The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1911

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3364, 2 November 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1911

The display of tact on the part of a leader of a party is never more necessary than upon the eve of an election. Especially is this the case in connection with the handling of rival candidates m the same interests for the same seat. As far as the two chief political parties in the Dominion are concerned, the Opposition has, it is generally admitted, achieved greater success in this regard than the party in power. On this occasion, however, even the Opposition authorities have in one or two instances .—notably Otaki—failed to arrange for the field to be left clear for a single representative of the party. But the trouble which has arisen in the Opposition' camp at Otaki will probably be found to be as nothing compared with the position which has arisen in connection witli the appointment as Government nominee of one of the Liberal candidates for the Hawke’s Bay seat. Hawke’s Bay, it will be recalled, was wrested from the Opposition three years ago on a second ballot being taken. Though Sir William Russell topped the poll at the first ballot by a large majority, he met defeat later at the hands of Mr. Dillon. Again on this occasion there has all along been every prospect of a hard fight, but added interest now attaches to the contest in view of the fact that the powers that be have seen fit to single out one of the Ministerial candidates as the official Government nominee. Mr. H. J. Simpson is the fortunate recipient of Ministerial favor, whilst Mi-. A. L. D. Fraser, who was formerly in the House as member for Napier, is the party who feels most aggrieved in the matter. When all is said and done, the head of the Government may probably be very sorry that such a step was ever taken—at any rate until it came to a second ballot. At all times where two or more candidates persist in standing in the same interest, the position is invariably found to lie most awkward for the party whom they represent. Of course, where the candidates in such an event give an undertaking to help the aspirant on their side who gets into the second ballot—as was the case, for example, in connection with the Rangitikei by-elec-tion last year—it is all right. But a striking example of the harm which may accrue where no such undertaking can lie arrived at between rival candidates on the same side may be found in the case of the contest for Wellington North at the last general election. For that seat Mr. Herdman, the Opposition candidate, came out top at the first ballot with 3363 votes. His two Liberal opponents, Mr. Bolton (2354) and Mr. Izard, the Government nominee (2324) secured in all 467 S votes. When it came to a second ballot, however, Mr. Herdman simply “walked in.” Now, what is going to lie the position in the case of Hawke’s Bay at the pending election? Mr. Campbell, the Opposition candidate, is almost certain to reach the second ballot. If it should happen that Mr. Fraser is called upon to fight it out with him, will the supporters of Mr. Simson assist? Mr. Simson says that he expects that to be the position. But what will happen should it turn out that Mr. Simson is left in the running? Will the followers of Mr. Fraser throw in their weight on Mr. Simson’s behalf? Rumor hath it that it will be the other way about. It is reported that Mr. Fraser never imagined for one moment that the Government would select its nominee prior to the second ballot. As a matter of fact, lie has in his addresses been telling the electors that it had been decided that the electors should settle the question as to which of the Ministerial candidates should be left in the second ballot. To-night, however, Mr. Fraser is to disclose at liis meeting at Hastings the evidence upon which he felt justified, in making the announcement to which we have just alluded. Ho will seek to show, it is understood, that he was given to understand by at least three Ministers that no Government nominee would be selected prior to the first ballot. Should it so happen that Mr. Simson is called upon to fight Mr. Campbell in the second ballot, it would seem very doubtful whether he will bo able to count upon the support of the electors who favor the candidature of Mr. Fraser. All of which goes to show that so far as the Government party is concerned a tactical error has been committed.

Was it Tactful?