A PARTY OF ONE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 11 April 1929, Page 4

A PARTY OF ONE

MO special significance is attached to lhe result of the Bay of Islands by-elec-tion. The "sitting member"—sitting for a brief period by virtue of a majority of two until he was unseated because of election irregularities for which he was not responsible—will be able to renew his acquaintance with the comfortable upholstery and other attractions of our legislative balls. There was ' no great waving of party flags or shouting of time-worn shibboleths during the election campaign. Mr Allan Bell, who supported Reform in the last Parliament, pinned his faith to past performances. Tliat he has striven hard and long in the interests of the far North is generally conceded. But a hard worker for his constituency is not always rewarded by an expression of renewed confidence. In demonstration of that fact we need go no further than the Motueka electorate and its rejection of Mr Hudson in November last. On that occasion, however, the ex-member's opponent had the advantage of being able to make the most of Sir Joseph Ward's alluring promises which included the completion of the Nelson-West Coast railway. There was no such issue in the Bay of Islands by-election, which one writer has described as an exhibition, of "shadow-sparring." Yet the campaign must have excited considerable interest locally, for omitting over 300 absent votes yet to be counted, the preliminary announcement shows that only 56 fewer votes were cast than the total at the General Election. Mr Bell's support went down by 98,'

Mr iUishworth's increased by 389, which would presumably include the 349 polled by Mr Hornblow in November. Mr Hush worth voted with Sir Joseph Ward on the no-confidence motion which relegated the Coalcs Government to the shades of Opposition, and has announced (hat he will support tho Government on certain conditions. No doubt he will be, found voting far more with Sir Joseph than against. He is described as a cultured gentleman of marked ability, and whether we agree with his political views or think they are impracticable, his intellectuality should bo of value in Parliament where that possession has not been in over-abundant supply in recent years. Mr Rushworth begins as a Party of one—the Country Party—a parliamentary career that will b~o watched with much interest.