THE GENERAL ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16259, 17 December 1914, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION

DR M'NAB RETURNED. STATE OF PARTIES EQUAL. Tlio following are the official figures in connection with tin , Bruce ejection: ■■- Vot<*. Hon. James Allon (M.) 3084 C. 11. Siuifh (U.) 2301 Informal, 54. HAWKE'S BAY. DR M'NAB ELECTED. (Pμ Unitud Pbkßß Association.) HASTINGS, December 16. Tho result of the recount is that Dr M'Nab heads the poll. Tho returning officer's official figures are: — Dr M'Nab (0.) 4225 H. M. Campbell (M.) 4216 Majority for Dr M'Nab ... 9 The announcement was loudly cheered by Dr M'Nab'a supporters. WELLINGTON, December 16. As the result of information received tonight from Hastings Dr M'Nab, who is visiting Wellington, will leave for Hastings in tho morning MATAURA. (Pes United Pbess Association.) GORE, December 16. The official count gives the following result : — G. J. Anderson (G.) 2908 W. G. Mehaffey (O.) 273* Informal, 29. PATEA. (Peb United Pkess Association.) HAWERA. December 16. Tho following is the official result for tho Patea scat: — G. V. Peareo (M.) 5388 W. Morrison (0.) 3270 Informal 64 Of the absent votes 71 went to Mr Pearce and 75 to Mr Morrison. . COMPOSITION OF NEW HOUSE. The following table shows tho composition of the new House, including the Maori members:— Govt. Opnn. Lab. Tls. North Island ... 28 15 2— 45 South Island ... 12 19 4— 35 Totals 40 34 6-80 THE OPPOSITION. TO MEET IN WELLINGTON NEXT' WEEK. Sir Joseph Ward has invited every member of the Opposition to meet him in conference in Wellington next Tuesday morning. It is noteworthy that the three higheet polls at tho election were those recorded at Manakau (9429), Eden (9321), and Parnell (t065), and that in each case the Government candidate was returned by a large majority. The highest number of votes recorded for any, candidate was 5236, this being the number obtained by Mr T. K. Sidey, Dunedin South. The smallest number of votes polled was 21, which number was recorded for Mr Shortland in Tauxnaruniii. The official declaration of the poll for Nelson as conveyed by telegraph to the Chief Electoral Officer by the Returning Officer at Nelson is as follows: —"Subject to the consideration of 26 declarations, and with about 12 permits to come, the figures are:—Atmore, 3310; Field, 3403. Majority, 93."

RUMOURS OF PETITIONS. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, December 16. There are rumours of election petitions here, but so far without any foundation in fact. It is most unlikely that any of the Wellington elections will be upset, or that steps will be taken to upset them. STATE OF PARTIES. A GILBERTTAN SITUATION. (Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, December 16. The storm centre of New Zealand politics has suddenly shiited from Wairarapa to the North of Auckland, and the fate of New Zealand, from the political point of view, wpuid almost seem to rest in the hollow of the hand of a Maori. It is an extraordinary position. Though Mr Tau Henare has always been classed as a Reform candidate, it would appear that the Liberals are on his track, and that somo of them already claim him as their own. "He is our Maori," said a Liberal, who has taken a keen interest in the campaign, to mo this morning. The New Zealand Times also claims him as " their Maori," but it has claimed so much, both before and after polling day, and has been so much disappointed, that one cannot place very great reliance on its claims. The Prime Minister states definitely that Mr Henare was the Reform candidate, and he had. always known him as a man of honour, and one who would carry out his obligations. A northern Government member whom I met to-day ridicules the idea of Mr Henare going over to the other side. "Why," he said, " I brought him out, and he is a very straight young fellow." To-night's Post, in the course of an article, says: " For the present at any rate the Government has a majority of two, and, so far as the claim of the Opposition to disturb existing arrangements is concerned, the proverb which says that a miss is as good as a mHe meets the ease. The Government has a right to carry on the business of the country during" the sixmonths preceding the ordinary date for the meeting of Parliament, and it ie also its duty to do so. Mr Massoy is under no such obligation as that which Sir Joseph Wardi somewhat tardily d : srharged after the general election of 1911. The verdict of the electors on that occasion was at tho best ambiguous. At the worst it was a vote of no confidence in the Ward Government. There is no such uncertainty now. Democracy means majority rule, and, having a majority, the Government is entitled by tho theory of democracy and the practice of representative government to remain in office." CHANCES AT ANOTHER ELECTION. (Fbom Ode Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, December 16. Quite a number of Reformers believe that the best thing to do under present circumstances is to go to the country again. There is a great revulsion of feeling againet the action of the Bible-in-Schools League, and many members of that body are now re. pentmg their error in canvassing and voting for the enemies of Reform, and in other instances in not voting at aIL This change of feeling is so great that it would probably turn the scale in three seats that have gone to the Opposition by narrow majorities— indteed, it is quite certain that but for the Bible-in-schools issue the Government would have had a majority of eight in the present Parliament. Reformers also urge that as it has been clearly proved that Sir Joseph Ward cannot make good, and must be entirely dependent on the " Red Fed." tail, there will be a further considerable turnover of Liberal votes in favour of giving a greater stability to the Massey Government. What the Government will do is- not definitely known, but I think the chances are that if it has a majority of two it will endeavour not to plunge the country into another general election.