WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

CASTING VOTES. LYTTELTON AND WESTLAND. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, November 10. Jhid there been anything like a close division of parties as a result ol tlie recent election of members ol the House of Representatives the keenest public intrest would have been aroused in the undecided contests in Lyttelton and Westland. As it was, with the Reformers assured ol tin overwhelming majority and the Labourites and the Liberals in hopeless minorities, the interest in the doubtful returns was of a purely personal character. Some surprise was occasioned Inst night, however, when it was announced that the two contests had resulted in a tie and in both cases the returning o Hicer had given his casting vote against: the retiring member. Ihe newspapers had hee.ii busy while the results were in suspense in explaining that precedent required the returning officer in the event of a tie to east his vote in favour of the retiring member.

and so maintain the status quo, so to speak, as is done by the Speaker of the House when a motion of no-cun-riileiice in the Government results m a lie. Hut it turns out that llare is ~,, pi-e.-eden! tor such a course as the

newspapers have been urging, and ilia! in the only previous case ol a tie in ilr election ot a member ol the House i,|;c returning ollieer with the npioval of the candidates got out ol i,is dilemma liv the loss ot a com. THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION. 1 1 is being assumed here that both the defeated candidates will apply for a magisterial count. Hi that case the seal s mav hang in the balance lot several weeks and the position would have been extremely interesting had the Government’s majority amounted to only one or two. Even as it is the result will lie fraught with some importance apart from the addition of one member to tlie strength ot this party or that. As it happens both the candidates rejected by the returning ndUci's"’ casting vote are members of i he Labour Party and their filial exelusion from the House will reduce their party’s strength to eleven, while the accession of Mr T. E. Seddon to the Nationalist Party, counting Sir .Joseph Ward and Mr 11. At more among its members, will increase its strength to twelve and apparently entitle it to retain such kudos and privileges as appertain to the Official Opposition. A regrettable feature in connection with the decisions in Lyttelton and Westland is that both the returning officers concerned arc members of the Civil Service, postmasters for their respective districts. It is extremely unlair to imply, as i- being done in certain circles, that their casting votes were inllueiiced liy this fact, hut it obviously is undesirable that Civil servants, holding high positions, should be requirt'd to express their party prelercnees in this public way. Even the toss of a coin would he less open to objection. THE PRICE OK BREAD. Mr J. J. McGrath, the Independent Nationalist candidate lor the Wellington North seat at the recent general election, whose rousing speeches ensured him crowded audiences throughout the campaign, made a clarion call for a reduction in the price ol bread. Apparently his appeal was nut unheard hv people in a position to give it emphasis. “There is no Food Council in New Zealand," said the " Po.-t ill discussing the question last evening. “ nor. happily, a gripping poverty that enhances the value ol a reduction ol !,d or Id on a Inal ot bread. At the same time, Ihe price ol bread, one shilling per -llh loaf over the counter.

is inordinately high in comparison with tin; price in I oiidon. iviicre it rupees nil Hit !•(!. Mauulacturng costs here, i f course, tire higher. lon. allowing for t Inu the price ol bread is still 1 1 irir'. ill \, \v /onhind in comparison wiHi prices in (.rein Britain i’.nd in Australia. . Much as the policy ol si’ll-reliiillec for wheal has to coiiimeiiil it, circiinisianet's lieve nrisen that cull lor a tin.rough review ol the wheat position in the general interest. It is one of the lirsl things th.e Government should ijeid with as soon as everything is in wvikmg order.” The seed .sentiered 1 1 rondeast hy Mr McGrath dining the t-i -i tii n eainpaign is taking root, and tl.e Minister ol Agrienltnre is likely i : i,e i|nos!ioiied closely on the subject !»v eli v representatives during the lirst ton of the new Parliament. CABINET MAKING. The ** Dominion ” lliis morning pnh lisl h• s a sigiiiiea ill earioon in which h depicts the lion. ,1. Contes •• Ciil'iinet-niiikcr.” as if styles him i. in s t rue tiii g an article ol lurintiire in uhicli tl.e portfolios ol Railways, Editc.ition. hands. Agriculture and I’nhlie Works have heell given their portions, v.hiie tho-e of hinanco. I.ahotir. Internal Ali'airs, Justice, I‘nhlie Health. Xati.e Affairs. .Marine and Aitoriie.vfi'eneral lie strewn ahonl the floor where tlie Prime Minister stands ' latching his head in evident perplexity. The cartoon seems to suggest that having placed half a dozen portfolios in position he is at his wits’ end to know how to deal with the eight lying mound his feel. I.ahotir. Internal Affair'. Public Health, and Native Affairs Irek ;i' if marked off for disposition, in directions which already have been inherited, hut the Attorney-General-ship. which in all probability will represent the leadership of the hegishitive Ci,cued, and Finance are harder propositions. 'I he death ot Mr Massev and the retirement of Sir Prancis Bell and Sir Heaton Rhodes have lelt three vacant chairs at the Cabinet table, and the manner in which Labour, Internal Alfairs, Public Health and Finance are treated in this picture may mean that other seats will he available. The future may nor hold fusion, but it probably bolds very drastic reeonsrruct inn.