The Wanganui Chronicle TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1925. AN ELECTION DANGER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19439, 27 October 1925, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1925. AN ELECTION DANGER

The Prime Minister has found it necessary in his ante-elec-tion speeches to include a warning to the electors against one of the most specious of the statements which candidates of the National Party are making. They are endeavouring to persuade the electors in a number of constituencies, where triangular contests are being fought, that it is immaterial whether a Reform representative or a Nationalist is returned. Mr. Coates says very clearly that the difference between voting Reform and voting National is all-important. Reformers who are returned to Parliament will give him solid support and enable him to carry out his progressive programme, but Nationalists would only hinder the work of the Government.

The National Party is not a solid party. Some of its candi-. dates say that they admire Mr. Coates and would gladly see him continue in office. There are others who say that they would support Mr. Holland in a no-confidence motion and help him to turn out the Government. This declaration lias not been made voluntarily by the Nationalist, candidates, but, has been drawn from them by questioners, who have forced them to commit themselves. To vote for a Nationalist is to vote against the Government. But. the Nationalist who frankly asserts his hostility to Reform is less dangerous than is his colleague who professes admiration for Mr. Coates and says that under certain conditions he would support the Government led by Mr. Coates. This is the candidate who claims that the electors should give him their votes in order to defeat Labour. Such a candidate may be antiLabour, but he also is anti-Reform. The question for the electors to consider is whether the Nationalist in this case would be free to dispose of his vote if he were in Parliament. The Nationalists’ attitude in the event of an effort being made to turn out the Government would be determined by the majority of the party. If the majority comprised members favourable to Labour, those who had professed a desire to support Mr. Coates would be compelled by tho majority to vote against him. Mr. Coates makes it plain that what Ke wants is wholehearted support. In order that the Government may be thorougnly equipped for its task he must have the backing of a party whose members are loyal to the leader and loyal to one another. Those who try to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds are of no use to Reform. It is the pledged Reformers that Mr. Coates must have in order that he may be freed from party anxieties and permitted to concentrate on the promotion of the national welfare.