THE CLASSES THAT COUNT

Evening Star, Issue 15481, 1 May 1914, Page 4

THE CLASSES THAT COUNT

LESSON OF THE POLLS. [Special to the Stab.]

WELLINGTON, April 30. Quite as clearly and as ominously as the mystic writing on the wall of Belshazaar's banquet chamber is the mark which the Wellington electors have set on the mavoral election 0f'1914. It is a repetition of the mark set in the previous election—the revolt of the intermediate classes against the long domination of the Trades Hall bosses and the newer Federation of Labor. A close analysis of the voting at the 28 city and suburban booths fails to disclose "much trace of the "capitalistic" vote. Most of the wealthy men in Wellington reside at the Thorndon end, and the booth which would clearlv disclos* the strength of their vote would ordinarily be Sydney street, whcie the totals for "all candidates are comparatively small. The fact about Thorndon is that it never turns out in _ any numbers to vote at municipal elections. Out of the 28 booths, Mr Luke's rivals (Mr Glover, Ked Socialist, and. Mr M'Laren, Labor) only gained majorities at two — Aro street and the wharf waiting room. In the woßtf waiting room the Red Fed. wharf workers cast 446 votes for Mr Glover, 113 for Mr M'Laren, while 115 were cast for Mr Luke, probably by Harboard Board officials, shipping clerks, and such like. The Aro street quarter is where a large number of wharf wokers reside with their families. . On the other hand, the two little booths, TurnbulPs and Harcotirt's auction rooms, which "downed" Mr M'Laren at the last ©lection, again struck a heavy blow at every form of labor domination this. year. These are the booths at which Civil servants, clerks, accountants, warehousemen, and drapers' assistants chiefly vote. At TurnbulPs rooms Mr Luke had a majority of 788 over Mr Glover and a majority of 683 over Mr M'Laren. At Harcourt's rooms the same feature was even more noticeable, for Mr Luke had a majoritv of 915 over Mt Glover and 772 over Mr M'Laren. In a lesser degree this feature was reflected at Kfelburne and Northland, where the families of many of the classes mentioned reside. Thus, for instance, at the tiny booth at the church room, Upland road, Kelburna, the figures were :—Luke 319, M'Laren 102, Glover 11. A surprising feature of the poll was the majorities which were secured for Mr Luke in Brooklyn and Newtown. Both are important districts, largely inhabitated by working men. It is difficult to say what is the exact meaning of this astonishing vote for Mr Luke. It may mean hostility to the Red Federation, but the figures cast for Mr M'Laren look very like antagonism to all well-paid labor officials. Generally speaking, the totals show that only a portion of Mr Luke's supporters voted, while the other "side (especially the Red element) turned out in force. The Reds in Wellington can now be definitely counted up as" 4,337. The poll authorities suspect some stuffing of the poll, which will probably have to be fought out in Court at a later stage. The total Labor forces polled over 600 less than they polled last year, while Mr Luke gained ground by over 1.500 on his last year's figures. Speaking after the election. Mr Hickey (Red Socialist) Stated that Mr M'Laren and his party were electorally dead. He did not pans* to mention how much more dead the Red Federation must bo if the figures mean anything. Taking a line through the election, there is one sure deduction —the sympathy vote for Labor whicji was cast bv the intermediate classes during the lone; Seddon and Ward regime ,is fa6t dwindling. Living is very dear in Wellington this winter. Meat for a small meal may cost as much as 3s. and milk is 5d per "quart. The intermediate classes are beginning to open their eyes to the fact that, after all. they havi the voting strength, and numbers, and a sympathy vote for organised labor is hurtful to themselves all the time.