WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1931, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

DAY OF DECISION. BRIEF CAMPAIGN. Special Correspondent. WELLINGTON, November 11. A fortnight ago Government officials particularly concerned in the preparations for the approaching general election for the House of Representatives were privately directed to be in readiness for the polling not later than Wednesday December 2nd next. Yesterday the secret was out by broad suggestion, and to-day by ministerial announcement, the triennial contests of the contending parties being definitely fixed for ■ the second day of the last month in the year. Quite a number of members of •the House had taken flight to their constituencies at the week-end, doubtless having had a hint from those in authority, and the attendance at the prorogation necessarily must be a slender one. There has been some frivolous talk in, the lobbies concerning the absence of the Governor from Wellington during these closing days, but of course ilt all has been in good part, and, repeated, has been enjoyed by His Excellency himself as much as it has been by the humorists themselves. FUSION FORCES. On paper the Coalition Government appears to have an overwhelming force to uphold its supremacy at the polls, The list of sixty-five accepted candidates published at the week end seems toleave Labour, even with four or five “Independents” thrown in, with but the remotest chance of seriously embarrassing the allied parties. At the outside it has had no more than twenty votes at its disposal in the Parliament now on the verge of dissolution. Of these a large proportion have been held by “minority” members, that is, by members who secured fewer than a majority of the votes polled, and in more cases than one had the assistance of United voters -who, at the time, preferred Labour to Reform. The members for Auckland ’ West, Auckland Suburbs, Christchurch South, Dunedin North, Lyttelton, Waimarino and Wellington East all are in one or the other of these categories. Labour for some years past has been calling aloud for the amalgamation of United and ,■ Reform. Now it seems likely to learn what it means. PLAYING THE GAME. It is not for the two wings of the 'Coalition Government, however, each to think only of its own concerns. Mr Forbes a-nd Mr Coates have set excellent examples in this respect by setting aside personal advantages and striving for national achievements. This is the spirit which should inspire every elector, even if for the time being he is on the side of Labour. But unfortunately the personal element will sometimes obtrude itself. In Wellington North, for instance, the three candidates who contested this seat in 1928, Mr R. A'. Wright (Reform) polling 5748 votes, Mr T. Brindle (Labour) 3763 and Mr K. McLennan (United) 3260 votes, again are. in the field. Clearly, Mr Wright,', in . the circumstances, is entitled to the seat, having the pact between Reform and United in view, but by the intrusion of Mr McLennan with a loose regard to the United Party’s Obligation the seat mighty easily go to Labour. Representations are being made to the third candidate and it is to be hoped they will be effective. THE FUTURE. So far as can be ascertained from reliable sources there is fairly general approval of the Government’s efforts to confine as far as possible the United and Reform candidates in the approaching election to existing members of'the expiring Parliament. There is a growing feeling among people who move in political ’circles, however, that the new House of Representatives, which in a great measure must be; the creation of the party leaders, should be dissolved .soon as its special , .service has been completed. Twelve months hence, it may be hoped, the difficulties surrounding the Dominion at .'the present time inajr be overcome and in that case the elections will not wish to be governed by a coalition cabinet that has outlived both its constitution -and its purpose. As it happens, if one-may be perfectly frank, the country’s Parliament at the present time -is not oyeivflowing with great men and the needs and. the prospects of the public have to be remembered and considered. ' ;.v ■