The Lyttelton Seat.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16701, 9 December 1919, Page 6

The Lyttelton Seat.

It is natural enough that his friends should declaro that Mr, Lester is the enndidato best ablo to win tho Lyttelton seat from Mr McCombs. Tho electors, howovor, will not bo inclined to believe that Mr Lester's prospects are better than thoso of Mr £11. A little consideration will show that Mr Macartney, whoso frankness and good sense aro daily winning him new friends, cannot help polling as many votes as Mr Ell and Mr Lester combined, provided that the Reform voters do their duty, as they assuredly will, if they fully understand tho position, and most of them do. Mr Macartney is not only tho most ofctractive candidate opposing Mr McOombs, but ho is the stronger candidate. Let us consider the figures of tho by-election in 1913. Mr Miller, at tho second ballot, polled 2102 votes, and Mr McCombs 2G28. Kt Che first ballot Mr McCombs polled 2075 votes, Mr Miller 1660, and Mr Laurcnson 922. Mr Radcliffo and Dr. Thacker polled 330 between them. Those figures make it clear that the Reform vote is far greater in tho electorate than the Liberal vote, and that in tho present contest tho first nnd second places must bo filled by Messrs Macartney and McCombs. Yet wc havo been told that somo of the Reform voters havo been advised by somo foolish or uncandid peoplo that if they do not voto for Mr Ell or Mr Lester, Mr McCombs will win. Tho figures we have quoted show quito conclusively—and tho excellent impression created by Mr Macartney has mad? the Reform vote still stronger —that the one suro way of giving the seat to Mr McCombs is to divert somo of Mr Macartney's votes to ono or other of his Liberal opponents. If Mr Macartney had to rely upon tho Reform voto alone, and secured tho wholo of that vote, ho would certainly win. But it is well known that many sensible peoplo amongst these whe formerly favoured tho Liberal Party have realised that tho Liberal Party, under its present leadership, is not desirable, and that in any event Mr Macartney is a sound and capable representative of progressive ideas. Wc are, of course, j not asking tho Liberals to voto for Sir Macartney; we aro merely mentioning a well-known fact. "We are addressing ourselves to thoso Reform voters who, most unaccountably forgetting the figures wo havo quoted, do not realise that by voting for Mr Macartney they can mako his election suro, whilo by voting for Mr Ell or Mr Lester they will benefit neither of them, and possibly give tho scat to tho present mem-' bcr. Mr Macartney has not merely a better chauco of being elected than i anyone else. ITis election is absolutely certain if the Reform supporters refuse to listen to ridiculous iniinpnioiit>>

! tions of n-hni we hnro shewn to be a simple enonp'i nosition. I :