GENERAL ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1925, Page 4

GENERAL ELECTIONS

MINORITY .MEMBERS. ONLY EIGHT IN THE HOUSE. There will be only eight- minority members in the new House, this being the smallest number for very many years. One of the main reasons for so lew members being elected on a minority of votes was that toe number of contests in which more than two candidates took part was only thirty-two. and there were straight-out tights in most of the seats held by Labour members. The list of minority members is as follows: AY. Jones (.Ray of Islands), R. J. A. l.ee (Auckland East) Lab. 11. M. Campbell (Hawke’s Ray) R. C. E. Bellringer (Taranaki), R. AY. A. A’citch (AA'angnnui), N. .1. G. Elliot (Orua), 11. Hon. I). Buddo (Kaiapoi), N.

Hight lion Sir Joseph Ward (Invercargill), I,ih. IXVKIU.'AIUMLL SKAT. BY TEI.EOBAI’n —PRESS ASSN., .10PYR1CTIT. WKLLIXOTOX. Xovcniher 7. Some con fusion lms n risen regarding t!’p voting for tlm Invercargill sent. On the night of the election it was announced that Sir Joseph Ward had polled l;;;i2 votes, and .Mr J. I largest ■!00!, ! , thus giving Sir Joseph Ward a majority of (>2d votes. Later figures were received showing that .Mr Harvest had [inlled I.iOO votes, or only 12d less than Sir Joseph 'Ward, hut doubt arose as to whether this latter total attributed to Mr (largest was correct. Inquiries were made officially, and today it was ascertained that, the mistake had been in the lirst report, and that Sir Joseph Ward's majority is at present only I2J over Mr (largest. As there are at least tV>,"> absentee votes to he counted. Imcrenrgill has now to lie included in the list, of seats, the result of the election in which is uncertain. Mr Mickey, the Labour can didate, ha-- mi far been credited with 71- voles. HUM? SKATS CXCKHTAIX. WK1.1.1 XOTOX, Xovemher 7. Over thirty thousand absentee votes were east at the Oenerai Kleetdon on Wednesday, and as lliese will not bo reunited until after the ollicial reeount is completed, it will he a limit another week before the position in regal'd to the doubtful seais is cleared un. There are now four seats in doubt, viz., Woistlaml, i .yt.toltoii, Paliintun, and Invercargill.

Every lawyer in the city is mainly occupied now with appeals against excessive taxation. Merchants complain that their declarations are entirely disregarded, and the anonymous statements of spies are preferred. A great many firms and businesses have closed down altogether, as they say they cannot pay the taxes imposed. This state of affairs is attributed to the very powerful Socialist influences whose fixed idea is to “make the capitalists pay.” Socialists, on the other hand, accuse the Government of seeking to impose high duties on many imports for the purpose of enabling home manufacturers to raise their prices for articles like shoes, gloves, linoleum, pencils, soap, and cotton piece goods. Many manufactlrcrs, again, contend that the duties proposed upon raw materials and partially manufactured goods which come here to be finished will min their business altogether.