The New Zealand Times MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1926. SORTING OUT THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12395, 15 March 1926, Page 6

The New Zealand Times MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1926. SORTING OUT THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION

Our last General Election was concluded on Saturday, when the Electoral Court gave its decision in the Lyttelton contest. It was an election which will go down in our history as one of the most remarkable ever held. To begin with, it gave a new and young Prime Minister such a success as is rarely recorded. Again, there were two ties necessitating a magisterial recount, followed by an inquiry by an Electoral Court. Finally, the decision m the Lyttelton petition was unique, in that it unseated a candidate who had been declared elected on a recount. Mr J. McCombs comes back to the House after what must have been a nerve-racking experience for him. Frankly, we would have preferred to see Mr Lyons there, not so much because he is a follower of Mr Coates as for the reason that he is a better type all round than the Socialist. However, the defeated candidate may take consolation from the fact that at his first venture he only narrowly missed a spectacular victory over an opponent who believed himself invincible. The return of Mr T. E. Y. Seddon and the rejection of Mr Lyons leaves the battle for the honour of official Opposition in an exceedingly interesting position. The Socialists now number 12; the straight-out Nationalists io. But Mr Forbes should be able to rely on the support of two others: Sir Joseph Ward and Mr H. Atmore. On the other hand, there will presently be a by-election in Eden. If the Socialist nominee can win out there, Mr Holland will beat Mr Forbes by a head for the now rather barren honour of Leader of the Opposition. But, unless Miss Melville complicates the situation, the indications are that Sir James Gunson will retain the. seat for the Government. ' These figures emphasise the overwhelmipg strength as well as the big responsibility of Mr Coates. The late Mr Massey was so precariously placed in his latter days as to be seriously embarrassed. Circumstances compelled him to temporise and placate where his successor will be able to exploit his policy without risking anything. Prime Ministers there are who require a powerful, wellorganised, and capable Opposition to keep them up to the mark. Mr Coates will disappoint his friends, old and new, if he attempts to take advantage of his enviable condition. His pa’th is not exactly strewn with rose leaves, notwithstanding he is powerful enough to go his own way. Sooner or later, New Zealand must prepare for the necessity of tightening its pursestrings, as the balance of export values over imports is diminishing. Ihe rupture in the dairy camp is assuming proportions which can scarcely fail to cause Mr Coates some concern. This diversion imperils the future of our most vital industry, and the Prime Minister has as yet made no move publicly to bring the parties together. The Minister for Agriculture is departmentally in charge of dairying affairs, but Mr Coates is in charge of the Minister. There can be no doubt where this particular responsibility rests, and there are others, all connected with Big Business. The evidence on the point informs us that Mr Coates, strong and all as he is, has an arduous time ahead of him. Still, if he is true to himself, he need not fear the outcome.