MR. MASSEY'S VIEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1922, Page 5

MR. MASSEY'S VIEWS.

A DIFFICULT POSITION. ANOTHER APPEAL LIKELY. FINAL RESULTS AWAITED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Dec. 7. Mr, Massey stated to-night: “It is impossible for me to say that the results of the election have been satisfactory either to the Dominion or to the Government. The party voting in several electorates has been very close, and we cannot say yet what the final results will be. In some instances the majorities have been under fifty, while there are three or four hundred absent voters’ permits to come, “It seems to me that the results of the election show the necessity for a reconstruction of parties. The three party system • cannot possibly be satisfactory in any case, and it is simply folly for the Liberals and Reformers to go on fighting each other, when, so far as policy is concerned, there is little or nothing between them. “1 cannot predict what may happen when the House meets, whether in the near future or in June next. All I can say is that those who have worked with me in the past, and who have had the good fortune to be returned, will continue to do their duty under any circumstances that may arise. There are also several members who are supposed to belong to the Liberal camp who ate pledged to oppose any combination of Liberals and Socialistic Labor, but I cannot say whether the business of Parliament can be satisfactorily carried on under such conditions.

It may be necessary again to appeal to the country, but there are many forms and ceremonies to be gone through before that can take place. In the meantime we must patiently wait and see, what the final figures reveal. Needless to say I regret the disappearance from the new Parliament of the Speaker and the Chairman of Committees and others who have done splendid work for the Dominion during the last few years.”

ELECTION FEATURES.

Like most general elections, that of Thursday had its surprises, some of which may have been expected, while others were not. Labor gains in the cities and elsewhere are an outstanding feature. The defeat of the Speaker, Sir W. F. Lang, is one of the regrettable incidents, not only by reason of his official position in the House, but in view of the high esteem in which he is generally held. The full force of this blow is revealed by the defeat of the ('hairman of Committees, Mr. A. Malcolm. Such a double loss as this to the House is probably unprecedented. A possibility that two members of the Ministry, Messrs. D. H. Guthrie and E. P. Lee, may be defeated, is another unpleasant feature of the polling. Only by receiving a good majority of the absentee voters can these Ministers hope to be elected. Amongst others who have been defeated, or are likely to be so when all the votes are counted, are Messrs. Clutha Mackenzie, Col. G. Mitchell, W. T. Jennings, Dr. Thacker, and R. W. Smith. The three lady aspirants for Parliamentary honors failed to arrive at the top of the poll. . Evidently the. House will see a fair number of new faces. ,