MORE SURPRISES?

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2338, 21 December 1914, Page 6

MORE SURPRISES?

THE ELECTIONS AND AFTER ALLEGED ILLEGALITIES UNDER "DECLARATION" CLAUSE Nothing has occurred in the past two days to change the state of parties in . the House, or at any rate nothing about which any very definite statements can be made. Perhaps this much may he said: that there are possibilities of a change for the better in the position of the Reform Party. Tho facts-which may make theso possibilities into eventualities are now sub judice in Haivke's Bay and Dunedin Central, where recounts are to be made, and it is not unreasonable for the supporters of Reform to hope that their candidates; may yet be declared elocted for these seats, or that the recent elections in those seats may be voided.

There are good grotinds for believing that in certain electorates in New Zealand thoro have been breaches of that section of the Amending Act of last year by which persons who voted at last election, who were still resident this year in the same electorate in which they voted three years ago, but who found too lato that their names were not on the roll, might be allowed to record their votes on making a declaration of the facts of their case to a deputy returning officer. This amendment was insorted in the Bill before the House as the result of clamorous protests by members of the Opposition about the methods being followed in compiling the rolls. Certain honourable gentlemen alleged that the Government, with ' Machiavellian cunning, had so devised the scheme for the enrolment of electors as to make it highly probable that certain classes of electors, not likely to be supporters of the Government, would be. left off* the rolls, and thereby disfranchised. At that time, although the Government had ample confidence in the Department in charge of the work, it was too early to say whether the sch'emo would prove a success or not. In point of fact it has been proved a very great success by the test of the' elections.. But the Government then agreed, in order todisarm all possible criticism, and to provide against all possible cases of hardship, to insert in the Bill the new clause referred to already. It is stated now that this clause has given rise to breaches of the law. It is alleged on the one hand that in some electorates voters who .were entitled to the concession provided for in the section. applied for the right to vote under declarations, and that the right was denied them. On the other hand it is alleged that some people have voted under declarations who should not have been allowed to vote at all.

The investigation of these irregularities may occupy some time, and if it should happen that an election should be upset, still more time would have to elapse before the state of parties could bo determined. _In the meantime the Government will carry on the affairs of the country as usual. They cannot call Parliament together for an early session until it is decided beyond all manner of doubt who the members of that Parliament are to be, nor will they resign from office until ii is proved beyond doubt that tlicir party is in a minority in tlio L House. ' :: ' HAWKE'S BAY SEAT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Hastings, December 19. On the petition of Mr. Campbell, the Magistrate (Mr. M'Carthy) has ordered a Tecount of the Hawke's Bay votes. It was at first decided that the recount should commence to-day, but it was afterwards deoided to postpone it until "Wednesday. A COALITION GOVERNMENT REFERENCE BY HON. J. ALLEN. Some remarks on the possibility of a coalition Ministry for New Zealand, were made by Mr. C. D. M'Ewan at the Letter carriers' annual dinner on Saturday night, when proposing the toast of "Tho Govo'rnment.' The Minister of Finance (the Hon. .T. Allen), in responding, referred to the remarks. The mover of the toast made some suggestions as to possibilities, he said. Ho was not there to say anything about possibilities, he pointed, out. The facts wore before tnem—the parties were very even, and he was not able to say anything. Whatever the contingencies might result in, he was certain that the country, almost as one person, would back up the Ministry, so long as it was answering to the call which came from New Zealand and the Empire. They were very happy in their country, for although but a small part of tho Empire, they had never failed to respond to the Empire's call. (Applause.) Ho was sure that New Zealand's good name would be added to when the history of the war came to be written. He knew that the New Zealanders they had sent away would, when the supreme trial was called, answer it with honour to New Zealand. He knew that if they had to call for still greater sacrifice from the people here, either in money or men, they would make it. He was sure they would agree that there was no sacrifice too great to make, to stand by the weak nation, and uphold the name which Britain had made —to support the weak as against the strong, always ,on the side of right. (Applause.) In New Zealand we could help her in this great ordeal. Ho was sure it would add to her traditions. and would be the brightest thing we could cherish here. (Applause.) He again thanked them for tho cordial way in which the toast had been drunk.