The New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1911. THE SECOND BALLOTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7979, 9 December 1911, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1911. THE SECOND BALLOTS

Tlio , result of tlio . second . ballots of Thursday next will, from tho circumstances in which they aro held, be awaited with very keen interest by tho people in all parts of the Dominion. Thirty of theso ballots have to be decided, and three native members elected later. The strength of the Opposition is at present 25, of tho Government 22, and as tho natives have tho best of all possible reasons for resisting the policy propounded from Opposition platforms, it may bo taken for granted, wo think, that the three Maori members yet to bo chosen, will bo supporters of the Government. It is fair, therefore, to say that tho parties are of equal strength. Thus to have a more majority in tho next Ho,use of Representatives either Government or Opposition require to win not fewer .than sixteen seats. The position thus created would obviously be impossible of continuance and, if wo are to be spared tho infliction of another general election, almost immediately, about eighteen members prepared to support a Liberal Ministry or Mr Massey must emerge from the struggle in the coming week. Taking the aggregate votes polled in the thirty electorates of which the representation has yet to bo decided, wo find it distributed thus: Liberal 103,682; Opposition 75,029; Labour 20,817, with about three thousand Socialist votes. On a basis of proportional representation through voting of this character the Opposition is not entitled to more than eleven seats, Labour to four, and tho Liberals to fifteen. Such a result of the second ballots would, if Labour voted with the Liberals, provide a working majority.in tho House; if Labour- voted with the Opposition there would be a deadlock. It is therefore of some moment to consider tho position in which tho various parties stand just now. If the Liberal electors vote Labour there are four Labour seats to bo won. If, however, Labour votes Opposition it will put ton Oppositionists in tho House .'and must likely make Mr Massey’s following augmented by members from other eleo torates independent of the Labour members, only two of whom have any chance of being elected if the candi dates roly next Thursday upon Conser tivo votes to displace a Liberal instead of four who could certainly be elected by the aid of Government followers. It appears to us, therefore, that tho interests of- Liberals and Labourites in tho constituencies are identical and; further, that they should clearly realise the importance of a loyal co-operation. Some apprehension of this appears to be already felt by Conservative candidates, for we find Mr Bell and' Mr .Wright putting forward arguments that aro an instructive warning to Liberal and Labour electors. Mr 801 l is asking in the Suburbs for' assistance of Government supporters to dish Mr Moore, on the ground that tho policy of the Labour party should not be encouraged. Mr Wright asks that Labour should support him instead of Mr Hindmarsh for the reason, apparently, that a supporter of the Opposition programme is more desirable than a supporter of the Labour platform. We venture to think that the people to whom Mr Bell and Mr Wright are making these queer advances will treat them with derision. Mr Hindmarsh’s friends of last-Thurs-day can surely be relied upon to stand by him again, and strengthened by the supporters of Mr Barber should win for him tho seat. It is the Labour plus the Liberal vote Mr Wright has to reckon with,, and there is no possible: reason why he should receive either. Similarly at Wellington East. An attempt will, of course, bo there made to draw Mr Bolton’s supporters to Dr Newman. He must get this to be returned. He ought not to receive any share of it. That vote we hope and believe will go solidly for Mr McLaren, just as in the South and Suburbs Liberals ought to go in their full strength for Mr Hindmarsh and Mr Moore. In many elections tho Labour vote has been cast for the Liberal candidate and secured his return. There can well be some reciprocity. But the game must ho played fairly all round, and where Labour can in it; turn come to the rescue of the Liberal it ought to do so without hesitation. Tho effort of the Opposition during the campaign will be to prevent Labour having the very effective representation it is entitled to look for. .