TARANAKI BY-ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1918, Page 7

TARANAKI BY-ELECTION.

PRESS COMMENTS. ' A BRoJvEX COMPACT. i (Wellington Post.) By 2840 votes to 2080 the Government candidate has been defeated in Taranaki. Tie result is less painful than that in Wellington Central, in tiliat it does not involve the principle of anti-war, antinational, or anti-social doctrines, but from another standpoint it is almost equally ominous. Though both of the candidates for Taxanaki were equally sound on conscription and the prosecution of the war, the man whom the electors have chosen displayed throughout Ms campaign an uncompromising opposition to the Government. If he was 'Svhole-heartedly in favor of winning the war," Mr SmitJh was equally wholehearted in his antagonism to the Government. Its sins and blunders supplied the burden of liis song throughout, and he declared that "if returned, one of his first demands would be for a general election early next year, in order to test till© confidence of the country in the National Government, as at present constituted." The electors of Taranaki were asked to declare that' they have no confidence in the Government, and they have done so by electing Mr Smith. But Mr Smith's election is a much more serious matter for the Government and the country than a mere censure on the shortcomings of the Government by a ftosatihtency which nevertheless approves of its principal object—the energetic prosecution of the war. It was really a repudiation of the whole foundation of the National Government. In electing Mr Smith, the electors of Taranaki have set the seal of their approval upon a doctrine which 13 not merely anti-National Government but anti-na-tional, and stultifies tilie patriotic purpose of themselves and their candidate. But the Taranaki electors, or at any rate the Liberals among them, have done something worse than this. Whether right or wrong on the general issue, it is surely clear that they were absolutely wrong in ignoring t/iie obligations of the miderstandlag which forms the basis of the National Government. They have treated the party compact as a German scrap of paper, and they have treated it after the orthodox German fashion by tearing it up without asking the leave of tilie other side. The Reform Party has but to follow suit in order to complete the demoralising and disgraceful farce of two parties continuing to form a Cabinet on national lines for the government of the country while enjoying all the luxuries of the traditional cat-and-dog warfare in the constituencies. It would clearly be better to put one another at arm's length and revert to the pre-war conditions of open warfare than to face the hypocrisy, intrigue, and bitter animosity wtkich must be the outcome of the tactics represented by the victory of the "Progressive Democrat" in TaranaKi. The awkward and invidious task of reviewing the whole position and prescribing tie drastic remedy that is urgently required must be tlio first care of the returning leaders.

("Wellington Times..) The defeat of the National Government candidate is causing a good deal of discussion of the popularity or otherwise of the Government. " It is, of course, the second defeat of Mic Government at fhort interval. But it does not go beyond the fact that the Government has been defeated twice. In other words, the issues are too numerous to afford safe guidance. At Taranaki the small farmer was appealed to on the ground that the Government favored the big man to his disadvantage. But the successful candidate also said that the only hope for the country's welfare is the restoration of the union between Liberalism and Labor. Did the small fanner put him in, or wa.j it Labor and Liberalism combining? On the other hand, why did not the Baformers, who had always held the seat against all comers, not kesp him out? 'lt is held in many quarters that the results of these two elections were the result of hostility to the National Government. That may be true, iusfc as many other things be true in this time of varying opinions and confused issues. The two by-elections can be said to have established a bar against any further postponement of the general election. They can also be sa'd to have established the amendment of the electoral system in such a maimsr that it will giro scope for every opinion and assign its true value to each. That will end the rule of confused thoughts which is political chaos. It can be done only by proportional representations. The best course for the Government is to get that established in tho coming session, and go to the country as soon as passible thereafter.

(Auckland Herald.) In contrast with the Wellington election, it cannot be said that tho contest was allowed to go by default. The polling was remarkably hcav- for a byelection, the number of votes cast, in spite of the absence of many electors on active service, being only 800 less than at tjhe last general election. Apparently the. Government also profited by the sharp lesson of last week, and instead of casting its candidate upon his own resources, furnished Ministerial assistance for his platform campaign. The fact still remains that, after many years, the Taranaki seat has passed from the Reform Party to a representative of Labor politics, though certainly a loyal and rational citizen. Such a result may not exactly represent the real state of public opinion, but iilio public generally regards by-elections as a fairly reliable test of approval or disapproval of the proceedings of the Government. Standing alone, the election of Mr Smith would probably not greatly disturb the National Government. Following the return of two extreme opponents in other constituencies, it will be difficult for the Government to prevent a feeling arising that it has lost the confidence of the electors. By the programme presented to tho approaching session of Parliament, tOie Ministry will have an opportunity to restore its prestige. If that opportunity is neglected, it may quickly find itself without either prestige or majority.