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Grey River Argus, 25 July 1913, Page 4

The victory and the defeat recorded last evening at the polling- booth were both so overwhelming as to astonish . the partizans. on both sides. Neither Mr Webb expected so huge a victory nor Mr Michel such an utter rout. Perhaps Mr Massey and Mr. Michel alike will now be prepared to 1 admit that Greymouth is still true to Liberalism and that when the Argus took it for granted that Mr Webb must, win on the second ballot the writer was better able to guage the majority's views than Mr Massey when he considered that his nominee had received go per cent, of the votes, which marked their confidence in the Government. One conclusion, however, that 'is unavoidable is that the vast majority of the voters of this electorate 'have no particular sympathy with the RefoTm Government and were bitterly opposed to' the idea of importing a representative from another electorate. While a large number of Greymouth voters would have felt sympathy for Mr Michel for his doggedness as a fighter had, he suffered another defeat at the hands of Mr Seddon, they have little or none -him in the overwhelming defeat" He has sustained in this election. The sympathy' in this case is with Mr Hannan for his misfortune in being put out of the second ballot because of the accidental loss of a bundle of votes; and the crowd who cneered him to echo last night could not have displayed heartier sym pathy with him, wfiich seemed to imply that they would like to vote for him if he came forward on a future occasion — a probability that may not He 50 remote as it may look at present.- In one of his addresses Mr. Webb regretted- that Mr Hannan W*s not. in the second ballot.' Because had that eventuated a manly and per- r fectlv clean and- honourable struggle would have followed that would be worthy of the' gods *o witness. Though/ that was not to be, Mr Webb may have his wish gratified at the general election. If such a contest should

take' place: we venture tb^say itha&it will be clearly and honpurablyj foy^itt on • both sides,; There wilfrbej^^tirring up of ancient: reliffious^animosity or any dishonourable tacticsVof .that kind. They are denied^; course, but as two sides of the^triang'i&ir fight could have "no, purpose' tor? se&e in working- ; so; ; shamefully. 'I the: prejudices ..of religious it; could only, have come from ;the :third>side§)f the contest, on ;.: which wefej ' rariged all the' 'Respectable" ;pepple^ andr^ll who considered .themselves somebb&y. Mr Michel's jdisappointm'etit -'Vmijist have been very' sore . wherphe decided to address the.' electors , as;^ in^cuktomary^after the 1 , "declaraticra poll. Although . we^ .consistently . ,^d pi posed him thrpt^Hout'th^ electiqn^it must be admitted ■that 'however^^e he may . have erre^-;in /his;:. inyasira^bf this constituency and : ; m.ca^ing;iMe rejection of -••Ja popular ; andr . : (payable local \ candidate, l^r ; lilichelv put mpv a gTe;at fiiht. r^Herlias beenvbeatenij^ taioily^ but nottdis'gxaced, itbjough&^e majority jagajnst^ hini ini^t ••admar tedi to b'e>; .crushing 7 one. AY© offer dur.corigratuilatio'ris-- toj; the'. majcfrity of the; .electors'- of^Greymoiath^or ikeep • ing^the; Liber?l/|iag flyfn^itithe^t head, ' despite ;^'(^vernment; influence and. organised efforts^ -tp: 'defeajf'a/ liiberal' candidate /v :^'; : ;- \ \~ ; ;>•■?!