NOT THE RIGHT WAY
The statement made by the Hon. A. D. M'Leod that he would contest the Wairarapa seat unless candidates in four other constituencies withdrew was not what we expected of him. Before the Coalition was formed Mr. M'Leod opposed alliance of the parties; but when it was announced that a pact had been made for endorsement of sitting Coalition members it was reported at first that he steadfastly refused to allow himself to be nominated. This loyalty to his leader and his leader's agreement was more characteristic of him than the latest announcement. It was also much more reasonable. As a former chairman of the Reform Party organisation, Mr. M'Leod must be well aware of the difficulties which a party leader is confronted with, and how attempts to make individual bargains aggravate those difficulties. When a pistol is produced (with four cartridges in the magazine) the removal of difficulties is not made easier. If bargains are to be made negotiations should be conducted by party leaders, Multiplication of negotiators, with a multiplicity of demands, will not promote a settlement.
The first consequence of Mr. M'Leod's pistol-pointing is the retort made by the Independent United candidate for Riccarton. We do not approve the discourtesy of Mr. M'Lachlan's statement; but the facts he submits cannot be ignored. If it is to be a matter of bargaining one withdrawal is not an1 adequate return for four. Moreover, the fault does not lie wholly on one side when Independent Reformers are standing out in six seats. One of these Independent Reformers is standing on the excuse that United candidates are not observing the pact. That shows where individual bargaining may lead. It only requires a few more to make the excuse and the way will be open for a free fight for all—when the electors certainly do not want it. All the candidates will, of course, claim that they are in it to see fair play; yet none of them takes the obvious course of seeing that there is fair play first in his own district. Surely they must see that the honouring of a pact is for the individual. Conditional loyally is not enough. If those who are standing in protest against the disloyalty of others would withdraw, the problem in the remaining seats would be more quickly and certainly settled,
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19311113.2.30
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 117, 13 November 1931, Page 6
Word Count
391
NOT THE RIGHT WAY
Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 117, 13 November 1931, Page 6
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