THE CHANGE IN PUBLIC OPINION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1306, 8 December 1911, Page 4

THE CHANGE IN PUBLIC OPINION.

_ Although time and spaoe make impossible to-day a complete review of the details of the voting yesterday, very little time is required for the noticing, and not much space for the recording, of the obvious evidences of tha,t great and refreshing revulsion of public opinion that has been long felt by political observers and denied by the supporters of the Ministry. On the morning after tho first ballot in 1908 the state of parties stood: Government —..„..._„_ 39 Reform 16 Independent ~ 2 This morning, instead of the Government winning 2i seats to every seat won by the Reform party, it has not even won seat for ecat. The figures aro: Government ........ 19 Reform .. , 25 Independent - _, i The individual cases are very striking. In 1908 the Prime Minister had a majority of 2183 over his nearest opponent; to-day he has won only by 618 over Ma. Hamiv ton, whom we congratulate upon a magnificent fight and upon tho certainty of an early place in Parliament. Next in interest is the case of Parncll. In 1908 Mr. Laivby, despite all his mediocrity, managed to win with 3373 votes, a majority of 219. The seat this year was contested by the most brilliant member of the "Liberal" party, and he came second with only 2917 votes, the Reform minority of 213 being converted into a majority oi 614,

which will be enlarged next Thursday. In the Bay of Plenty the Government voto was 331'!, and the Reform vote only 1968. This "Liberal" majority of 1346 has been cut down to ulli. The "Liberal" majority of 471 in Waikato has disappeared and been replaced by a Reform ma.jorify of over 1000. In Auckland West a "Liberal" majority of Moo has been wiped out and replaced by a majority of over 1000 for Reform. Dunedin Central, held by a Government supporter, is held by a Inform member with the handsome majority of over 1500. Mn. Hanan, who won Invercargill with 848 in hand in 1908, has to face a second ballot, with a- strong chanco of defeat. In Kaiapoi Mn. Bubdo has not. only lost his majority, but his chance of rc-olection also. Mn. Jennings, who had the enormous margin of over 1800.in 1908, has been thrown out. Oaraaru, for many years a "Liberal" fastness, has gone Reform. Mr. Buick, who had to face a second ballot in a triangular fight, wins outright in a four-men contest; and no win will bo ruoro popular than this. The losses on tho Reform side are regrv,table, but they are very small. Tho loss of Me. Dive and Mr. Harby deprives Parliament of two of its most useful members, and furnishes the "Liberals" with two as unpopular victories as can be imagined. The general tale, of the figures shows that the tide of Reform is sweeping rcsistlessly through tho country, and will soon sweep Wardisni into oblivion.