LABOUR LAMENTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17028, 30 April 1923, Page 6

LABOUR LAMENTING.

HOW AN ELECTION WAS Luj i". Some comment has been passed on the race time one ol the Labcur-toociai-ist candidates for the W elhngton City council, Mr C. H. Chapman, polled more votes than the Juabourciooiaiist nominee for the Mayoralty, Mr P. Fraser, says the ‘•Dominion” editorially. It is generally understood that “ kissing goes by favour ” in the inner circles of the Labour-Socialist group. Mr P. Fraser, for instance, in spite of the fact that he already held a well-paid job as M.P. at £450 a year and privileges, was selected, to contest another wellpaid job in the city Mayoralty at £SOO a year in preference to members of the party who held no paid public office. The Labour union principle of one man one job was openly flouted in favour of Mr Fraser. It would seem that Mr Chapman was one of the aspirants to the Mayoral candidature as the nominee of the Labour-Socialist Party, but was turned down for Mr Fraser. In view of the fact that Mr Chapman, as a candidate for the City Council polled something like 700 votes more than Mr Fraser on the day of the election, the Labour Party selectors are now suspected of having made a bad cboioe in favouring Mr Fraser. This view is strengthened by the fact that Mr Chapman was the only Labour nominee to be elected to the Hospita l and Charitable Aid Board and he polled highest of the Labour nominees for the Harbour Board.