THE BYE-ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 12473, 7 April 1905, Page 6

THE BYE-ELECTION.

"THE YOUNG NEW ZEALANDER" ON TOR [Satan, to not Smb.] ' . WELLDXGTON, April 6. u*> fight a over, and the young «wf Zeakader, as he lies to •tyie himsSf, hai won. Mr John Hutcheson, the old c*mpaigner and the one-time idol of the Labor crowd, is at the bottom of the pofl, and he doesn't like it. -1 have not Txwi defeated; I was assassinated," he told a howKng crowd to-night, referring to th* way in which the 'New Zealand Times' had reported his slangy reference on Wednesday night to the Opposition being ths "loosest and meanest" crowd he haaev** met with in his life. The point was tai»i At his open-air meeting on the eve of th» fight Mr Hutcheson said he had been accused; of being the nominee of the Opposition—the "fat men," "Wen," he Ba«t, in refutation of that statement, "if I am the nominee of the Opposition, they are the lousiest and meanest crowd I have ever met with in my life, because they have never 'contributed a ehflhng towards my expenses," and go on. Had he gone to work in a more direct way, he would have said: "I am not the nominee of the Opposition, and in proof thereof I tell you they have not contributed one shilling towards my expenses"; but his love for the picturesque was greater than his' regard for accuracy, and be indulged in what has been styled " forecastle vernacular " to an extent which has evidently contributed in some measure to his defeat. The 'Times' reporter made it appear in his report this mocning that Mr Hutcheson distinctly cbargea the Opposition with being the "lousiest, meanest," and so on, and at once the Opposition supporters were up in arms. The 'Post' issued an extra, pointing out the exact meaning of his words, and Mr Hutcheson has declared his intention of suing the 'Times 1 for Kbd; but the mischief was done, and could not wholly be undone. His remarks to the crowd' on the misrepresentation to which he had been subjected were very bitter, and he evidently feels very sore at the defeat—the first in his experience which be has been made to suffer. Mr Fisher is taking his victory very well, in spite of the fact that the horses have been taken out of his cab and an enthusiastic gathering of his supporters are running him and his mother round the city with the greatest energy. The reception he got when ne addressed the crowd—an enormous crowd—from the 'Post' balcony was enough to turn the head of many men, but he kept a strong grip on himscf, and was very nappy in his generous references to his especially to Mir Izard, the Government candidate I may add that the crowds which' gathered outside the newspaper offices were the biggest which have been seen in Wellington on such occasions, and Mr Fisher was the idol of the hour. They had no time for anyone but "Don Fisher." Mr Hutcheson could scarcely get a hearing. Mr Izard, who is personally popular, only received decent treatment; but Mr Fisher was accorded a salvo of cheers which was futrrly deafensne. At the present moment 01 p.m.) Mr Fisher is fairly on top. ITe *** a went so far as to tell the crowd that although he wwrid not say so definitely, he thought the electors had decided that his future home would he in Wellington. The foHowrnrr aT9 the figures:— / Fisher (Independent) 4,692 Izard (Government) 3.441 Hutehtfon 3.021 The following shows the results at tho last two General Elections and two bycelections:— '[ , ' 1302. J. G. W. Aitken, 7.808; J«bi Thrthie, 6,886; G. Fisher, 6,635; P. J. OTtegan, 6,304; A. R. Atkinson, 6,094; .1 G. Fmtflay, 4,674; J. Godber, 1,4.77; E. G Jellicoe, 1,384; D. M'Laren, 1.003. 1899 {bye-election, Mr John Hutch tm • having resigned, as lie could no longer follow Mr Hutcheson, 6,945 ; E. G. Jellicoe, 4,971. 1899. -i- Hutchesnn, 7,436; A.tikhw->n. 6,703; Fisher, 6.442; Macdonald, 6.?Ef); Hi.-lop, 6,297; Jellicoe, 4,751; Luke. 3,812 ; Carmichael, 1,004; Eamshaw, 851; Duncan, 78. Votes recorded, 43,694; on the roll, 18,874. 1898 (bye-election, on Sir R. Stoat's resignation).—John Dnthie, 7,283; R. C Kirk, 6,254. PRESS OPINION. MR "TOir TAYLOR'S VIEW. [Special i-o tkb Stae.] CHRISTCHURCH, April 7. Tho 'Lytfcelton Tunes,' commenting or, the result of the Wellington bye-election, finds in Mr Fisher's success an indication that tho tendency towards Independent Liberalism is growing in New Zealand, and that the people are looking for greater progress, especially for Constrtutional Reform, so long discussed and eo long denied by the Government and Parliament. It is confident that the General Election will send Independents to Parliament in greater strength t" n:r i ever. The 'Press' finds consolation for Mr Hutcheson's defeat in the reflection that, in company with Mr Taylor, the newlyelocted member will make things as uncomfortable in Parliament aa possible for the Premier. It also professes to find in the result r.n indication that the WeUingtmi electors are satiated with Seddonism. Mr Taylor, in an interview, denies the charge that ho intervened to split the Liberal vote on Mr Hutcheson's behalf. Owing to hi? friendship both for Mr Hutchefon and Mr Fisher, he refrained from taking any part in the election. Mr Taylor declares that Mr Fisher obtained a very mixed vote. A number of Prouibi--tionists supported him warmly. On the other! hand, a number of men directly interested in the liquor trade supported him because they felt his father had thrown away a brilliant career, and that the con ought to be given a chance to redeem the name of Fisher. . Women, too, sympathised with his candidature on the same grounds." But apart from these personal considerations, there was a strong feeling in Wellington hostile to the Government, but disinclined to endorse Mr Hutcheson's candidature. Men saw that Mr Hntchesou had no sympathy with the Opposition in their policy, and yet he would have sat on their Denches, and they thought that he would occupy an anomalous position. Mr Taylor regards Mr Fisher's election as a tribute to the memory) of his father, and to his own remarkable platform ability. There is a third important element in the election. Mr Fisher declared! himself an uncompromising opponent of the Seddon regime, and equally uncompromising in his opposition to Mr Massey, whom he called "impossible." He was just as emphatic in declaring that the day must come whe,< Mr Seddon will have to give way. Tho people have had enough of the present tore of Government and feel it is time that the Administration, showed some measure of sincerity. • THE PREMIER SEEMINGLY DISPLEASED. [Spkciai. to tub Stab.] WELLTNGTON, April 7. Almost the sole topic of conversation to day is an incident which occurred between Mr Fisber and Mr Seddon last night. Mr Fieher's supporters dragged his carriage to the Premier s residence, and made dembnstration on the lawn. Mr Seddon appearoJat one of the upper windows, and was invited by the crowd to come down and shakt: hands with the wmfifal candidate. The request, however, was refused. The crowd forcibly entered their protest, against Mr Seddon's attirada, and dragged Mr Fisher away to another part of the 'city. The Premier has not yet explained the incident, whieh consdenbfy annoyed several pel-sous who had favored the Government candidate.