Second Ballot Results.

Mataura Ensign, 15 December 1911, Page 2

Second Ballot Results.

It was inevitable that unusual interest should centre in the result of lie seoond ballots which were decided! yesterday and made known to the public before midnight. The position ■was without precedent in the history of the country and probably in the political history of any country such a curiowsiy indefinite phase of events has never existed. *n»irty seats were to be decided at "the second ballot previous to which the actual strength of the two parties was: Opposition, 24; Government, 21. Of the 30 the most sanguine hopes of the supporters of the Reform Party were idealised in that 12 seats were captured hy straight-out Opposition candidates, bringing the total strength of the

party up to 36. The Government was , successful in 10 constituencies, the In--dependents headed the poll at four and l«bor at four also. The position is consequently indefinite, and with the Independent and Labor elements to consider it is difficult - —oven impossible—to say just how matters stand. Of the Independents Mr J. A. Young is announced as an Independent Oppositionist, Messrs E. H. Clarke, B. J. G. Coates and H.. Atmore are of the illusive Independent variety, and Messrs T. W. Rhodes and L. M. Isitt announce themselves as Independent Liberals. What the harvest will be we don't know, nor, do we think, do the Prime Minister or Mr Massey themselves.

Of course the Maori seats are omitted from the records given above. For one af these—Eastern Maori —Hon A. Ngata has already been returned and native Government supporters are the only candidates in the field for the other three. There were some very close finishes «md in one or two electorates the issue is still in doubt to some extent. In Grey Lynn, Hon. Geo. Fowlds is 31 aborb of his opponent and there are absent voters to come. Dr Newman has only 34 to spare for Wellington East, "there being 96 permits to come, and "there are 35 absent voters to be counted in for Otaki where Mr J. Robertson is 21 ahead'-

The results came through promptly, the first progress return from Invercarrgifl being posted in front of the 'Ensign' Office shortly after 7.30 p.m. By 9 o'clock many results were available, most of them in an incomplete state. It was soon known, .however, that Sir John Findlay had been decisively defeated for Parnell, that Mr Hogg had been ousted for Masterton, and that Mr Fowlds' position for Grey Lynn was uwfoed precarious. Most of , the other- results had been correctly forecasted, and naturally the three above-named contests when they were shown on the hoarding were responsible for considerable comment. That Hon. D. Budkßo should be retained by Kaiapoi was s3bo a matter for surprise in some <qnartera, the Northern representative having occupied second place at the poll a week previously. Both at Gore and Mataura complete arrangements had been made by the 'Ensign' proprietory for the display of returns and large crowds at both centres watched the results with the closest interest. We have to thank the local telegraph staff and Mr Capstick (officer in charge) for their assistance in promptly informing us of results; also Messrs Christie Bros, for the loan of powerful New Oompton Zonophone which admirably filled in the inter- ab -while there was a dearth of news. Wo were assisted in our display at Mar.j*:ra hy Mr J. Hamilton (who electr.calilighted the hoarding there u.k] r>r - Tided gramophone sok diH'.p the -evering). Messr? E. J. Cameron ai»d -I. A. Cameron and h. flerr.Hton.-* <"?udered valuable assistance o'kl are also indebted to Messrs O. 0. McConnell and ■Co., Ltd.. fo>" Liit? use of the front -of their l-jilding. STRENGTH OF THE PARTIES. The following shows tne members returned as the result of the election, including yesterday's second ballot, and also the strength of the parties:— REFORM PARTY. Mr W. F. Massey—Franklin Mr James Allen —Bruce Mr W. H. Herries—Tauranga Mr William Fraser—Wakatipu Mr F. W Lang—Manukau Mr John Bollard—Eden Mr A. L. Herdman —Wellington North Mr Francis Mander—Marsden , Mr D. Bu : ck—Palmerston Mr D. E Guthrie —Oroua Mr E." Newman —Rangitikei Mr H. J. H. Okey—Taranaki Mr W. C. Buchanan —Wairarapa Mr 3. B. Hine —Stratford Mr R. Scott —Otago Central Mr G V. Pearce—Patea Mr G J. Anderson —Mataura Mr A S. Malcolm —Clutha Mr I*. H. Rhodes—Ellesmere ' Me J. H. Bradney—Auckland West Mr 0. K. Wilson—Taumarunui Mr G. Hunter —Waipawa Mr E. P. Lee—Oamaru Mr 0 E. Statham—Dunedin Central Mr G. M. Thomson —Dunedin North Mr R. Bollard—Raglan Mr F. M. -B. Fisher—Wellington Central ' J)f. A- K, Newman—Wellington East

Opposition Victories.

WILL. THE MINISTRY SURVIVE?

AN INDEFINITE POSITION.

Mr W. H. D. Bell—Wellington Sub-1 urbs Mr J. S. Dickson—Parnell Mr H. M. Campbell—Hawke's Bay Mr W. Nosworthy—Ashburton Mr G. R. Sykes—Masterton Mr J. H. Escott—Pahiatua Mr A. Harris—Waitemata Mr F. H. Smith—Waitaki GOVERNMENT PARTY. j Sir J. G. Ward—Awarua Sir James Carroll—Gisborne Hoil. T. Mackenzie—Egmont Hon. R. McKenzie—Motueka Mr A. M. Myers—Auckland East Mr A. E. Glover—Auckland Central Mr G. Laurenson—Lyttelton Mr W. D,. S. Macdonald —Bay of Plenty Mr J. Colvin—Buller Mr T. K. Sidey—Dunedin South Mr T. M. Wilford—Hutt Sir A. R. Guinness —Grey Mr T. Buxton—Temuka Mr T. Y. Seddon—Westlatid Mr J. C. Thomson—Wallace Mr G. W. Forbes—Hurunui Mr J. V. Brown—Napier Mr V. H. Reed—Bay of Islands Mr H. G. Ell—Christchuich South Mr W. J. Dickie—Selwyn Mr J. A. Hanan—lnvercargill Hon. D. Buddo—Kaiapoi Mr G.'W. Russell—Avon Mr J. Craigie—Timaru Hon. J. A. Millar—Dunedin West Mr G. Witty—Riccarton Mr R. W. Smith—Waimarino Mr T. H. Davey—Christchurch East Mr R. McCallum—Wairau Mr H. Poland—Ohinemuri I INDEPENDENT. Mr J. A. Young—Waikato Mr T. W. Rhodes—Thames Mr L. M. Isitt—Christchurch North Mr E. H. Clark—Chalmers Mr H. Atmore—Nelson Mr R. J. G. Coates—Kaipara LABOR. Mr J. Robertson—Otaki Mr A. H. Hindmarsh—Wellington South Mr T. Payne—Grey Lynn Mr W. A. Veitch—Wanganui THE PARTY VICTORIES. NEW OPPOSITION SEATS. Auckland West W" ; ?i • ■ .. 'H Ru: lf .rtl '.Veiling- ,n East Wellington Suburbs i'urnell Hawke's Bay Masterton Pahiatua Waitaki Raglan (new seat) NEW GOVERNMENT SEATS. Egmont Selwyn Wairau SECOND BALLOTS. INVERCARGILL. J. A. Hanan (G.) 3714 T. Fleming (O.) 3049 First ballot: Hanan 3084, Fleming 2071, Farrant 2034. DUNEDIN WEST. J. A. Millar (G.) 4396 H. D. Bedford (I.O.) 3767 First ballot: Millar 3879, Bedford 3571, Munro' 765. DUNEDIN NORTH. G. M. Thomson (O.) 4096 R. R. Douglas (I.) 3406 First ballot: Thomson 3689, Douglas 2408, Louden 1715. CHALMERS. E. H. Clark (I.) 2993 J. T. Johnson (I.) 2680 First ballot : Clark 2804, Johnson 1368, Dickson 1364, McCarthy 613. ASHBURTON. W. Nosworthy (0.) 3209 J. Kennedy (G.) 229-1 First ballot: Nosworthy "777, Kennedy 1468, Maslin 1243, McLauchlan 395. WAITEMATA. A. Harris (0.) 3791 W. J. Napier (G.) 3297 About 60 permits to come.

First ballot: Napier 3039, Hairis 2762, Alison 1537. TTMARU. J. Craigie (G.) 3873 J. H. Moor© (0.) 2667 First ballot: Craigie 3105. Moore 1879, Reader 1608, Anglavid 491. NELSON. H. Atmore (I.) 3808 W. J. Moffatt (I.) 2123 One return and 20 absent voters to come. First ballot: Atmore 2778, Moffatt 2324, MacMalion 784, Ilampson 578, Bishop 375. WAIRAU. R. McCallum (G.) 3184 I J. Duncan (I.) 3030 Four returns to come. First ballot: Duncan 2692, McCallum 2440, Wippen 1062. CHRISTCHUROH EAST. T. H. Davey (G.) 4025 Dr. H. J. T. Thacker (I.) ... 2839 First ballot: Thacker 2462, Davey 2357, Hunter 2315, Cooke 408. WAIMARINO. (Formerly Rangitikei). R. W. Smith (G.) 2P65 F. F. Hockly (0.) 2514 Incomplete. First ballot: Smith 2737, Hockly 2344, Ivess 449. MASTERTON. G. R. Sykes (O.) 3210 A. W. Hogg (I.) 2640 One small return to come. First ballot: Hogg 2327, Sykes 2255, Herbert 1308. PARNELL. J. S. Dickson (I.) 4225 Sir John Fiiidlay (G.) 379S First ballot: Dickson 3531, Findlay 293 7, Mack 1537. HAWKE'S BAY. H. M. Campbell (O.) 3927 H. I. Simson (G.) 2829 First ballot: Campbell 2713, Simson 1783, Clapham 928, Eraser 9'.)9, Lane 399. PAHIATUA. J. H. Escott (0.) 2845 R. B. Ross (G.) 2292 First ballot: Escott 2244, Ross 2001, Hawkins 858. KAIAPOI. Hon. D. Buddo (G.) 2983 R. Moore (O.) 2767 First ballot: Moore 2281, Buddo 2174, Blackwdl 1432. CHRISTCHURCH NORTH. L. M. Isitt (I.) 4607 J. D. Hall (O.) 3867 First ballot: Isitt 4089, Hall 3566, Petherick 733. OTAKI. J. Robertson (Lab.) W. H. Field (G.) .• '.r.: 35 absent voter* to First ballot: Imcl,: iiobertson 1269, Mon:laou !Jl-5, »• 10':?. AVON, G. W. Russell (G.) 3840 J. MeOomos (I.) 3550 First bul'ot: Resell 2999, McCouibs 2787, Jam! so;) 1051, Smith 802. WANGANUI. W. A. Veitch (Lab.) 4064 J T. Hogan (G.) 2934 First ballot: Veitch 2269, Hogan 2182, Hutchison 1649, Mackay 1101. WELLINGTON SOUTH. A. H. Hindmarsh (Lab.) ... 3567 R. A. Wright (0.) 3287 First ballot: Wright 2887, Hindmarsh 2635, Barber 1226, Couzens 179. GREY LYNN. J. Payne (Lab.) 3454 Hon. George Fowlds (G.) ... 3423 Absent voters to come. First ballot: Fowlds 3081, Payne 2683, Murray 1565. WELLINGTON SUBURBS. W. H. D. Bell (O.) 3013 F. T. Moore (Lab.) 2646 First ballot: Bell 2373, Moore 1279, Fitzgerald 1198, Luko 1009. WELLINGTON CENTRAL. F. M. B. Fisher (O.) 3753 R. Fletcher (G.) 3603 First ballot: Fisher 2999, Fletcher 2909, Young 1317, Freeman 176. WELLINGTON EAST. Dr A. K. Newman (O.) 3710 D. McLaren'(Lab.) 3686 96 permits to come; may affect • , the result. First ballot: Newman 3289, McLaren 2910, Bolton 1205, Brodie 125. RICCARTON. G. W 7 itty (G.) 3958 C. H. Ensor (I.) 2606 First ballot: Witty 3030, Ensor 2044, Sullivan 1501, Drummond 164. RAGLAN. R. F. Bollard (0.) 2772 Allen Bell (O.) 1856 First ballot: Bollard 2425, Bell 892, Dromgool 743, Duncan 731, Hewitt 465. WAITAKI. F. H. Smith (O.) 2592 J. A. Macpherson (G.) 2513 28 permits to come, but cannot affect the result. Mr Macpherson briefly thanked the electors. The crowd refused to give Mr Smith a hearing. First ballot: Smith 1720, Macpherson 1545, Paul 1430. OmNEMURI. H. Poland (G.) 3323 P. H. Hickey (S.) 2122 Incomplete.

First ballot: Poland 2163, Hickey 1659, Mcßobie 1506, Fletcher 48. KAIPARA. R. J. G. Coates (I.) 2640 J. Stall worthy (G.) 2094 Four small returns to come, but they fc-ill not affect the result. Mr Coates announces that if Sir Joseph Ward's party is returning he will support it for 12 months, but if not he will adopt an absolutely independent attitude. First ballot: Stnllworthy 2276, Coates 1829, Field 847. THE PRIME MINISTER. REFUSED A HEARING. WELLINGTON INDOOR ADDRESS. »»FB UNITED PUESS ASSOCIATION. Sir Joseph Ward appeared before several thousand people assembled in front of the 'Times' Office this (Friday) morning. When the Prime Minister stepped to the front of the balcony he received a very mixed reception. Thousands cheered and waved their hats, while others maintained a loud boohooing. Tho crowd was not, apparently, in a bad humor, but seemed (nit for fun, and would not give the Prime Minister a- hearing. After waiting about half an limir, Sir Joseph addressed a number of ladies and gentlemen inside the 'Times' Office. Sir Joseph said lie was sure everyone recognised that the country had 1 been going through a very strenuous fight for some time past. The returns which had come to hand were not yet final. He was quite prepared to accept the ultimate judgment of the people 1 , but he wanted to make it clear that at the moment of speaking tho I Ministerial party was not yet beaten. He Ttscognised that the closeness of the political parties was going to create a position and feeling of unrest for probably some time. This was quite apparent to him and, he believed, to people generally. It was not his intention to refer in any way to tho methods employed during the recent contest. The time was inopportune for so doing; but he was sure that his hearers would agree that some of the men of th© Government sid'e who had gone down in the fight in different parts had been true to the people and had done their utmost to carry on the affairs of the country for the benefit of New Zealand as well as the particular districts they represented in a way that reflected the greatest credit upon them. He was very sincere in expressing his sympathy for the men who had fallen in tho battle. It looked to him that before another year there would be an opening given to the people, or otherwise what had just been done was the outcome of what had been placed be fore them, and unfairly, too, in hi opinion.—(Applause.) After all the absent voters' votes had bwi> counted and the elections prrijer'y < ore; : j\;'would be in a po,- ': u< to ,v. s lo the course tl-.-.t »h<.uM !>»• taken ; but in any r. : >e >•( wou ! 1 i>,» >'• ■n;l th::t litwould i!« tk» -v : if i-Hng.—(Apphiiise.i 1" the surv*f\ •■!' tK- general position he had eoiii.' to the < , uion thai when the e'ed.ious wove completed thy Govern- ; :. ; ei>t would a majority in the i House —(Apr< ! ..«usei-- and as he believed | this v,-:. ii'.i the case, he wanted to I make it dear that the Government I wcii'd not be deterred in its desire to | .'/,<> on with the important measures in j which a groat many of the people were so deenly concerned.

He commented upon the .singular fact that he was the only Prime. Minister south of tho line who had imposed high graduated land tax upon people who held large areas, and throughout the j country the people most active against the representatives of Labor and the Liberals were the large land propria J tors, who were able to push their 40 or 50 motor cars into an electorate in order to cruch the poor man out of political life. It was a question whether this should not be'looked upon as being practically a. system of bribery. He did not believe that people ought to be | subjected to the sort of thing which, had been going on in Wellington. Every j man and! woman should have the fullest opportunity of voting, and if it was deemed necessary to multiply polling booths and bring them closer to the people then he thought it would have to be done. The Labor representatives, had fought honestly here, as elsewhere, to gain positions in the House and yet one heard of a large landed proprietor bringing to Wellington eight motor cars on another man's account. This was not- giving the Labor representative a fair chance. One Labor representative he knew of had over 1500 people to bring to the poll after 3.30 p.m., and he had been credibly informed that he could not get them to the poll because he had not sufficient vehicles to compete with those running against him. He made the comment because that sort of thing was becoming part and parcel of our system of elections. In other countries care was taken that excessive wealth had no advantage. The poor man had an absolute right to take his seat in the councils of this country, and there should be no such thing here or in any other country as to make a poor man poorer when he was standing 'to exercise one of the highest privileges it was his to possess.—(Applause.) In the course of the next week he would know the position, and doubtless the people of this country would know what was the best course to adopt. He did not believe the business of the country could be carried oil satisfactorily unless there was a working majority. If neither side had sufficient members in the House to enable the Government to be carried oil properly, the people of the country would have to decide, again and again if necessary. He was exceedingly glad to see that Labor had succeeded in such a practical way on this occasion. He had always been in favor of Labor. His public record showed that he had been on the side of the workers and the farmers. There had been deliberate misrepresentation in regard to himself on those points, and they were only a small part of tho misrepresentations. If the Government was in a minority—after a proper test had been made —they could take it from him he would be just as much a philosopher out of office as in power.—(App'aus?.) He wanted to see the country governed well and doing well. He desired to see the people doing well, and his colleagues shared that desire. He could only express regret that a number of candidates, including one of his col-

leagues, had gone down in the battle; but many good men had succumbed under similar circumstances. "1 an always ready to meet difficulties," went on Sir Joseph, "difficulties are madej to bo overcome. (Applause.) lam not going to flinch from the situation that faces us, nor will my colleagues.— (Cheers.) I want to thank our friends from end to end of New Zealand and the supporters of my Government, also all those who worked for us, ami to ■ say how much I regret that some very fine men have not been successful. However, if you are not successful tin- right thing to do is to congratulate the winners. That is the feeling I have on this occasion.—(Cheers.) I am not going to say 'die' yet, because the Government is not beaten. —(Loud cheers and the singing of "He's a jolly good fellow.") I want to thank you all again very much indeed." Cheers were again given, there was an enthusiastic scene for a few minutes and soon afterwards Sir Joseph Ward left for home.