The Sun THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1914. THE POSITION OF MR DAVEY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 245, 19 November 1914, Page 6

The Sun THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1914. THE POSITION OF MR DAVEY.

Mr Davey put himself in a very difficult position last night by refusing to say how he would act in the event of the fate of the Government depending on his vote. There is no reason why he should not stand:for Parliament as an Independent candidate and exercise an unfettered private judgment on the merits of each resolution or measure that comes before the House. But Mr Davey must know that the fundamental issue before the country at the present time is whether the present Government, on its record of the past 28 months, is to remain in office or be ousted by Sir Joseph Ward. It may happen that the parties will be as evenly divided after this election as! they were after the last. If there is any doubt as to the Government's position, Parliament will have to be called together, and a member, whether he calls himself an Independent or not, must decide what he will do. Mr Davey is perfectly well able to say here and now how he would vote, and his constituents have every right to know before being asked to record their votes for or against him. A member does not necessarily sacrifice* his independence by saying what he will- do in certain specific circumstances, and he cannot expect the electors to treat his candidature seriously if he refuses to take them as far into his confidence as he expects them to take him. Appearances suggest that Mr Davey finds his position uncomfortable, but not incompatible with his principles. He is as radical in his views as ever, but he is too honest to Stomach a political combination comprising Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Eussell, Mr Isitt, and the Eed Feds. He cannot pledge himself to use his vote to put them into power, although if they got into office without it, and brought forward liberal measures, he would support those measures on their merits. No one has ever accused Mr Davey of sympathies with the Beform Party, nor would his position be tenable if he voted for the Reformers on a no-confidence division after going through a campaign without giving his constituents any inkling of his intention to do so. It is unfortunate for Mr Davey that the electors are too keenly interested in the vital issue of who shall rule, Mr Massey' or Sir Joseph Ward, to accept him on the terms he offers himself as their representative. By his attitude he has thrown away any chance he ever had of re-election, and one cannot help thinking that he would have been better advised to stand down; A voluntary retirement instead of a certain defeat would be a more dignified end to a .useful Parliamentary career, and one that would commend itself to Mr Davey V many friends and supporters in days gone by.