PREPARING THE LISTS.

Evening Star, Issue 20853, 24 July 1931, Page 6

PREPARING THE LISTS.

The pace at which Parliament is proceeding does not suggest that an election will take place this year much before the normal date. Already, however, the lists are being prepared. Notwithstanding appeals for fusion which have been made, the Reform Party has announced candidates for nearly all the seats throughout the dominion, and the other parties may bo concluded to be in a similar state of forwardness. It would be pleasant to find an approach to fusion in the decision of the Hurunui Reformers not to put up a candidate against the Prime Minister, and the answering recommendation of the United Party’s executive to its local followers, to give a clear run to the Leader of tho Opposition in Kaipara, but that would be making too much of tho two gestures. It is natural to suppose that tho Reformers would be opposing Mr Forbes if the candidate who boro their banner last time were available to bear it again, which he is not. Another candidate might bo found, no doubt, but he would have .small chance of defeating tho Prime Minister, who has held tho Hurunui seat for twenty-threo years. Tho United Party would have as little chance of defeating Mr Coates, who has held his Kaipara seat for a score of years, and who at tho last two trials of strength was opposed only by Labour candidates who were unable to threaten it. With the least call similarly on their generosity both tho other parties might decide not to attempt.tho ousting of Mr Holland. The only object in opposing a party leader, as ours hold their seats, is to tie him to his electorate, so that he will not be free during a campaign to make trouble for other candidates, and. that may have direct national disadvantages in the ease of a Prime Minister whoso most important duties at any time may be in Wellington. Mr Forbes has made his comment on the double renunciation, affecting leaders, in the most gracious manner. Ho would like to see it extended to subordinates. But to that prospect, or any prospect which might make a beginning for fusion, Mr Coates lends no countenance whatever, “At the present time,” says the president of the Canterbury Reform Executive, “ it is desirable to retain tho services of those members of Parliament, irrespective of party, who have shown their willingness and ability to take a course of action which will assist m bringing tho conditions of our primary and secondary industries into a better state.” Mr Coates does not echo that ideal of co-operation. Wo believe that his attitude would appeal more to a great many of his own supporters throughout tho country if ho did.

While a common conviction is that we have too many political parties, the view is not absent that tho cure for all our ills is to be found in one more. We do not know how many there aro who hold this rather surprising opinion, because tho meeting held in tho Municipal Concert Chamber last evening to hear an address by Mr D. Minnock on tho aims and objects of the “National Do .cratic Party” afforded no evidence on the subject. It was a passive audience, except when some name endeared by past associations, or the name of tho Labour leader, who is unlikely to bo a party to this movement, or some sentiment so general as to leave tho least room for criticism gave occasion for mild applause. Tho only motion was one of thanks to tho chief speaker, and to a lady who supplemented his remarks. Tho chairman, Mr John MacDonald, explained that he was not a member of tho party, or group which cherishes tho ambition of forming a party, and tho only member of it that we know yet is Mr Minnock. Mr Minnock has been twice a candidate for the Dunedin City Council, and tho shyness which tho public has shown in assessing his qualifications for that first promotion seems to have loft him with the idea that it may still bo willing to accep him as a guide in matters much more intricate and important. His disquisition on tho banking system was not lacking in fluency, but some problems with which Mr Minnock dealt go too deep for fluent dogmatism, and dthers aro not solvable in New Zealand alone. His fine sentiments —“whoso watchword will bo efficiency”; “there is no weal except the commonweal ” —are not limited to one party. If the trouble of democracy is that it has “never had a chance,” wo fail to see how it will got one under Mr Minnock’s leadership. As to Mr Minnock’s party, wo do nob know it yet in any j orsonal sense, and as it has not been shown that a now party, propounding platitudes and prejudices, is at all a need of tho times, that may be as well.