THE STATE OF PARTIES.

Southland Times, Issue 17533, 9 June 1915, Page 4

THE STATE OF PARTIES.

With the election of Mr Stewart for the Bay of Islands seat the strength of the Government party is again raised to 41 members. Some of the Opposition members still profess to believe that Mr Tau Henare, the Northern Maori member, may vote with the Opposition on a no-confidence motion, but there is reason to believe that Mr Massey can count upon Mr Henare’s support with absolute confidence, and even if the Taumarunui election should result in favour of the Opposition the Government will have a majority of one after the election of the Speaker. But the Taumarunui seat is by no means safe for the Opposition. Mr Stewart’s win in the Bay of Islands was decisive. His majority was larger, perhaps, than the Government ventured to hope for and certainly much larger than the Opposition could have anticipated. Though Mr Vernon Reed aud Mr Wilkinson, both Government candidates, polled a

very large majority o£ votes over Dr Buck in December, candidates always have a personal following apart from party and it was difficult to say what respective strengths of Government and Opposition in the electorate was. Over a long period the constituency was a Liberal seat and it was quite on the cards that in a straight-out contest a supporter of Sir Joseph Ward would win. It is now clear, however, that Mr Massey commands a large majority in the Bay of Islands, and as he is assured of a further three years of office Taumarunui may give the Government candidate a heavy vote in order to ensure the stability of the Government. If the Government wins Taumarunui, the strength of parties will be: Government 42, Opposition 38, and Mr Massey will have a majority of three after the election of Mr Speaker, a majority with which the Government could carry on even under ordinary circumstances. Until the Taumarunui election is decided It is not worth while discussing the general political situation, but it may be observed that whatever the relative strength of parties may be the people will hot tolerate the party warfare of ordinary times. Indeed at a time when people’s minds are engrossed with infinitely more Important and more serious things purely party controversy is an impertinence, and we do not believe that members of Parliament are any more inclined for it than other people. Even if they are they may save their breath, for at this time party differences nave no hold upon public attention. A single casualty list from the Dardanelles will extinguish interest in any debate in Parliament. All that the people want is that the necessary work of Parliament should be done smoothly and that the administration of the country should be carried on quietly. The result of the Bay of Island contest may be accepted as showing that the country approves the work the Government has done and is doing.