The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1929. THE HUTT ELECTION."

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1929. THE HUTT ELECTION."

'I HE Hutt by-election set down for tomorrow seems to be exciting more concern among the Parliamentary leaders than the circumstances of the caso really warrant. TJie state of the parties is such that whoever may be elected does not vitally affect the numerical strength of the respective parties but no doubt the leaders feel that their prestige will be enhanced somewhat if they can score a victory. Reform appears to have made a tactical blunder in entering the fray so soon after the rout of the last general election. On that occasion the party let the. Hutt seat go by default, and the contest was between Liberal and Labour, and the former won rather handsomely. In entering the fray now the party is calling direct attention to its sins of omission and commission on which it has been judged already, and the defeat at the polls a year ago, is being rather aggravated at the present election when the ex-Prime Minister is on the platform, Reform

is credited with having a worthy candidate in the field but the record of the party is his undoing and he is not having a smooth run by any means. The upshot is likely to be such a splitting of votes that the Labour candidate will win the seat, which is and has been Liberal for so long. If this comes to pass through the interposition of Refonr it will not he creditable to the record of that party, for it will display the usual lack of foresight in political organisation whereby as on funnel' occasions, Reform by its action has stupidly helped Labour candidates to victory. In the present instance the Labour candidate is reputed to be a possible representative out of the ordinary. He has talents which will be useful to him, if not blindly following the extreme policy which Labour at times is disposed to pursue. He is likely to be a constitutionalist, and that is a saving grace in these

days when the communistic element is endeavouring to sway Labour to extreme class action, the result of which can he but the serious up setting ol Dominion affairs and prospects. The Liberals have in Mr Kerr one who has been closely attached to them all through his career. His candidature is being supported ably by several of the Ministers, and with the man a of Sir Joseph Ward behind him, it is possible for Mr Kerr to snatch a close victory. The unfortunate aspect is the illness of the Prime Minister debarring his appearance on the public platform. There is no doubt of the three leaders of Parliament lie is facile princeps, and as Mr Atinore has put it so pointedly, Sir Joseph is the man in whom Mutt should place its trust at present However, whatever the result, the political situatioiijas it hats existed since the general election, .will not be really affected. The>yesnlt is not going to unset any balance of power. The outstanding personality of Sir Joseph Ward is going to maintain the Liberals for office, for the parties are so situated, that while Reform does not wish to see Labour in power, nor does Labour wish, to sbq Reform returned to power, the two are compelled as it were, to keep the Liberals in office. And in so doing the Government of the country has progressed smoothily during the year. The administration has been capable and careful, and with that record to its credit, the Hutt electors will be well advised to appreciate the position tomorrow and not disturb the balance of parties by defeating the Liberal representative.