The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 1930 THE FIGHT FOR PARNELL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 937, 2 April 1930, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET. AUCKLAND WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 1930 THE FIGHT FOR PARNELL

SELECTION of contestants for the by-election tight for the Parnell seat in the House of Representatives has been inordinately delayed. The preliminary search for good candidates is sluggish and marked with much party embarrassment. A tedious enterprise “like a wounded snake drags its slow leneth along.” Of course, there is more than an ordinary excuse for party prudence, hesitancy, and delay of final choice/ The necessity for a contest has come at an unfavourable time. In addition to the projected issue, involving the expense of a hard campaign, a general election may follow sooner than its appointed time toward the end of next year. L'nless the rival parties are prepared and able to provide fighting funds—a serious condition for the Labour Party in particular—many potential candidates, like Hr. Coolidge, will not choose to run without assured financial backing. And, unfortunately, several of the aspirants who would be willing to pay their own way into Parliament ought really to be encouraged, if not paid, to keep out of the Legislature which already suffers from a surplus of political mediocrity. Then, although it is popularly believed that rich men with the highest administrative ability such as commands success in commerce and industry are as plentiful in the electorate as daffodils in the spring, none of them with outstanding merit seems eager to serve his country in active politics. If they are masters of business efficiency, they have not yet mastered their diffidence and shyness in competitive public service. So the position generally today in respect of a choice of candidates represents a sort of whispering gallery resounding with tantalising echoes of vague gossip and indecision—“lt is understood that . . ; “it may be so, but there will be no decision till next week at the earliest”; “I am not yet sure”; and, most often, “there is no truth in the rumour.” The Labour Party alone seems nearest to making up its mind about selecting a standardbearer. Following on the resignation of the L’nited member for Parnell, Mr. 11. R. Jenkins, Labour was the last among the rival parties to discuss its intentions. It means to he first in throwing down the gauntlet and declaring its policy for the coming campaign. Indeed, it has been announced that Mr. AY. J. Jordan, M.P. for Manukau, will begin tomorrow evening the brisk battle for his pazffy’s candidate. There never has been any conclusive proof as to the old saying that the early bird gets the early worm, and it is doubtful if confirmation will be secured for Labour in Parnell. There appears to be a certainty at the moment that Mr. T. Bloodworth will wield the battle-axe for Labour in the keen by-election warfare. Moreover, it is understood (one still cannot get away from the stock phrase) that he will fight alone, entirely free of the danger of vote-splitting. If his reported selection be confirmed authoritatively, the decision will demonstrate very clearly that the Labour Party knows how to compose the different aspirations of its ambitious supporters and thus secure a striking advantage in the field where the other parties may be handicapped by the presence of two representative contestants attempting to use the one sword and succeeding best in wounding each other. There need be no argument about the prospect of Mr. Bloodworth, if he should be the man for Labour, striking shrewd blows at his adversaries in the combat. But who can see him in imagination slay his most formidable opponent? Although there is much secrecy “about it and about,” one ean almost fancy hearing the dogs in the street barking the name of Mr. Jenkins as that of the Reform Party’s official candidate. And it may be added for what it is worth in a welter of conjecture that those who bark loudest bay the prophecy that Mr. Jenkins will be re-elected with at least an effective majority. This, however, is hurrying the campaign with a speed in marked contrast to the crawling progress of all the preliminaries. The United Party also has yet to select its jouster in the electoral tourney. Rumour, because of the lack of anything definite, suggests that the party may produce a candidate with all the resources of a United wizard. - Nobody knows. But it looks as though the seat already were lost to the party. So far, and as things are, Labour has chosen a competent fighter who has had campaigning experience in the same electorate as also on many municipal battlefields, and who possesses much political ability. But he will not be first favourite in the Parnell contest.