WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1931, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE PARTY LEADERS. «. DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURES. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, July 27. It would seem that the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition take somewhat different views of the developments in the political arena during the last few days. Mr Forbes stated on Friday that he appreciated the courtesy paid him by the Reformers and his Constituency (Hurunui) in refraining from putting up a candidate against him in the approaching election, and that he was pleased the National Executive of the United Party had determined to pay a similar compliment to Mr Coates in the Kaipara constituency. Of course both Mr Forbes and Mr Coates would have been perfectly safe in their respective constituencies, whether , or not this courtesy had been exchanged, but, , as Mr \ Forbes put it himself, it was pleasant to have such cordial personal relations assured in the approaching party tussle. It is unfortunate, however, that Mr Coates, no less a sportsman than ■Mr Forbes, is, shou'd have thought it neebssary to say he never vjould seek a compromise with, any one in his electorate. As ; much would have been taken for granted, t ; THE RIGHT THING.; . ; 1 » ‘Evening .Post’’ which still clings ,to the privilege of “independence” takes Mr Coates mildly'to .task for his somewhat brusque observation. “The United Executive,” it says, “not omy did the right thing, but it did it --in the.right way. It made no suggestion cf a bargain or a compromise; but freely gave proof of‘the willingness to follow, the admirable lead given by Reform to Canterbury. Mr Coates does not appear too well pleased With the decision and has'hastened to make itclear that it is not: of his seeking. The declaration - was unnecessary. No one would accuse Mr Coates of running away from m : fight, or suggest that he ought to : bafgairiv - jW® hope that the. npL to ; -contest the .Hurunui eat had' his; approval, and it is pleasing to think that it was: .made; on .h!s= pug-., gestlpn.; but we can be ‘quite sure'that the suggestion of. a like benefit to him-' self wa.sjnpt his' idea.” It is scarcely.' neccssajrjj' itio, say ; again that such a “benefit!’ yyquld.ibe bf no profit to eith-' er Mr iForbes or 'Mf! lCoates, but it would be a compliment ; to both. ■-..••• ■ y i-'iv- i;: : ..4$ v. : THE PERSONAL'-FACTOR; Th© “Post” goes. On to say that it can understttnd mf .Qbates’ anxiety lest ho shouimpMt falw iKMitloSf but it thinks he is unnecessarily concerned. . -is,” iv.telklnm,- "m danger of any reciprocal action be* 1 tween the tJnited apd-Reform Parties , being interpreted' as > a personal seatsaying scheme,, , The.'; personal factor indeed operates, rather the otheri-way, leading tbya-de termination .to' contest all seats at rail cost. It,is .this determination Which should be restrained in . the national interests.; It seems impossible; now to avoid a ; three-cofnered. election,,Lilt there .is yet some hope, of reducing the number;o.f(;;three.-coi'ner-er contests' if the dead., Spf ’ Huriiiim is followed. . In .the example, there are several -seats' held by Labour because of- division •in the ’. ReformUnited vote. Why should,this be ft]-, lowed?” Wily,'indeed!* The’ advocates of the Alternative' Vote, who, by the w-ay,' are moving Parliament this' session, and more particularly - the advocr ates ef Proportional , Represetation, have remedies for this.evil; but so far they have failed to impress a callous f . public. 4 , - •■’•. -. ' • IN OTHER LANDS; Apropos df.this incident, by .the way, it may be worth while to mention that the statement; which 1 ,/was going the rounds of’the newspapers last -week to the effect, that' it was,the custom’ in the Home Country to allow the party lead- » ers in the House ;!df Commons to renew the occupation of -their seats without undergoing the ordeal of an election was not correct. At the general elec tion of 1929, for instance, all the party leaders were challenged. ■ Mr Stanley Baldwin, then Prime Ministef and -» 1 ''ador of - ,the • Conservative Party,;; yae confronted by two opponents, a Liberal attd a Labourite; Mr J. Ramsay• MacDonald, leader of the Labour Party, by three, a' Conservative, a Liberal and a Communist, and Mr Lloyd George, leader of the Liberal Party, by two ; a Communist and a? Labourite. As a matter of fact there always appears to be, aspiring politicians at- Homo ready to tackle a Prime Minister at election time, and if Labour leaves Mr Forbes and -Mr Coates alone their exemption may be regarded .as a high compliment.