WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1929, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

HUTT ELECTION CONTEST. THE LAST DAYS. I (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 16. The Hutt by-election, which ever way its goes, cannot materially affect the strength of parties in the present House of ' Representatives; but scores of politicians, partisans and personal friends are throwing themselves into the fray as if the whole future of the Dominion and its people depended upon the success oi this candidate or that. The Reformers are expending, far more zeal upon this contest than they did upon the general election, when, perhaps, they were over confident of success; and their candidate, Mr Harold Johnston, is sparing no effort to justfiy their predictions of success. One ruse of the Opposition candidate is the dispatch to every elector in the constiuency of a lithographed letter enclosed in a lithographed envelope which looks, for all the world like a direct appeal to the recipient who well might be moved by so direct a petition. Mr 'Johnston has had the advantage of having the two local papers behind him; but apart from this, he has fougTit a good fight and probably will poll well on Wednesday.

“AM. ■INDEPENDENT PRESS.” A good deal of amusement has been occasioned here by the newspaper reports of the three candidates speeches. On Friday night the Hon. J. G. Coates made a fervid appeal on behalf of Mr Johnston. Next day the morning paper under many flaring headlines, proclaimed that “a magnificent reception was accorded to tho Leader of tho Opposition, that he was cheered to the echo as he enteied the hall, again oiv rising to speak; that the meeting throughout was wildly enthusiastic, that the applause at times was deafening and thrat a vote of thanks and confidence was Carried iby acclamation.” And so on and so on, there being, accoiding tin’s authority, “thunderous applause,” “outbursts of cheering,” and ‘‘wild enthusiasm.” The evening paper was scarcely so enthusiastic over Mr ‘Coates’s reception. “Although Air Coates was allowed to get through his spceech and to make his points,” it recorded, “it was impossible to determine exactly what the meeting thought of the merits of the vote of confidence.” So much foi local testimony. OTHER STORIES. Accounts supplied iby accredited correspondents ■ to the Auckland. Christchurch and Dunedin papers tell somewhat different stories, • from the on© put about by the local morning paper. “Announcing a policy speech, Air Coates addressed a crowded audiece at Peton© to-night,” says the correspondent of a Christchurch paper. “The Reform candidate, who subsequently made a provocative anti labour speech, could not be heard above the continuous din, but the Opposition leader received a good healing, subject to steady interruption, which, he good-humouredly tolerated, as it never prevented him making his points. A vote of thanks to Air Coates was moved and was greeted with chcjers from one section and a counter demonstration from Labour.” In Petone, where many workers reside, Ali Coates and his candidate were bound to meet with a good deal of noisy interruption, and courageous as It may have boon, it was not very tactful on the part of Air Johnston to seize the opportunity to denounce official Labour. CABINET CHANGES. The “Dominion” this morning, in all good faith, no doubt, deplores the

changes of portfolios that have saddled the Prime Minister with the Postmaster-Giuieralshi’" and relieved him of none of the other half-dozen departments for which he holds himself responsible. “His colleagues,” the morning paper declares, “should insist on relieving him of part of ho load. Tn do so would ho in his personal interests, quite apart from th national question of the proper conduct of the country’s business.” ' It is plain that Sir Joseph Ward, whether physically fit or not, has burdened himself with a heavier load tlnr one man should carry; but no °n closely acquainted with Sir Joseph as Prime Minister can imagine him relinquishing .any portfolio he thought he should hold. 'III this particular case, and in the circumstances existing, it seems highly desirable that a Minister controlling the finances of the Dominion and closely acquaint'"' with the affairs of the Post and Telegraph Department should carry the dual burden.