The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the Wont Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1928. THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1928, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the Wont Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1928. THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Tins is election eve, and to-morrow New Zealand will choose its Parliament for the next term of three years. During the .last month since the close of the late session, the candidates in all parts of the Dominion have been busy stumping the country. Pride of place must lie given to the Prime Minister who has carried out a most intensive campaign, first in the South Island, then under very high pressure in the North Island where lie winds up tonight He has been the busiest of all the Ministers, some of whom have not ventured out of their own electorates, so keen has been the fighting in their constituencies. Those who have gone abroad, have not travelled far from home, which fact bears out the general impression that Reform is strictly on its trial. Three years ago the country gave very wholehearted confidence to the Coates Government. At the timo Mr Coates was seated very firmly in the Premiership. There had been some talk of fusion as between Reform atm the Nationalists prior to the election, and Sir Joseph Ward certainly opened the door for such an alliance. But the polling gave Reform such an advantage that it was felt that party could paddle its own canoe without t4ie assistance of the Nationalists. There was ample strength within the party itself to account twice over for the opposition, and that independent position left Reform completely masters of the situation. Three years have passed, and the electors have the record of performances before them. Reform claims achievements whipli their opponents ridicule.and complain that in the present position of the country there is a very negative answer to those claims. In the recent months, the Nationalists have enlarged into the United Party, and the signs are such that Reform would have l>ecn wiser three years ago to seek the political aid of the old Liberals, not for any matter of numerical strength, but for that leaven of progressive thought and application which has always distinguished the Liberal policy. Now that the United Party appears on the scene it offers a robust, progressive policy which has given to the political outlook a very heartening effect, and the leaders of the Government have l>een bestirred to the fullest, capacity to defend their policy and their actions up and down the country. The third factor in the country’s political prospects, is the Labour Party. This party has been most assertive in tho metropolitan centres. It has revised its policy very considerably of late, much of the extreme socialism being dropped. But here and there, a candidate, more red than the usual, lets the

secret out of the bag, and actually it is found that the objective of the Party

is really as extreme as ever. But playin';; on the soft pedal in political addresses and keeping back much of the fantastic ideas which once were in the forefront, the candidates in some quarters manage to delude the unwary and the Party is able to display some strength. The fate of the polls will be revealed to-morrow night, and as far as can be guaged, the country will continue to favour .Mr Coates as the leader. His majority is certain to be de-

fused considerably but there is a good margin to work on. The United and Labour parties will fight out the privilege of being the Official Opposition. It is conceivable that these two parties may outnumber the Government. but even in that event Mr Coates will be safe because most of the United Party arc pledged not to vote on a no-confidence motion to assist Labour into office, nor to displace the Government, if the Uniteds have to rely on the Labour support. Should matters reach such a fine adjustment of parties, it is not unlikely there will lie some arrangement by which "Reform will carry on, and if that bargain is made it may result in some measure of the United policy being adopted. If that transpires the alliance may lead up to the ultimate fusion of the parties, and finally result in an end to the three party system. It will thus be seeii that to-morrow’s poll is pregnant with possibilities.