ELECTION NOTES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 109, 23 November 1908, Page 5

ELECTION NOTES.

o —• The final returns in connection with the general election show that twentythree second ballots are ot take place. The number of candidates at the election who failed to poll a «ufficient number of votes to save the £lO deposit totalled forty, and the consolidated Fund will thus benefit to the extent of £4OO. Mr McNab attributes his defeat to local influences rather than a vote against the Goverrmant's land legislation. The Meikle case and matters in connection with the school and reserve at Gore, are said to have contributed largely to the result. Already the question of who are to be selected to fill!the vacancies in the Cabinet by the retirement of the Hon. Hall-Jones and the defeat of the Hon. R. McNab, is being discussed. The name of Mr T. Mackenzie is mentioned in connection with the portfolio of Lands and Agriculture, while the Hon. A. R. Guiness is considered a likely aspirant for the portfolio of Public Works and Railways. * Should Mr Guiness be chosen for Ministerial honours the Speakership of the House might be difficult to fill. The name of Mr Baume has been freely mentioned in the event of anew Speaker being required. The second ballots which take place to-morrow may in most instances be forecasted with every degree of confidence. However, in one or to electorates the is? ue may be said to be open. The telegraph offices will be open as on General election night. It is estimate I that the Auckland brewers, in consequence of the nolicense and reduction fjvotes in Auckland city and country electorates, will sustain a loss of about £IOO,OOO