The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1926. THE WESTLAND SEAT.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1926. THE WESTLAND SEAT.

Al'TiCit nearly four months of time the Westland Elect ion, held in ■Novomher last lias Iren determined finally. Tlie lii'st thought in timneetion with Urn matter is the great delay and uuceriaiitiy imiiosed to yet the machinery in working order In try out smh cases, i’ruhahlv the Christmas- vm-:t-

turn had some part in delaying i.he '■iiting of the Mice! ion Court, lull in a matter of such importance there •should l>c some method bv which the necessary machinery could he speeded up to settle a ipicstiou which lias such wide effect- and interest. As to the

deeisimi only in a more emphatic manner. No dnnht tlie petitioner was chagrined at losing flu? seat, and his effort was to >ij)V't the election if possible. 'Lite Returning Officer appears to have conducted tlie eleetion with scrupulous care, and those who Innl anything to do witlt (he election will appreciate also his fairness in the whole proceedings. We Intve only to recall the puhlie acknowledgement made hy the scrutineers for the eandidates at the time of the official eomit

to conlirm the .statement iust made. Naturally there are many pitfalls for I he unwary (■lector in filling in electoral forms. There is always a rush and much persistent canvassing on the eve. of an eleetion, and partisans are cayco 1 always to enrol possible .supporters. I’erhaps the wonder is that mo more irregnlari ties were discovered. liiil hero pernio lice electoral offieer most have carried util hi.s duties verv thoroughly. The sustained return oi NTr Soddon will give his supporters and friends every satisfaction. The Westland seat, so essentially a Liberal seat, is attain in the keeping of a Liberal. This will -jivo it ratification to followers of the old party -which has done so mtieli for New Zealand, all through the Dominion. Mr Seddon has borne himself well in the difficult position in which the challenged election petition found him. He lia.s been aide to reply in a very effective manner, and it is not disclosing anv secrets perhaps to say that if need were, oven a larger majority could have ba?n sought- on the re-examination of the voters’ status. Mr O'llrien has done his best to secure the sea: after disposition. That he failed was not clue to any personal shortcoming. for he and Ids friends seemed to have used a small-tooth comb in the endeavour to search out defective votes, or any ground on which the tables could he turned. While ho was member, Air O’Brien, us has been remarked in these columns previously, endeavoured to do his best, but he was not a real persona gratia with the bulk of the electors. No doubt a good deal of •support lie received was not for hintfell' or his party, hut for other reasons. That support placed him in a false position and really led to Ids undoing. But tlie exrerienrv? for tho electorate should he profitable, and there are some lessons to he learned all round. Xow that the fight is

over, the hatchet may bo buried and all work for the common veal. AVestlaiul needs all the help it can receive, and in particular, unity of action within. Air SeJdon. with his restored prestige, will be able to help materially. and it is for till sections of the electorate to combine anti help him till they can to promote the legitimate interests of the district in and out of Parliament.