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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 140, 9 December 1911, Page 4

THE ELECTIONS IN TARANAKI. The biggest surprise of the Taranaki elections was the defeat of Mr. W. T. Jennings for the Taumarunui seat by an absolutely new and untried man. If there was one seat in Taranaki we regarded as safe for the sitting member it was this seat. No member throughout the Dominion had worked harder in the interests of his constituents than Mr. Jennings, and no member deserved better of the di=Lriet than he. His experience is but another exemplification of the truism that there is little or no gratitude in public life. We are constrained to believe, however, that it was not altogether on personal grounds that he was rejected, but because of the belief that the Government to which he was attached had failed to do justice to the claims of the back country. Probably had he severed himself from Party and stood as an Independent, victory would have been his. Mr. Okey scored a magnificent win for Taranaki, and although we have not seen eye to eye with him in many matters, we can nevertheless extend our hearty congratulations and to assure him, now that the public have pronounced in his favor as their representative for the next three years, of our co-operation in anything making for the betterment of the district. Mr. Bellringer did as well as was expected in the country, but the towns did not give him the vote anticipated. When its extent was known it was Been that his chance was hopeless. The support accorded Mr. Hine in the Stratford electorate must have surprised his friends, and in no place was this support more pronounced than in the town of Stratford, where it was expected Mr. McCluggage would gain a. substantial lead. When the Stratford figures were known it was evident that Mr. Hine's position was assured. In the country districts this side of Stratford Mr. Hine secured a preponderance of votes, but inland of Stratford Mr. McCluggage had the advantage. Both candidates are to be complimented upon the good taste and the proper spirit they showed in their speeches after the election. Hon. TJ. Mackenzie has the distinction of being the only Liberal representative in Taranaki. He won by a fair majority, but it must be admitted that had he not possessed the mana connected with his office and been an old campaigner he would never have succeeded in reversing Mr. Dive's former majority in favor of himself. Eltham did not give him the majority expected, but this was more than compensated for by Manaia's two-to-one support. The voting in the coun--1 try districts wa3 fairly evenly distributed, and along this coast the Minister scored very well. Mr, Pearce had a walk-over for Patea. This was hardlj expected by his most sanguine supporters, who gave /him, a majority of but a few hundreds. The town of Hawera gave him a good lead, and thereafter the race was won. On the whole, the fighting in the province was clean and wholesome, and now that it is over wo hope any bitterness engendered during the campaign will disappear and one and all unite in helping their representatives, however the political views of the latter may clash with theirs, in | pushing the district ahead and advancing in every way possible its important interests.