The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY NOVEMBER 15, 1928. THE POLITICAL UPHEAVAL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10744, 15 November 1928, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY THURSDAY NOVEMBER 15, 1928. THE POLITICAL UPHEAVAL

Tho General Elections that were held yesterday have led to the greatest political upheaval witnessed in this Dominion tor a very lengthy period. A position lias, indeed, now arisen that makes the political situaition in this country complex to" an unprecedented extent. In' short, the Reform Government has lost approximately half its strength. To-day it is in a sorry minority' and Mr Coates is but the. leader ol a party numbering only about 28. Among tha “slain’’ on the Reform side are three Ministers—Mr McLeod. Minister of Lands, Mr Hawken, Minister for Agriculture, Mr Rolleston, Minister for Justice. The great sensation ol" the contests is the return of the Uniteds in strength

practically equal to that of the Reform Party. It would seem that Sir Joseph Ward’s Millions! Policy, coupled with apparently widespread dissatisfaction with the Reform administration. did the trick. Labor has, too. been augmented in strength, hut only to the extent of a few seats, hub it will now number 19. There will also be a small number of Independents in the new House, together with a representative of the Country Party. Mr Coates will have no option but to call Parliament together as early as possible in tbe new year, when if his Government does not resign, it cannot fail to be defeated, if Sir Joseph Ward should move a vote of no-confidence', for it is inconceivable that Mr Holland and his party (who, by the way, will no longer be the* Official Opposition), will nol agree to assist him to oust the Government Everything will depend on whether or not Sir Joseph Ward decides to carry out his campaign threat that the Reform Government must go. A great responsibility will rest upon his shoulders. It would nob follow tliat a majority of his party would, however, agree to work •in coalition with the “Reds” and, if the Uniteds prove the means of defeating the Reform Government, they can hardly expect help from the Coates party to maintain them in power. As matters would now appear to stand, no party in the House .may be able to hold office for any length of time and a fresh appeal to the electors is very likely in the near future.•