WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1928, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE POLITICAL LANDSLIDE

GOVERN*!ENT DEFEATED

(Special to “ Guardian ”.)

M ELLINGTON, November 15. Wellington, which prides itself upon being the best-informed political centre in the Dominion, having predicted that the Reform Party would emerge from the general election with a somewhat reduced majority, hut otic still sufficiently large to serve all its purposes, is to-day the most surprised city in the whole country. A few rabid opponents of the Government had professed to believe that its majority would he reduced to ton or twelve at the polls, hut- the Prime Minister himself smiled broadly at such a suggestion and declared from the platform that his own observation and the assurance of his friends satisfied him that the strength of his 'party would he rather increased than reduced at the polls. His awakening to the facts of the situation when the returns began to come in was not long delayed. Wellington and Auckland speedily made their attitude plain, and Christchurch and Dunedin, though less prompt, helped to swell the Labour and United figures, lly ten o’clock it was obvious that something had gone wrong with the Reform calculations and before midnight Mr Coates frankly acknowledged his defeat. THE REASONS WHY. To-day speculation is rife as to the causes of the Government’s debacle. It is admitted that there was no lack of funds for the hacking of the Reform campaign, and that the Prime Minister spared himself no effort in prosecuting the campaign. Mr Scddon and Mr Massey on such occasions were accustomed to work in a somewhat different way, hut they could not have worked harder than did their successor. Paradoxical as it may seem, Air Coates’s spectacular success in 1925 was the chief factor in the undoing of the Reform Party yesterday. Three years ago the successor to Mr Massey, with the halo of the great Reform leader about his brow, could say ami do things that could not he* appropriately repeated three years later. Mr Coates had learned little in Poway of election-craft in the interval and. encouraged by his newspaper friends in the inexcusable craft of “ personalities,” every speech lie delivered during his recent campaign lost Um more votes P--” it won. Personal disparagement of his oppoiv hose same friends further aggra>••••’ the position, and is largely responsible for the failure of Reform to hold its own without the assistance* of the Massey traditions. Mr J. N. Mass<-y, who has been returned for the Frankli” scat by a narrow majority, must look elsewhere for the example of his distinguished father. GONE AND COM E.

The casuality list in connection wifi’ vestorday’s contest is a long and notable one. Three Ministers rJf tlm Crown have gone down in the melee. Mr F. J. Rolleston. Mr A. D. AHLeorf and Air O. J. llawken—all figures of -onsequenco. Air Rollest-m. inherit-ng many of his great father’s ideals, perhaps is too frank to maintain a permanent hold upon any constituency . hut he is sure to return to Parliament where he has made a distinct lini'J* all in good time. Air McLeod is another politician possessing commendable qualities which may not a 1 wavs appeal to the public, and there is lilt 1 - doubt that sooner or later he will he back in the House. AH h . I'. Mo-klv 'Rotorua), Afr.R. P. Hudson (ARt.tiekn), Air W. J. Girling (WairanV AH A. Hamilton (Wallace), and Air E. P. Lee (Oamaru) are other notable losses from the Reform ranks, and they are succeeded by United or Labour members not likely to he easily displaced. The crowning triumph on the side of the United Party is the increase of Sir -Tosenli Ward’s majority Ifrom 159 to 2,923. It is a wonderful personal achievement. THE FUTURE. Just what will happen in the immediate future is at the moment a matter of speculation. Tho Prime Ministci has cleared the way to some extent by announcing that lie will call his colleagues together immediately to deter mine the next step the Government will take. This, of course, is the proper constitutional proceeding. Air Coates is in a much more difficult position to-day than AH Massey was in 1925 when he managed to retain office by virtue of two Ahaori votes and the objection of the Hon. L. M. lsitt and the Hon. G. Witty to any association with tho Labour Party. The Maori votes are now evenly divided between the Reform Party and the United Party and apparently there are no detachable members in the ranks of the latter party. It may be expected, therefore, that Air Coates after consulting with his colleagues will make representations in regard to the position to the Governor-General and that I-Tis Excellency in due course will accept his advice, which probably will Into send for Sir Joseph Word, for tlm purpose of consulting him m regard to the position.