AFTER THE POLL

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 146, 18 December 1919, Page 9

AFTER THE POLL

THE PRIME MINISTER

MAJORITY FOR LAW AND ORDER

The Prime Minister addressed the crowd from the Dominion's results board about 11 p.m., when the Government was assured of a majority. He said he wanted to thank the electors throughout the Dominion for their expression of confidence. "Many experienced politicians have fallen out of the ranks, and their places have been taken by others," said Mr. Massey. "I feel certain, however, that the verdict of the electors will be taken in a proper spirit by all of them, and I want to express this opinion, apart from party politics, that the services of the men who have not been successful to : day will not be lost to the public of the country, but that again they will be found doing their best in the interests of the Dominion. You will have heard that one Minister has been defeated, and that three ex-Minis-ters and several men who have taken a very active part in days gone by in the councils of the Dominion have not been returned. .

. ""It is quite evident that a majority of members have been returned to support law and order, and a substantial majority of members have been returned to support the policy of development for the coming period of reconstruction that has been put forward' by the Government. Now that the election is. over I hope that we shall forget the incidents of the fight, forget any bitterness that may have been raised. Whatever our politics may be, I hope that all of us who are members of the House of Representatives will work together, forgetting party politics and party differences, all doing our best for the country to which we belong. ' A voice : "You will be able to deal with the coal miners and the' waterside workers now." -

Mr. Massey : "We shall be able to settle all those little difficulties, I hope, and also -we shall be able to give attention to other little mattes that we have not been able to deal with lately." /fr. Massey added a word or two about the unsuccessful candidates of his party. All the candidates, unsuccessful as well as successful, had put up a splendid fight. He hoped that those defeated candidates would yet come for-. ward and take their places in the councils of the country. ' .. After again thanking the electors for their confidence in the Reform Party, Mr. Massey concluded by'wishing all a merry Christmas and a' happy and prosperous New Year.