Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th., 1933. BULLER BY-ELECTION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1933, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th., 1933. BULLER BY-ELECTION.

IN striking contrast to the recent Lyttelton by-election, there is little public interest in the Buller Parliamentary vacancy, nominations for which close to-morrow. The decision of the Coalitionists not to contest the seat may have been partly prompted-by a belief that, there was little prospect of their success, but it was also a reflect ion of outside opinion that the by-election is of little national consequence at this juncture. With the decision of the Miners’ Council not to run a candidate against the official nominee of the Labour Party, the holding of a contest is unwarranted, and if there is but one nomination, to-morrow, needless expense will be saved. Mr. Simson would be well-advised to retire from a scene to which he came with no representative invitation. He has no hope of election for Buller, and should reserve his Parliamentary candidature for some constituency in which he may have a greater claim for support.

Mr. P. C. Webb will be Member for Buller, but will represent the Labour Party more than his mining constituents. He must be counted as fortunate that Party headquarters should think his Parliamentary re-entry so essential, as to present him with a Labour stronghold. Many men, who have given at least as good service to the Labour movement, have been far less rewarded. It cannot be justly denied that Labour ideals have received a rude shock by the Buller happenings, and rarely in the history of Labour politics, have “democratic rights” been so be-littled. A non-resident candidate, and one who is frankly unacceptable to the majority of those who will—out of Party loyalty—vote for him, if there is any other nomination at this by-election, presents a spectacle that is reminiscent of old Tory .methods. “Remember Buller!” will be an appropriate response to many Labour claims at future elections. Mr. Webb will owe his Parliamentary position mainly to what he once was, and not to what he is, to-day. It is well that Capital and Labour should co-operate and work together, but this latest “merger” of such interests goes beyond what most people will regard as reasonable. Whatever extravagant eulogies may be. passed on Mr. Webb by the Labour headquarters and Press, nothing can alter the

cold fact. that, he is in the House by the miners’ sufferance, and that ho is regarded by them as a temporary Afember only. Tliis is proved by the wording of the Miners’ Council’s recommendations, urging “all affiliations to co-operate with a view to placing a suitable candidate in.the field at the next general election.” The word “suitable” needs no emphasis from us, but requires much explanation from those who assert that Mr. AVebb is the free and unfettered choice of Buller miners. Nor would he be any more acceptable to Buller Coalitionists, or non-Party electors. None will deny his oratorical capabilities and business gifts, but these are not the issue in Buller, to-day. It will be interesting to ■’ watch developments, and to note if Union loyalty will be kept secondary to Labour headquarters’ wishes. •