Evening Post. FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1923. THE BY-ELECTION

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 58, 9 March 1923, Page 6

Evening Post. FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1923. THE BY-ELECTION

It would be a mistake to assume that the Labour Party, in deciding not to enter the lists at Tauranga, has been influenced by any consideration for the Keformers or the Liberals. Labour has evidently formed the opinion, after careful investigation, that the chances of winning the seat are not worth the effort; and, further, that entry into the contest would not serve any purpose useful to Labour. Tauranga is a country electorate, not yet tested by Labour, and naturally the party does not desire to make the first-test in the full glare of the limelight if it is possible that the result may not support the party's claims to be the rising political power of the day. But by whatever line of rear soning Labour has reached the decision to leave the field clear, the fact that the field is to be dear must give cause for satisfaction. Whatever the issues are to be at Tauranga the appearance of a Labour candidate would not help to clarify them. - On this ground, at least, the country has reason to be grateful to Labour for a decision which will remove one possible complication.

The definite decision of Sir Joseph Ward to be a candidate affords further cause for gratification. It was an unfortunate political event that deprived the country of his services in 1919, for a man of Sir Joseph's experience and undoubted ability can always serve his country well. This was realised during the lifetime of the last Parliament, when the weakness, of the Opposition parties in constructive financial criticism became painfully evident. Such weakness may relieve the Government of some difficulty at the time, but it is not ultimately for the good of the country. of this, we believe, was the reason for the attempt made last year to induce Sir Joseph to enter public life again and place his experience and knowledge of finance at the service of the country. People who believe that there is always room in Parliament for men of the best talent will now rejoice . that the reasons which caused Sir Joseph to refuse nomination then are no longer operative. His candidature will be for Tauranga; but, if elected, he will be pre-eminently a New Zealand member. It is manifestly an election in which local' issues should not be raised.

It is not alone as an ex-Minister of Finance of long experience that he will be welcomed; nor as an Imperialist of high ideals. His absence from Parliament for three years has enabled him. to study politics from the outside. He has been able to watch' developments without the distraction of division bells, and it is not too much to hope that this has given him a clearer view of realities than is given to the politician 'who, from one election to the next, must think in terms of votes. It was, perhaps, not to be expected that he would at once explain his position. Though his statement will be eagerly awaited by the whole country,, it is to the electors of Tauranga that he is appealing, and to them he desires to make his explanation. But the preliminary statement made yesterday should remove some of the fears of those who are apprehensive of a dissolution and other untoward happenings should Sir Joseph Ward's candidature succeed.

"I am standing straight-out as a Liberal," he stated. "I shall explain my position fully in my first address at Tauranga, but I may here say that in coming again into public life I am not prompted by a desire to bring about chaos in the public life of the country." Much more could scarcely be expected at the present juncture ; but friends of Sir Joseph Ward who are now supporting him without consideration of party motives or party advantage will hope to see that statement amplified by a declaration tha,t Sir Joseph, while continuing a Liberal, can discern where party lines should not be drawn, and that absence of desire to bring chaos into public life is supplemented by a determination to assist -in restoring order where chaos now threatens.