THE Wairarapa Age. MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1909. THE RANGITIKEI BY -ELECTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9598, 18 September 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age. MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1909. THE RANGITIKEI BY -ELECTION.

There is just a slight party flavour about the Wellington morning papers. It is also quite probable that others besides ourselves have noticed the fact, but the issues of yesterday morning are a striking exemplification of the truth of our remark, and are really unintentionally humourous, and perfectly harmless, for everyone knows that the sensible elector is not gulled by the party paper that descends to contemptible "dapdoodle," and alas, with the very obvious intention of misleading its readers. Discussing the result of the first poll in connection with the Rangitikei by-election, the "New Zealand Times" declares in its most brazen-faced manner, "The impulse to rub salt into the gaping wound inflicted upon Torydom yesterday by the settlers of Rangitikei, would have been irresistible were it not that the opportunity has lost its relish by anticipation." The "Dominion" solemnly affirms that "The Reform party's candidate has emerged from the first ballot with a substantial majority. and the favoured Government candidate has been defeated out-right.

There were some very sanguine people who went so far as to think that Mr 'Hockly might win outright at the first ballot, but with the number of candidates in the field this was expecting over-much." The fact of tne whole business is that Mr Hockly did not poll so well as his supporters hoped, but he polled better than those working for the Government candidates expected. The present position is that of some 1,500 votes not polled for either Mr Hockly or Mr Smith, the farmer will, assuming that everyone who voted for him at the first ballot records his vote in his favour it the second poll, have to obtain some 600 of the 1,500 votes referred to in order to enable him to represent Rangitikei in Parliament. A "close go" is a certainty —probably not 150 votes will separate the candidates at the finish. It is, however, worthy of mention that the Opposition vote has evidently greatly increased in the Rangitikei : electorate.