TAUMARUNUI SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 317, 17 June 1915, Page 8

TAUMARUNUI SEAT.

THE FINAL RETURNS. i MR. JENNINGS' MAJORITY 148. THE POSITION OF PARTIES. The final returns of the voting in the Taumaruni election are: — W. T. Jennings (0.) .... 3850 C. K. Wilson (G.) 3702 Majority for Jennings 148 A Wellington telegram says that, owing to discrepancy between the press figures and the official result telegraphed from Te Kuiti, the Chief Electoral Officer last evening telegraphed the returning officer for Taumarunui, and received reply that his figures were correct, viz., Jennings 3850, Wilson 3701. These are all the votes cast at Tuesday's poll, but there are still sixty-eight absentee votes to be counted. This will not be done till the scrutiny of Tuesday's voting is completed. The victory of Mr. Jennings means that the Government party in the House of Representatives numbers 40 members, just half the strength of the chamber. The Opposition, containing the Liberal and Labor groups, contains 30 members, and there is one Independent in the person of Mr. Tau Henare, the member ! for the Northern Maori District. The I Ministers claim that Mr. Henaro is one of their supporters, but that native member himself has declined to make any public statement on the subject beyond a general assertion that he is not bound to any party. If the Government retains office it must nominate a Speaker when Parliament meets, and it is assumed that the choice must be made within the ranks of their own party. Ttw parties will then be equal in strength, and the Government's fate will rest in J the hands of Mr. Henare.

"AN ASSURED MAJORITY."

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER.

After the last returns came to hand the Prime Minister made a short statement on the political situation to a reporter. "We have an assured majority in the House," he said, "and though I should have liked to secure another supporter, I do not anticipate any serious difficulty about being able to "carry on, and do the business of the country. It is quite evident, so far as it is possible to judge, that when all the returns come in the Opposition candidate's majority, as compared with that at the general election in December, will be found to have been considerably reduced. Analysis of the figures for the various booths show that we secured a majority at by fur the greater number of polling places, but the one centre which has determined the election is Taum'arunui, whoer Mr. Jennings has a big majority. Personally, I do not feel at all discouraged, for th»

results of the two by-elections have shown that the Government stands even (tetter with the country than it did six inonhs ago. It will now remain for the Opposition party to show whether they are anxious to force another general election on the country or not." SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEWS.. POLITICS NOT WANTED NOW r . THE QUESTION OF ANOTHER ELECTION. (By Wire —Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. When seen -by' a reporter this evening Sir Joseph Ward said he had no wigh to prolong the discussion of the political position. A general election, draggeo out for over six months through no fault of the electors, had given most - people enough of politics for a time, and he was leaving by the ferry steamer to spend a few days with his family in ' Cnrlsteliurch before the -beginning of the I session.

The facts of the position were perfectly clear, and the parties could place what interpretation they pleased upon them for their own gratification. For himself, he was accepting the decision of the electors quite philosophically, though, of course, a good deal might be said about the difficulties that were put in the way of its expression. It was plain t'.|at the electoral laws would have to be materially amended, and that their administration would have to occupy the serious attention of those in authority.

He noticed the Prime Minister had said it remained to be seen if the Opposition was anxious to force on another general election. He did not pretend to understand what this cryptic utterance meant, but if Mr. Massey intended to imply that it rested with the Opposition to say wheher there should be another general election or not, he was paying too high a compliment to the party. The granting of a dissolution was one of the prerogatives of the Crown, represented in this country by the Governor, and his Excellency had too nice an appreciation of the fitness of things to allow another election to ba forced upon the country until every means of forming a stable Government had been exhausted. The bogey of another appeal to the constituencies had ibeen held up before the electors of the Bay of Islands and Taumarunui with a very 1 obvious purpose, but no one who really understood the situation was. the least bit alarmed. It was merely a part of the Government's electioneering outfit, Mid even Mr Massey did not attempt to explain how the appeal would come about.

"I am not going to discuss politics," Sir Joseph Ward said emphatically in conclusion, ''but I am quite sure the «I«etors, whatever their party proclivities may 'be, realise tliat the Opposition is at least as loyal and as anxious as the Government to give the Mother Country every, possible assistance in the present crisis, and to strengthen the bonds of affection and interest that hold New Zealand to the Empire and presere all that the Empire means to the British, race." MR. HENAREN3 POSITION. "WILL SUPPORT REFORM PARTY." • Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister stated, in reply to a question regarding the attitude of the member for the Northern Maori

district, that there was no reason for the slightest doubt regarding the. loyalty of Mr. llcnarc. He was a thoroughly honorable man. lie had promised to support the Reform Party,, and he would do so.

THE PREMIER'S OPPORTUNITY

(By Wire —Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night,

"The country is now of one mind in considering that the paramount duty of| the politicians is not to wrangle over dead domestic issues, nor even over live ones, but to pool all their talent for the purpose of enabling us to play onr part worthily in the great task that is set before us," says the Post (a Government organ). "Mr. Massey had a great opportunity in December, tat he did not take it. Fortune does not often give such a chance a second time, but she has done so now iby the forbearance and public spirit of the Opposition. The possibility of Mr. Massey's carrying on the Government in spite of a majority which will be reduced to one after electing a Speaker is assured."