MEETING OF CABINET

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9750, 15 December 1922, Page 5

MEETING OF CABINET

THE POLITICAL SITUATION PARLIAMENT TG BE CONVENED. SHORT SESSION AFTER HOLIDAYS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, , December 14. Cabinet met 'again to-day, and transacted business that had been standing over since the elections.. Air Massey afterwards stated that he would call his party together after the holidays and put- the. position before them. He also announced, that Parliament would be called together for a snort session.

The more politicians and the electors themseves think about the present situation, the more they realise that it is either Mr Massey or a dissolution. No other party or combine tioii of parties could remain in office as the House of Representatives is at present constituted. A possibility that has not occurred to most people is that when the House meets Mr Wilford may take no definite action,„ and may even decide not to move a no-confidence amendment. In that case an amendment would no doubt be moved by Sir Holland. Such an amendment would surely be defeated. The Liberals would either vote against it or would walk out. What' would happen then is a matter for surmise. ' It seems as if the country will not know exactly where it is politically until the leaders state their intentions, or until after Parliament has been called together.

NEWS FROM CONSTITUENCIES.

THE WAITOMO SEAT. A SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TE KUITI, December 14. A sensational development in connection with the Waitomo seat is occasioning much local excitement. On the night of the election Sir Rolleston’s majority-Was given as 121, with 2GO’ absentee votes and 30 declaration votes still to come. Thiß was amended next, day through a mistake in the count to 83.

The, electorate is a very large one, and traverses a good deal of sparselypopulated, country, and the returns were slow in coming to hand from outlying districts. " The official recount commenced at Te Kuiti on Monday, and last night Mr Rolleston’s lead was reduced to 33, Air Jennings securing a two to one majority of the absentee votes. To-night the official recount has reduced Sir Rolleston’s lead to rix, with still three small booths to be recounted. ■ There is dispute regarding the bona fides of 20 to 30 votes by declaration. It is understood that many votes have been lost to Mr Rolleston through informalities,. The registrar states that, owing _ to the scattered nature of the district, the final result will not be known till Monday next. ... . The present figures are 1

J. C. Rolleston (R.) ... 3450 W. T. Jennings (Lib.) ... ... 3444 Nelson. H Atmore (Lib.) ... 5174 A.' Gilbert (R.) ... 3010 Timaru. F. J. Rolleston (R.) .... 4708' P. C. Vinnell (Lab.) ... ... 4420 Butler. H. E. Holland (Lab.) ... ... 4413 J. Menzies i ' (Lib.) ... 2872 Informal 94 Awarua. , P. de la Perelle (L.) ... ... 3531 J. R. Hamilton (R.) ... 3480 N. McIntyre (L.) 147 n Stratford. R. Masters (L.) ... ... 3603 J. Ri Hine (R.) ... 3241 iv, -Informal 40