THE RANGITIKEI BY-ELECTION.

THE SECOND BALLOT. Government Candidate Returned. The second ballot for the Rangitikei election, held yesterday, resulted in the return of Mr ±t. W. Smith, the Government candidate, who scored a majority of 399 over the Opposition candidate, Mr Hockly. The poll was a heavy one, 4421 votes being cast, as against 4179 at the first ballot. Following are details of the voting, the return from Bale's Track being still to" come: — R. W. SMITH (Government) 2410 F. F. HOCKLY (Opposition) 2011 Majority '. 399 ' ' • Hockly. Smith. (principal) 223 246 EASTBROOK 153 155 MANGAWEKA 85 214 TAIHAPE ....: 188 597 Aberfcldie 16 l Awarua : .';..; 0 4 Bell's Junction 21 26 Bennett's Siding 10 70 Fordell 112 49 Hale'a Track Kaweka. Road 6 2 Koeke 19 . 23 Kakatahi iq 26 Eauangaroa 23 5 Kawhatau — u PPer 27 22 T Lower 12 34 Long Acre Valley 13 5 Manui n 2 2 Moawhango 26 23 Marybank '•.. 72 jg Mangamahu ..[[ 55 ig Mangaonoho 26 38 Mangahoe Road ". 35 0 Mataroa 48 52 Ngawaka .'. 17 24 °t a l ri 35 13 O k ?*» : *. ...'....: 92 12 Ohingaiti 72 43 Polgresn's Corner T. 51 7 Pukeokahu ; \q ]2 Poukiore [[ 39 9 Pohonui '9 j4j 4 Rata 56 62 Kangiwaea 7 5 Ruanui 22 9 Ruahine 33 52 Rilverbope 71 g Torere 12 59 Taoroa 26 17 Tanrangarere Railway Station ;. 6 74 Taurangarere ' Schoolhouse 22 20 Toi Toi ; 1 1 Taiiakira 6 6 Tiriraukawa 14 14 Te Kapua Block 11 19 Utiku 50 99 Upokongaro 53 33 Upper Turakdna Valley 17 17 Wairepo 10 10 Wainui 16 18 Wangaehu ' 36 22 Wakolin's 8 28 Winiata 16 52 MINISTERS INTERVIEWED. (Per United Press Association.) PALMERSTON N.\* September 23. The Acting-Premier, who left Huntervilkr during the afternoon, stayed to-night at Palmerston. Ho was interviewed by a Manawatu Times reporter on the result of the Rangitikei election. "The fight is over," he said, "it was a true Party struggle. The real in-fighting was carried out by the several candidates in the first ballot, who in the second ballot stood faithfully to the Liberal cause. The presence of Ministers in the second ste^e of the contest was to impress it with ti.B significance of Barty, to place -their case before the electors. We accepttheir verdict." The Minister for Agriculture, Mr T. Mackenzie, who had come to meet Mrs Mackenzie at Palmerston earlier, in the afternoon on her return from England, ' was , also .• interviewed by the Manawatu Times, and said "I cannot help but be pleased with the result. Although the fight has been a strenuous one it has been conducted on the most honourable lines on both sides. I attribute the victory largely to a recognition on $he part of the electors that the Government is honestly striving to do its very best in the interests of the country. We are attacking large and difficult problems, and the encouragement we have received will stimulate us in our efforts. lam particularly pleased .with the support we have received from the farmers, because I take it as a recognition among other things of the work the Agricultural Department is doing in striving, on practical lines, to advance their interests, not only in the Dominion, but also in 1 the marketing vof their products in other lands. From a Parliamentary point of.- yye'w," Mr Mackenzie added, "it is also gratifying to know that the candidates who stood were all men of high character, capacity and' ability." v