ELECTION DETAILS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4822, 27 November 1902, Page 4

ELECTION DETAILS.

It is a proof of tho excellent way in which this country is furnished for civilised life that, within twenty-four hours of tho close of a general election, a practically complete analysis of results is always to be obtained. We hear much, especially at such times, of extravagance and unnecessary expenditure ; but. no one complains of tho splendid system of communications established, by which, the railways, the telegraphs and tho post offices, the chronicle of daily life is made so complete. Still less does anyone boast of these things; we all take everything for granted. Tho fact ought, however, to be realised that the completeness of these election returns at the present hour is tho best answer that can bo made to tho hostile, critics of the public works policy and their lineal politicaj descendants who made party capital daily by denouncing as extravagant everything that costs money,' merely because it does cost money. The first thing that strikes one in looking over tho analysis of the election figures* is tho small number, comparatively, of tho casualties. Yesterday morning the hulk loomed largo and clearly enough to enable people to note eighteen as the sum total on the list of the election killed and missing. The accepted calculation is that, on the average, ono-third of each Parliament fails to return after a general election. According to that, we should have had to chronicle the loss of twenty-three members, whereas only eighteen have failed to return. Of these the Opposition has lost Messrs Pirani, Haselden, McGuire, Monk, Hutcheson and Atkinson; the Government losing Messrs Stevens, R. Thompson, Napier, Hornsby, Meredith, Collins, G. J. Smith, G. W. Russell, Barclay, Carncross and Gilfedder, a net loss of eleven, for Mr G. J. Smith is replaced by an equally strong Government supporter, Mr Davey—Sir Maurice O’Rorko, whose defeat is the loss of both sides, making the eighteenth ot these election casualties. A result of the election moro striking then the diminution of tlie proportion of casualties and missing—due' probably to the two facts that only three members (Messrs Carncross, Monk .and J. Hutcheson) did not seek re-election, and that' six new seats were added to the old list—is the smaller number of independents who have come back. They are Messrs Kidd (Auckland), Moss (Ohiuemuri), G.

Fisher (Wellington, T. E. Taylor (Christchurch) and 'f. Mackenzie (Waikouaiti). As of these firo throe, if not four, may safely bo claimed for the Government on all crucial questions of principle, there is little to regret on Ministerial account in their return. Practically, there trill, therefore, be a fair, straight-out party vote on all important matters.

Analysis divides the opposing strengths in two ways, provincial and general. For tho first, Auckland lias for sixteen scats returned eight Oppositionists, six for tho Government and two independents; Hawke’s Bay, one Oppositionist and three Ministerialists, out of four seats (including Waiapu); Taranaki, from tho" same number, has given also one to the Opposition and three to Ministers; Wellington, with fourteen seats, gives eight to tho Government, five to tho Opposition and one to independence; Marlborough, Nelson and Westland have sent back all their aggregate of six members to tho Government side: Canterbury, of fifteen members, gives eleven to tho Government, three to tho Opposition and ono to independence; Southland and Otago, of seventeen, give nine to tho Government, seven to Opposition and ono to independence. It appears, then, that tho middle of the North Island is more Ministerial than tho two ends, and that the southern half of tho South Island is more Opposition than tho northern. From tho above figures it wffl bo soon that out of the seventy-six seats, forty-six are classed as Government, twenty-five as Opposition and five as independent. This gives the Government a steady working majority, dividing tho independents as throb to two, of twenty-two. If tho expectation is realised of securing three of the four Maori seats for tho Government, tho Ministerial majority will be not. less than twenty-four, in compact phalanx. Tho Pr eraior’s estimate makes his majority twenty-eight; but w'o look upon some of these as doubtful. As compared with tho last Parliament, tho Government is stronger, as it has a much more reliable majority. Tho Government has no reason, as we pointed out yesterday, to bo aissatisfied with the results of tho election. The expression of public confidence it .has received is substantial. Tho Opposition, on tho other side, has gained in calibre, character, and everything that makes a Parliamentary party respected and trusted. This superiorly of tho Opposition will, by increasing tho compactness of tho Ministerial party, improve tho chances of useful legislation.