The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1914. THE STRENGTH OF PARTIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2334, 16 December 1914, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1914. THE STRENGTH OF PARTIES

The delay in .the official declaration of the General Election results due to the counting of the Expeditionary Force votes has kept everyone in a, state, of: suspense even more keen than the Second Ballots were wont to do. Gradually, howevpr, the doubtful seats are being decided, and it now seems practically certain that no further changes will be made. There is still an element of uncertainty regarding Taumarunui, where the Opposition candidate has a lead of 110 votes, with 300 absent electors' votes to-be counted, and in Dunedin Central where the Labour candidate has; a majority of eight votes a- scrutiny is to be made which may 2JOssibly affect the final result. The probabilities, however, point to the Government's present majority of two remaining unaltered. The actual strongth of parties now is as follows: — .. Government 41 Wardists. .; 32 Labour , 7 A majority of two in a House of 80 members is a narrow one, but it is sufficient to enable the Government to carry on the business of the country. .in New South Wales' the Labour Government carried on for sometime with only the casting-vote of the Speaker. The great advantage which the • Reform Government possesses is that it is backed by a united party. Its members fought the elections on a common platform and- are in complete agreement on all important questions of public

policy. The opponents of the Government are not united on policy issues, and include men of strongly antagonistic opinions on prominent questions. No doubt they have.ono desire in common; and that is to displace from office the present Government, but even if they succeeded in this object they could not possibly hope to carry on the government of tho country in a satisfactory manner, There would bo "constant friction betwcen_ the Moderates and the Extremists, the outcome of which would ultimately lead to a split in their ranks. It must be obvious in the circumstances that the issue- will bo between a continuance of the prosent Government in office or a dissolution and another General Election. We are strongly of the opinion that the country does not desire another General Election and that it is the duty of the Government to carry on despite the inconvenience of its small majority. Some 'mombers of the Beform Party appear to hold the opinion that it would be a good thing from tho party point of view to go to the country again at once. Possibly they are right in thinking that tho_ influences which unjustly told against Government candidates at tho recent polls will have disappeared, and that tho electors, if they are given a second chance, will take no risks of a composite party controlled by LabourSocialist extremists dominating the Government of the country. But save as a last resort it would not be right for either party to seek to again plunge the country into the turmoil of a General Election struggle. It may provo somewhat trying to Ministers and to members of the Government Party to carry on business in Parliament with a narrow majority of one or two members, but they will have the consolation of knowing that should there to any frictions opposition oa tho part of their opponents, or any attempts at deliberate obstruction, they will merely servo to strengthen public feeling in favour of tho Government. As a mutter of partj tactics tho Beform Party might with advantage to itself sm>k a dissolution, and innko, another appeal to tho electors; but if the interests of the country are to be placed first, then Mr. Massey should make up his mind U) wry tm v.-iU? liiji *u*Jorifcy ( however email it max flrovo to be, -