The Daily News THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19. THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 279, 19 November 1908, Page 2

The Daily News THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19. THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Although second ballots have yet to u taken in possibly twenty electorate before the state of the parties in tli new Parliament is definitely knowi the results :ilreaily decided and assurei give Sir Joseph Ward a substantia working majority. The Opposition ha been considerably strengthened by tin return of several strong members, am equally on the Government side it is ; feature of the elections that sittiii; members have been rejected ill favor o stronger men. On the whole, therefore the new Parliament, irrespective o party, is a strong one likely to do gooi service for the country. At the moment, the Government ha secured 3(5 seats, tile Opposition 1(5, air two have been secured by Independents Of the latter, .Mr. T. E.'Taylor has ex pressed himself in favor of the polic; of Sir Joseph Ward, while Mr. Fisher' alliance to any party is quite ephemera! Of the electorates in which second bal lots liave to he taken, there should b a still' light for Waiteimita between Ml K. Phillips (Opposition} and the Gov eminent candidate, Mr. W. J. Xapiei and the indications are that the Oppc sitiou should win the seat. Mr. F Poland (Government) and Mr. F. I Haselden (Opposition) recontest Ohinc nuiri, but the result is a foregone cor elusion for the Ministerial candidati Similarly, Bay of Plenty should rctur Mr. W." Mac Donald, who has a stroll lead over the Opposition candidate, Ml J. Gow. J'or Gisborne, the Hon. , Carroll is assured of victory over th Labor candidate, Mr. G. Da Hon, shoni a second oallol lie necessary. The secon election for llawke's Bay should be dt cidedly interesting, for while the fiv Government candidates between thel polled 3514 voles to 1300 polled by Si William Kussell (Opposition), the lalle will undoubtedly put up a big figii against Mr. Dillon. On the figures, how ever, Mr. Dillon should be returnee though we hope the electors will decid in favor of the old Opposition lcadei Any Parliament would be slrciiglhenc by'men of his calibre, whatever thci political creed. Manawatu is eertai tn be si close contest, the votes bcin almost equally divided, a small advar tage being with the Government. Th conditions are somewhat peculiar, how ever, for while the Opposition candi dale', Mr. E. Sew man, is conducting . vigorous campaign, Mr. Stevens, wli has for some considerable time reprc seated the constituency in .Parliamcn in the Government interest, is severe! handicapped by almost total blindness The affliction has to some extent preju diced his candidature, but it is impos sible to hazard what the effect will h on a straight-out fight. For Wanganui, Mr. Hogan shoul have no difficulty in disposing of th Opposition candidate, Mr. G. Hutchisor The situation in Pahiatua is difficult t gauge, but the indications point to th possibility of Mr. Ross (Government having to fight very hard to hold th seat against the Oppositionist, Mr. J. I Cooper, although on the first ballot h has a lead of 700 votes. Four secon ballots have been necessitated in Wei liugton. For Wellington Xorth, th weight of the Liberal support shouli plate the independent candidate, Mi liolton. ahead of Mr. A. L. Herdmai (Opposition), who has lopped the pol on the first ballot. On figures, Mr. D McLaren (Labor) ought to defeat Mr A. K. Atkinson (Opposition) i'rom th( same reason, but the latter will be n difficult beat. Mr. W. H. Bar ber's return over the Opposition candidate, Mr. Wright, in Wellington South, can scarcely be doubted; while in Wellington Suburbs the contest is between two Government candidates, as is also the second ballot at Nelson. The Opposition can scarcely hope to defeat Mr. G. Forbes for Huriinui, where he alreadv has a clear majorilv of 500 over Mr. 'Clothier. For Avon, Mr. G. W. Russell (Independent Liberal) and Mr. W. W. Tanner (Government) will have a big fight, and Mr. Tanner should win. Although Mr. Flatman (Government) has a majority of 900 over his nearest opponent, the Opposition are certain to make a big bid for victory, and the result is very doubtful. Mr. J. Craigic should have no difficulty in retaining the lion. W. Hall-Jones' late scat for the lovcninicnt. At Geraldine, wTierc the Opposition candidate (Mr. W. Jeffries) s leading by lit votes, the Government audidate sliouM eventually be returned, hineiliii Xorth, where Mr. G. M. Thomou (Opposition) lms got within 22J •otes of Mr. A. R. /Barclay (Governiient), promises an interesting contest, iuf Mr. Barclay should retain the seal. Jr. J. A. Macpherson (Government) hould easily account for the Tuapeka oat.

f The only second ballot in this province, that in the Egmont electorate, is certain to provide an exciting contest. The feeling between the two sections of the Opposition vote following respectively Mr. Dive and Mr. Wilkinson has been fairly .warm, and the concentrating of the vote depends on the ability of tlie leaders. So far as can be judged from the trend of the Toting at Tuesday's poll, the Government should, out of the it seats to be rccontested, account for 15, the Opposition for perhaps four or live, while two are doubtful, or likely to go to Independents. With the results of the Maori elections to eoine, n fair estimate of the respective strength of the two main parties hi the House, giving the Independents to the Opposition, should be—Government 57, Opposition 24. Respecting the elections in this province, the greatest surprise was the defeat of Mr. Major for Pa tea. It is generally believed that Mr. Major underestimated the strength of his opponent, Mr. Pearce, and the excellent organisation behind him. Certain episodes in Mr. Major's campaign did not strengthen his position, and that these prejudicially affected him was shown by the comparatively poor vote east for him in his own town, which in the past has strongly supported him. Mr. Hinc's defeat of Mr. Symes was, perhaps, not altogether unexpected, but that it would be achieved without the necessity of a second ballot few could have believed. Here, again, personal considerations told materially against Mi. Symes, but these do not detract lo any extent from the merit of Air. nine's substantial win. Afr. Jennings' return was a foregone conclusion.

One of the greatest surprises of the elections was the defeat of the Hon. 11. MeXab at Malaura. His defeat is regrettable, but was not brought about altogether on political grounds, but from circumstances on which there was strong local feeling. It might not be a fact, but there might be some justification for saying that Sir Joseph Ward's task of forming a Cabinet, perhaps not more able, but more popular with the farming community, has been rendered more easy by llr. AlcXab's defeat. It is certainly'a fact that no .Minister of the Crown has ever aroused more hostility, however unwarranted, to the Government than the late Minister for Lands. At the same time, he is universally acknowledged to be a particularly able man, and his return to Parliament at no distant dale is a very likely contingency. ~Sh: T. li. Taylor's return to the House, particularly in view of the 'fact that his words and actions during the past three years have shown a growing toleration of opponents and moderation in criticism, will not be regretted, as his ability is universally acknowledged. Taken as a body, as we slated previously, tin- personnel of far- i liament hn- not sUllVrcd l>y reason of the changes that have been made.