THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 141, 11 December 1911, Page 8

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

11l IE PREMIER ON SECOND 1 BALLOTS. REPLY TO MR. MASSEiY. I By Telegraph—Press Association. Timaru, Saturday Night. Sir Joseph Ward, who was in the best of health and spirits, when asked to-day if he cared to say anything regarding the statement by the Leader of Opposition in the press this morning, readily responded. He said there was no reason whatever for the Liberal Party to be other than hopeful as to the results at the second ballots throughout the country. He had examined the records of the voting and found in the electorates where second ballots were to take place, that the Opposition scored 45,182 votes less than tire candidates 'opposed to them, and it remains to be seen whetheJ that'large number of electors at the second ballots are going to help the Opposition Party to come into power. It

was, in his opinion, unlikely, as such ] combination represented by the votes at J; the second ballot would be unnatural, j He believed the people, now they realised the possibility of being put under j Conservative rule, would be roused to i the danger that faced them. Though, he continued, Mr. Massey may find pleasure in calling the Liberal Party names in a statement to the press this morning, the remains that the Liberal Party lias placed some of the finest legislation in the world on the Statute Book of immense benefit to the people and enormous advantage to the workers, farmers, traders, and women and young children, Besides there is the magnificent work (as it undoubtedly is) of placing 150,000 persons on the lanu and the incalculable benefit of financial aid granted to farmers and workers and local bodies, and though the Liberal Party may be called extravagant by the Leader of the Opposition, there are to-day many thousands of happy homes that did not exist prior to our policy being adopted and vigorously prosecuted. I The record was one that any party had every reason to be proud of. A sham record and spuriousness was not on the side of the Uovernment, but was found on the side of the Opposition, which had strenuously opposed some of the most valuable legislation on the Statute Book, and who were to-day as ever "wolves in sheep's clothing," and were already ' crying before they were out of the wood." He was quite ready, as he had always been, to trust the people, and, would cheerfully abide by their decision next Thursday.

THE PREMIER'S MOVEMENTS. Christchurch, Last Night. The Prime Minister, accompanied by Lady Ward, arrived from the south yesterday, and left in the evening for Wellington. WORKERS AND ELECTION DAY. A GREYMOUTH BOOTH. Greymoutli, Last Night. Head men on the maintenance department of the workshops and wharves, and others not engaged in running trains on polling day received a circular telling the men to cease work at noon on polling day and made preparations accordingly. At 11.40 a.m. a verbal message was sent to the foreman of the wharf repairing gang on Thursday, saying the work was to continue till one. The men declined, as they had worked *from six o'clock to suit the tide. Next morning thirteen men, including three permanent men, were suspended. They are still not working.

PALMERSTON NORTH SEAT. NO 15ECOND BALLOT. Palmerston N., Last Night. A recount of the votes in the Palmerston Nortli election finished at 5.30 p.m. to-day. It leaves matters as they were, and there will be no second ballot. CHALMERS SEAT. SECOND BALLOT NECESSARY. Dunedin, Last Night. An official count of the votes recorded in the Chalmers electiorf gives the following figures: Clark, 2842; Johnson, 1474; Dickson, 1375; McCarthy, 676. Thirteen absentee votes are still to come.

On election night 80 votes at one booth were wrongly credited to Mr McCarthy which should have been counted for Mr. Johnson. A second ballot therefore will take place between Messrs. Clark (Independent) and Johnson (Independent Liberal). THE BULLER (SEAT. ATTEMPT TO UPSET IT. Westport, Last Night. At a largely attended meeting of Mr. F. F. Monro's political supporters on Saturday night irregularities were alleged to have occurred in connection with the Buller Parliamentary election, in which Mr. Calvin, the Government candidate, was returned by a majority of 140 votes over Mr. Munro, the Independent Labor candidate. It was decided that the executive committee make further investigation, and if it is such as to bear out the allegations, to take proceedings to upset the election. THE WELLINGTON SEATS. LABOR'S ATTITUDE.

Wellington, Last Night. An official report of a special meeting of the national administration council of the New Zealand Labor Party nvas held on Saturday evening to consider tlie attitude to be taken in connection with tho second ballots states that the following resolution was passed unanimously: "That this party does not commit members to vote ior of give their support to any but a pledged candidate of the New Zealand Labor Party." DUNEDIN' CENTRAL. Dunedin, Saturday. Dunedin Central: Arnold, 2482; Macpherson, 1430; Statliam, 4024. Mr. Statliam therefore has an absolute majority of 92, with 3S permits, at the outside, to come in. THE THAMES SEAT. Thames, Saturday. It was discovered that one return from one of the central booths was not included in the total, and this decreases Rhodes' lead. In another case the figures were transposed. The totals are now: Rhodes, 2774; Taylor, 2712. MR. JENNINGS' DGSFEAT. SYMPATHETIC MESSAGES. Over 100 telegrams were received during the past few days by Mr. Jennings from all parts of the Dominion, expressive of sympathy at his defeat. Amongst the many were the following ' from two Presbyterian clergymen: Your i splendid offices not forgotten. If the demon of ingratitude triumphs to-day I the angel of truth will insist upon your

good work being recognised by all who knowing well can appreciate best your untiring efforts on our behalf; with sympathy and expressing every confidence in you. Wellington.—Deepest sympathy; base ingratitude shown. Makihi.—ln politics there is such a tiling as being 1 too honorable; heart's sympathy to you. Christchurch. —National loss to country being deprived of your refined services. Watched your efforts on behalf of new settlers in King Country, where my two sons are settled. (This is from the largest employer of labor in the South Island, over 1000 being under his management). Eltham. —Liberals here express regret result; consider it poor return for many years' arduous labor. Hamilton— Accept heartfelt sympathy and remember it was purely party feeling that put you out, and not a personal matter. ■ Ohakune. —Your non return much rei gretted here. Cannot understand pioneer i settlers throwing «ver best advocate i they ever had. Eaetihi.—Cannot unde.r- ---' stand such abominable ingratitude. ' Paeroa. —You have been shabbily treat- • ed. East Tamiki.—Sorry defeated by unt grateful plotters. . Auckland.—Sympathy

from here; Auckland would have elected you. Te Kuiti.—You deserved better treatment after years of strenuous labor. Manunui.—Accept sympathy; nevermind those who were ungrateful enough. to dispense with the member who made the electorate a prosperous community. Wanganui—Although Opposition extremely sorry your defeat; satisfied you always conscientious and honorable.

THE TAUMAR.UNUI SEAT. The latest returns in connection with the Tauuiarunui electorate show that Mr. Wilson's majority has come down to 92. There are only 30 absent votes now to come in. When Mr. Jennings spoke at Waitara on Thursday night his opponent was leading by over 280 votes.

VERDICT OF THE POLLS. OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. On Thursday Wardism was on its trial, and the verdict of the country 'has been emphatic. The continuous Ministry today stands condemned. The Teturns so far available show that for the first time in twenty years the Continuous Ministry cannot rely on a majority in Parliament. They have already lost a number of seats, and their prospects at the second ballots are discouraging in the extreme. The Reform party emerges I from the first ballots with twenty-live seats to the Government's nineteen, and ] enters 'on the contest at the second bal-1 lots with a lead in twelve seats against' the Government's lead in fourteen. That is roughly the position. But in a number of second ballots the Government has no candidate left in at all. The Labor party has candidates left,in the second round of the struggle, and we would at this stage urge all who desire to see the country purified to vote for Laibor where there is no Reform candidate to support. Apart from the loss of seats and its parlous position in relation to the second ballots, the tremendous revulsion of feeling against the Ward Administration and its evil ways is emphatically shown by the manner in which the majorities of Government candidates have been cut d'own in all directions. The vote cast against the Government has shown an enormous increase, and there cannot be any doubt that to-day the country is strongly antagonistic to the small circle of people who have- for so long kept to themselves the control of the Dominion's (iffairs, and behaved as though they owned New Zealand. ... On the morning after the second ballot in 1908 the state of the parties stood: Government 39

Reform 16 Independent 2 This morning, instead of the Gorernment winning 222y 2 seats to every seat won by the Reform party, it has not even won seat for seat. The figures are: Government 19 Reform '. 25 Independent 1 The individual cases are very striking. In 1908 the Prime Minister had a majority of 2183 over his nearest opponent; to-day he has won only by 618 over Mt. Hamilton.—The Dominion, December 8. ' The result of the polling taken yesterday throughout the Dominion leaves | the public in a state of suspense, for Opposition and Government are at the moment running neck and neck. So far the honors are with the Opposition. With the representation of 47 constituencies decided the Ministerialists number 22 and the Oppositionists 25. Opponents of the Government have wrested from Liberal members Dunedin Central, Auckland West, Waipawa, Oamaru, Waikato, Taumarunui. The only seat gained by the Government is lEgmont, where the Minister of Agriculture won by a fair majority. Members of the last Parliament actually defeated were Messrs. Greenslade, Jennings, Arnold, Poole, Duncan (Liberals), and Mr. Dive (Opposition), while at Waipawa Mr; George Hunter has defeated Mr. Jull, who stood in the Liberal interest on the retirement of Mr. Charles Hall. We need hardly say that we are surprised at some of these results—particularly at the defeat of Messrs. Jennings and Arnold, and in a lesser degree at the substantial vote recorded against Mr. Poole at Auckland. It had been hoped that Liberal candidates would he successful in a few constituences formerly represented by opponents. Mr. McNab, for instance, was certainly expected to do better than he did at Palmerston; Mr. McCluggage was looked upon as likely to displace Mr. Hine at Stratford; and Wakatipu had been counted as already won from Mr. Fraser. These and other hopes have been very rudely disturbed, and taking the position revealed this morning with the' prpbabilities of Thursday next, the future can hardly be gauged with certainty by either side.—New Zealand Times, December 8.

EGMONT'S NEW MEMBER. MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE. The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1887 for Olutha, and represented that district for nine years. In 188!) he wati appointed a commissioner by the New Zealand Government to proceed to England and enquire into the produce trade. Previous to that appointment he represented! the New Zealand Government at the centennial celebrations. In 1890 Mr. Mackenzie again visited England in order to get a grasp of our produce trade and remained for three years, representing several colonial mercantile linns in the wool, meat, and grain business. On his return -from the Old Country in 11)00 he was elected to represent Waihemo in the House of Representatives, isucceeding Sir John McKemzie, and at the general elections in 1902 (Waibemo having been abolished) he was returned as member for Waikouaiti, which he represented until its extinction in 1908. Mr. Mackenzie was elected for Taieri subsequently, and probably no man in the New Zealand Parliament {las represented so many constituencies and has never yet met with defeat, Mr. Mackenzie has been closely associated with many public positions. He was four years Mayor of Ro.-lyn. Ho has also been a member of the Education Board since 1893 and chairman for the last two years, Mr. Mackenzie is also a member of the Charitable Aid Board and

Hospital Trustees, treasurer of the High School Board of Governors, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and a Governor of the Imperial Institute (London). He was a member of the Tariff Commission, Education Commission, and is chairman of the extension of Commerce Committee »et up by the House of Representatives. As ,an explorer Mr. Mackenzie has contributed a great deal of valuable information to the Government of this country. In 1885 he explored the Tautuku Forest, and in 1888 he explored the wild country between Milford Sound and the head of lAke Te Anau, and was associated with Mr. Quinton McKinnon when that gentleman discovered the pass into the primeval and romantic region of New Zealand. NORTHERN SEATS. _ SECOND BALLOT FORECASTS. Auckland, December 8. Keen interest already centres on the second ballot in the Auckland district.

lii Parnell Sir John Findlay's chances! cannot be rated very high, for the reason that Mr. Dickson will get a large proportion of the Mack vote. Lajborites would rat'her see an Opposition in the seat, for the reason that they believe it will "be easier for them to oust an Oppositionist than a Liberal at the next election, i by which time they believe their organisation will be strong and complete enough to give them a majority at the, polls. With a lead of over six hundred to make up, and this handicap, therefore, Sir John Findlav will have to put up a wonderful fight to score a win. The Hon. George Fowlds has not a walk-over against Mr. Payne, who will get a lot of the Murray votes. Still, the ex-Minister of Education should poll sufficiently to get in. An easy win is ahead of Mr. Poland, but Mr. Stallworthy has a harder task. His young opponent is very popular, and the bulk of the Opposition vote will go his way. Tho chances are, however, that Mr. Stallworthy will eaTry enough of the vote to put him back again. Mr. Xapior has not a great deal to come and go on in his contest with Mr. Harris, but the probabilities are that he will succeed in holding his position at the top of the poll. Sir John Findlay, in discussing the political position this morning, summed uip the Liberal prospects in the following words:—"After carefully examining the results of yesterday's polling, and from >vhat I know of the polititJal feeling in the electorates vphere a second ballot must take place, I am confident that in these second ballots a substantial majority of the electorates in question will return supporters of the present Government. It is idlo to predict with any mathematical definiteness what the relative position of the parties will be, but I do not believe that any impartial examination of the situation can result in any other conclusion than tha.t the Government will be returned with a substantial working majority." The Hon. George Fowlds, interviewed •by a Star reporter this morning upon the results of yesterday's polling, said the first feeling was one of regret that so many old colleagues and friends had either been defeated or would have to face a second ballot. His second feeling was that the results generally bore out the opinion he had expressed when re--signing from the Ministry, • that the Government had not aken sufficient heed of the new force developing ahead of the Liberal Party. The result in Grey Lynn was a striking illustration of that fact. The selected candidate of the Opposition was third, with •600 votes behind the candidates with the most extravagant programme. "I thought I was fairly Radical," said Mr. Fowlds, "but it seems that I am not sufficiently so to retain the undivided support of the progressive forces of the Grey Lynn electorate. There is a lesson to be derived from many of the results. For example, Waikato, a country constituency, has returned a candidate who is a much more Radical candidate than the outgoing member. The position revealed in Dunedin West is equally interesting, Mr. Bedford being much more of a Radical tlmn Mr. Millar, while 756 votes were cn -for an extreme Socialist in the same el L orate. On the other hand there has bi ■ ii a substantial reduction in the Opposil' m vote in some of the South Island electorates. Clutha, Wakatipu and Bruce all indicate smaller Opposition majorities, while in Temuka, where the Liberal candidate last time won on a second ballot, there is this time an absolute majority of 452. The defeat of the senior Opposition whip, Mr. C. A. Hardy, for Selwyn, is another sign of the times. In Wellington Central, also, it seems likely that Mr. Fisher will be ousted by Mr. Fletcher. The position generally," added Mr. Fowlds, "does not appear to be a serious one for the progressive party. On the second ballot it seems to me that they will secure a substantial working majority."