WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

GENERAL ELECTION. I A PERSONAL TRIUMPH. (Special to “ Guardian.”; WELLINGTON. November 5. It is safe to say that no one was more surprised nor better pleased than was -Mr Coates himself by his signal triumph at the polls yesterday. And he had good reason to be both surprised and pleased. A\ ith three patties in the field, and with the two older of them having sub-parties more or less independent of their parent organisation, the Reform leader scarcely ■an have expected to poll half the votes recorded and to secure seventenths of the seventy-six European seats. The feat is unparalleled in the political history of the Dominion, Mr f-leddon’s huge and compact majorities having been obtained under tlie “ two parly system,” and it is unlikely it

will be repeated for a very long time lo come. One may hope, indeed, that when Mr Coates tins time to examine closely the existing system of election he will realise that his fair promises of “ equality of sacrifice” and “equality of opportunity ” cannot he fully discharged while one half of the electors. have fifty-five representatives in the Parliament of the country and the other half, divided against itselt. only twenty-live. That the Prime Minister was highly gratified bv the fine tribute paid to his own personality was obvious enough in bis speeches lasi night, and bis frank acceptance of the responsibility it implied may be taken as good earnest for the conversion of his promises into legislative and administrative performances. WHAT WILL HAPPEN. During Iho recent campaign the Hon W. Nosworthy. the Minister of Agriculture, told the electors that if the Government returned from the constituencies with an insufficient majoiity to ensure its stability, it might reopen the negotiations for fusion be-

tween the Reformers and the Liberals. Prom this it may be assumed that with a majority of some thirty behind the Government, Air Nosworthy, at any rate, will not think it necessary, from any point of view, to resume the coquetry of last session. 11 is possible. however, that the opinion of the Minister of Agriculture in regard to fusion may not ho the last word on tlie subject. It is common knowledge 1 fiat in the enforced absence of Mr Downie Stewart trom the Cabinet Room the Government relies entirely upon the officers of the Treasury for its views upon finance as well as upon its facts and figures. Mr Nosworthy, who holds the portfolio of Finance, at the moment, was; appointed Al.r Downie Stewart's locum teucus, not beeauso he possessed auv special qualifications for the trust, but because lie happened at the time to be the Minister having most leisure at his disposal. It was thought to be a purely temporary arrangement. In these circumstances it will not be surprising if Air Coates ill seeking to strengthen his Ministry in this and other directions looks beyond the ranks of his own party for the material lie requires. THE OPPOSITION. AYitli its niim.Yers reduced to eleven, including Sir Joseph AAard and Mill. Atmore, who have been returned as Independent Liberals, presumably (lie Nationalist-Liberal Party automatically will cease to be the Official Opposition and the Labour Party, with its thirteen members, under the the leadership of Air Harry Holland, will reign in its stead. 1 lie position will be interesting. Of course on all crucial questions Mr Coates will be entirely independent of both parties; Imt in the little matters of courtesy between the “ins" and the “outs which are jealously maintained on both sides, the Prime Minister will be associated with the leader of the new Official Onpo ifimi and may find him ~f :."itc a different temperament from himself. Electoral reform, to which both the Labour Party anil the Liberal Party are committed, suffered a distinct set-back at the polls, Mr Coates having relegated this question to the lumber-room of his party where il is likely to remain during Iris term of office. I!y this time the Labour Party

prolinl.ilv is regretting it did not nrff|)t, as tin.* Idlicriils were prepared l< do, the half (oni .Mr Massey was pro pared to corn-ode two years ago. 'lit concession was not a generous one, i was not even fair lo l.alioiir, hut it acceptance would have saved the l w Oppositions Irom the plight in wine] they now are plunged. They «ill h Inek.v if tliey have such anotln-r op portunity within the* next decade. Til K f. 1C EX'S IXO ROLL. Prohibition fnrcd hot! or thrui \v:» generally expected it would in th Incusing poll, leading I initiuanee hy ; substantial majority and being defeat ed only !iy the votes thrown away 01 State Control. Here again the I’rinn Minister has a elianee to make gooi his proiiiiscs (oii'erniug e-.malily o opportunity. So lone as State Con trol i-emains on the ballot paper in it: present form it will he nothin”; more than an ally to Continuance. It is o apiece with the vote-splitting that eons on in three-cornered and more cornered election contests. Then doubtless ore electors voting Prohibition and others voting Continuance who would rather have State Control than either of the other issues; hut they are debarred from voting for the middle course by their own commonsense which tells thorn that a vote east for State Control under the existing system., is either a vote thrown away or a vote given to Continuance. If State Control must lie on the ballot paper—and it seems desirable it should lie—the system of preferential voting should he applied, so that in the event of the elector's first choice being ineffective his second choice would play its part in the remaining issues. Then none of the parties would have any cause for complaint and the majority would really rule. The Prime Minister is a fair-minded man anil when he understands lie will not continue to scoff at this rcloi in.