LOCAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17348, 20 December 1919, Page 1 (Supplement)

LOCAL GOSSIP.

Bt MEBCTTTIb.

The elections are over and we are looking forward to Christmas. Let us hope that all concerned in the fight have recovered their composure, and that nothing that happened on Wednesday will affect our Christmas spirits. The election battle closed mostly in good temper. Some hard words" were said, but nothing so nasty as to be unforgettable or unforgiveable. Some won, some lost: it was the fortune of war so let victors and vanquished join together in wishing each other a Merry Christmas,. Mercutio wishes all readers of this column a cheerful and happy festive season. Rome of them, no doubt, are bemoaning the prospect that this may b.e the last " wet" Christmas ; some are happy in the belief that next year end will bring the proof that we can be merry though " dry." Let the figures tell and" let us all, whatever our tastes, be good democrats and fnnour the verdict whatever it may prove to be.

• The casual manner in which some of thi, deputy returning officers attacked their duties on Wednesday was amazing. The instructions issued to each such officer were to count up 'ihe votes recorded in his booth as soon a;! the poll was closed, report the results by telephone to the chief returning officer, and then convey the baHot-boxes, voting papers,"and other records to an appointed place of safety. That seemed explicit enough in all conscience. But in the case of three large Auckland booths the deputies merely provided for their records, etc., and then either joined in the crowd in Wyndham Street or went off to their beds. Two chief returning officers cooled their heels in their offices till well on towards midnight, and then had to get the requisite figures to complete the preliminary returns for their electorates from the newspaper screens'. One wonders what can be the sense of duty of deputies who can act bo irresponsibly.

It was a great victory the Reform Party won on Wednesday. A line from one of the Latin odes of Horace might well serve as a, memorial to the Liberal

members, who have " sunk to rest, by all their country's wishes blest.'' The patriotism of the people of this country has lifted us out of ourselves, and in its soaring has Bung the song of the sanctity of right and the glory, of battle . for liberty. Patriotism is one of the nobler passions inthe constitution of man. Its roots lie far back in the nation's ancestry. Recall the far flung significance in old Rome of the boast " I am a Roman Citizen." And so

the citizens of New Zealand have cried: The Extremists must go. Nations grow great, strong, permanent, through the exercise of the altruistic impulses of the common heart, by pelf devotion-to one's tountry, and by perception of what is for good and gain to mankind.

For a parallel to the sweeping defeat of the regular Opposition at Wednesday's poll, it is necessary to go back 14 years. In 1905, Mr. Seddon triumphed over Mr. Maguey's party even more decisively than Mr. Massey has now defeated Sir Joseph Ward's. On that occasion the Massey party was reduced to a group of 16. Today the Liberals are .hardly more numerous. The parallel is rendered more complete by the' personal defeat of several of the most prominent members of the losing side. ■ In 1905, Sir William Russell, Mr.' Duthie, and Mr. Herdman lost their seats. In 1919, the swing of the pendulum has closed the House to Sir Joseph Ward, Sir James Carroll, and Mr. Russell.

The election of two brothers lo the House of Representatives ia promised by the early returns from Otago, though there is a possibility that in one case the apparent majority may disappear on the recount. The brothers referred to are Mr. J. R. Hamilton, who defeated Sir Joseph Ward, and Mr. A. Hamilton, the likely winner for Wallace. There has not, at any rate for many years, been an instance of the double representation of famines by brothers in the House, though there have been several of father and son sitting in one Parliament, and of father and son eeeding one another in the representation of the same electorates. As usual, there will also be in the new Parliament numerous cases in which members " pair " in names, without direct relationship, all of these being members of the last Parliament. There are two members bearing the names of Dickson, two Rhodes, two Newman, and two Smith. Thre e of these I ' pairs " are Government supporters, and the other -will git, on the Opposition side. _Th e trip of the two political leaders of New Zealand along the North Island Trunk 1 ailway last Sunday evening must [ have been very interesting to both. Mr. j Massey left Auckland in the Ministerial ! travelling tar, and Sir Joseph Ward joined . the train at Krankton. It is hardly conceivable that Sir Joseph would fail to drop : into the vehicle de luxe that used to be his own resting plate when on tour, and i corntwre notes with the other right hon. gentleman, who like himself, had just, made a tour of the Auckland district with j party flag riving gaily to the breeze, j Politician* are built t ;ij_ way. Even' when at dagger* drawn in a" political ; fight they can unbend in a private way j and be polite and ri ummv in the lobbies to an extent that would rather amaze the ,' average citizen. It i.- so in Parliament,) and no doubt it would be the same on the] tram. ' Little imagination is needed to picture! the ex Premier dropping upon a comfort , n''l- ('ihion in the .-oiling divan and p'nv ' ii'llv rhicatcning his rival with the awful; bent ' ;/ that was to be his fate before the "■'■rk '.'as ..in Mr. Ma.*ev would prole ftb.v beam in a,cue:-, ' with special rtfl-l.;, Ihe rellecte,! from bis tiiumphal 1" '/■ '.■•■- ihio'i.-ii the Auckland and Thames distrn is an.'i . ft'. , Sir Joseph ;, , "'agio' ' o' a new hat lis to the stri'iigth of '■ the in.,, ..-ilv wheh the R,.j.in.|. is we,e j in-' t< register a, the polls. And so the ! banter -~1,1 go ~,,. with ,;,],,,,,,,:, ii, by I Si Joscnh upon th.- MM,'., of the diead'ul "'' ' onlidi in motion v, i;h which he -~ ' teurle,] t ■ polo axe " the (lover ;, I :ls ' f '-' < as Parliament met. until ]-~ ,< j, ...f tir.,l , f the game and with, Lew to tl-'-ir ' berth, to dream over the . u,i- .- ( , , at'i'l'v : ' dr;i w ,|.g near It could nec,.r ..,. P entered into Sir Joseph's vni,,,,., ,!.,, within three dav.s there would he no Sir ; Jose,,!, left in Parliament, and that that ■ no confidence motion would be a " dud " ; projectile. J