THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 6, 16 December 1911, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

STRATFORD RE-COUNT. The following analysis of the votinir of the electoral portion at the recent local polls has been supplied to j ns’ by Mr Frank Bird, returning officer and Registrar of Electors: — ! No. of men on roll ... 3892 j No. of women on roll ... 2665 Total on roll ... ... 6557 No. of men who voted ... 3412 No. of women who voted ... 22i6 Total who voted ... 5628 No of men who did not vote 480 No. of women who did not vote ... ... ... 440 Total ... ... 929 There were 68 absent voters’ permits issued, and of those 8 voted in the district, 45 outside the district, and 15 did not vote. They voted as follows: For J. B. Hine ... 21 For J. AlcCluggage 20 Informal ... ... 1 The result of the poll, after-recount, now stands: — For J. B. Kino ... 3000 For J. Met, luggage ... 2576 Majority for lime ... 430 Informal ... ... 46 The re-count for the licensing poll w ill commence on Monday morning. SOME FURTHER VIEWS OF THE PREMIER. THE ATTITUDE OF LABOUR. (Per Press Association.) Wellington December 15. The Premier speaking after the elections, commented upon tne singular fact that lie was the only Prime Minister south of Hie line who had imposed a liigh graduated land tax upon tiio people waul held large areas, and that throughout the country the people most active against tne representatives of Labour and the Liberals were the large landed proprietors, who were able to push their 40 or 50 motor cars into an electorate in order to crush the poor man out of political life. It was a question whether this should not be looked upon as being practically a system of bribery. He did not believe the people ought to be subjected to this sort of tiling;, which was going on in Wellington. Every man and woman should have the 1 idlest opportunity of voting, and if it were deemed necessary to multi ply polling places, and bring them closer to tne people, then lie thought it would have to be done.

Labour representatives had fought honestly here as elsewhere to gain positions in the House, and yet one heard of a large landed proprietor bringing to Wellington eight motor cars on another man’s account. 11 his was not giving the Labour representatives a fair chance. One Labour representative be knew of had over 1500 people to bring to the poll after 3.50 p.m., and he had been credibly informed that he could not get them to the poll, because lie hud not sufficient ve■aguinst him. He made the comment, because that sort of thing was becoming part and parcel of; the system of our olectionsJ In other.countries care was taken that excessive wealth had no advantage. The poor man had an absolute right to take his seat in the councils of his country, and there should be no such thing here or in any other country as to make a poor man poorer when he was standing to exercise one of the highest privileges it was his to possess. (Applause.) Ho was exceedingly glad to see Labour succeed in such a practical way on tin's occasion. He had always been in favour of Labour. His public record showed he had been on the side of the workers and the farmers, and there had been deliberate misrepresentation in regard to himself on those points, and they were only a small part of the misrepresentations. If the Government were in a minority after a proper test had been made, they could take it from him he would be just as much a philosopher out of office as in power. (Applause.) He wanted to see the country governed well and doing well. He desired to sec the people doing well, and his colleagues shared that desire. He could only express regret that a number of candidates, including one of his colleagues, bad gone down in the battle, but many a good man had succumbed under similar circumstances. He was always ready to meet difiii ulties. “Dilficultios are made to be overcome.—(Applause)—l am not going to flinch from the situation that faces us, nor will ray colleagues.— (Cheers) — 1 want to thtank our friends from end to end of New Zealand and the supporters of my Government, also all those who worked for us, and to say, how much I regret some very hue men have not been successful. However, if you are not successful, the right tiling to do is to congratulate the winners. That is the feeling I have on this occasion.—(Cheers.) 1 am not going to say “die” yet, because the Government is not beaten (Loud cheers and the singing of ‘He’s a Jolly Good Fellow”)—! want to thank you all again very much indeed.” (Cheers were again given.) There was an enthusiastic scene for a few minutes and soon after Sir Joseph Ward left for home. LETTER FROM MR. MASSEY TO THE ELECTORS. A FAIR AND OPEN FIGHT. Auckland, December 15. The following letter to the electors has been handed to the Press Association by Mr Massey:— “I desire to tender my most cordial thanks to the people of New Zealand for the splendid testimony they have accorded the Reform Party by giving it a majority at the elections. The electors have emphatically decided that there must he a change in the administration of the affairs of the Dominion, and they have expressed their confidence in the party that 1 have the honour to lead, and that has served their interests faithfully and well for many years. The Reform Party lias won its proud position in the fair and open light, and against the whole strength of the Government, which, entrenched in office, had the command of resources and organisation denied to us. Much labour, effort and much paper and ink will no doubt be wasted in endeavouring to explain away the decisive defeat of tbe Government, and to belittle the victory of the Reform Party. Hut I ask the electors to estimate such effusions at their true worth, I nnd to rest assured that the Reform Party will do its duty unflinchingly; that'it is solidly united in the interests of the people as a whole, and that it will act when the time cornea for the people, and all the people can accept together with my thanks any assurance that the Reform Party is guarding their best interests,_ and that it will be found the true friend, not of one, but of all sections of the ' community.

“The electors, hy so substantial an endorsement of our ]> -lic-y, have indicated their desire to piano the stewardship of the Dominion in the hands

of the Reform Party, and this high trust will bo accented in lull consciouness of its rosponibility. The Reform Pnrtv is guided by high aims and high ideals for the advancement of the Dominion *on true democratic lines, and it will, when the opportunity comes, prove Use-11 a true I-ib-oral on its part. 11 is not concerned with vain boasts of foolish misrepresentation indulged in by its opponents. The answer will come by deeds, not words. “There have been many rumours and suggestions made with reference to the Reform Party’s Cabinet. 1 have not yet arrived at the Cabinetmaking stage. When I liavo I shall take care that all sections supporting the parly are properly represented. No hasty or steps will be taken by our men. The electors have entrusted us with the duty of reforming the administration of national affairs. The Reform Party trusted the people, and the people may trust the Reform Party, who will not hesitate when the time comes to proceed with the policy outlined in our platform. Jt is a sound, progressive, and self-reliant policy. The electors may take the assurance of the party that'it will bo carried through. “Jt makes for economy of administration, a sound and sensible land settlement and development _ programme, reduction of taxation in the fiscal system whenever possible in order to lessen the cost of living, a | Legislative Council representative of the" people proper, and the efficient control or the civil service; better local government and social and industrial legislation, with democratic principles, together with wider and higher opportunity for the people and the advancement of all forms of industrial activity.

“Again, f thank the electors on behalf of my party, as well as on my own behalf, for the confidence reposed

in ns and for the emphatic answer fight against. The Reform Party will do its duty fearlessly, confident in the trust of the people.— W. F. MASSEY.”

OPPOSITION VIEWS. Dunedin, December 15. Mr James Allen says the clear duty of Sir Joseph Ward is to call Parliament together immediately. In that case a no-c'onfidence motion would be passed without doubt. Dir Massey would be able to carry on, hut if such was not the case another election was inevitable, and he did not think the country would stand that. Mr G. M. Thompson agrees, adding that if the Ministry attempts to till the High Commissionership or appoint Legislative Councillors, therGovernor should assert his prerogative. MR. MILLAR TIPPED AS THE COMING MAN. PREMIER’S LOSS OF PRESTIGE. Gore, December 15. In the course of a conversation with x Gore “Ensign” reporter, a prominent Liberal attributed the Government sot-hack to Sir Joseph Ward’s loss of prestige. The position was, he said, a difficult one. Only _ two courses were open to the Premier—to resign, or call Parliament together. The whole position turned on the Indepent and Labour members, and he thought that some of these could never,. after the statements they made, support a Government led by Sir Joseph Ward. The only way was for the Liberals to call on some other member, and Mr Millar was clearly iudicited as the man. LATEST RETURNS. Wellington, December IC. It is impossible to declare the results of the second ballots so far as the Wellington seats are concerned as can be affected by absent voters’ permits. Following are the latest figures for Wellington East: —Newman 3766, McLaren 3699. The official count for Otaki takes place on Monday. There are 4G absent voters’ permits to come and Robertson’s majority is twentyone. Taihape, December IG. With two very small outstanding returns the Waimarino result is:— Smith 4057, Hockley 2576. Absent votes will probably increase Smith’s majority. Nelson, December 16. The final figures for Nelson give Atmore 3615, and Moffatt 2131. NO WORKING MAJORITY. Dunedin, December 16. Mr Millar, interviewed this morning, said that as things appear at present there appeared to be little chance of any party having a decent working majority. It was, however, impossible to come to a definite conclusion on the figures at present. THE MAORI ELECTIONS. Wellington, December 16. Speaking to a “Post” representative Sir Joseph Ward said he would not come to a decision as to his future course of action until after the complete returns were in and the Maori election on Tuesday next. TWO WELLINGTON VIEWS. Thus the “New Zealand Times”: “Our first duty this morning is to express a very sincere regret that the battle which concluded yesterday removed from the political arena, at least temporarily, more than one stalwart Liberal who had done valiant service in the people’s cause. Our next is to extend to our Conservative friends such measure of congratulation as they fell themselves entitled to upon the success of the campaigning methods they made their own, and to express a hope that to-day’s writing on the wall gives to them as much satisfaction as it undoubtedly will the friends of progressive radicalism. It would be idle to suggest that the voting carries no message or warning to the Liberal Party. A section of the people have clearly expressed their displeasure with certain phases of the Government’s adm nistration and policy. Of that there can be no reasonable doubt, and it is the business of the Liberal Party to profit from the lesson and put its house in order accordingly. . . .” Wellington “Dominion” : “The question which the public will be asking to-day is what the outcome of the ('lections will he. Sir Joseph Ward says lie can lie relied on to do no proper tiling. The proper thing from his point of view will • o eonbt ho to endeavour to square the Labour members, and in order to do tins there will probably be a further sacrifice of the principles which Liberalism once stood for. Rut this will not get the Government out of its troubles. There ire members of the party who will not be inclined to yield meekly, and when Parliament meets a split is almost inevitable, and some members at present classed as Government are practically certain to desert from the ranks of the Ministerialists. Moreover, it is inniossible to conceive that the present Ministry of mediocrities would s itisfy the Labour members, and any change which might be made would be certain to cause trouble.

Whichever way the situation is licked a.t no arrangement of a lasting na- ! turo is possible. On the other hand, j Mr. Massey may lira! that tliore are a ] snliieient number of the Labour and Independent candidates w illing to ensure him an absolute majority for the i time being, in which ease he may notify the Prime Minister and his Excellency the (Governor and demand an early session of Parliament to test the question. . .