THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Shannon News, 5 January 1923, Page 3

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Now tm.l the New fear holidays are over, speculation is once more rife as to what is to happen in the political world, so far as New Zealand is concerned. With two seats—Oamaru and Waitomo—yet in doubt, it is not yet determined whether when the new Parliament meets the majority against the Reform Government will he four, as it stands at present, two or six. The strength of the parties in the new nouse oi Representatives stands to-day as under:— Reform 38 ■ Liberal 24 Labour 17 independent 1 Majority against Reform 4 If the Hon. E. P. Lee regains the Oamaru seat from his Liberal opponent, the Opposition majority will be reduced from four to two, but Mr Massey would still be faced, in addition, with the difficulty of finding a new Speaker in place of the Hon. Sir Frederick Lang, defeated in the Manakau by a Labour canddate. If, however, the loss ofi Mr Lee’s seat is confirmed, and Mr W. Jennings should regain the Waitomo seat, the majority ..against the Government will be increased to six. But it is not likely the final results of the Oamaru jand the Waitomo elections will he frnown till about the middle of the month, and even then it is' probable that the strength of the parties will have to be tried out on the floor of the House, in the short session which which is expected to begin in the second week of next month, before the party leaders will know definitely where they are. FULL OF POSSIBILITIES.

The situation is undoubtedly full ol' interesting possibilities. The meeting of Parliament, it is anticipated, will be preceded by caucus meetings of the respective parties, the leaders of which naturally wish to ascertain the views of their supporters in regard to what action should be taken in the event of emergencies, some of which cannot yet clearly foreseen, arising.