THE GREY ELECTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1127, 31 July 1913, Page 4

THE GREY ELECTION.

POLITICAL BARGAINING. In a comment on the Grey election the Sydney Daily Telegraph says : “The decision of a defeated ‘Liberal’ candidate in a New Zealand by-election to cast his, support for the Labour nominee at the second ballot sharply instances one of the prominent defects of that system devised for assuring the triumph of a majority of the [electors. The Liberal who represents the party formerly led by Sir Joseph Ward, was retired on the first ballot, in wlr'ch the Government candidate polled best and the Labourite next best. As between Liberal and Ministerialist there must be much closer political identity than between Liberal and Labourite. In fact it the Labour man represents the Unity Congress recently held in New Zealand be stands for socialism, the general and national strike where it is considered necessary by a unionist junta, and other phases ot wild politics and violent economics w.' h Joseph Ward would be among the lasi of public men to countenance. Yet rather than the Government should win the seat the Liberals evidently proposed to put their force at the disposal of Labour. What this means is that the second ballot gives opportunity for the formation and expression of angry party dissensions in which such strong political animosities are fomented that presently those who should stand united against a common foe are found craving support for him rather than lor the temporarily successful rival. Thus the second ballot does not really express the majority’s political will, but its division into inflamed and reckless sections. As we know from experience in this State, it also provides opportunity for political bargaining between electors, which is perhaps its worst fea.ture. But unquestionably it wreaks great harm by lacililating the blotting out ot the party line.