EDEN SEAT.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18668, 17 April 1926, Page 14

EDEN SEAT.

OLD REFORM STRONGHOLD.

HOW VOTING WENT. vSPBCIAL TO "THE TRESS.") AUCKLAND, April 16. The result of the Eden by-election was doubtful until the last few returns were received. The returns from many of the polling places came to hand at an early hour, and to begin with showed small majorities for Sir James Guuson. As a rule- Sir James Gunsou received substantial majorities in rural localities, Labour drawing its strength from some of the urban areas. Mr -Mason polled exceptionally well at Morningside, Edendale, AvondaJe, Now Lynn, and Point Chevalier. .Miss Melvillo received most support at Mount Albert and Avondale. For the first hour it was by 110 means certain that M<- Mason would finish in the lead, but with the receipt of the figures for Edendale and New Lynn at 8.30 p.m. tho issue was no longer in doubt. Mr Mason addressed a large crowd from an upper window in tho 'Herald" building when the result of tho poll had been mado known. "I have to : thank the* supporters of Labour for their victory to-night," he said, "for I I recognise it was their victory rather than mine. I have to thank the candidates for the. straightforward way in ' which they have conducted the campaign, and I trust that after the first day or two of disappointment has p'assed we shall all be the best possible friends." Reform for 39 Years. As a result of yesterday's election Edan is to be represented for the first time in 39 years by an opponent of the party now known' as Reform. Prior to 1887 the electorate had returned the Hon. J. A. Tole, who was Minister of .Justice in the Stout-Vcgel (Liberal) Ministry of 1884-7, and who had held ,the seat from 1876 a period of ll years. On the dissolution of 1887, Mr Tole. offered his services to Newton, and was defeated by Mr Edward Withy by a majority of 92. # In that General Election Sir Edwin (then Mr) Mitchelson, who had until then sat for Marsden in the Atkinson Party's interests (precursors of Reform) was opposed in Eden by Mr J. A. Connell, whom ho defeated by 883 votes to 459. Mr Mitchelson continued to represent tho district until the end of 1896. In that year he stood aside aside from politics, and his place was taken by Mr John Bollard, who represented Eden from then to tie time of his death in March, 1915. Next came Sir James Parr, who has been the elect of the Reformers of-the district until now. Badly Managed. The "Star" says:—"One of. the Reform Party's chickens has come home 7x> roost. The Party abolished the second ballot, with a direct but unredeemed promise to put something better Th its place. Now it loses a safe seat because of a split vote —a seat which, in all human probability it would have won under the second ballot. Mr Mason is now safely installed, and he is likely to prove a useful member. His intelligence, culture, and common sense will keep him away from the path of extremism, and his leeal training should make him a great debating asset to the Labour Party. The Reform Party can blame nobody but itself for the loss of the | Eden seat. The whole business was badly managed from beginning to end. Insurgency and schism have been allowed to develop, and the whole position of the Party in the Eden electorate, at all events, has been greatly weakened." STATE OP PARTIES. A LABOUR OPPOSITION. (SPBCIAL TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, April 16. Though the Labour Party, has nowonly, thirteen members in this Parliament as compared with seventeen in the last, it is the strongest Party next to the Government Party, and as such will no doubt be recognised as the official Opposition. The state of the Parties in the House of Representatives is now an follows: Reform 54, Labour 13, National 10, Independent National 11, Liberal 1, Independent 1. The Independent Nationalist is, Mr H. Atmore (Nelson), the Liberal is the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward (Invercargill), and the Independent is the Hon. G. E. Statham (Dunedin Central). It is considered to be more than probable that both Sir Joseph Ward? and Mr Atmore will vote with the Nationalists, which will give that Party a voting strength of 7 lg. The determination' as to which Party he will recognise as his Majesty's Opposition will rest with the Speaker, and on the'state of Parties as they stand the Labour Party's claim will be established. It is rumoured in political circles (says the "Post") that a move , may be made to have some member of the Reform.Party elected Speaker in place of Mr Statham, but assuming that Mr Statham is re-elected to that office, and that there are no defections from the Reform benches, the Government will have a majority in the House of 29 over the other Parties. LABOUR LEADER'S COMMENT. (paiSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) ' WELLINGTON, April 16. Commenting on the result of the byelection the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr H, E. Holland, said it was eminently satisfactory from a Labour Party point of view. "In my opinion," he said, "if the fight had been a straight-out one between Mr Mason and Sir James Gunsbn, Mr Mason would still have won, for it is quite evident that Miss -Melville seeured a large number of women's votes which in her absence would have gone to the Labour candidate. "From a Labour Party's point of view the election has had one most important result. It definitely settles the question as to which Party shall be the Official Opposition."