The Waikato Independent TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1931. THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2779, 24 November 1931, Page 4

The Waikato Independent TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1931. THE COMING ELECTIONS.

With nominations now closed for the general elections next week the posi tion in the various electorates throughout the Dominion is clear. So far as Waikato is concerned the election will be a straight-out contest between the sitting member, Mr F. Lye, as United Party and official Coalition candidate, and Mr S. N. Ziman, representing the Country Party. Both candidates are on tho hustings at the moment, and are leaving ho stone unturned to make acquaintance with and place their respective views and the platforms of their parties before the electors. Tho coming election has some unusual features associated with it, and, of course, the most outstanding is the amalgamation of the United and Reform Parties, a condition of things political brought about by the severe economic conditions. Undoubtedly the action taken- by the two parties provides the solution'- of a rather difficult problem. After all, the differences are not very great, and it seems that the interest of the country will be best served by forgetting them and presenting a united front. As has been pointed out by contemporaries throughout the country had the three parties gone to the country each with a different policy it would have meant a minority Government once again. It is only a strong administration that can make the many adjustments that are necessary to lift the country out of its difficulties. Some will say that a straightout issue in Parliament will sooner or later see the Labour minority reach the

Treasury Benches, because of the inertia of a too powerful party. There may be a smattcr of truth in such a contention, but we do know that the present three party system has proved a dismal failure even in normal times, and of late years, with the country passing through a cycle of depression, it has been a disaster. However, we . are now to have an almost straight-out fight with Labour, with 74 official ' Coalition candidates against the former's 54. Of the remaining 66 nominations they are divided into various * styles of Independents, while the Country Party has six candidates, Communitsts two and Women one. As we have mentioned there is to be a pretty clear fight between Coalition • and Labour, and it is what the people . have been asking for. In view of the decision of the two parties to put country before anything else, it must be disappointing to find a fair crop of Independents going to the poll. It is appircnt that personal ambitions in some electorates have been allowed to overshadow the necessity of establishing a strong Government. Just what is'best for the country is indicated in the lead given by Britain where the necessity of reverting to the two-party system has been realised, ami the outstanding personalities of both the Labour and Conservative parties have sunk their principles for the good of the country. The Independents here might easily have done the same. As to the fight between tho Coalition and Labour, the paths of each are plain. The Coalition believe that the country has been spending and borrowing too much and that, for a ' time at least, both must be reduced. On the other hand Labour is very can- ! did witli its policy of first interest to i tin- workers. Mr H. E. Holland is of | j the opinion that the State has no need j i to economise, but that it can continue to borrow; that salary cuts may be rej stored, and that we can continue with cur past methods. It is an extraordinary attitude in face of tho fact that (hiving the past decade our State taxation ha c : increased enormously and the same applies to local taxation. How then in the face of such a position, with world conditions against us, can we go on borrowing, and spending at tho rate we have been. It may seem alright to Mr Holland to try and cloud tiio issue with high-sounding phrases such as the mobilisation of credit, the readjustment of currency, etc., but the fact is the country is akin to the privato individual who must curtail expenditure to avoid tho bankruptcy court. Many in this country arc aware of the line the Labour Party took up at the recent British elections, and most people in this Dominion are fully aware of the results of the British elections. The people at Home realised the position of their country, and they, including a great many workers, voted aci cordingly. Just what will happen in , the Dominion on December 2 remains to be seen, but, at least, the people at ■ Home have provided a fine example. Coming back to the question of 'ho \ two versus the three-party system there are many people who believe that when the world economic position is clarified, there will be a return to the party call, ' and the same opinijn is held as regards Dominion politics. However, in New Zealand the differences in the policies of the United and Reform Parties are by no moans difficult of adjust- ' ment, thus enabling a common policy to be framed for the benefit of tho people.

Granted that the position to-day has been influenced by the general conditions experienced in the Dominion of late, nevertheless there is a more pronounced feeling than ever that it would be in the best interests of the country if the Coalition of United and Reform were made permanent.