The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast limes. SATURDAY, OCTOBER l, 1927. ALTER RAGLAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast limes. SATURDAY, OCTOBER l, 1927. ALTER RAGLAN.

Of the Raglan election it can hardly he said the result produced a .surprise. The vote-splitting which was apparent made it possible tor Labor to he picked as the most probable winner, and that surmise came to pass. The result is of more than passing moment to the Government, not that their occupancy of the Treasury benches is threatened immediately, but because of the loss of prestige. b'irst went the Ministerial seat 'held by Sir James Parr, and now has gone the Ministerial sent held by the late Mr Pollard. The lesson is one for the Government, which it appears Mr Coates lias realised, hut hits been slow to profit from. Wlmt has happened ;it Rag'an has been predicted over and over again where vote splitting is involved in a triangular contest. Raglan has emphasised that in a way very unpleasant to the Government. At the same time, Labor is to lie congratulated on what must lie regarded its a decisive win in all the circumstances. Never before has any constituency been wooed as Raglan was courted. Parliamentarians were on a score of platforms nightly, and the whole issue was stated with groat clearness. To win the seat it was necessary for a great change over of the voting from Reform to Labor, and that came to pass, despite tire efforts of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Lands by their presence and eloquence to save tho situation. Perhaps tho party was handicapped to some extent by the choice of candidates, the Reform noI mince not putting n very satisfactory [ figure on the platform. But the fact that the seat could not lie won dims the prestige of Reform all through the country, nlul gives cause for the party to pause and examine the political situation in some detail. Outside of the Raglan issue, there is the New Party looming abend, an organisation which primarily appears to be an offshoot of Reform itself. This development promises to have some effect on the fortunes of the party also, a tact which emphasises the general seriousness of tlie situation. But quite the chief part for concern to Reform is the swing over to Labor of such a Targe portion of former Government votes. Mr Bollard polled 1470 votes and Mr Waring recorded 2010. a heavy decline. On the other hand. Mr Piggnlt. the former Labor candidate polled 101 t, while Mr Martin scored 2103. It is worthy of notice,* too, that the increase in file Liberal vote was not large, though the Country party candidate made some headway. The voting of the latter two on the whole was no doubt anti-Labor, and therein is disclosed how Labour won, thank’s to substantial toll it took of the Reform votes. There is no doubt that of late serious strictures have been ipnssed on the Government, and in the election tire most was made of tlie sins of omission and commission. Auckland province in which Raglan is situated, has been strongly pro-Government since Mr Massey held sway, and the decline in the circumstances becomes all the more significant. The result of the election should be as a spur to the Government to shape its course more in

keeping with the needs of tho occasion, and leave less ground for criticism. The shadow of the tariff and the fresh taxation, the mismanagement of the unemployed position, and the negative land policy, all of which were pointedly emphasised, are looming prominently at this juncture and served to emphasise the position agaiust tho Government. On a. ;former occasion Mr Coates had the opportunity “to consolidate forces,’’ but he missed the opportunity. Perhaps the lesson now repeated will give the party occasion lo think over the trend of the political situation again.