THE RIGHT THING.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10752, 24 November 1928, Page 5

THE RIGHT THING.

PARLIAMENT TO MEET ON DECEMBER 4 MR COATES SAYS POSITION MUST BE TESTED "NO PARTY HAS CLEAR MAJORITY.” (Press Association- 1 WELLINGTON, Nov. 23. The Prime Minister (Mr Coates), stated to-night:— "I have already stated, when the results of the general election were definitely ascertained, I would make a further statement as to the course of action thq Government intended to follow. Although the final results in all the electorates are not yet to hand, they are now sufficiently definite to enable a decision to be arrived at as to the procedure to be adopted. It seems evident that no party has in itself a clear majority in the House and, in these circumstances, y am of opinion that the constitutional course is to call Parliament together as soon as possible, in order that the position may be-tested. His Excellency the Governor-General will accordingly be advised to summon Parliament to mc»t on Tuesday, December 4."

SIR J. "WARD ON UNTTED’S POSITION

“NO COALITION WITH REFORM” CLAIM TO CONTROL 32 SEATS (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 23. Sir Joseph Ward, loader of the United Party, said to day that ho was more than satisfied'with the attendance at the United Party conference last night. They were unanimous, he snid, in declining to entertain any proposals for a. coalition with the Reform. Party, which, in his opinion, would ho a most improper thing for the United Party, the members of which wore returned pledged to vote against a continuance of tho Reform Party. Ho was grateful to acknowledge the splendid way in which the party, though quite young, had been treated right throughout tho Dominion, and folt that it was his clear duty to put tho policy tho party had supported on the Statute Rook, even if it meant a further fight in the constituencies. There was no donbfc in any impartial elector’s opinion, to whatever party lie belonged; that the revulsion against the Reform Party was definite and absolute. Sir Joseph Ward said 29 members were present, and ho has four of the Independent members, making the strength 32. Sir Charles Statham, the. remaining Independent, has not communicated with him, and ho does not regard him as a party man. Sir Joseph Ward said the Reform Party had gone to the countrv with 53 members and had- returned from the elections with the party reduced to 26, and the nature of the defeat was without precedent in the history of the country. Four Ministers, the Chairman of Committees, the Senibi Government Whip, and other good men in the ranks of the Reform Party were unmistakeably defeated at tne polls. Anyone who evpe'eted of the United Party that it should start to kill its policy by going with its defeated opponents was asking Foi what was impossible. , Adding that there were 29 members present at the meeting, Sir Joseph said Tie had received apologies for absence. owing to the shortness of notice, from Messrs H. M: Rushwortli, W. J. Poison, and P. MoDbugall, making the total 32. Four Independents had communicated with him, Messrs Hogan, Poison; Wilkinson and Rushworth. informing him that they would support him on a want of eon--fidonce motion.

MB. HOI/LAND’S VI EWPOINT WARDJSTS WON’T BE ABLE TO LIVE ITP TO PROMISES ANTI-LABOR PARTIES MUST BE, DRAWN TOGETHER (Press Association./ WESTPORT, Nov. 23. At a Labor victory ball in the Theatre Royal to-night, Air H. E. Holland. Leader of the Opposition, after thanking electors for having given him such a handsome victory in the town of Westport and in the electorate, went on to refer to tho j political .siituntioh. H© had expected a statement from Mr Coates by this time, indicating his intentions, but this) had not come. However, lie thought that,'seeing that the Reform Party was so hopelessly beaten, Mr Coates would not attempt to carry on and that ha would either tender his resignation to tho Governor-General or call Parliament together very shortly and not attempt to carry on over Xmas. He thought that just as Mr Coates bad not been able to live up to his election promises of 1925, so Sir Joseph Ward would not ho able to live" up to those of 1928. What" the electors had done was to drive tlio two parties opposed to Labor closer together. The day was not far distant when Labor would be the oniy alternative to the party on the Treasury Benches, When Air Coat*« bad intimated the action he intended to take, ho (Mr Holland), would have a statement to make as Leader of the Labor , Party. Air-Holland received a rousing reception the gathering rising and singing “For He’s a Jolly Good Follow.’’

“MEASURES, NOT PARTIES” LABOR’S ATTITUDE DEFINED

PLANKS INCOAEING COVER,NAIENT MUST PROVIDE

, STATE BANK. LAND SETTLEMENT AND WORK FOR. UN EMPLOYED

(Press Association.) TAUAIARUMTI, Nov. 23. Jn an interview regarding what attitude the Labor Party will adopt in supporting the United Party, Alt F. Langstone, ALP., stated that the Labor Party supports measures not parties and, should the incoming Government bo willing to establish a State Bank, with sole right of note issue, reduce rates of interest, institute vigorous land settlement and deal with tho unemployed problem, they- will be assured of Labor’s support to enact and administer these measures, ELECTION OF AIR, POLSON

NO CONGRATULATIONS FROAI FARAIEES’ UNION

OPPOSED AS BODY TO POLITICS BUT NO RESTR AINT OX INDIVIDUAL OPINIONS (Press Association.) DANNEVTRKE, Nov. 23. At a meeting of the provincial executive of the Southern -Hawke’s Bay branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Major McDonnell suggested that- it forward a letter of congratulation to Air W. J. Poison, president of the New Zealand Farmers’. Union, on securing a seat in Parliament. '

Air J. Livingston, the president of the branch, and a member of the Dominion executive, who" presided, declined to accept the motion, “We,

ns a union”, he said, ‘"‘are opposed to politics. We'have to keep out of them, and I cannot accept the motion.” He admitted that- there was nothing to prevent members offering their congratulations individually, but .immediately they did so as an organised body of the Farmers’ Union they were associating themselves with a particular party and getting mixed up in politics. ' Major McDonnell: He does not belong to. any party-. A member: Mr Poison belongs to the Independent Party. Another member: None of us know at present which side he is, on. The chairman persisting in his attitude. the subject was allowed to drop.

PRESENT POSITION OF PARTIES

*means that the seat is still in doubt.

REFORM (29.) H. Kyle, (Riccarton). A. E. Ansell, Chalmers. J. Bitchener, Waitaki. T. D. Burnett, Temuka* H. M. Campbell, Hawke’s Bay. Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Kaipara H. G. Dickie, Patea. W. H. Field, Otaki. A, W. Hall, Hauraki. Tau Henare, Northern Maori. H. Holland, "Christchurch North. Sir G. Hunter, Waipawa. D. Jones, Mid-Canterbury. J. Linklater, Manawatu. C. E. Macmillan, Tauranga, J. N. Massey, Franklin. ,T. A. Nash, Palmerston. Sir M. Pomare, "Western Maori, A. M. Samuel, Thames. Hon. W. D Stewart, Dunedin W. G. R. Sykes, Masterton F. Waite, Clutha, Hon. K. S. Williams, Bay of Plenty. Hon. It. A. Wright, 'Wei. Subs. Hon. .T. A. Young, Hamilton W. D. Lysnar, Gisborne. A. Hamilton, Wallace A. Harris, Waitemata. A. Bell, Bay of Islands. •

UNITED (27). G. O. Black, Motucka. W. A. Bodkin, Otago Central. W. J. Broadfoot. Waitorno C. H. Clinkard, Rotorua. .T. G. Cohbe, Oroua. P. do la Perollo, Awarua. J. R. Donald, Auckland East. G. W. Forbes, Huninui. •' .T. S. Fletcher, Grey Lynn. Ri. W. Hawke, Kaiapoi E. F. Tlealy, Wairau. H. It. Jenkins, Parnell F. Lye, Waikato T. W. McDonald, Wairarnpa. T. Makitarana, Southern Maori J. A, Macpherson, Oamaru. G. O. Munns, Roskill. A. J. Murdoch, Marsden. Sir A. T. Ngata, Eastern MaoriE. R.. Ransom, Pnhiatua. S. G Smith, Now Plymouth A. J’. Stallworthy, Eden. W A. Veitch, Wanganui. Sir J. Ward, Invercargill T. M. Wilford. Hutt. • McDougall, Mataura. Taverner, Dunedin South. LABOR (19). H. T. Armstrong, Christchurch E. W. E. Barnard, Napier O. L. Carr, Timaru, P. Fraser, Wellington Central. H. E. Holland, Duller. - ) E. J. Howard, Christchurch South W. J. Jordan, Manakau. , F. Langstone, Waimarino. J. McCombs, Lyttelton. R. McKeen, Wellington South W. Lee Martin, Raglan. H. G. R. Mason, Auckland Sub. J. W. Munro, Dunedin South ,T. O’Brien, Westland. W. E. Parry, Auckland Central M. J Savage, Auckland West R. Semple, Wellington East. D. G, Sullivan, Avon. C. H. Chapman, Wellington X. INDEPENDENT (5). H, Atmore, Nelson. J. T. Hogan, Rangitikei. W. J.' Poison, Stratford Sir C. Statham, Dunedin Central. C. A .Wilkinson, Egmont. BAY OF ISLANDS SEAT MR, BELL RETURNED BY CASTING VOTE 'Press Association.' WHANG ARE!. Nov. 23. Subsequent to the recount t:r Bay of Island votes it was discovered that a parcel of six absentee votes had l>een overlooked. One of these was recorded as informal, three went to Mr A. Bell, and two to Mr H. M. Rushworth, making both 3839.

The returning officer then gave his casting' vote in favor of the sitting member. Air Bell.

WHEN TAU HELD BALANCE REFORM’S MAJORITY OF 1914 THE DTPLOMATTO MAORI. WOULD' NOT BE DRAWN TILL HOUSE AIET (Special to the Times.) AUCKLAND. Nov. 23.

The closeness of the political parties recalls the 1914 elections, when the fate of the Government appeared to vest upon the vote of the new Maori memlier for the Northern district, "* Air. Tan Henare. Neither of the two larger parties knew how this vote was to be cast, and several enterprising • pressmen interviewed the new member. He was delightfully vague to all. To one reporter, he said when asked lion; his vote would go. “I give y’on two guesses.” To another scribe, who put the sanio question was “Wait until the karaka berry is ripe,” and to. a third lie said “First I stand on one leg and then on the other.”

Tau Henare is a good natured native, always smiling, and his avoirdupois is an over increasing factor. It is related of him that when he stood for Parliament he was selected by a meeting of wahines as the men could not agree on a. candidate after arguing for a fortnight. For a Grief time Tau Henare loomed largely in the New Zealand political arena, and was assiduously wooed by all. So close were the parties that one vote, even that of the Maori, was vital, and an election petition alleging certain irregularities was filed against Tau Henare in nn endeavor to unseat him. 110 came out of tho ordeal unscathed, and when Parliament settled down lie had occasion only- to stand on one log, as he voted for Reform, and lias given that party his allegiance ever since.

THOSE CASTING VOTES

RETURNING- OFFICERS TURN - SCALE. PREVIOUS INSTANCES IN N.Z. (Special to the Times.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 23. The exercise of a returning officer’s casting vote is no new thing in New Zealand political history. There wore two instances at the last general election. Air. AX. E. Lyons, Government candidate, was declared elected in Lyttelton in preference to the retiring -Labor member, Air. J. AleCombs, both candidates having rereived 4,900 votes at tho official count. At the same time Air. T. E. V. Seddon, Nationalist, candidate, secured the Westland seat, through tho casting vote of the returning officer. Both he and his Labor opponent Air. J. O’Brien, who had previously held seat, received 4176. Election petitions were lodged with the Supreme Court in both cases, and as the result of the hearing before two judges, Air. AlcComb's gained the