THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1908. YESTERDAY'S POLLING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3047, 18 November 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1908. YESTERDAY'S POLLING.

Surprises were the order of the day yesterday. So far as the result of the contest for the Masterton seat was concerned, the result was a foregone conclusion, Mr Hunter's most enthusiastic supporters not anticipating anything better than a fairly close polling It has been contended that the intense interest taken in the Local Option Poll in this electorate was a circumstance favourable to Mr Hogg's success, but, in view of the substantial majority obtained by the member for Masterton, we are inclined to think that it is practically impossible to unseat Mr Hogg. To realise that he has attained to such an extraordinarily strong position must be highly gratifying to say the least, to the member for Masterton. We certainly do not grudge Mr Hogg his latest victory, although we keenly realise that the political condition of Masterton is one of complete stagnation. Mr Hunter, with patriotic spirit, fought a clean fight, in a manly manner, and he accepted his dafeat in a spirit that showed his worth as a candidate. A pleasing

feature of the c^ ntest wa3 Mr Hogg's speech wh n returning thanks. It was most men, indeed, would have

inclined to boasting on such an occasion, or would have developed "swelled head," as Mr Hogg prefers to put it. Mr Hogg's speech, however, was one, that we venture to say was highly appreciated by his political opponents.

The result of the Masterton Local Option Poll was another surprise, for it was fairly generally considered that the No-License Party would win by a substantial majority. Victory, however, was secured with but a handful of votes to spare. The extent to which the Liquor Party poiled must be attributed to clever organisation, and to tactics that won public sympathy, for the No-License Party worked with feverish energy for weeks past, and left no stone unturned to carry the day. Some seven months from' how the _M aster ton Electorate will be known as a NoLicense area, and we sincerely hope that the change from License to NoLicense will prove as beneficial, both morally and commercially, as has been claimed will be the case. It is certainly the duty of every elector to give the new system a fair trial, and we tiust that the residents of the Masterton Electorate will be conspicuous in the matter of rigorously observing the law, and that the evil effects of No-License in other prohibition areas, which have been commented unon, will be noticeably absent in cur own electorate the welfare of which we wish to > see promoted in every" way possible.

*.* * * Another surprise is the , contest for the Wairarapa seat. It was certainly not the general opinion that Mr W. C. Buchanan would defeat Mr J. T. M. Hornsby by a decided majority. It is, indeed, a feather in Mr Buchanan's cap that he should have turned the tables so completely upon his political enemy,, whom he has met on no less than four occasions ' previoulsy to the contest just concluded. In 1905 Mr Hornsby obtained a majority of over 500 votes, but since then the boundaries of the j electorate haVe been altered, and the alterations proved favourable to Mr Buchanan's candidature. It is rather a curious fact that in districts where Mr Hoyig has previously secured substantial majorities that Mr BuehanAM should meet with, practically, equal success. How the same elector can reconcile his conscience to vote for j Mr Hogg and then for Mr Buchanan [ is a conundrum that it is difficult for j our political comprehension to solve. !It is, we venture to suggest, a matter that the student of politics may cogitate over with advantage. Mr Buchacan's win will be very popular in the rural parts of his constituency, and as he" is (it goes without saying) an old Parliamentarian, and an authority upon agricultural and pastoral matters, it may fairly be conceded that the Dominion has in Mr Buchanan a useful member of Parliament. A good deal of sympathy should be extended to Mr Hornsby even by his opponents. He has worked most indefatiguably for the Wairarapa, and successfully; and there is no gainsaying the fact that the interest he has displayed in various important matters has been of great advantage to many people in what was his district.

* * * * ■" * * Again the defeat of Mr McNab, who held office as Minister for Lands in tne last Parliament, was unexpected However, unexpected as the result of the Mataura contest was it is at the same time highly satisfactory. The freeholders of the Dominion are a very numerous body of men, whose welfare is of supreme importance to the country, and it is also, as a matter of course, essential to their welfare that there should be no tampering with the freehold tenure. Mr McNab's defeat will be welcome news to every freeholder in the country. We do not want legislation affecting land tenure to be a mixture of freehold, leasehold, and land nationalisation principles, but such legislation has been advocated by the late Minister for Lands, and actually placed on the Statute Book by the Government! Mr McNab has often said that he was prepared to stand by his guns, but he had so many guns that no one really knew by which particular lot he was standing. As, however, he has gone down it may safely be presumed that he has crawled under some of his guns, "struck his flag" and "sunk the ship" and so forth. As Minister for Lands we are glad to say "good-bye" to Mr McNab. ***** *

There is an old saying that "it is never safe to prophesy," but journalists generally with an utter disregard for their prophetical reputation are given to indulging in prophecy; chiefly, probably, because if the people do not demand prophets they have an exceeding weakness for them, especially if the predictions made are in accordance with their own views. In regard to the present Government we ventured to prophesy that Sir Joseph Ward would succeed in accomplishing one thing, and that was the creating of an exceedingly healthy Opposition before he had been long in

power. Yesterday's polling emphasises the soundness of the view that we took of the political situa-" tion. The Government's policy of administration, that is the best way to put it, is simply one that Qf|p>t last, because despite the ''jpHr," the "grants," and the "concessions," it is a policy that is absolutely opposed to the true interests of the people. It should never be forgotten that the money which the Government expends, which it grants in so lordly a manner is the peoples' money. If this one fact alone were steadily kept in view how differently would many electors vote! Our Parliament, as most people are aware, is comprised of eighty members. In 1905 the strength of the different parties comprising it were as follows:—Ministerialists, 57; Opposition, 14; Independents, 4; Maori members, 4; and one New Liberal, Mr F, M. B. Fisher, who, we are glad to say, is a member of our Parliam.e-t electee! in 1908.

****** From a glance at the General Election results, published this morning, it will be seen that the constitution of the new Parliament is very different indeed. The Premier has no longer a huge majority. Sir Joseph, however, says that it is "a substantial working majority," and we trust that it will work, and work for the country's good! The general result of yesterday's election will tend to increas9 a healthy interest in politics, and to bring about a much needed improvement in the political atmosphere. It is years since' the electors used their political privileges to so much advantage to the country as they did yesterday.