WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1930, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTION

LABOUR JUBILANT

(Special Correspondent)

T WELLINGTON, October 29. Members and friends of the Labour Party here are jubilant over the result of the New South Wales election, and many of them are predicting, with an appearance of confidence, a similar result in New Zealand next year. Their hopes, apparently, are based on the expectation that the Umteds and Reformers will join hands for the purpose of staying the progress of Labour, and so make such a mess of affairs that the third party will have a good chance of success. Members of both the oldei parties in the House are more than a Little perturbed by the possibilities of the .outlook. The Labour Party, which a few years ago was clamouring 01 proportional representation, is now looking askance at this system of election and praying that the “first past the post” system will be spared to minorities for many a long day. I roportional representation would at once (r]ve Reform an equitable share of city representation and Labour a fair quota in the country districts. • ; LABOUR’S DOUBTS. In this respect it is interesting to recall that after, the general election at Home, which placed Mr Ramsay MacDonald and his colleagues on the freasmy benches, the new Prime Minister went a very long way towards assuring Mr Lloyd George that proportional representation would be introduced in the Mother Country. At this distance all seemed to be going well in this direction until it was announced that a majority of the Labour, Party would accept proportional representation on y on terms involving conditions outside the original proposal, Labour was quite logical in demanding reduced election expenses ; prohibition of motor cars on polling days; abolition ot plural voting, readjustment of electorates, simplification of election petitions and Vatibus other reforms; but these demands broke up the Conference to which -they were referred, and it is highly-probable that similar tactics would fie employed by Labour were pro portional representation submitted to the New Zeaalnd Parliament whose lower House contains no fewer than thirty-eight European minority members in a total of seventy-six. SELF HELP. Tlve “Dominion” this morning holds out a congratulatory hand to the workers.in Christchurch who have promoted a company to engage in co-operat-ive contracting. “While it is not clear from the report how the oi ganisation is going to function,” it says, “it is at least plain that the unemployed have set out to help themselves. That impulse is -worthy of every,, encourage, ihent. Too many of those out of work have latterly insisted on their right to work” and seem to expect that every thing should be done for them. It is good'to see that some of them are displaying initiative instead of leaning on the community. If the idea contains the germ of something practical it should be one of the first tasks of the Unemployment Board to investigate and give it a wider application.” The means of applying the scheme still have to oe disclosed, hut on the surface it looks as if the Christchurch' workers were realising the value of self help. The outcome will be awaited with much interest. “FIRST THINGS FIRST.” Under this heading the “Evening Post” presents its opinion of the session of Parliament just closed with unwonted candour. “The failure to proceed with a Transport Bill or to carry railway reform to the legislative point,’ it says, “would appear quite inexcusable. Parliament, indeed, spent a lot of its time and energy with unprofitable endurance tests—swinging clubs when there was wood waiting to be chopped. Tf these unprofitable methods are to be changed next session, there must be stronger leadership—a leadership that will put first things first at the beginning of the session, and afford no excuses for time-wasting.” The evening paper does not often treat itself to an outburst of this kind, and it may he pardoned for its assumption of indignation. As a matter of fact, however, the session of Parliament just closed wasted no more time than did a sucession of its predecessors. Nor was the Government alone to blame.