THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Wednesday, November 18, 1908. YESTERDAY'S POLLS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12402, 18 November 1908, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Every Morning. Wednesday, November 18, 1908. YESTERDAY'S POLLS.

Nelson stands to-day in the ; unsatisfactory position of not knowing whether it has elected a member or not. It is possible that the majority Mr Graham now has to his credit will, with the votes that will be his portion from the returns yet to be received, obviate the necessity of a second ballot, but it is not probable. The matter will- no doubt be- set at rest to-day, though the Returning Officer's official declaration may not be available for a day or two. Mr Graham at the present moment is in possession of a much stronger majority than that which returned him at the last election, when he defeated Mr Atmore by only twenty-nine ,votes. . At a second ballot tie 1 should maintain a majority, as he would in all probability attract a greater number of Mr Moffatt's supporters than would Mr Atmore. As for Mr Moffatt, he had a hopeless task in trying to make a triangular duel of it against the other candidates, and that tho electors did not allow his candidature to interfere to any great extent with a straight-out fight between Messrs Graham and Atmore, in the circumstances, was only to be expected. In addition to this Mr Moffatt had the disadvantages of being a comparatively recent arrival in Nelson, though a resident of long standing in the neighbouring town of Motuelca, and that his views; especially on the land question, are such as would be repugnant to the greater section of a farming community. Although Mr Moffatt has been eclipsed on this occasion, we will be surprised if his political aspirations have hoen totally extinguished by his defeat, and we expect to find him again a candidate for the Nelson seat. As was expected, many second ballots will be required, and the country will bo given a very practical demonstration of tho working of that unwelcome addition to our electoral machinery. The most notable feature of the electior is the substantial dofeat of the Hon Robert McNab by Mr. Anderson. It was expected that if Mr McNab retained the Mataura seat it would be by a narrow majority, and his rejecteion is the protest of a farming community agaiqst the unpopular land proposals which marked the Minister's short occupancy of his portfolio. On general grounds Mr McNab' s defeat is greatly to bo regretted. If he did not make a brilliantly successful Minister of Lands he was nearer the ideal Minister of Agriculturp than New Zealand has before possessed, and it will bo difficult to fill this portfolio so satisfactorily to the Dominion. As matters stand the Government goes back with a strong following, and the country has again expressed its adherence to the Liberal principles which have so fostered and encouraged the commercial and industrial progress of New Zealand during tho past fifteen years. As regards the local option polls, the no ; license movement has made a more striking advance than has ever before been recorded, and all the districts which had previously adopted the principle have retained it. Tho increase in tho reduction vote is also striking.