The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1914. THE FINAL COUNT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 163, 16 December 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1914. THE FINAL COUNT.

The final returns of all the "doubtful" J ) seats are now in, with the result that ' the Government has a majority of two, •' the state of the parties being: Minis. 1 terialists, 41; Liberals, 32; Labor, 7. Dr. ' Newman has, in the final count, ousted Mr. McLaren for Wellington East, but a ] '. petition against his ; election lias been lodged, which may or may not be up. - held. Mr. Hornsby has increased his lead 1 over Sir Walter Buchanan for Waira- ,i rapa, and Mr. Munro's margin of one over Mr. Statliam has been swollen to . ste. AVe have heard nothing fur- - ther of the final figures in the Tauma- i ruilui and Patea seats, which were ' regarded in some quarters as doubtful, and presumably the position of the can- ; didates has not altered. Crediting it with : Dr. Newman's seat, the Government has ' a margin of only one vote, for the Speaker will account for the other. This ■ is a very slender, almost ah unworkable, majority. In ordinary circumstances the ' Government could not carry on, and would be forced to proffer its resignation to the Governor. But times are not normal. The public do not want another election right away. They have other things of more importance to engross their minds. Realising this, the Government no doubt will continue to administer the affairs of the country until tlie House meets, and then take its chance. To preserve its life it will to be extremely vigilant; tile absence of two members of the party will, in a division, entail the defeat of the Government, that is, of course, presuming the Opposition is in a bellicose mood. If the war is not ended by then, the Opposition may agree to keep the Government in power, for its defeat would mean another appeal to the country, which may be as disagreeable to the.Opposition as it was before tHe last appeal was made. In any case, it would be of no advan. tage to Sir Joscpfi Ward to carry on without a working Liberal majority. He; would be far better to be in Opposition than to be dependent upon the Labor members' votes.' It • is possible, of course, that there may be a turning-over of members from one side to the other. This, as we. know from recent experience, is not a remote contingency. It is surprising, in that connection, that both Mr. Vernon Reid and Mr. Rhodes, who performed the somersaults in 1012, should have been returned again by increased majorities. That, to many, is | the big surprise of the elections. Another surprise was the defeat of Sir Walter Buchanan, whose sterling personal qualities earned him the respect and confidence of all sections of the community, though he was out of touch with the democratic spirit of the times. Mr. F. M. B..Fisher's seat was never very secure ,but few anticipated he would have been rejected as emphatically as he was. The defeat of the Hon. R. McKenzie was hardly expected, though it will not be greatly deplored. He was one of the weakest links in the Liberal chain, and largely contributed to its breaking at the 1911 election. The preference shown by the Grey Linn electors for the politically wily Mr. Payne over such sturdy and worthy candidates as Mr. Fowlds and Mr. Murdoch McLean is difficult to understand. It certainly does no very great credit to their understanding and discrimination. The defeat of Mr. Statliam is a serious blow to the Government, for he was one of its ablest members. Mr. Atmore's rejection was hardly expected, but to a large extent he has his own unbridled and politically venomous tongue to blame for his down, fall. As we have before remarked, Mr. Jennings' re-entry into Parliament as Taumarunui's elect will be generally welcomed. No one has worked harder for his district and constituents, no one has a more intimate acquaintance with , the requirements of the baek-bloeker, and no one could excel him as a representative for such a constituency. That he will continue his good work is ccrta'n. Mr. Wilson no doubt gave his constituents of his best, but he was seriously handicapped from the start by following a man who had practically grown with the district, and in the development of which ho had taken no °mall share. There is one matter to which we would"" like to refer in connection with the new Parliament. It is Taranaki's right to representation in the Ministry of the day. For a considerable number of years, with tin- exception of the short period the Hon. T. McKenzie was in power, ITaranaki has been unre. presented in the Cabinet. Why? It cannot be said that we have not fit enough men now, at any rate. On the Reform side, the member for Egmont is one of the ablest men in the House, and could ■very efficiently fill the remaining portfolio in the present Ministry, whilst in the case of a Liberal Ministry who could better fill the portfolio of Lands than Mr. Jennings? Taranaki is entitled to repiescntation, and its claims should be I pressed until justice is clone.