THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 169, 23 December 1914, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

DUNEDIN CENTRAL RECOUNT. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Dunedin. Last Night. The official recount of votes cast in toe Dunedin Central election was commenced to-day before Mr H. Y. Widdoweon, S.M. Though the, work was continued in the evening, the count was not I completed, and was adjourned till 10 a.m. i to-morrow. DR. NEWMAN CONSIDERED SAFE. Wellington, Last Night. The Magisterial recount of votes cast in the Wellington East election was carried out to-day. The result is stated to be a confirmation of Dr Newman as the head of the poll, with a slightly decreased majority, but the actual iigurcs arc not yet disclosed. RECOUNT IN BAY OF ISLANDS. ' * Wellington. Last Night. A recount has been asked for in the Bay of Island election, where Mr Vernon Reed had a majority of 11 votes. , STATE OF PARTIES. ■ The political situation remains unchanged (says the Wellington Post). ,The state of parties has still to bo determined by the result of the, recounts and other proceedings in connection with the elections before any announcement can bo made by the Government. The fresh difficulty in regard to alleged .breaches of the electoral law under tlio new provisions of the Amending Act of last session lias still to be examined, and its consequences ascertained. The amendment giving the right to bona-flde electors to vote by "declaration" was .inserted as the result of the demands of the Opposition, the members of which .expressed doubts as to the manner in ( which the rolls were being compiled, and asked for safeguards for those who had at the last election three years ago, and were still residing in the same .electorate, but found their names miss, ing from the roll. This provision is now said to have been abused, and there appears to be evidence, according to high authority, that is likely to delay the announcement of tho final verdict for .some little time yet. Indeed, it is suggested that by-elections may be required in several electorates to determine the true will of the electors. . . . While the Opposition members generally are opposed to a general election, they are not disposed io overlook the in the way of an "arrange, mcnt," or whatever it may be called, with the other side. 'There must be ft /good deal of give-and-take before it couldi be accepted. Among, the stumblingblocks is the Legislative Council Bill .passed session, and due to come into operation in January, 1916, and a distinct bugbear to the Opposition. There are, of course, other matters, too, .which present difficulties to be surmounted. Quite apart from mere politics, the aversion to another general ..election seems so strong that any friendly arrangement that was workable would in all probability be welcomed •both by the country and by politicians. In the meantime the public will probably have to wait some little time yet :before anything definite is decided. The .Government is not likely to announce .its policy before the elections are en. .tirely settled, and the prospect of that is still some distance off.