Mr Witty's Last Card.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17625, 30 November 1922, Page 6

Mr Witty's Last Card.

Mr George "Witty is what is known as an "old campaigner." Without any special gifts, or any special means of being useful in Parliament, he has been so far favoured by fortune as to retain the Riccarton seat for some years. He and his friends are now afraid, and with more than a little reason, that his time has come to bid farewell to Parliament. Having no policy to support, and not even, a leader to follow, he has, wo understand, fallen back upon a plea which he hopes may secure for him the support of unwary Reformers. He haa endeavoured to suggest that ho will be no party to any attempt by a Liberalised combination to vote the Government out of office. But this is a resolve (if it is a reeolve, really) .which he has made only since Mr McCullough appeared on the scene. During the last two sessions Mr Witty was hopeful that Labour -would' not put forward a candidate, and he attempted, in the manner of "old Liberal campaigners," to make himself so agreeable to Labour that it would fulfil hia hot>es and leave his constituency alone. Hei voted steadily against the Government on no-confidence motions, and he distinguished himself on October 6th, 1921, by being one of the email group who helped Mr Holland to muster nine votes on his no-confidence motion. On July 21st last ,he was the only man who went into the lobby with Mr Holland on Labour's motion of no-confi-donce. On August 31st he was still faithful to Mr Holland, and was one of the 13 who voted with him on a challenging motion, being supported on tliis occasion by Messrs Poland, and S. G. Smith and Dr. Thacker. Labour having been so' ungrateful as to offer opposition to the obliging "old cam"paigner," Mr Witty has sought to appear as an anti-Red. Finding this role unconvincing, he and his friends are spending all their time in imploring people to believe that the issue is between him and Mr McCullough, and that a vote for Kyle is as good as a vote for the Labour nominee. Mr Witty forgets that anyone can turn up for himself, the figures for 1919. In that year the voting was:— Witty ... ... 2548 Devereux (Reform) ... 2322 Robertson (Labour) 1966 The Reform rote has grown stronger since then, and Mr Kyle will poll more votes than Mr Devereux. The Labour candidate: in 1919 was a stranger, and Mr Witty secured some of the Labour votes as well aa the votes of some Reformers who feared the Labour man. On the present occasion all tho Labour votes will go to Mr McCullough, and Mr Witty will have to rely upon the Liberal vote. It is impossible to see how Mr Witty can come anywhere except third. If the Reformera vote solidly for Mr Ivyle, Mr Witty will be at the bottom of the poll, and Mr Kyle will win. Reformers who may vote for Mr Witty will merely give their aid to a Liberal vote which cannot place Mr Witty in Parliament. They may lessen Mr Kyle's vote to suoh an extent that Mr MtCullough will be elected. We hope that the Reformers whom Mr Witty and his friends have been buttonWing with the foolish suggestion that Mr Witty has a better: chance than Mr 1 Kyle will laugh at the "old campaigner," vote for their own. man, and leave Mr Witty at the bottom of the poll, which is the place he fears he will occupy. If they vote for Reform, as they ought, Mr Kyle's election by a substantial majority is assured.