The Daily Dews WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25. THE SECOND BALLOT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 284, 25 November 1908, Page 2

The Daily Dews WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25. THE SECOND BALLOT.

Ihe results uf Lhi! sccuikl ballot published this morning have not to anj' cxtc.it upset calculations. 01 the 23 polls taken yesterday, the (iovernnieiit secured l;i seats, the Opposition 9, and Labor 1. The JJumum Xortli seat, which at the moment is credited to the Opposition, is still somewhat doubtful, for while .Mr. Thomson has a small majority o! two, there are four seamen's votes to come, which may or may not secure the scat to the (jovernmeiit candidate, ill'. JJarclay. The second ballot for the Bay of I'lcnty seat does ! not eventuate until next Tuesday, but is considered reasonably safe for the Government candidate, who had a considerable lead on the first ballot. The four .Maori seats are almost certain to

return government supporters. The relative strength of the parties in the new Parliament will therefore probably be: government 53, Opposition 25, Labor and Independent 3. Of flu; latter, on a crucial division, two ere pledged to vole with Sir ,Joseph Ward, but in any case i.ic Premier will have a clear majority of 25 or more. The most surprising'nsult yesterdav was the defeat of .Mr. Mi.-phorson for Tuapcka. It had been anlicipalcu that he would secure the big majority of the votes east for j Dr. Chappie, but the result only served to again demonstrate the unreliability I of the No-Licen>e vote, which on the j second ballot must have gone right over I to the Opposition. The result from Egj inont was awaited with considerable interest, ami, while many hoped that Mr. Wake might just manage to win, it was generally recognised that (he odds were against him. Mr. Dive won fairly and squarely after a keenly-contested election, the heavy polling affording a eoin- | plete answer to opponents of the second | ballot who alleged that counlry settlers Jj would not excrete their votes on the I second ballot. Tarauaki has now the

! distinction of having returned a quartette of Opposition members to the House, the only Uoverument member being Mr. Jennings, whose district is only partly in this province. On the whole, as we said a week ago. we believe the new Parliament will be found to be well up to the average of previous Houses in point of ability—constructive and destructive —while it cannot be denied that, with Hie strengthening of the Opposition, wholesome criticism will tie an improved quantity. With the (lovernnient on its metal, and the Premier backed by a solid party returned to support him. the country should gain from the legislation of the, next three years. Much depends on the Premier's choice of his new Cabinet Ministers, about which 1 ,wo shall have, something to say toi morrow.