The General Election

New Zealand Tablet, 19 November 1908, Page 19

The General Election

The general election which took place^ on- Tuesday was not productive of much excitement, as there was no very burning question of a political character before the electors. The licensing question absorbed the principal attention, and practically eclipsed the political side of the contest. The Government had no programme to place before the constituencies, and they relied mainly for support on the work done by their party fomany years in encouraging people to settle on the land, on their labor legislation, and on similar matters affecting the social wellbeing of the people. The Opposition were practically in a like position: they had no programme for the- future, and furthermore they had no record to point to as an incentive to the electors to put them into power. They could not attack the policy of the Government without the danger of " raising up serious opposition, and consequently they had to confine themselves to criticism of the administrative acts of the Ministry. How far the public agreed with the criticisms of the Opposition can be judged by the results so far , announced— Government 34, Opposition 16, Independents (three of whom might be classed as Liberals) 4. The sensation of the contest was the defeat of the Minister for Lands (Hon. R. McNab) at Mataura. With this exception all the Ministers were returned save the Hon. Mr. Carroll, who will probably have to run the gauntlet of a second ballot. As we have said, the licensing question altogether overshadowed the political side of the contest, and in many instances entered largely into the choice of a representative, irrespective of his opinions o.n public matters. There are twenty-two second ballots to be held next week owing to the fact that no candidate received an absolute majority in any of the following electorates : Waitemata, Ohinemuri, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Egmont, Wanganui, Manawatu, Pahiatua, Palmerston, Wellington North, Wellington East, Wellington South, Wellington Suburbs, Hurunui, Nelson, Avon, Ashburton, Geraldine, Timaru Dunedin North, Tuapeka The following ere the members who were elected on Tuesday :— Government supporters— Ward, Sir J. G., Awaruaj M'Gowan, Hon. J. Thames; Fowlds, Hon.' G., Grey Lynn; Millar, Hon. J. A., Dunedin West; Reed V Bay of Islands; Stallworthy, J. Kaipara ; Baume, F. E., Audiland East; Poole, C. H., Auckland West; Lawry, F., Parnell • Greenslade, H. J., Waikato ; Brown, J. Vigor, Napier ; Jennings^ W. T., laumarunui; Remington, A. E., Rangitikei ; Hall, C Waipawa; Hogg, A. W., Masterton ; Field, W H Otaki • Wilford, T. M., Hutt; M'Kenzie, R., Motueka ; Colvin, j' Buller; Guinness, Hon. A. R., Grey; Scddon, T. E., Westland ; Buddo, D., Kaiapoi; Davey, T .H., Christchurch East; Ell H* G., Christchurch South; Witty, G. ( Riccarton ; Laurenson ' G Lyttelton; Steward, Sir W. J., Waitaki ; Duncan, Hon T V* Oamaru; Allen, E. G., Chalmers; Sidey, T. X., Dunedin South' Arnold, J. F., Dunedin Central; Mackenzie, T., Taieri ; Thomson, J. C, Wallace; Hanan, J. A., Invorcargill. Opposition— Massey, W. F., Franklin; Mander, F. Marsden ; Bollard J Eden; Lang, F. W., Manukau ; Hcrrics, W. H Tauranga • Okey, H. J. H., Taranaki ; Hine, J. 8., Stratford; Pearce G* V., Patea; Guthrie, D. H., Oroua ; Buchanan, W. C Wairarapa; Rhodes, R. H., Ellesmere ; Hardy, C. A. C. Selwyn • Allen, J., Bruce; Malcolm, A. S., Clutha ; Fraser, W., Wakatipu '• Anderson, 'G. J., Mataura. Independent— Glover, A E Auck' land Central; Fisher, F. M. 8., Wellington Central; Duncan, J., Wairau; Taylor, T. E., Christchurch North.