WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1933, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

PARTIES AND POLITICS

IN THE AIR

(Special to “Guardian.”)

WELLINGTON, April 4

Itt appears that Dr 11. Campbell Regg, who proclaimed a few weeks ago that by using air travel he had been able to cover a large part of the .Dominion in a shortt space of time and to convert bodies of farming and city communities to the faithi of the New Zealand Legion, has encountered difficulties lie had not previously expected. The doctor lias realised, no doubt, that a large detachment of members from the Coalition Government to an I ndependent Party, such as the one lie seems to have expected in perfect good faith, would place, Mr Forbes and Mr Coates in an extremely difficult position. With twenty-six Labour members on the floor of the Mouse of Representatives, it would require a dozen of the doctor’s Independents to oust the existing Government and bring about an association that might snap its fingers at botn sections of the present Coalition.

NOW AND THEN

Mr Coates' came into the political arena nine years later than did Mr Forbes, but, notwithstanding the interruption of the Great War, ilc obtained Ministerial rank before his present, leader achieved that distinction. Like Mr Forbes lie came into the Mouse firs! by virtue of the second ballit. On the first ballot for the Kaipara seat in 1911 Mr J. Stallworthy received 2301 votes; Mr J. G. Coates 1848 and Mr E. T. Field 848 votes, the whole trio, with reservations in the case of Mr Coates and Mr Field, figuring as Liberals. During the fortnight that elapsed between the first ballot and the second, Mr Coates announced his intention to support Sir Joseph Ward, the Liberal leader at the time, for at least one session. As a result 900 additional votes were cast for Mr Coates and his pledge was strictly observed until it was cancelled by Sir Joseph’s resignation from the Liberal leadership.

TWO PARTY LEADERS

Referring to Mr Forbes and Mr Coates, in the present distinguished stage of their political progress, it is of interest to recall that they both first reached the House, as already mentioned, by way of the second ballot arid in due course became Ministers cf the Crown and Prime Ministers. Mr Forbes first essayed the electioneering arena in 1802 when, in spite of the fatherly advice of Mr Seddon, the young man just established at Cheviot threw down his gauntlet to Mr Andrew Rutehford, the stalwart hearer of the Liberal standard, and in a field of seven candidates secured only. 205 votes cut of a total' of 4835, Pocketing his experience in 1905, when Mr Rutherford was returned by an overwhelming majority, the future Prime Minister appeared on the scene again in 1908, with Mr Rutherford out of the way, and on a second ballot secured the seat by a majority of 597 votes

NECESSARY REFORM

In view of the fact that Mr Forbes and Mr Coates both are more than a little behind in the matter of electoral reform, it might not be amiss for Dr Begg and his colleagues to direct their attention to this subject. It has been shown again and again that the parliamentary electoral system of this country is in a deplorable condition of ■ bare hazard. It was shown only fifteen months ago that while it took but 39,42(1 electors of Wellington to return five Labour members to the House of Representatives it took 34,632 electors to return one Coalition member in the same area. This surely is a graver' inequality than any Mr Re erg and his colleagues have yet disclosed or are likely to disclose. Auckland and Christchurch betrayed confusions almost as grievous as those prevailing in Wellington, but reform bust begin in the capital city to which the community at large appeals.