ATKINSON GOVERNMENT'S DEFEAT IN 1890.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 299, 16 December 1911, Page 8

ATKINSON GOVERNMENT'S DEFEAT IN 1890.

I ' IDZET TBOCEDOKB ADOPTED. It/- as interesting to recall what took place after the general election of December, -1890, -when the Atkinson Government -was -wrecked at the polls. The election took place on the 6th of December, bat it -was not until the 18th of December that, after some doubts as to the constitutional position, the Cabinet decided that Parliament should hj s summoned to meet on the 23rd of January, 1891. The result of the election, as chronicled in the "Post” of the Sth of December, 1800, was; Ministerial, 26; Opposition, 37; doubtful, 10. When the House met, a division was taken on the question ‘that Mr. W. Rolieston be elected Speaker.’ This was defeated by seven votes, the figures being: Ayes, 29; noes, 36. This was taken as a test question on which the Government was beaten, and on the same day it was announced that the Government had resigned. It was on the 27th of January. 1891, that Mr. Ballance announced in the House of Representatives the formation of his Government, consisting of Messrs. R. .1. Seddon, W. P. Reeves. ,1. M Kcnvi:-. J. G. Ward, and P. A. Buckley, and a few days afterwards he stated that Mr. J- A. Caiman had accepted a seat tin the Ministry. At the beginning of that session the Hon. John Bryce, member for Waikato, had been elected leader of the Opposition (as the Atkinson party had then become! . but he retired from the House and from public life during the session owing to the passing of a motion implying censure for the use during a debate in the House of the expression: "The Premier ought to be ashamed of himself.’ Air. W. Kollestoa succeeded Mr. Bryce as Leader of the Opposition party. That session of Parliament only lasted for a. week, and adjourned till the Ilth of June, in order to enable the new Government to formulate / their! policv.” PRESS VIEWS. THE “ WELLINGTON POST.” NEW INFLUENCES IX POLITIC^. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WLLLIXGTOX, this day. Commenting on the result of the elections, the "Post” remarks: "The Opposition gains have surprised us, as they muse have surprised even manv of the party’s supporters. We congratulate Mr Massey on a success for which he toiled strenuously, and on the temperate tone of his remarks last night in his hour of triumph. We regret that the services of Sir John Findlay. Mr Fowlds, Mr McNab and Mr. Hogg have been lost to the public for the present. We are sorrv, , too 5 to sec Mr. Fletcher and Mr. McLaren i on the list of the vanquished. Thev both were in a keen hard fight, and the; victors had not many votes to spare ; at the end of the long day. Regret ! for the defeat of men of ability to serve the community well is -tempered with gladness at the downfall of a number of Ministerial party hacks, of whom the country is well rid. Labour lost in Wellington East, but won in Wellington South. Air. Hindmansh has ousted Mr. -Wright, and though we believe that Mr. Wright was well worthy of his place in the House of Representatives, I we do not grudge organised labour this j victory. This new party has captured j only two seats, but it has made notable headway in voting strength. Independent ■ Labour has come to play a part in Newj Zealand polities. The new Liberalism is to have a leaven of independent labour - I The operation of the laws of evolution in this country’s politics is now easily j discernible. The massing of Radicalism against non-Radical ism is taking shape : the air is electric with potentialities. One -truly knows not what the morrow may bring forth.” DEFECTIVE ELECTORAL LAW. THE DOMIXIOX AXT> THE GOVERN- ! MENT. (By Telesraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. The “New Zealand Times” refers to the defective electoral law in connection with the 4tatc of parties, and says; j "Friends of Liberalism will find an ■ analysis of the voting at the first ballot reassuring. The votes of seventy-six j European constituencies were distributi ed thus: Liberal 48222 per cent; Opposition, 36J31; Labour and Socialist, 12.73; ! Independent, 2.62; Prohibitionists, OJ2. The strength of parties does not agree with this analysis, and that is unfortunately the case because the electoral machinery is defective. If we suppose that of the large proportion of the 80 per cent of electors who exercised the franchise only 29.5 per cent of the resident adult population voted for Mr. Massey, it is clearly absurd that such faulty election remits should be possible. -If the new -House is a faithful reflex of the i opinion of the whole community it would jhe divided as under: Liberals 37. ConI servatives 2V, Labour and Socialists 10, ! Independent 2. Tbe Opposition has ten more seats than the people as a whole say they should have. Any methods which can possibly produce such results are clearly undemocratic, and need immediate revision. As the decision of the electors is so incoherently expressed, j Parliament itself shonld decide the issue. I Tbe question as to when can be more j profitably discussed next week. It is ; absurd to suppose that Sir -Tosepli Ward 1 will do anything prejudicial to the future of his friends or distasteful to his supporters in the various constituencies. Conrmonsense must in the end guide him.” The “Dominion” says: “Whatever happens, there must be a majority against the Government- The Reform party is strong and united; the -MmisiwisfaU are Rmnnralwol and some of . them -are hehfiby "tie eteuferest ties.” THE SDH. DtfKCAH. PROPOSED TESTIMONIAL. <By Telegraph.—Own evgresponientj OAMARU, this day. Steps are being taken to tangibly recognise the Hon. T. Duncan’s long and valuable services in the cause of Liberalism in New Zeeland. Friends in tbe Oamaru constituency feel Mr, Duncan shonld not be allowed to pass out of public life without something being done to suit-' ably recognise so extended a period of faithful Parliamentary effort in their interest.