The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1911. UNDER WHICH FLAG?

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 5, 15 December 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1911. UNDER WHICH FLAG?

The second ballots have practically resulted in a dead-lock so far as the prelominant political parties are conccrn:d and the situation is, in consequence, fraught with more than usual interest. Though the Government may jo considered to be defeated, it is ceroainly highly improbable that the Opposition would be able to carry on with (such a slender majority as it may secure when the final sorting out takes place, and a further appeal to the •ouutry is more than likely. The elections held yesterday in the thirty doctorates where some candidate did not obtain an absolute majority of votes on December 7, resulted in the Government winning eleven seats and die Opposition eleven—including on the one side one independent with pronounced Ministerial views, and on ■die other with equally strong Opposition leanings. Wellington East scat .s in doubt until ninety-six absentrotors permits come to hand, though now credited to the Opposition. Four Labourites and four independents remain, and the majority of these arc understood to be against the Government if it comes to a vote of no-con-ddencc. ft therefore seems quite impossible for the Ministry to carry on, '.though Sir Joseph Ward has stated that his party is not yet beaten. Jr, ! speech at Wellington last night, the, krone Minister said that after the elections arc properly completed he will bo in a position to judge what ■oursc should bo taken, but that whatever it was he would be found to do the right tiling. He still held the opinion ho would have a majority, <- as -io believed this would be the case, lie wanted to make it clear that the Go vernmout would not be deterred in its desire to go on with the important measures in which a great many of -he people were so deeply concerned. In tiie course of the next week lie would know the position, and what was the best course to adopt. lie ikso said ho did not believe the husk mss of the country would bo carried m satisfactorily unless there was a

working majority, and if ncitlior sick iiad sufficient members in the House to enable the government to ho carried on properly the people of the country would have to decide again, ind again if necessary.” Mr Massey naturally takes another view, in so iaV, at least, as the (Government is concerned, and told a cheering crowd it Auckland that “whatever may happen during the next two or three months the Ward Government is at in end. The people of the country have declared against it and in favour of men who have for years past done their level best for their fellow citizens.” To the people generally the situation is puzzling, and by no means pleasing, for the vista of a series of further elections with all their •strife and turmoil will bo looked forward to with pleasure by very few indeed: nevertheless such procedure seems inevitable. Wo must in the mean time await with patience the separation of the sheep from the goats. Referring again more particularly to yesterday’s results, they may bo said to have bristled with

surprises. Why sonic men who looked certain to ho returned were rejected and why others with apparently few claims to consideration should have readied the top of the poll is matter tor surprise until one takes into account the iieklcness of public favour, and remembers how very much a factor in an election the personal equation is. The rejection of the Hon. Geo. Fowlds is, from . some standpoints regrettable, for his thorough honesty is undoubted. It is clear, however, that the North is not ready to philander with the New Evangel—even preferring the Devil it does not know by way of experiment. Sir John Findlay fell, as was fully anticipated on every hand, and wo should imagine that ho will now he satisfied that the people do not desire his presence in the House of Representatives. The Hon. Mr Millar, whoso position was considered doubtful owing to the threatening clouds from the Labour quarter, had no difficulty in out-pacing Mr Bedford. Mr David Bnddo—almost looked upon as lost—bobbed up serenely in the second ballot, though well beaten by Mr Moore in the first. This may be pretty well accounted for by the fact that the Kaiapoi factory workers’ vote, winch went largely to Mr Blackwell on December 7th, was transferred to Mr Bnddo, his opponent having previously been beaten on other occasions by the same combination. Raglan, the now electorate, sends the son of a sitting member to the House, in the person of Mr R. F. Bollard, whose father, Mr J. Bollard, is the member for Eden. Mr Veitch’s sweeping majority over Mr Hogan indicates clearly that the latter is out of favour with the workers, though elected in the first place largely to represent their views. The defeat of Messrs A. W. Hogg and Ross comes rather as a surprise, and both seats arc decided Opposition victories. Much sympathy will he felt for Mr Hogg, who for over twenty years has devoted his life to politics, and, we believe, with the honest heartfelt desire to assist the man on the land. Public gratitude is probably more “a sense of further favours to be conferred” than anything else, and while good deeds are forgotten, mistakes are long remembered and repaid.