WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE EDEN BY-ELECTION. LABOUR SUCCESS. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON. April 1G: The result of the Eden by-election was generally anticipated here, and perhaps the wish was in a measure father to the thought. There was a widespread feeling that -Miss Melville had linen badly treated by the Rclorin organisation and that many of the supporters ot the party, sure of its supremacy in the House during the life of the present Parliament, would give their votes to the lady candidate as an expression of their personal sympathy. Then, it was reported here that quite a considerable number ol women, who previously had voted Labour, were turning towards Miss Melville in the belief that a slight had been east upon a member of their sex who previously had fought strenuously on their behalf and who had a much better aequaintance with general politics than had the gentlemen preferred before her. Finally it was known that Sir James Gunson was not politically popular and that his platform efforts had not been particularly encouraging. Taking all these factors into account Wellington was disposed to lay a shade ot odds on the Labour candidate, a comparatively young man with a distinguished career at Wellington College and the New Zealand University behind him and all his enthusiasms remaining unimpaired. Mr Mason will be a distinct acquisition to the Labour Parlv and te.iy go far in the public life of the Dominion. THE VOTING. The Prime Minister say's, very truly, that "the result of the election afford* another example of the evil effects ol vote splitting." The statement on the subject he issued to the papers this morning—after careful consideration. it may he judged—though probably already broadcasted through the Press Association may hear repetition. " r lho voting." he adds. " shows definitely a majority ol 1600 voles lor the- Government. Labour. theroloro by a - large minority vote, secures the scai. The responsibility for this result mustbe borne by those whose actions have enabled a safe Reform seat to be handed over to the Labour Party. I sincerely hope that the experience of today will nrove an object lesson lor the future, and demonstrate that unless loyalty and wholehearted support tiro forthcoming when the occasion calls for it, the result must inevitable be failure." The assertion that "the voting shows definitely a majority ol over 1600 for the Government.” and the inference that Miss Melville and her friends are responsible for handing "a safe Reform seat. . . over to the Labour Party " both are open to question. A "sale seat " is one on which a party can lay its hand confidently on a majority and in this case it is obvious the Reformers had no such ad vantage. WHAT HAPPENED. At the general election of 1022. a little more than three years ago. when there were three candidates for the Eden seat. Sir James Parr (Reform) polled .'iOOl votes, Mr 11. G. M.ason .‘1226, and Air F. S. Martin (Liberal) 1.202. Here Sir .James was in a minority of 717 votes, but no one thought of throwing bricks at hint on that account. At the general election of 1022, five months ago. three candidates again contested the Eden seat, and on the crest of the " Coates' wave " Sir James won bv a maioiitv of 2218 votes, polling 7158. while Mr Mason polled |822 and Air Grigg. a Nationalist. I IS. The Coates mane operated in the same way throughout: the Auckland district, and indeed, all over the country. Air A. Harris, the member for Wnitemnta, for instance, who hold his scat in a triangular contest in 1922 by a minority of 771 i votes, last November in a similar ceiilest secured a inajoritv of 1921 votes over the totals of both his opponents. It was the .same Air Harris on both occasions, a careful conscientious partisan who. in 1922 found the prestige of his party slipping away and in 1025 found it restored . Koiecthing of the same kind has lutopened in Eden in a brief live months. Over two thousand Reformers refused to respond to the party whip vesterdav and the occupancy of the seat two years and a-half hence depends largely noon the use Air Coates makes of his opportunities. VOTE SPLITTING. The Prime .Minister has not yet found time for any serious study of electoral systems', and in this respect '■c is no more unfortunate than have been most of his predecessors of recent years. Sir Francis Bell, as matter ol tact, is the only .Minister of the Crown since Air Balhmee’s death that has given more than the most stiper-li'-ial attention to this all-important suhiect. Air Seddoii. Sir Joseph AVard and Air Massey, all in turn, toyed with the problem of electoral reform, but one may say so in all charity, their purpose seemed to bo rather to entrench their own party behind some crude restricted system, than to open l be wav to really comprehensive popular representation on equitable lines. -Mr Contes talks about vote-splitting ; as it it were a. grave impropriety for t which Al.iss Afclville mainly was re- 1 sponsible ; but surely lie must know, if only Irom observations lie has beard I dropped in the House, that the re- i sponsibility rests on successive Govern- I ments that have promised reform over ami over again and never raised an efleetive hand to bring it about. Votesplitting, by the wav. lias not served the Prime Alinister himself so badly in the oast. At the recent general election his party was in a minoritv of u over forty thousand votes, but thanks i to vote splitting between its oppou- ( enls it secured a huge majrity in ’ Parliament. The remedy for this sort of thing now lies in Air Coates's own M hand.