The Star. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1922. DUNEDIN NORTH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16737, 19 May 1922, Page 6

The Star. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1922. DUNEDIN NORTH.

The Dunedin North seat has been rendered vacant by the death of Mr E. Kellett, an Independent Labour Member, who had the respect and esteem of political friends and opponent*. Mr Kellett had been in illhealth for some considerable time, ajid liis infirmity prevented his full participation in the conflicts of the political arena. The electors of Dunedin North will shortly be required to elect a member to represent them in the House for the concluding session of the current Parliament, and until the choice is made the constituency will be a centre of interest. It may be taken for granted that the three political parties now before tho country will nominate candidates. The Government newspapers profess to be extremely curious as to the course which will be taken by the Deader of the Opposition, Mr T. M. Wilford, but they really cannot have any doubts about it. The Opposition, equally with the Government, is bound to submit a candidate. There is no reason why the reconstituted Liberal-Labour Party should shirk the issue, but there is every reason why it should take the opportunity afforded by this election to put its platform and policy fully before the country. At the General Election in 1019 there was a straight out contest between Mr Kellett, who stood as an Independent Labour candidate, and Mr A. TValker, who was the Official labour candidate. The polling resulted : Kellett . . .4 784 Walker . . . 3978 Majority for Kellett . 806 Subsequently Mr Kellett associated himself with Mr C. E. Statham in the formation of a new political party, and there is no doubt that had ho lived he would have* stood aw a supporter of the Liberal-Labour Party. The polling at tho last general election encourages the belief that the Opposition have a fair prospect of retaining the seat. Official Labour is not likely to remain passive, and a candidate will be found to carry its banner. The party has eonsistentlv exploited the incapacity and unpopularity of the Government, but it has not succeeded in impressing the electors with any confidence in its own ability or faith in the magic of its political charms. The 1/about Party of to-day is a hotch-potch of Communists, Bolshevists, Socialists, Direct Actionistg, Arbitrationists and many other 44 ists,” the majority *A whom are bent on ending the present social system, and putting something else —they know not what—in its place. To some extent it .-epresents a more or less vague idealism, but to a larger extent it is the mouthpiece of selfish and class-conscious failures who are envious of success Communists are mostly people who have nothing to give to the commune, and Labour’s new world is to be hu.lt on the wealth of the capitalist. The Labour Partv will continue to make a class appeal, and ,t will put forth a hig effort to capture the seat. Whether the Government will also bring out a candidate remains to be seen, but we do not see that Mr Massey can do anything else. Indeed, the prospects should appeal to him. because the contest will be .a triangular one, in which two of the parties, though mutually opposed, will divide the anti-Government vote. The split vote has been of immense assistance to the Government in the past, and it may serve "Reform’s turn once more in Dunedin North. The Government is far from popular just now', and its unpopulariiv has been well earned bv its prodigality and improvidence, which kept it from making provision for the inevitable rainy day. The Government will he put on its trial in Dunedin North, and Mr Massey has some reason to be apprehensive of the verdict.