BAY OF ISLANDS ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2484, 10 June 1915, Page 3

BAY OF ISLANDS ELECTION

OPPOSITION PAPER'S QUAINT ADMISSIONS. (By Telegraph-Special Correspondent.) Christchurch, June 9. In its chastened comments on the Bay of Islands result, the "Lyttelton Times" makes interesting admissions. It.says: "We are certainly not at all surprised to see the Government retain this seat at a time when the public mind is riveted on. the war and cannot concern, itself very much over party politics." After an elaborate misrepresentation of the facts regarding parties and the holding of the general election it concludes by saying: "The plain truth about the Bay of Islands seat is that Mr. _ Masse;i had asked the electors to disregard political considerations, and they have done so." The "Press" says the result is an excellent augury for a Government victory in Taumarunui, and takes the opportunity to. deal with Sir Joseph Ward's position. "Now, although the Opposition politicians and newspapers know that the most they could expect was to secure 40 scats, they have always most carefully' ignored the fact : and striven to lead people away from tho danger of seeing it. How could Sir Joseph Ward with a mixed party of 40 replace Sir. Massey with an irreducible and indivisible firm party of 40? This i has 'been their calculation. In the event of parties being equal, the election of a Reformer as Speaker would ' leave only 39 Reformers oil the floor lof the House. Sir Joseph Ward would . then move a hostile motion and defeat i- tho Government. If the Speaker roe signed, as for obvious reasons propriety 6 would require him to do, Sir Joseph >> Ward would put up his own Speaker, ® and he would then have 39 votes ou the » floor of tho House against Mr. Massey's 40, but his party would then claim that , Mr. Massey should not move a hostile motion and put him out." The "Press" expresses the opinion that 6uch an example of political sharp practice nf the order of "Heads I win, tails you lose," would have been a discreditable curios- , ity in our political records. It holds J tho view that tho Opposition were working towards another election, and it is proper that the public should un- ~ • derstand that. However, they have * not got their party of 40, ami Sir ? Joseph Ward cannot now hope to get it. The Government has its majority safe, and will remain .in offic®. - .