GREAT VICTORY FOR REFORM!

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1312, 15 December 1911, Page 8

GREAT VICTORY FOR REFORM!

WARDISM ROUTED! BtSGEST FI6HT THE COUNTRY HAS EVER SEEN •I . , WELLINGTON DECLARES EMPHATICALLY FOR A CHANGE PRIME MINISTER HOWIE! DOWN Mr. MASSEY THANKS THE PEOPLE GREAT EXCITEMENT IN 'AUCKLAND 'AND WELLINGTON \ STATE OF PARTIES REFORM 37 GOVERNMENT 32 ' LABOUR 4 INDEPENDENT 4 This includes, one Native seat (Mr. Ngata's).

Tho defeat of Wardism, which • was assured by the polling of last week, was consummated by yesterday's second ballots. There were thirty of these, the total results being as follow:— i First Second . ' Ballot. Ballot. Total. Government 20 11 31 Reform .. 25 12 ; 37 Independent ........ 1- ; - 3 r -1 Labour — • ''I- '= 4 Total iS ; . 30'-" ' 76'Three of tho Labour members'and two of the Independents are pledged to rote against the Ward Government on a.noconfidonco motion. Locally tho Reform candidates have won three out of the four contests, Mr. Fisher being returned for Wellington Central, Dr. Newman for Wellington East, and Mr. Bell, for Suburbs. In Wellington South 'Mr.! Wright has been defeated by Mr. Hindmarsh, tho Labour candidate. These are all substantial wins, except Wellington East, where Dr. Newman's majority may just possibly be lost when tiiM> absentee vote* come in, Sir John Findlay's defeat, which was looked; on as a certainty after the first ballot, has been complete and thorough. Tho other two Ministers who were left in the second ballots-Messrs. Millar and Buddo—are re-elected. The two ex-Mi nistors, Messrs. Fowlds and Hogg, have gone down, the one beforo Mr. Payne (Labour) and the other before Mr. Sykes (Reform). Mr. Campbell won handsomely for Reform in Hawke'a Bay, and Mr. Escott in Pahiatua, but Mr. Hockly failed to displace Mr. Smith in Waimarino. The Labour candidates for Otaki (Mr. Robertson) and Wnnganni (Mr. Veitch), both of whom firo pledged against tho present Government, have been electcd.

As on the day of tho first ballot, tho weather was all that could bo desired yesterday. Bright sunshine obtained throughout the day, and the air in the ovening was clear and mild, so that no unpleasantness attended standing in the streets and waiting for results to arrive. Interest and expectancy ran high in regard to all the local second ballot contests, but to none docs this more exactly apply than to tho contest between Mr. Fisher and Mr. Fletchor in Wellington Central. It was everywhere recognised that/ a close finish would inevitably terminate the keen battle between the selected champions of tho Government and of Reform.