PREVIOUS ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 620, 24 September 1909, Page 6

PREVIOUS ELECTIONS.

. '■The' results of previous" elections ■ were .v as follow:— ■- ...■•■■ '1908. Remington 1 (Government) ■ ... ... 2238 Smith (Independent' Liberal).'.. ; y. 2083 ■1905. ir.,' ' : . ,! Remmgtori: (Government), ... 3416' Sommeryille- (Opposition) ;.. ... 1706 MINISTERS' OPINIONS. ... "A TRUE PARTY STRUGGLE." •' ■■■■.:■ (Uir - Aiaoclalliin.r.- ■ .1 "rm -. • *. Palmcrston, September 23. ' .The Acting-Prime Minister, who left .Huntervilie during -the afternoon; stayed; to-night at | Palmerston, and was interviewed here on the result of tho; Rangitikei election. : i.. - "The fight, .is; over," .he . said:. . "It 'was -a truo .'party struggle,, and the. real infighting ; wascamed out .by the ; several- candidates ..in ;:the. first ballot, who, 'in. thc second: ballot, .. stood .'faithfully , to . the .Liberal, cause, ■The ■ presence of.Ministers, in .the :-secoad stage. :of the, contest 'was to. impress it..with the•.significance" of party, .and ■ to place their .case before: the. electors. We 'accept - their : verdict." ' - .The .'Minister for Agriculture (lion. T: .Mackenzie);'who. had come to nicst Mrs.' MackenziePjlmerston -earlier' in thp !a'f ternoon.; on % her .return.-.from England, ■ was also, interviewed,. nnd'-said: "I;cannot help but being•,pleawd with' the result.Although -the fight has , been, astrenuous.one, it has. been;-conducted -on .the ■ nlost.-honourable' lines on both sides. I attriblite ihe.lvictory. largely; to .a. recognition;, on of the*electors, that the, Government striving.to:;do its.-vary- best-in the interest 6f the.- country. ; We are.^,.attacking largo and difficult problems, oiid the encourage-, ment :.which,-:wo;.have"received will , stimulate us"in : our. efforts. I. am particularly .pleased ,wiih:the..support. which we-havo,received-from-the farmers, Decause I take ,it as a. recognition (among-.other.,things) of thei'work of tho Agricultural which'.is -striving,, on practical lines,-.to ,'adyauce .their interests, ; hot pnly ; iii'the..Dominion, but also'in-.theimarket-ing-of their .products in other lands. - 'From- a Parliamentary point,,of : view (Mr.;. Mackenzie added) it : is, also gratifying to know that the candidates who stood, were Tall "men of. high character, capacity, and ability."