THE GENERAL ELECTIONS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 280, 20 November 1908, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS

LONDON TIMES' CU.MJIE.NT. THE PRO] lIJjITIUX MOVEMENT. [l!y Telegraph.—Press Association.— _ Copyright.] llcceived IU, D.45 p. in, ' London, November 10. Tile Times cuugratulatcs Sir Joseph Ward, the Premier of .New Zealand, on securing another three years' elective tenure of '[lower. The paper suggest* that there is a eoimoetion between the astonishing advance of the prohibition movement and the increasing determination ot the women to use their votes. A HYSTUiiIOUS CAIiLE, By Telegraph.—Press Association. C'hristclmrch, Thursday. Seen to-day regarding the aiii'gid cablegram from .Mr. Fisher, Federal I'reinit'r, advising the workers of \'ew Zealand to vole for Labor candidates, Mr. Thorn said he hsid now received ,i reply from Mr. lieatdon, saying: "My mistake entirely; wire received was from Victorian Labor, lender, not Federal Labor leader." Mr. Thorn l;i<>n lc|:graphed to Mr. lleardon: "1 want absolute truth re Fisher cable at once.'' lie also cabled to Mr. f'readergast, leader of the Victorian Labor Party, saying: "Did you send lieardoj, Wellington, cablegram urging support bailor candidates here? I'rgent." Mr. Thorn said he had taken this course to get at the actual facts'as promptly as possible. THE HAWKIvS ISAY SEAT. I Hastings, Last Night. A public meeting to-night was addressed by Air. Dillon (who goes t» the second ballot for tile ilawke's Buy I seat) and the other Liberal candidates at the lirst ballot, except .Mr. Thompson, who was presiding over a meeting of the Borough Council. There was a large attendance. Mr. Dillon announced that if elected this time he would nekcr fjand for Parliament again, though he would always support the Liberal came. The speakers were agreed in supporting Mr. Dillon, and a resolution was carried unanimously earnestly exhorting the supporters of the Liberal party to vote ior him 011 Tuesday next.

110 X. MR. McXAB'S POSITIOX. Wellington, Last Xiglit. The Hon. Mr. McXab, 11 inistor for Lands, arrived this afternoon. Soon after landing lie had a conference with the Premier. It is considered probable that lie will resign his .povtl'ulio at once.

Although it is almost certain tint the Hon. R. McNab's rejection at the poll -will make it necessary for the Prime Minister to call a new Minister to the Cabinet, there is no lixed limit to the period during which Mr. McN.ib may still lawfully exercise his powers as "Minister for Lands, Minister for Agriculture, Acting-Miiiistej for Defence, etc. The position was put very clearly by an authority on constitutional law, who was consulted b, ii Dominion reporter, his statement being to the following effect: —it is not constitutionally necessary for a .Minister rl the Crown to be a member of Parliament. In England, on several occasions, a man who has lost his seat sms continued to hold his .portfolio for several months. A number of instances are | Quoted by May. The Ministers are, technically speaking, appointed liv the King, and as a matter of constitutional rule they are members of one of the Houses of Parliament. This rule is almost invariably followed, though it has been invaded within the last lifly years, by Ministers retaining office alter defeat at the pollr. It may be noted that between the dissolution of one Parliament and the return of the writs for the next there arc 110 members of Parliament. That is the position in New Zealand at the present .moment, and ail the Ministers of the Crown are technically in the same position as Mr. MeNab in this respect., and are simply fulfilling their functions by virtue of the Royal warrants issued through Jiis Excellency the Governor. It is likely, however, that when the writs are returned a few days hence, the Hon. Mr. MeNab will tender his resignation to the Governor, unless, indeed, lie decides to do so before. Until lie does so, his right to exercise his powers as a Minister is in no way affected. When a member of the British Cabinet, or. a party leader i'i the House of Commons, is defeated at an election, the way is invariably made smooth for his immediate return to political life .by the resignation of some supporter who has a safe seat. Mr. Winston Churchill and Mr. Balfour have benefited recently by this practice. It was, however, pointed out ill answer to the implied suggestion that the conditions in New Zealand are very different from those in the United Kingdom. For one thing, •there are in oni House of Representatives not an eighth of the number of seats that there are in the House of Commons. .In many ways such a proceeding would be very difficult here, and there is no precedent. Sir Robert, Stout was I'remier when In was defeated by Mr. .lamc< Allen, but he retired into private life, although Jiis resignation necessarily involved tin break-up of his Cabinet, anil lUe Governor was obliged to scud for anotherstatesman to i'onn a Ministry.

, SECOND JSALLOT AX CHALMERS. Dniiedin, Last Night. The official count ,at. Chalmers gives tho following result:—E. (!. Allen (Gi. 2552; E. 11. Clark (I), 2403; W. Burr (1), 1(12. A second ballot will be necessary. Four voles luive still to tome. A CLOSE CONTEST. Dannevirke. Last Night. Sii far 117 alise.it voters' permits have come to hand. Of these 2!l are for C. Ilall (li) anil 12 for G. Hunter (()). This makes Hall's total 2474 and Hunter's 2425. The outstanding votes cannot now affect the position. The scrutiny will not he completed until to-morrow. THE VOTING ANALYSED. The following shows approximately the division of voting in the two inlands: North. South. Govevnni'enfc .. .. .. 115,080 114,304 Opposition . ... . .. 80,(11.) 43.51 H Independent 15.12! 15,45!) Labor 074!) 10,172 I Socialists 15)11 SKI Prohibitionists .. ... 120 077 Totals 222,000 1X5,330 Mr. llornsby, who was beaten by Mr. Buchanan for the Wairarapa seat, said his last word to the electors was "farewell." A great burden of responsibility lms Ijo'oii lifted off him, and he would be free to do something for himself instead of wearing ont in the service of others, and he bad'no regret.