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THE ELECTIONS.

THE STRATFORD SEAT.

THE FINAL FIGURES,

The final figures in the voting in the Stratford seat were received last night, , and give Mr. R. Masters (the Liberal candidate) a majority of 65 votes. The details are: — Masters. Hine. Soldiers' votes 0 8 Absent votes ........ 53 79 Total votes j. 3119 3054 Majority for Masters, 65. CORRECTED RESULTS. The following corrected results have been received: — WAIRAU. R. McOallum (s) 0 2452 B. J. Cook, Lab 1«50 J. J. Corry, 1 1430 E, H. Penny, G. • * 1348 Majority for McCallum ~ 790 No change. (1914: R. McCallum 3517; J. Duncan 3148; G. Turner 25.) HUTT. T. M. Wilford (s), 0 D. K. Pritchard, Lab 2895 E. P. Rishworth, G 2313 Majority for Wilford 1011 No change. (1914: T. M. Wilford 3977; A. M. Samuel 3034.) MEETING OF LIBERAL PARTY. Wellington!, Deo. 23. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, re' plying to Mr. Wilford, agreed to the iatter's suggestion to call a meeting of [ Liberal members in January.

COMMENT IN AUSTRALIA. By Tdegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, Dec. 23. The Telegraph, cbmmenting editorially on the Australian and New Zealand elections, Says regarding New Zealand: "The victory of the Government is a sign that the electoi's will not tolerate reckless finance, that they resent political manoeuvring and quick remedies, that they will vote for the man who puts the'facts before them most honestly and clearly." The paper adds: "The feeling expressed by the electors both in Australia and New' Zealand is not so much confidence in a political leader as apprehensiveness for the future of the country. In both countries the mere who are interested, n&t merely in the question of sound government, but in the stability and progress of industry, have been found to be in the majority."

TARANAIiI'S VOTE 1 . AN INTERESTING ANALYSIS. An examination of the voting in the four Taranaki electorates at the recent election shows that 25,039 persons recorded their votes this year, compared with 23,800 at the general elections in 1914—an increase of 185'J votes. There was a falling off in the support given to the Reform Party, the figures being 13,320 for 1914, and 12,344 for 1919. Without Mr. S. G. Smith's votes the figures for the Liberal Party are 10,480 in 1914 and 8832 in 1019, but it is reasonable to assume that quite three-quarters of Mr. Smith!s votes came from Liberal supporters, thus bringing the total Liberal vote in Taranaki above that in 1014. It is impossible to estimate what proportion of Mr. Smith's votes represent the voice of Labor, and the same applies to Mr. Masters' total, so that the only established Labor vote is that of 446 to Mr. Fitzherbert at Patea.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S DEFEAT. SOME STRIKING FIGURES. The Southland News gives the following information regarding tlio defeat of the leader of the Opposition The manner in which the voting swung over from Sir Joseph Ward to Mr. Hamilton may be shown by a comparison of the figures at some of the principal voting places on Wednesday ivith those for 1314. Bluff in 1914 gave Sir Joseph Ward a four to one majority; on Wednesday Sir Joseph's majority was only 35. At Waikiwi in 1014 Sir Joseph had a two to one majority; on Wednesday Mr. Hamilton had a majority o! 50. At Wintori in 1914 Mr. Hamilton had a lead of 26 votes; on Wednesday his lead increased to 97. The fig-lire* for these polling places were:—

BLUFF. 1014 1919 Ward .. .. 059 393 Hamilton .. .. 151 358 WAIKIWI. 1914 1919 Ward 303 240 Hamilton .. .. 188 290 WINT6N. 1014 1919 Ward .. ... 340 203 Hamilton .. 300 300

It does not follow that because Sir Joseph Ward lias ceased to bu member for Awarua he is done with New Zealand politics. Leaders have been defeated before. Mr. Asquith was defeated last year. Even Gladstone was defeated. Mr. Asquith would get a Beat in the House of Commons to-mor-row if he wanted it, and more than one Liberal member will probably offer to resign in order to make a vacanpy for the leader of the party. The matter lies in Sir Joseph Ward's own hands, though he will doubtless give consideration to the wishes of his party, and we shall have to wait his announcement of his intentions.

Discussing the cause of Sir Joseph Ward's defeat, the Times says:— Questions of general politics had something to do with the result, but there were other influences at work. Necessarily Sir Jcsepli Ward was for the most part an absentee member. For the greater part of his Parliamentary career he has been a Minister and official duties have kept htm in Wellington or taken him abroad. The personal gupport that he could always rely upon for some years ago, 110 longer exists. The personnel of the electorate has changed. A very large proportion of those who went to the polls on Wednesday were not born when Sir Joseph Ward was first elected, and many of them have seldom seen him and still more rarely spoken to him. These facts told against liitu, more especially as' his duties ns Liberal leader compelled him to make a flying tour of the electorate and then north t* tks LUwal ouuuUa*.

in the country. To what extent the introduction, of sectarian strife into the election fight in Awarua influenced the voting we do not know, but we have no admiration for tins methods adopted, and if Sir Joseph Ward lost votes because of the allegations made against him he was punished for Bins he did not commit. We can offer no congratulations to anybody so far as this aspect of the contest is concerned. Whatever the currents at work in the electorate were, there can be no doubt as to the effect they produced.

THE VERDICT OF THE ELECTORS. Says the Wellington Evening Post: That the verdict of the electors represents in any way a mandate for reaction is a mistake of which we cannot for a moment suppose that Mr. Massey will be guilty. His own public professions, the heavy polling for the Liberals in excess of their Parliamentary strength, and the general temper of the people, put such a possibility out of the reckoning. As a matter of fact,' the Reform Party has triumphed not by reason of its association in' the past with Conservatism and monopoly, but in spite of it. It is probable that nobody has a keener perception of this fact that Mr. Massey himself, and that nobody sees more clearly the need for giving it ft prompt and practical recognition. What he heard \t the Reform caucuses in August was doubtless enough to satisfy him on the point.

THE SEATS ANALYSED. ' There are 32 seats in the .South Island and 48 in tho North. The North Island returned 32 Reformers, 9 Liberals, 4 Official Labor, and 3 Independent, and Independent Labor. The South Island analysis is: Reform 16,' Liberals 10, Official Labor 4, Independent and Independent Labor 2. In percentages (omitting fractions) the figures' are: North Island: Reform 66, Liberal 18, Labor 6. South Island: Reform 60, Liberal 31, Labor 12, Independent and Independent J Labor 6. In 1814 the North Island had 45 seats and the South 35; and, after the election, the state of parties was: North Island: Reform 2S, Liberal 14, 1, Independent' Labor 2. South Island: Reform 13, Liberal 19, Labor 3. In percentages, tko figures were: North Island: Reform 62, Liberal 31, Labor 2, Independent Labor 4. South Island: Reform 37, Liberal 54, Labor 8i

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19191224.2.51

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1919, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,254

THE ELECTIONS. Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1919, Page 5

THE ELECTIONS. Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1919, Page 5

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