GENERAL ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1925, Page 2

GENERAL ELECTIONS

CONGRATULATION'S AND COUNTS AY HO AVILL BE THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION.? ABSENT VOTE FACTOR. (Lyttelton Times Correspondent.)

AVKLLINGTOX, Nov. 3. The Prime Alinister spent tho whole day in receiving congratulations personally and through the medium of many hundreds of telegrams. The number was so large that it caused congestion in the telegraphic- system at times. Many returned soldiers showed their satisfaction, one of their wires reading: “I said the Diggers were with you. They have said it now. Ties lion, monsieur.” A joyful humorist telegraphed ‘’Good gracious! Ann do get things done.” As for future plans, Air Coates suggested that to-day he had enough to think about. Meanwhile gossip has commenced over filling the vacant portfolios in view of tho retirement at an early date of Sir Francis Bell, Attor-ney-General, and the Cabinet positions vacant through the retirement of Sir Heaton Rhodes and the death of the late Prime Minister.

THE ELECTORAL SITUATION. Though the doubtful results in six seats makes for no anxiety in a party sense, there is one interesting general issue hanging to their settlement. T Lis is the question what party will lie the official Opposition. There was no doubt over the mattter in last Parliament, though Mr Holland, on helm It of the l abour Party, formally raised this question with Mr Speaker, who, being satisfied that AW AA’ilford had a preponderance of members supporting him. announced that the menilier for Unit would be recognised as the Opposition leader. Labour on the late ot things is entitled to the front bench Opposition seats with thirteen agams nine Nationalists, whim count exeludes Mr Atmore and Sir doseph Ward. A win for Air Seddon in \A estlaml and the defeat of Air M’Combs in Lvttclton would bring the position to: Labour 11, Nationalist 10. At- this sta.'o a favourable decision by nil Jospeli AVard and Mr Atmore would enable the Nationalists to maintain their old places in Parliament ABSENT VOTERS 30.000. Several days may elapse before every result is finally determined, because the improved facilities lor ioioh unvotes bv absentee electors has increased their total to over 30,000. compared with 19.000 in the previous election. AVhen a voter polled outside his enustitueiicv his name was telegraphed to his returning oMmer. This ballot-paper has to be mailed » the next post, anil is only con, tod his own electorate. Jms Tine a gdl votes recorded in Auckland might take three days to he included in the official figures. . . Returning officers are busy serutinisiji(r the rolls to discover duplicate votin' or similar irregularities. I Ins process is followed by the official co'int. It is expected that the latter will Ik completed in the city electorates on Saturday or Monday, and n, counU> electorates by tho 12th or 13th All absent votes will arrive before die ieturning officer is ready to make an

official declaration. The importance ot absent votes i six constituencies can he gatigoi the official return of their numbers: Pal,intun. 333 (Ransom, majority ol) . Taranaki, 320 (Bellringer, majontv 31); Ohincmuri. 421 (Saimie'ls majoiitv 107) • AA'aimariiio. 020 (Smith s majority 197) : Lyttelton, 001 (AleComb’s majority 3): _ AAestland. 330 (O’Brien’s majority L>.) INVERCARGILL. Nov. ’>• There is great enthusiasm over hiv Joseph Ward’s return. He had received before midday over 690 telegrams of congratulations, some Horn Britain. America and Australia.

[in- TELr.Giurn—l’F.n riiF.sa association.]

AUCKLAND COALMEN'!'. AUCKLAND. Nov. 6

Although Auckland province has returned eighteen Reformers, live Labourites and no Nationalists the 1 Star has few excuses to make and accepts (he position without many reservations. It. says: “There has been nothing to equal this triumph since Mr Sed,foil's last election in 1905, "lien the opposition was reduced I" a handful. The causes of this remarkable result are plain enough. They were the attraction exercised by the personality and record of the Prime Minister, the admirable organisation and clever propaganda of the Reform Party, the seamen’s strike anil Hie sympathy shown to the strikers by the Labour leaders distwist of labour generally (and: especially dislike of its land policy, and lack of organisation and leadership among the Nationalists. Air Coates has captured the imagination of a. large section ‘if the public. He appeals to it as a vigorous man in the prime of life. Honest ami direct- in his dealings, approachable and breezy in disposition and olio who is not hound by convention, hut has the courage to put new ideas into practice. Probably his influence is largely psvcholgical and most voters would find It- difficult to put it into words. Of oil 11 1 cse attractions his party made the most. The Nationalists. i;n the other hand, were terribly handicapped. They had been compelled to change llieir leader just before tii-e campaign, and not only was the leader not inspiring, hut he had to light for his life in his own electorate and was unable in carry the message of Liberalism through the country. To Auckland, for example. Air Follies is only a name. There was hardly any party organisation and no money for propaganda. The Labour Party fared slightly better than the Nationalists, hut when the superiority of its organisation is considered, the Labour setback becomes more serious. AVith every union a recruiting agent, with a large lighting fund an an army of willing workers on platform and behind the scenes. Labour was far better equipped for the fight than were the Liberals. The loss of several seats and reduction of majorities in others will, we luqie. lone some effect, t.almur should sit down and do some hard thinking. Mr Coates has won a great victory. Whin will he do with it? His is a rare opportunity. He has ap|iealed to the country, and the people have given him a follniwTig so large as to lie dangerous to itself. He can take liis own line in the House regardless of divsions. AA’ill he rise to the occasion? Will he reconstruct his Alinistry. dropping the Muffons’ and reactionary elements and putting in their place the ablest and most enlightened in the party? That will he the first test. The Alinistry is notoriously weak, and it is known that there are private members who. though they have no real qualifications whatever for office, expert to lie promoted when vacancies occur. If AH Contes is the strong man we hope and believe he is, he will go his own wav and insist upon the Alinistry being composed of the best men in the party, irrespective of length of service. His other test- will he his attitude towards the great questions of the day. whether he will allow himself to lie influenced by the powerful Conservative elements in his party. Let him study the election figures. His majority in the House is great, but bis party lias not polled half the votes east. Friends and foes: alike, however, will on the morrow of the poll wish him well in his own interests and those of the country. He is master of his own ar.il New Zealand’s destinies as no man has been for many years. ATay be. use- bis opportunity like a statesman and a patriot.”

WELLINGTON, November 0. Tlie scrutiny and checking of the rolls has coniTpenoed, Tt is expected

that in the city electorates this work will Iks completed to-morrow. The recount will then commence though in the country districts, where there is difficulty in collecting the ballot boxes the recount will not commence till Monday. There have boon no further figuies from the three doubtful electorates, Lyttelton, Westland and Pahiatua. As the absent votes will not be counted till the official recount is undertaken, some days will pass before tbe definite decision of the people in these districts will become known.

It is anticipated that the recount will he completed by Nnvemlicr 12th or 13th.

LON DON PRESS A’ 1 LONDON, November 5. The “Times” in a leading article on the New Zealand elections, says -Mr Coates may now give liis whole attention to the development of his policy without the embarrassment of nursing a doubtful majority. This tosuit is certainly encouraging to those watching the progress of New Zealand affairs. ".Mr Bruce, Australian Premier, is undoubtedly entitled to take heart from the results of the New j Zealand poll, although it must be remembered that New Zeaanders are naturally infinitely more conservative than Australians and that the rural vote, which is esesntially nnti-Socialist is proportionately much higher in New Zealand, and its full weight is strongly organised there. It would, there- V fore, be unwise to attach too much significance to New Zealand elections as a pointer to the result of The Commonwealth poll.” The “Daily Telegraph” says: “Mr Coates has achieved a triumph which may have far-reaching effects in other parts of the Empire. The first nativehorn Prime Alinister to hold office, he lias abated nothing of his devotion to the imperial deal, which Air Afassoy so consistently supported, while ho foreshadowed a domestic policy which i ecogniseil New Zealand was a nation with' a bright future. The elections indicate once more the sound commonsense of tho people of this groat Dominion, who have decisively rejected the crazy theories of socialism. The verdict of the poll shows conclusively that New Zealanders have faith in the future of the Dominion under firm anil stable government.”

POLLING FIGURES. 110 AV THE VOTES WERE APPORTIONED. AY EL LING TON, November 5. The votes east in the election, exclusive of those in the Afaori constitu-

lines, were : — Reform ... 305,413 Nationalist ... 123,231 Liberal ... 14,143 Labour ... 149,662 Country Party ... 2,137 Independent 2,386 Total ... 602,977