ELECTIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 20943, 6 November 1931, Page 8

ELECTIONS.

When", after too long a time spent in reconciling purely personal considerations, Coalition took placo in Parliament, it was hoped that it would hold over tho elections. That hope became stronger when developments in Britain —forced on by a financial crisis of Continental and American origin—led up to the triumphant election results, which already aro producing the longdesired economic and trade recovery. For it has become a tradition, based on good precedent, that New Zealand follows England’s example. Already there are beginning to be grave doubts about this being repeated. Auckland reports the probability of serious splitting of votes in her somewhat polyglot electorates, This wo attribute to Auckland’s myopia, and in lesser degree to Auckland's well-known practice of living right up to tho last penny of her income, and (very humanly) declaring herself to bo the model for all New Zealand in all other respects, chiefly as regards a regal scale of expenditure. Still, there is no reason why Dunedin, which, both as regards local body enterprise and private enterprise, has helped to finance Auckland’s ambitions, should emulate her political vagaries, and countenance a breach of the non-vote-splitting pact. The latest announcements concerning Otago . seats aro confusing. First of all there is Dunedin North. Mr Harold Tapley once represented it, aiid desires to represent it again. Ho was quite a good Mayor of Dunedin, and was quite a good representative ol tho city in Parliament, until ho made the mistake of giving reasons for an historic reversal of form. The same advice holds for politicians as that given a young cricket umpire—viz., “ Give your decision, but not your reasons.” Mr Tapley has, on tho strength of medical advice, announced his renunciation of Dunedin North for the time being. Mr W. Hayward was first in the field, but he made his entry when there was on Mr Coates’s part an obstinate front towards Fusion. Now Mr 11. S. Black, twice Mayor of Dunedin, comes forward as a particular kind of Coalitionist. The danger of the split vote allowing Mr Munro to retain the seat has provoked tho possibility of the nomination of Mi* M’Crae, who has done unostentatious but good work for the United Party’s organisation. It is a tangle, but the redeeming feature is that, should Mr Munro be returned, few people but the defeated candidates would grieve. For Mr Munro has always been a good member, and, be it whispered, he is not regarded by his Labour confreres in Parliament as nearly extremist enough even for the ostensibly “moderate” New Zealand Labour Party. Then there is Dunedin South, Concerning that electorate we shall in the meantime say as little as possible. But concerning tho other city electorates one must protest onco more against opposition to Sir Charles Statham, and express wonder at Mr John McDonald’s temerity in opposing Mr Downio Stewart. There aro two other electorates which aro attracting ranch attention. Mr Peter M'Skimming has doom such good work, not only in his own considerable business, but in reinstating Finegand and establishing N.Z. Fertiliser, that his worth to the country in its present political state cannot be ignored. His follow genuine Prohibitionist (by which wo mean tho Prohibitionist of tho personal practising, non-abstaining kind), Mr Charles Todd, would bo a member who would do credit to Otago. But ho is essaying a most difficult task in challenging Mr Bodkin, fresh from his success in respect of irrigation votes on the Public Works Estimates.