ol (lie* further legivhe lion the- Government intended t<i introduce and of the length of the session ; hut several of the members of his party, and particularly the whole of I lie members ol the Lab Party, launched mil into n whole', hearted deimnciation of (he Government and ils ways, air Coa'tes refused to lie perturbed by ihe onslaught and tinned smilingly to each of liis ace user.; in turn; hut at last an as-urance was oxiracted from him that Parliament, would not. he prorogued (ill it had finished the session’s work and that there would he no ’■ rush election.” Willi so much conceded the Minister got his motion through by 32 votes to 28, and normal conditions between the parties were resumed.