The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1926. THE ISSUE AT EDEN.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 14 April 1926, Page 8

The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 1926. THE ISSUE AT EDEN.

Labour is making frail tie efforts to capture the Eden seat, and the Party’s candidate is assisted by a big' ‘battery of Labour oratory. The entry into the campaign of the Leader of the Parliamentary Labour _ Party, prompted the Prime Minister to join in the fiay to give a single address ■which was delivered last night, with quite satisfactory results, itfr Coates dealt: with Labour’s criticism of the lteform Parly* and at the same time made it perfectly plain that the Government. expected the electors to record a vote of confidence in the present regime, notwithstanding the unfortunate circumstances which have brought two Hefoim candidates into the field. As far as the official Hefomi candidate is concerned, it appears that Sir .Lames Gunson is holding his own against the concentrated fire of both Labour and unofficial. Kefonn candidates. It is important that the Eden seat should ho held by the Government, in whose keeping it had been for the past 45 years, said Sir James, in combating the opinion expressed that the winning or losing of the seat meant little to the Government. now that it had a commanding majority. Sir James emphasised the importance Governments attached to by-elections. If the .seat were lost, the La-bouv-Socialists would he justified in stating that Eden bad expressed no confidence in the Government', that this feeling was typical of New Zealand, and that the Coates n ave which hail swept the country at the November polls was already on the wane. Sir James said that, personally, he was indifferent as to the result, hut lie felt, justified in asking for Support as the official lie-form candidate. Very fierce criticism has been levelled against Sir

James Gimson’s claim that, he js a supporter of the lteform Party, It, has even been said that, Sir 1 James lias only recently become, an out-and-out supporter of vhe Government party. One Auckland M.P., who is vigorously supporting Miss Melville, alleges that it is Sir James Gunson who is the vote-splitter and not the. woman candidate whose candidature was not acceptable to the llefonn supporters in the Eden olectora-te.' Quite a secondary electioneering duel is being fought between two Auckland members of the Reform Party.' The Government Whip, Mr Dickson, claims that the Prime Minister has fully investigated the charges made by Miss Melville, and had given his doci-

si on that Sir James Gunson was constitutionally chosen. Mr Dickson expressed resentment at .Mr I'otter’s action in questioningthat decision and attempting' to upset it by working and*speakingin the interests of a rotesplit tor. “Miss Melville says she is a true Reformer,” said Mr Dickson. ‘‘Here is her recoul: Ln 1919 nominated end supported by the party; in 1922, a votesplitter Jn Roskill; in 1920, a vote-splitter in Eden. Is this Due Reform?” and so the lively oial contest, proceeds. “The position is that every man or woman a ho works and votes against- Sir James Gunson is voting and working for the extreme Labour Early,” Mr Dickson declared ill the course of a vigorous defence of the Party’s nominee: ‘‘l appeal lo all Reformers to aland firmly by the party and vote for Sir James Gunson and the Coates Government.” While the Reform members continue their wrangling, the Labour candidate conducts a vigorous cyunpajgn, the Party’s slogan for the Eden by-election being: “A stronger Opposition: vote for Mason.” This hardly expresses Labour's lio-pe.p since the issue is a vote cf confidence in tile Reform Government- or a vote for Mason which would elevate Labour into the front- benches of the official Opposition. Hence the election means much to Labour. A good slogan for Eden is being used by Sir James Gunson and his sup, porters. It enjoins Reformers to Hold last to Eden,” or, in oilier words, to maintain the'unbroken lino of Reform Partv representatives maintained so consistently for the last fortyfive years. The attempt that, is being made to split. the-Paity yoto lias to lie met. and settled in the only wav possible', that js by concentrating the Party -rote on the officially selected and democratically 'elec-led Reform candidate, Kir James Gunson. Votes cast for the candidate who is contesting the seat as an Independent, ” and a “ true ”

Reformer, will simply weaken Kir James (iunsou’.s position ly mincing bis majority against the Labour candidate'. In a verv real sense they null bo votes cost- tor Labour. r .Llies campaign which terminates on Thursday, is being waged with considerable vigour on the part of the candidates,'hut public interest lias not been voj-y keenly aroused, since the fate of the Government is not at stake, and the Eden seat has been held by the Party for many years.Hover fliolossj i|. R not'without significance, _ that, the Prime Minister felt impelled to pnrtieipate in the campaign iff reply to the criticism levelled at the Government by the big battalion ot Labour spokesmen now invading Eden, in the hope that the result, of the polling- may ive Labour the right to be regarded as the official Opposition.