THE PARNELL SEAT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1930, Page 1

THE PARNELL SEAT

(Christchurch Times). The resignation of Mr H. R. Jenkins, member of Parliament for Parnell has brought the political situation hack into the limelight, and revived interest in the attitude which that gentleman adopted when he announced his retirement from the party that the electors sent hint to Parliament to support. Following his withdrawal from the United Party Mr Jenkins apparently arrived at the conclusion that the party was able to do without him, and now he proposes, somewhat rashly, to put to the issue of a poll by the electors (the question of whether Parnell can do without him. It is a question that does not seem difficult, on the face of things, to answer, and the political career of Mr Jenkins seems destined to be short, if interest-

When Mr Jenkins won this seat for the United Party from the Reform Party, ho captured a stronghold that Reform had held with increasing ease since 1911. It was, of course, a notable victory, and one calculated to bring much kudos to the bearer of the party banner who accomplished it. This fact, perhaps, has served to upset somewhat Mr Jenkin’s judgement

in the matter, and to make it difficult for him to appreciate exactly where Mr Jenkins stands and where the United Party stands in public estimation.

It is just possible that lie has overlooked the very important point that his win at the last general election was a win for the party whose cause he espoused, rather than a victory for the

individual. The verdict of the country at the last election was an emphatic pronouncement against the - Reform

administration; it was not in any way an endorsement of the qualities of successful candidates judged purely as individuals and apart from their party affiliations. When Mr Jenkins next faces the electors it will be as a politiean still voung in experience, who has reconsidered the attitude he previously took up, and who has voiced a willingness to support the very policy that the 'electors, in returning him last time, gave their verdict against. It is likely that he will face the electors shorn ol all party affiliations He has knocked at the door of Reform, somewhat tentatively at the outset,, and then, apparently, with a little more insistence, but the indications are that any attempt to open that door to him will

result in a rush by other candidates

whose political history better entitle them to the Reform nomination thai does that of Mr Jenkins.

This conclusion is encouraged by the announcement made by Mr J. S. Dickson, the former occupant of the seat, that he will stand in the Reform interests. In addition, there is the claim made by Mr A. J. Burrows, former Reform organiser in Tauranga, who places reliance on a .promise given to him by the late Mr Massey, ft appears, therefore, that there will lie no dearth of candidates with good claims to the Reform nomination, and. in these circumstances, the leaders ol that party may find themselves far too busy straightening out the threatened tangle within their ranks to he able to make the “sufficiently •pressing” overtures that Mr Jenkins says he requires. Mr Jenkins, then, is likely to bo left out in the coTd to face the issue of polling day as an independent. It appears certain that such a happening can have only one result for Mr Jenkins.