A MYTHICAL MAJORITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20583, 5 December 1928, Page 4

A MYTHICAL MAJORITY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — me to thank you for your illuminating footnote to my letter in yonr issue of November 28. It is nice to have the accurate position. of political parties placed before ua at last: ‘No doubt, now that it is established that Jifr CoatCS h&S a.majority he will-face the situation with characteristically exuberant confidence. There are those five Independents to be taken into account, and surely Mr Coates will consider that he has, at least, an equal chance of capturing them. Why should the Prime -Minister hand over the reins of Government? Did not Mr Massey come into power with a majority •of from two t 9 four? The present position is not so unique as you would suggest, and would, perhaps, be a little more hopeful for the Reform Party if there were no ” nigger in the woodpile.” The majority simply is not there. It is merely a creation of that artful twister whom a discerning public has long since identified. — I ami etc, , Telejtachus. [As we did not say, and-as .we have never pretended, that Mr Coates has the support of a majority of the members of the House, the laboured sarcasm of our correspondent is simply wasted. What we pointed out, and what every intelligent elector recognises, is that the Reform Party is the largest individual party in the House. The suggestion that the Independent members may be '* captured"’ is not complimentary to them. Mr Coates would be the' last of the political. leaders to resort to. the device of intriguing for their support.— Ed. O.D.T.]