The Star. TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1923. THE IMPORTANCE OF OAMARU.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17029, 1 May 1923, Page 6

The Star. TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1923. THE IMPORTANCE OF OAMARU.

It is natural that Mr Massey should attach great importance to the Oamaru seal. His present majority in the House is a precarious one—so precarious, indeed, that it, might cease to exist at any time. The Reform Party returned from the General Election with a strength of thirty-eight members, which is less than half the House. During the campaign promises or pledges were received from three Liberals that it they were elected they would not assist to defeat the Government unless their own party had an absolute majority. The members did not even stipulate, when giving these pledges, the Reformers .should have an absolute majority. They put the Government to which they were opposed in a more favourable postion than their own party. When the trial came the Government emerged with a majority of two, with the Speaker in reserve ini the event of a tie. The result of the Tauranga election, while it saved the Government from immediate disaster, did not bring it an accession of strength either in voting- or debating power. Mr Massey and his colleagues are* still far from comfortable, but if they could win Oamaru back ag-ain their position would be eased to some extent, though it would not be made a political bed of roses. A majority of five is better than a majority of three, but it is not exactly a safe majority even when it is composed of staunch party followers. The Prime Minister has repeated in Oamaru the taetics which he found successful in Tauranga. The affairs of the country have been allowed to slide while he has been electioneering. It is no compliment to the Reform candidate for Oamaru that everywhere Mr Massey went Mr Lee was sure to go. An experienced politician and ex-Minister might have been expected to do without the permanent help of his chief during a campaign ag*ainst an opponent worthy of his steel. However, that it not Mr Lee's way, and neither is it Mr Massey’s. They believe that victory must accompany the heavy battalions of Ministerial speakers. Mr Macplierson decided to play a lone hand in bis campaign, and he has carried on without the assistance of members of his party. In doing so he has taken a risk, because the electorate is a fairly large one, and could easily absorb the energies of a few campaigners. We think that the polling to-day will result in a win for Mr Macplierson. He won the seat fairly and squarely, and was deprived of the fruits of his victory through a technicality for which he had not the slightest responsibility. It has been shown often enough in the past that the electors liave every sympathy for the candidate who is unseated by petition, and there is good reason to believe that on this occasion history will repeat itself.