The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1910. THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1910. THE GENERAL ELECTION.

I As the result of the Parliamentaryelections oh "Wednesday, Mr. Massey has secured a fairly decisive victory, and he will face the coming session with a party of fortythree, exclusive of such of the seven Independents as may give him general support. For the first time since the Reform Party has been in power, it has a strong working majority, so that the way is open for dealing fearlessly and effectively with the numerous important matters of reconstruction that require prompt action, as well as the maintenance of law and Stoke. Mr. Masssjr'a expression

gratification is quite natural, and the people of the Dominion may well endorse his statement that he trusts that party feeling and party interests will be kept in the background. At first sight it would seem that a wave of Reform had passed over the country, but such is hardly the case, for though the Reform Party has gained a number of seats, it does not, on the voting, represent the _ majority of the electors, and will rule by means of a minority vote, the outcome of the "first-past-the-post" system. Apparently, in the case of seventeen seats gained by Reform, there was a majority against the elected members, but the splitting of votes gave them the seats. The "first-past-the-post" system calls for remedy, but human nature is human nature, and as the Reform Party finds this system serves them well, it is, hardly to be expected the members will be eager for a change. The most reasonable explanation of the Reform victory is that there existed a well-defined desire for a strong and Government, capable of dealing with the menace of anarchy firmly and effectively, firstly by removing acknowledged grievances; secondly, by a policy of conciliation, and, lastly, by repression, if other means fail. Mr. Massey may well regard the verdict at the polls as a mandate for law and order, and as a protest against any tendency towards Socialism. The new Parliament will contain a number of strong men of the right stamp, from whom much may be expected in the future towards sane and progressive legislation tending to the prosperity of the Dominion and the welfare of the people. As to the decline in the numbers of the Liberal Party, there is but one explanation that can account for it, namely, the Re-

I form Party has adapted itself to the times and become Liberal to a • large extent, the inevitable consequence being the thrusting of the ' one-time advanced Liberals in the direction of Radicalism and Socialism. In 1905, -whan Mr. Seddon reacted the summit of his success, the Liberal Party in the House numbered sixty, the Reformers fifteen, and Independents five. When Sir Joseph "Ward became Premier, in 1908, the Liberals numbered fifty-one, Reformers twentyfour, there being five Independents and one Laborite. In 1911, the Liberals could only muster thirtysix strong, while the Reformers had thirty-nine, there being four Laborites and one Independent. In 1914, when Mr. Massey first went to the polls in office, there were thirty-three Liberals, forty-one Reformers, and six Laborites. Today the Liberals are forty less than in 1905, while the Reformers have j gained twenty-three adherents, I Labor ten, and Independents seven. The disappearance of some of the slavish supporters of party can be cordially welcomed, for they were of little, if any, help in the government of the country, and were unfitted for solving the problems of the future. The defeat of Sir Joseph Ward was the outstanding sensation of the elections, and next to that in importance was the narrow majority obtained by Sir James Allen. In Sir Joseph Ward's case, the verdict can only be received on all sides with much regret. The change in his electorate since the redistribution, coupled with the fact that his opponent is a man oi considerable attainments and higli standing, were factors in the resuit, but there were other circumstances connected with the verdicl to which we need not refer. Fo) oyer thirty years he has given oi his best in the service of his coun try and the Empire, and he is on< of the few men who can ill b< spared in Parliament. Mr. Masse] has now before him the task of re constructing his Cabinet. The rea test of his intention to place th( prosperity of New Zealand on i permanent basis, will be evidencec by his choice of colleagues in thi Ministry. It is to be hoped he wil select the younger, virile and pro gressive men, otherwise his part; will meet the same fate as the Li) erals.