WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1931, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

GENERAL ELECTION

PARTIES PREPARATIONS

(Special Correspondent).

WELLINGTON, July 15

With the general election of 1931 at hand—may be two months hence oi 1 three'or four—it is interesting to look; back upon the election of three years ago, which was marked by two startling ■ surprises, the debacle of the Reform Party and the resurrection, so to speak, of the United-Liberal Party. Reform, contesting seventy-one seats in a field of seventy-six European constituencies, ■secured twenty-seven seats; United-Lib-eral, with sixty-one candidates, thirty seats ; Labour with fifty-seven candidates eighteen seats, and “Independents”; with twenty-three candidates, one seat, easily captured by the Speaker, Sir Charles Statham. There have been some changes in the constitution of the Rouse since then, Reform losing the Waipaiya seat to United, United losing the .Parnell «ekt .to Reform,, and » ev « ral P revloUP • supporters of United asserting their independence. Labour, of course • remains intact, but .at least one of sts members has betrayed a disposition to develop a conscience of his own. ’ THREE party problem. ; At the general election of ‘1925, it is worth recalling, Reform secured, fiftytwo European it at a, leaving the four Maori seats evenly divided between the iwo older parties, Tbi# means the Reform with 46.7 per cent, of the votes polled secured fifty-two of the seventysix European seats, while United-Liberal with 24.2 per cent, of the votes secured * eleven seats, 'Labour with 27.2 per cent, twelve .seats and “Independents” with I.9, per cent., one seat. This is by no means the only occasion on which the [Reform Party enjoyed the smiles of chance. At the crucial election of 1914 __ithe ‘war election, which ended in the formation of the i'National Cabinet Reform with-253,496 votes secured thirtynine seats while Liberal--with' 272,431 yotes secured only thirty-seven. At .the succeeding election, which marked the conclusion* of the' war truce, Reform with 206,461: votes secured forty-four while liberal, Labour and Independents together with 336,206 votes •secured only thirty-two. Such is popular representation as it is known and exercised in. this country.

■ NEXT PARLIAMENT. There seems nothing to.be gained just now, however, by finding fault with the system of election instituted in this country some seventy odd years ago. But it is,worth noting that if, the Mother .Country adopts the system of parliamentary election the House , of Commons has passed on to the Lords New Zealand will be among , the most backward of civilized copntrjea in this mpect. Mr Clinkard, the member for * ~-r£Rotoi'UA,-is-hoping to have m. -opportu,nity this session to introduce a Preferential Voting Bill to the House of Representatives during : present session of Parliament ; but It i* not likely that . any of tlm will .be particularly anxious to .place the measure ’’on the Statute Book.: Reform has good reason for holding fast to the present .system ; lUnited-Liberal is not particularly anxious for a change, and Labour,' for reasons more or less obvious, lias lost its en thusiasm for such a forward movement. Progressive electors, however, may wish Mr Clinkard success.

LEADERS’ AMBITIONS,

No doubt Mr Coates has made up his mend as, to what is the right; and diplomatic thing to do in, regard to the suggestions of “fusion” which have been pressed upon him frop various quarters. JH"' has not yet made his intentions in regard to the matter quite char, however, and to-morrow, or next week or next month he may have something more lucid to say in regard to the matter. • Meanwhile he is standing aloof from euoh overtures as Labour has 'made towards him, and it is by no moans assured that he will embrace the Party later on. His dream is of a party as numerous as the one which upheld him in Parliament, in 1925; but, as he frankly admits, it is not yet in tight. Mr H. E. Holland again pictures himself controlling the largest party in / the, new Pfrliament, and the Prime , Minister seems to be the only leader, with no time at his disposal for electioneering.