WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3365, 18 December 1919, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

GEN-EJML ELECTION. E POL-LING ‘ (Special Corl'esponde:l'-..V)» k WELLINGTON, This Day. , Writing at noon on the “Day of‘ Decision” there is nothing of special interest to record in connect-in Whh the polling. So far there is no sign of? excitement and little ‘indication of enthusiasm. The humorous appeal of the President of the We_lfa.l-e League to vote “early and often” has . not yet filled! the booths. The oflieials, Ai‘n(le3d,l seem to be having an easier time than { usual and to be getting through their‘ work with the leisurelj dignity pro-i per to the occasion. All this, howe rer, is bound to change as the afternoon” pl'ogl‘(3SS€S.\ The three parties are better organised than they ever have been before and probably the percentage of votes polled will be exceptionally large. The apparent apathy of mid-day is not going to be Inantained. THE MAIN PARTIES.

Now that the last shot in the campaign has been fired and the chances of turning a single note from its intended destiny are remote, the pal‘t;'=.s--ians are more frank in their predictions of the result than they were when‘ an assumption of confidence might be expected to influence an elector here and there. That neither the Reformers nor the Liberals are absolutely confident of success may be judged from‘ the fact that the best’in’t'ormed among; them are calculting upon no sweeping victory. Forty-five seats: including‘/the Maori members, is the most sanguine estimate on their side. Mr Massey’s forty-five would be comprised entirely of pledged Reg form supporters, while Sir Joseph’s forty-five would be made up of Liberal and Liberal-Labour members." The margin, in either case, leaves little ‘to’ come and go upon. - THE LABOUR PARTY. b

The Olficial Labour Party today is talking of having fifteen representatives in the ‘new Parlianient. This, of course, is impossible. The popular opiiiion is that Ofiieial Labou’i' will secure vfour seats, at the outside, and Liberal-Labour another four. The Lib-eral-Labour members, while preserving their personal independence, as Mr Veitch has explained, would Vote with Sir Joseph Ward on a non-confidence motion, but the Official Labouf memberg appal'ently, though not quite so candid about the matter as the member for the Southern Maori district, would put themselves up to auction. In any case they would prove a troublesome factor in the situation, and doubtless it would be a relief to the leaders of the other parties if they disappeared from the scene altogether. PAST ELECTIONS.

But more interesting than all this, which will be read in the light of today’s polling, will be reminder of the results of previous elections. The contest of 1905, in which Mr Seddon reached the summit of his ‘success, sent 60 Liberals, 15 Reformers and 5 In‘vndenfs to the House; that of 1908, when Sir Joseph Ward had succeeded Mr Seddon, 51 Liberals, 24*Refo1-mers, 4. Independents and 1 Labourite; that of 1911, 36 -Liberals, 39 Reformers, '1 Lahourites and 1 Independent; that of 1914, when Mr Massey first went to the polls in office, 33 Liberals, 41 Reformers and 6 Labourites. The lastof these contests was practically a dead-lleaf, and a similar result. to--‘day would be even more unsatisfactory than was the close balance of five years ago.