Greymouth Evening Star AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8th, 1911. THE ELECTIONS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1911, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE FRIDAY, DECEMBER Bth, 1911. THE ELECTIONS.

The political situation is full of possibilities as the result of yesterday's general elections, which have been responsible for more than the usual number of surprises. The outstanding features of a contest, which was conducted with unabated vigor and energy throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion, are the large number of second ballots necessary and' the remarkable advance made by the Reform Party. These two conditions have brought about a most interesting situation, the ultimate outcome of which it is difficult at present to forsee. The fjrst round—i.e., the elections which

have been deckled on the first ballots —has ended rather decisively for the Oppositionists, who have been successful in wresting no less than seven seats from the Liberals, against three captured by representatives of the party in power. The loss is undoubtedly damaging to the Liberals, especially by ; reason of the fact that Opposition sue-* cesses have taken place in Dunedin, ; Oamaru and Taumarunui, hitherto re- ' garded.as strongholds for the progres-' sive party. Of course, on the first ballot, the Government, as an opposition newspaper puts it, "is trembling in the I balance," but the second ballots have j yet to be held. These will prove the ! deciding factor in the situation which j is pregnant with interesting possibilities. We must, of course, recognis« j that yesterday's polling will, to a greater or lesser degree, influence the voting on Thursday next, when the final battle will be fought. On that occasion tliere will, if the present figures do not require revision be contests in thirty electorates. The Government will be represented in twenty-two of the elections by straight-out Liberals, while the Opposition will have twentyone candidates standing by it. Labor and Independents also figure in the list. The latter will probably develope into a pretty uncertain quantity now that the parties are so evenly matched in the first round and no reliance can be placed on them whatever. Labour, which may gain two of the seats, would doubtless vote to retain Sir Joseph Ward in power in preference to Mr Massey and his Conservative friends. The position, however, appears to be none too sa.tisfactoiy for the prestige of the Liberals, has already suffered by yesterday's poll and this will jn-obably tell its tale on Thursday next. Besides losing from its rank and file, the Government i s in very great danger of seeing at least two of its own Ministers quit the political stage. Only a sudden and unprecedented repulsion of public feeling in Kaiapoi can apparently save the Hon. David Buddo, who is being hard pressed by Mr Moore, an Oppositionist who has run him very close on two previous occasions. The titled Attorney-General is also in danger of being relegated to that oblivion to which he so jauntily referred when he took his political fate in his own hands and resigned a safe seat in the Legislative Council in order to enter the portals of Parliament with the democratic hallmark. In his case, also, it will require herculean efforts to convert a minority of 614 votes into a majority, especially when that support has to be drawn from the Labor Party which openly resented his intrusion into an electorate which they regarded as their own territory. Mr J. A. Millar has, on paper an easier task than his colleagues to perform, as his opponent (Mr H. D. Bedford) will require to obtain 75 per cent of the votes cast for Labor yesterday to oust the Minister of Railways. Naturally enough the keenest interest will centre around these contests, as the result will have an important bearing on the future of the Liberal Party. The crux of the position can be put in this question : Can the Government retain sufficient of the remaining seats to procure a working majority in the House of Representatives? Mere speculation would be idle; but there can be no hoodwinking the fact that if the Conservative advance is maintained at yesterday's ratio, the political situation will become one where the fall and rise of Ministers may take their part. We opine, however, that the Government will secure the best of the next round.

THE LICENSING ISSUE. At time of writing the figures of the referendum on the liquor question taken yesterday have not been finally compiled, but sufficient has come through to denote the outstanding characteristics of the poll. Most noteworthy, of course, are the tremendous vote recorded for National Prohibition and the smaller yote for local no-license. Curiously enough, many electors voted fox local continuance and dominion prohibition. Such a vote seems somewhat strange at first sight, but can apparently be explained by the fact that some electors, whilst favorable to prohibition, object to the system of No-License, which abolishes licenses and confiscates property ;n one electorate, whilst in the adjoining constituency the Trade is not only unmolested, but fattens on the earnings from the adpacent "dry" area. This probably explains why the national prohibition vote so largely exceeds the no-license vote. Furthermore, many people entertain the opinion that the question is a colonial, rather than a local one and as such should be dealt with oil a national basis. It is impossible to discern at present the reason for public opinion veering round in such a marked manner in favor of total prohibition, especially in view of the risky nature of the experiment. _ National prohibition requires a majority of not less than three-fifths to give it legal effeet. Had the proposal been carried yesterday, prohibition would have come into operation four years hence, viz., on December 7th, 1915. It is also very important to note that the Licensing Act makes it very clear and plain that no licensing poll shall be taken on the question of restoration till the first general election after prohibition had been in force three years. Thus if National Prohibition liad been carried yesterday, it would have come into operation ou December 7th, 1915, and it would not have been till December 7th, 1918, that the period of three years would have expired. However, no referendum to secure restoration could be taken till the first general election after that date, which would mean a delay of two more years, as, in the ordinary course of events there would have been no appeal to the people till December, 1910. Had prohibition been carried, it would have operated for at least five years before restoration could be secured. This is a phase of the question which very many people overlooked. The figures of yesterday's poll, however, showed that a considerable section of the people were prepared to give the fantastical idea a trial. Luckily, when the numbers went up nearly A>,UW more votes were still required to permit of that end being attained.

Ashburton residents are becoming somewhat alarmed at the extent to which larrikinism prevails in the town. In tire .•curse of its remarks on a recent disturbance the Guardian says:—"lor larrikinism Ashburton has always distmouished itself, and it is behind most towne hi the matter of orderliness and good behaviour." j The newspaper Press of Australia and New Zealand is frequently applauded by visitors from the United Kingdom, and another comment upon its moderate tone Mas made on Wednesday by Mr T. C. Cooke, a member of the House of Commons, who is visiting Auckland. "I am very glad as an Englishman to recognise, he said, " that the Press of Australia and .New Zealand has not fallen into the i.]tra-sensational methods that characterise so many of the newspapers of the United States." Quenching and refreshing .summer srinks easily prepared by using Sharif, nd's pure'fruit extracts. One bottle makes one hundred delicious drinks. Price Is.—Advt. Another shipment of those -world-famed [Krister and Eossmann's sewing machines — prices that will help you to save money. Hand machine, walnut base with fast and loose wheel, with full set of attachments tor tha low price of 66b. Time payment* can be arranged.—W. McKay and Son, leading drapers.—Advt,

Sir 'Arthur Guinness will visit Taylor-. \ille to-morrow night to thank the tor*.—Advt : . Don't forget to pay a visit to Kilgour's bavaar and toy fair, which,,. is, in full swing. Talking dolls and 1 loys of all descriptions. ;. The monthly meeting of the Greymouth School Committee will take place this, evening at the usual hour and place. ..;- In connection with the Grey election, there are still 172 votes to come. Absent voters' jiermits represent 163 of these, while nine seamen's votes have still to come in. . , '••■ The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Greymouth Lodge, M.U., 1.0.0. F. will he held in the Oddfellows' Hall this, evening at 8 p.m.A full attendance, requested.—Advt. :(, The Bealey Flat correspondent of the Lyttelton Times states that the weather was colder than usual during: November. When it was not raining, cold winds blew off the snow-capped mountains giving the air a wintry keenness. Rain or snow fell on three days, the maximum fall during 24 hours being 2.36 in. on Novembei 14th. The total rainfall for the month was 20.23in5. Mr. G. H. M. McClure, Commissioner of Crown Lands for the West? Coast, stated in Ohristchurch on Saturday that the Government had obtained 650 acres on Lake Brunnei as a scenic reserve. The reserve runs close from the township of Moana, one of the prettiest places in New Zealand, and extends along the northern and western sides of Lake Brunner as' a scenic reserve of the Arnold River. It is also proposed to make large .reserves at the Franz Joseph Glacier, where the scenery is specially fine.

"Do you believe in the abolition of capital punishment?" was a question, put to Sir John Findlay at Auckland on Tuesday night, says the Star. "Well, once at my university I took the affima five in a debate, and tried to show that capital punishment should be I argued my case so well that I convinced myself that it should not be abolished," replied Sir John, and when the laughter subsided, he continued seriously, "although I am as strong for prison icforni as anybody, I must as an intelligent being remember that the first consideration is the safety of society, the benefit of the criminal-being only a secondary consideration. So long, therefore, as the extreme punishment is the only real deterrent to a certain class of offenders, as I believe it to be, I firmly believe it should remain on the Statute Book.".

At nine o'clock last night, when the results of the West!and election were practically certain, Mr J. A. Murdoch, Mayor of Kumara, cabled to Mrs Seddon, London, with instructions that if she had left to forward the message to her by wireless. The message was as follows:—"Decisive victory, congratulations." This mtrrmig he received the following reply: ''Thanks to Westland.—Janey Seddon." This is the close season for oysters, says the "New Zealand Herald," but there are many people who are under the impression that it is allowable to knock the bivalves from, the rocks and partake of the succulent dainty. This is not so, however, and people so offending are liable to a penalty of £lO. Three young men, William. Pollett, George Avery and Walter Clarebu'rt, found this out to their cost. They pleaded guilty at the Police Court on Friday, before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., to the charge of having taken oysters from the rocks in Rangitoto Channel. Mr. Towle, who appeared for the defendants, said they thought there was no harm in taking a few oysters off the rocks and eating them, and counsel asked that only a small penalty should be imposed. The Collector of Customs (Mr. J. P. Riding) did not press for a heavy penalty, and the Magistrate fined each of the defendants £l, at the same time remarking that people must know they had no,right to pick oysters. Aynsley's ice cream.—Eclipses all others lor purity and deliciousness.—Advt. ;"• How to vote.—l vote that Budge and Tomkies, of Maekay Street, continue ti do repairs to bicycles.—Advt. Mass will be celebrated in Totara Flat at 9 o'clock and in Ahaura at 11 next Sunday. Evening devotions in Nelson Creek at 7.30.—-Advt.

The day of high prices has gone, for ever. New English bicycles selling at the quick-march price of £7 10s.—At Kit-' cl" 'ngham's.—Advt. A great sale of new prints, linens, dekvnes, piques, linens at half the origiiv) I price. C. Smith, Limited, the wholeside drapers, have purchased a manufacturer's stock at half the original price, which are now open for inspection. Come and see the bargains, at C. Smith's, Ltd. r-Advt. V ;

S. A. Sweetman wishes to notify the uublic that her establishment will be opened every evening during the month of December. A good opportunity for inspection.'—Advt. - '■' J ust to hand.—A large consignment of ah the latest novelties in aluminium ware. Watch the window, as a special display will be shown of these goods. Ladies and girls' handbags in modern shapes and sizes. Toys in abundance and presents suitable for all.—S. A. Sweetman, Mawhera Quay.—Advt. Don't forget White's for bicycles,— B.S.A. at £l2 guaranteed.—Advt.

Those in search of dolls and Christmas toys for the children should pay a visit of* inspection to B. Dixon's establishment, Tamui Street. Some distinct novelties are being shown this year. See our window show, everything marked in plain figures, Our prices are the lowest possible. If you are doubtful come and see for yourselves. Our values speak, you will not go away disappointed.—Advt. See the new English bicycles, Eadie-Coa-ster brake and good tyres, at the hammered down price of £7 10s.—At Kit : chingham's.—Ad vt. Xmas is coming on apace. What about your Xmas toys for the children? Your selection will be sure to please if you buy from B. Dixon, Tainui Street. A special display of Xmas dolls and toys may be seen in our window to-night. We have many new and novel lines for your inspection this year, but we cannot show them all in the window, so kindly come inside and see them. Our prices defy competition, they are the lowest possible. Come and see for yourselves.—Advt:

All the annual, volumes are now Boys' Own Paper, Girls' Own Paper, Chatterbox, Our Darlings, Young Ertg;i;>nd, Sunday at Home, Young Australia, The Wonder Book, Empire Annual, Child's Companion, Child's Own Magazine, Our Little Dots, Happy Hearts, Children's Friend, etc., etc. Pears' Annual just to hand 1/- each.—Procurable •d' B. Dixon's, bookseller and stationer and fancv goods importer, Tainui/ Street.— • Advt. A large batch of new English bicycles just arrived. The clearing movement in full blast is making them go fast.— At Kitchingham's.—Advt. In spite of the wet season, the keepbusy price of £7 10s is doing giant's .work with a batch of new English bicycles.—At Kitchingham's.—Advt. • .:- We recommend Boslyn suite for style and lasting wear, from 32/6, all clothiers. —Advt. I Self-control is the great factor employed in the conservation of personal magnetism but Warner's rust-proof corsets for comfort and figure elegance.—Advt. / ':. Now iB the time. ; Order your Xmas cakes at the Victoria tea rooms.—Advt. For household wants in ironmongery'at the lowest prices, try Walter Scott and Co., Tainui Street.—Advt. The popular Roslyn writing pads (copyrighted), 6d and 1/- each from all storeskeepers.—Advt. / Whoso beer is bjest! Why, P«rai r « Kumaja. Ask anybody.—Atfvfc.