The State of Parties.

Manawatu Herald, 29 November 1902, Page 2

The State of Parties.

The state of parties in the new Parliament is worked out by the Premier, as follows : South Island—Government: Mills Graham, R. McKenzie, Colvin, Seddon, Guinness, Laurenson, Ell, Davey, Buddo, Tanner, Witty, Rutherford, McLachlan, Hall-Jones, Elatman, Steward, Duncan, E, G, Allen, Millar, Arnold, Sidey, Rennet, McNab, Ward, Hannan; total, 26.' Opposition, Hardy, Reid, J. W. Thomson, W. Eraser, Thomson; total, 9. Independent: T E. Taylor. Independent Liberals : T. MacKenzie, Bedford; total Independents, 3. North Islands Government: Houston, Witheford, Baume, Kidd,

Lawry, Fowlds, McGowan, Carroll, A. L. D. Fraser, Hall, O’Meara, Hogg, Wilford, Field, E. M Smith, Major, Symes, Willis, Remington, Wood, Jennings {if returned, if not Leech is Independent Liberal), Barber, Fisher j total, 23. Opposition ; Harding, Alison, Bollard, Kirkbride, Massey, Herries, Sir William Russell, Lethbridge, Vile, Aitken, Duthie, Buchanan, Laing, Mander; total, 14. Independent: Moss. . Without counting the Maoris, said the Premier, that gives; Government, 49 j Opposition, 23 \ Independent, 4. If the Maoris are returned in the same proportion as last Parliament, that will be one for the Opposition and three for the Government, making the totals: Government, 52 j Opposition, 24; Independents. 4; or a straight-out majority over the Opposition, without counting the Independents, of 23 votes That’s my majority. In conclusion, the Premier claimed that the Government majority has, if anything, more than held its own in view of the increased number of electorates.