THE PERSONAL ASPECT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 286, 3 December 1931, Page 6

THE PERSONAL ASPECT.

Every election sees hopes disappointed and ambitions realised, and it is a question which are of greater interest to the student of politics and the social satirist. Vanity and ambition, fanned by the encouragement of friends, induce some men to offer themselves who have not the slightest prospect of success; they only complicate issues infinitely more important than themselves. One wonders what they learn from their experience. Unfortunately, every election produces such a crop of candidates, who are perhaps encouraged by the fact that occasionally some "dark horse" docs win. Of the casualties in yesterday's struggle, the most conspicuous is Mr. David Jones, who did not live long to enjoy Ms promotion to Ministerial rank. Mr. Jones' ability and special experience will be missed in the new Parliament. ■ There will be few tears shed for Mr. Lysnar, of Gisborne, one of the most parochial of politicians. Mr. Fletcher,;Mr.'Munns, and Mr. Taverner of Dunedin, were rejected- after, one term in Parliament, just when, so they might say, they were beginning to learn their jobs. In Mr. Lee Martin the Labour Party loses one of its most capable and moderate members. Again women have attacked the stronghold in vain. In Christ-church North Mrs. MeCombsJ-he wife of the member for Lyttelton, was thought to have a good chance, but Mr. H. Holland (not to be confused with Mr. H. E. Holland) won easily in a three-cornered contest. One of the surprises of the election was the narrow escape of Sir Charles Statham, the Speaker, who was less than a hundred ahead of , his Labour opponent, a candidate of advanced views. Had Sir Charles been defeated it would have been I deplorable, and members of the Labour Party would have shared the regret at the loss by the House of one of its greatest Speakers. The position of the Speaker handicaps him in a political struggle, and Sir Charles Statham is the last man to depart in any way from the traditions of the office. A member who has proved himself as Sir Charles has done, and has . become institutional, should be left without opposition.