ELECTION RESULTS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1928, Page 6

ELECTION RESULTS

NEWSPAPER OPINIONS

PARLIAMENT SHOULD BE SUMMONED.

AUCKLAND, Nov. 15

In the course of an editorial nuclei' the caption of “A Now Political Situation,” to-day’s “Herald” says:

“The verdict of the country as expressed at the polls has gone against the Government. It has suffered <i very definite reverse and must how to the facts as they now present themselves. As a minority of the House facing an opposing force, which, although divided, overwhelmingly outnumbers it, the Reform Party must give place to some other on the Treasury benches. The Government lias lost the mandate it held in the last Parliament with such overwhelming strength.

“Attention must be given at once to what will follow this turnover. At the moment-of writing the exact situation is not perfectly clear, but the possible outcome is reasonably discernible. Tt seems probable that Mr Coates will command the strongest party, the margin being a small one. That brings the circumstances sufficiently close to those which followed the election of 1911 to suggest the course that should be followed. On that occasion Sir Joseph Ward summoned PaiTiaiment find afraited,- the result of the vote of The House. It took sometime for the position to clarify, but after two attempts all doubts were settled where they should be, in Parliament itself. The Independent members then held the keyof the position. Now there are three clearly defined parties with several members not pledged to any of them, as. well as a certain number who have given qualified undertakings about what they will do on a no-confidence motion. The be-t way out of it all is for Parliament to be summoned at the earliest possible moment. There should even be time between the return of the writs and Christmas for the issue to be settled as it was before, on the floor of the House.

“As to what will happen when the rival parties face one another in the Chamber it is too early to speculate. The main point is that the Government of the country must be carried, on and if there arc to be compromises to that end, or if a dissolution may *>4 necessary the country should see all business leading to either eventuality settled in Parliament.”

‘A MYYSTTFYTXG SURPRISE.’

WELLINGTON. Nov,. 15

The “Dominion” says: “To a. great many serious-minded citizens - the results of the elections will come as a

somewhat mystifying surprise. Althomxli the precise state of the parlies has yet to bo finalised bv absent votes the fact remains that tbo Government Party will not command a Majority over the Opposition parties in the new Parliament and the United Party has dispossessed the Labour-Social i*ts ot their short-lived status as the official Opposition, and may even be* the dominant party in numerical strength.

“Tire result may fairly be described as one of those unaccountable swine backs of public opinion, which has been the experience of all political parties. There can he no doubt that the recent depression, created a state of mind in the electorate that could 'bo favourably exploited by political opportunists. A Government, handicapped by limitations of Empire-wide degression entirely beyond its control, does the right thing when it conserves its resources and in the general interest carries on with a safe policy for the time h n ing. The Reform Government Im* shared with the general public the adversities of the economic depression. Throughout the past three years it has urged people' to co-operate with it in a spirit of prudence and courage in maintaining the stability of the country until’the danger, point was passed. This policy’has enabled the nation to emerge from the crisis with unimpaired credit and stable finance. Ibis a remarkably fine achievement and most, creditable to Mr Coates and his colleagues, but human nature is ever prone to blame others for adversity and to rebel agiust the restraints of economy. Thus it has .happened- that the intrinsic merit of the Government s policy has been inadequately appreciated. At the same time the ears of the groundlings have been tickled by the showy pretensions of the United Party which has promised easy millions, less responsibilites and other lures calculated to tempt those "ho find healthy and necessary, but puiolv temporary economy, irksome.

“On the whole the Labour-Socialists cannot very well regard the result as indicative of increased public sympathy for their aspirations, indeed, had it not been for vote splitting caused by 'the‘intrusion of the United Partv opportunist, into what otheiwise' would have been a straight-out contest, they would act.’MK- have made a worse showing than thev did. as an analysis of the figures will make perfectly clear.

“Three Ministers, Messrs M’Leod, JELawkcn and Rollcston have lost thenseats. That the first-”-nrml, who has proved himself to ho an able Minister of Lands, should have defeated hv an opponent whose political opportunism has been amply demonstrated, is really amazing and regrettable. Both

Mr Hawk-on” and Mr Rolloston have l,con. solid, and conscientious administrators, and in their retirement horn the political arena, which one may hope will he only temporary, the country will be poorer. ‘■The situation now presented m from the point of view of the national interest distinctly unsatisfactory, ft is a return to the three-party tein. which means a Period of. Political instability with the possibility of a. mere handful of Labour-Socialists holding the balance of power. In the meantime all that can be done Is to wait until the situation has been definitely established by the complete returns of polling, upon which the Prime Minuter will no doubt make a. statement of his intentions.”