DUNEDIN CENTRAL CONTEST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2376, 4 February 1915, Page 4

DUNEDIN CENTRAL CONTEST

Though the final result of the Dunedin Central election cannot be declared until the votes of the seamen and absentees have been counted the Reform candidate (He. Stathaii) has a Lead of eighteen votes. This is not a very large majority, but the general opinion seems to be that it is more likely to be increased than reduced when the complete figures .are available. Even if Mr. Munro should secure most of the seamen's votes, which number only So, the probabilities are that they will be far more than counterbalanced by the absentee votes, numbering 224, a very substantial majority 61 which are expected to go to Mr. Statham. In any caso the fact remains' that the Reform candidate has a .clear lead, and that his chances of winning the seat are decidedly greater than those of his opponent. The contest has been a strenuous one. The Opposition has done its very utmost to secure the return of the Labour candidate, fully recognising that unless Mr. Munro is elected the Wardist and Labour-Socialist combination cannot hope to succeed in their attempt to eject the Government from office. If Me. Statham is i returned, as in all probability he will be, the strength of the Government Party will be 41, whereas fche Opposition will only be able to muster a. total of 39, consisting of 33 Wardists and six Labour members. It has, of course, to be remembered that election petitions have been lodged in connection with the Taumarunui, Hawke's Bay, and Northern Maori contests. But the Northern Maori seat was won by a very substantial majority, and •if there should be another election it is not at all likely that the position of the Opposition would be improved. The Hawke's Bay and Taumarunui contests were, however, very close, and if a second election should take place in either or both of them -the Reform Party would have a chance of further increasing its strength in the House. It is decidedly satisfactory to know that, according to present indications, Dunedin Central will declare in favour of Reform and stable government, notwithstanding the desperate efforts of the Opposition to capture the seat. The Leader of the Opposition himself paid a special visit to Dunedin _ in order to assist the Labour candidate, and even tried to make- the electors believe that a stable government could in some mysterious way be formed out of the discordant elements of which his party is composed, if only Mr. Stathaii were defeated. But, judging by the result of yesterday's polling, his eloquence seems to have fallen flat. Mr. Statham fought his own battle, and did so with marked ability. He deserves to succeed, and it is to be hoped that the final figures wilJ place his return beyond all doubt. '«