TARANAKI’S VERDICT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1925, Page 8

TARANAKI’S VERDICT.

The Government has made a clean sweep of the Taranaki constituencies. The three seats held by the Opposition have been captured, in the case of Patea and Stratford by substantial majorities, whilst in the case of Egmont and Waitomo the sitting Reform members have substantially increased their majorities. The result was not unexpected, though few could have anticipated that Mr. Walter would gain such a decisive victory over so strong an opponent as Mr. Masters. For Patea, Mr. Dickie rather easily accounted for Mr. Corrigan, who secured the seat at the last election on a minority vote, and whose defeat consequently was a foregone conclusion. Mr. Hawken secured a walk-over for the Egmont seat, and even had his opponent entered the fray earlier it is doubtful if Mr. Hawken’s majority would have been much reduced. Mr. Rolleston more than held his own against his energetic opponent, who, however, alienated a good many votes by his inclination towards Labour. The closest contest in the province was for the Taranaki seat, in which Mr. Bellringer defeated the sitting member, Mr. Smith, by 51 votes. The absent votes, numbering over 450, may reverse the position. The incursion of Labour, of course, improved the Government candidate’s chances, if it were not the de-

tiding factor. On. personal grounds many will regret the disappearance from the political arena of Messrs. Smith, Masters, and Corrigan, all of whom were most assiduous in the performance of their duties, and rendered valuable service to their province and their country. But the election was not fought on personal grounds. The question the electors had to decide was whether they were to have a cohesive, stable Government, pledged to a definite programme of moderation under Mr. Coates, or a composite Government, in which there was a possibility of the National tail wagging the Reform dog. It was a possibility that did not commend itself to the majority of Taranaki people, who preferred a safe and sound government. Their instinct was undoubtedly correct, and the return of a block Government vote should ’prove of considerable value in stabilising the political position for the next three years. The election was fought in every electorate on clean lines, personalities never obtruding themselves in any of the contests, and the whole of the candidates are to be congratulated upon this desirable result. To the successful candidates we extend our congratulations. As for the defeated candidates, they have the satisfaction of knowing that they put up a good fight in a cause that did not commend itself to the majority of electors, and emerged with clean hands. ft remains for all parties now to forget or compose their political differences and work with their members for the benefit of the province and of their country.