THE TUAPEKA ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 143, 8 June 1908, Page 2

THE TUAPEKA ELECTION.

The Tuapeka bye-election on .Friday last did not excite much public interest, although there was considerable speculation a, to the possibility of Mr. Sootl. the tippoiition candidate, capturing the seat owing lo 1 !■>■ .splitting of the Liberal vote between the other (wo candidate,-. The result .showed, however, Hint the Opposition candidate was not a disconcerting factor in the campaign. To what extent this was due to the personality of the candidate or bis polities we arc'unable lo judge. It i, signilicnnl, how.'icr. tli.it in his opening speech Mr. the Want .i,liiiiiii-'.ralio„r'llii 11„. other hand. Dr. I Imppb-. although m.| the so-lecii-d candidal.- of iln- Liberal party, declared hiniScif a strong -npportcr of the Ward linveruiiienl. The signiticancc of this declaration l.iy ill the fact that Dr. Chappie was previously ~n op poni-nt of the Scthlon administration. His success, therefore, over even (,he ninee of the parly, may reasonably lie taken a- a victory for Sir Joseph Ward. An analysis of'the iignics shows thai UOII fewer votes were recorded oil l-'riday than at the last general election. While tin- combined Liberal vote decreased by 41S, the Opposition candidate polled TIM fewer voles than the number secured by Mr. tlilkiuson when opposing Mr. Bennett in IUIW. Dr. Chappie's return adds another list of minority representatives in the House, although from a party politic point of view the result need not raise Hie que-tiou. Although, as between the two parties, the position could not be altered, the mere fact that it is very possible (hat a number of candidates'receiving a. minority of tin- -oles may be elected, and, per haps contrary to the political opinions of the majority 0 f the electors, supplies a strong argument in favor of a second ballot, or the Absolute Majority Dill.