GAINS AND LOSES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143671, 15 December 1911, Page 3

GAINS AND LOSES.

At the first baffot the Opposition gained 6 seats, the Ministerialists 2 seats, and the Independents 1 (Thames). For the whole election the Ministerialists lost 18 seats, the Opposition 3 seats, and Labour 1 seat. Tlhe changes were as-follow: MINISTERIAL Loss to Opposition 12 Loss to Labour 3 Loss to Independent..— 3 18 OPPOSITION Lose-to Ministerialists —.. 2 Loss to Labour ... 1 3 LABOUR Loss to Opposition 1 NORTH AND SOUTH ISLANDS The rout of the Ministry in the-North Island is very complete. It has been said that what the North of England thinks this year the whole of England will think next year, and this may also bo true of New Zealand. At any nato the South Island needs a change of view to bring it into line with the North. The position after the 1908 and 1911 elections in the European constituencies was as follows: 1908, M. 0. Lab. North Island 24 16 1 South Island 25 10 0 49 26 1 1911. M. 0. I. Lab. North Island ... 10 26 2 4 South Island ...21 11 2 0 31 37 4 4 This calculation leaves out Mr. Ngata. NOTES OnThe CONTEST. AN OPPOSITION VICTORY. (Special from Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 14. There was glorious weather for the polling to-day and intense excitement prevailed. The Opposition scored a splendid victory in Wellington, losing only one out of five scats, while up both coasts they have done splendidly. Mr. Fisher came with a brilliant win at the finish, and his return is a great I blow to the Government. Another blow to the Government is the defeat of Mr. M'Laren. Had he been returned he would have been the bead of a small Labour Party, and would bare '■ influenced the Labour vote towards the ! Government. As it is, Mr. Veitch ! will be the head of the Labour Party, j and both he and Mr. Robertson are | pledged to vote against the Govern- i ment. Giving the Government the ■ two Independents, two Labour and all | the Maoris, they must be in a minority. SIR JOSEPH WARD ENDEAVOURS TO SPEAK. * i A WILD SCENE IN LAMBTON QUAY. At twenty minutes past ten the Prime Minister appeared at the balcony of the New Zealand Times Office, and a scone of wild excitement ensued. The dense crowd at once began to cheer and hoot. Pandemonium reigned, and there was one continual roar of cheering and hooting. Never in the history of New Zealand has such a scene been witnessed. The crowd, after twenty minutes, became absolutely uncontrollable. Several fights occurred, and hats were » trampled in the dust, while several people seemed to go down. It was r positively dangerous. The Prime Minister could not get a hearing, but he, together with Lady Ward and Miss Ward, looked down smilingly, and waved hats and handkerchiefs at the turbulent crowd. After thirty minutes of continuous uproar Sir Joseph Ward endeavoured to speak through a megaphone, but the crowd would still not listen to him. It seemed ns if human throats could scarcely stand the strain, but they continued cheering and hooting while the hands of the clock went round. Then a number of tram cars were reqnistioncd, and pushed their way backwards and forwards through the densely packed street, to the imminent danger of life and limb. The crowd became incensed, clambered on to the cars, and pulled the trolley I poles off the wires. I At the time of writing (11 p.m.) the j uproar, which has lasted for exactly forty minutes without ceasing, is still ; continued, and shows no signs of ahat- i ing ; so long as the Prime Minister remains in sight. Later. After 11 o’clock the crowd began to dwindle, and most of the women, fearing an accident, left for their homes. At midnight Mr. Herries was addressing the crowd. He was received with cheers. Up to this time Sir Joseph Ward had not been able to obtain a. hearing, but he may do so later. THE RIVAL LEADERS, MR. MASSEY AT AUCKLAND. AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Dec, 14. Great enthusiasm was displayed by the crowds in the streets watching the election results to-night, the principal items of interest being the defeats of Sir John Findlay and Mr. Fowlds, and the successes of the Opposition, Mr. Massey addressed the crowd from the Herald balcony. ‘’Allow me to thank the people of New Zealand generally, and the people of Auckland particularly, for the generous support accorded myself and to the party with which I am connected at the polls, today. I extend my sinccrest gratitude to my follow settlers in Parnell and Grey Lynn—(cheers)—and to my fellow citizens and fellow settlers in Waitemata and Knipara.”—(Cheers.) A voice; What about the workers P “I thank you for the interjection,” continued Mr. Massey, ‘‘to my fellow workers, to everyone.—(Enthusiastic cheers.) When we commenced this campaign I determined, if it were possible, to put up the biggest fight this country had even seen—(cheers) — and with the enthusiastic assistance of my friends and fellow citizens and fellow workers I have achieved that object.”—(Prolongor cheers, followed by the crowd breaking into an enthusiastic demonstration that for some time prevented Mr. Massey from speaking.) There was some remark in the crowd about the Premiership, nnd Air Massey said: “When the title comes to me, I don’t think you will sav I have not deserved it.” "“When we commenced this campaign ” ho continued, “I know, that

,« had to contend with all influences of political patronage and political expenditure, and in many cases with :-the influence of privately-owned wealth arrayed against ns, but we have prevailed against all difficulties placed in our way. At the moment there are still many returns to come in, and I cannot say exactly what the position will be. The parties might be evenly balanced, but whatever the position might be, the first aim of my Parliament will be not our interests, but the wishes of the people of New Zealand.” The huge audience was almost frantically excited and cheered the speaker again and again in a deafening uproar. As many in the vast crowd had been unable to hear Mr. Massey's first speech, be went by request to the front door of the Herald Office, and, balanced on a chair, spoke to the audience. Again he thanked the people from the bottom of his heart. “I have no wish to gloat over the defeat of my opponents,” he said, "but I cannot help saying to-night that on account of your support 1 am now the proudest and happiest man in this Dominion. Your voces are an answer to all the slanders that have been circulated with regard to my party and to myself, and have provotl that you have appreciated the good work —and I say it is good work—that has been done by the Reform Party.—(Cheers and uproarious applause.) You have shown by .your votes that you are in favour of clean government.—(Cheers.) Whatever may happen during the next two ,v)r three months, the Ward Govern..ment is at an end. The people of the .country have to-day declared against di. and" in favour of men who have for years past done their level best for their citizens.—(Cheers.) The first thought of the men who have worked w'nili me and who are now members of PaaTinment to-night will be for the welfare of the people.” SIR JOSEPH WARD. REFUSED A HEARING. GIVES A PRIVATE ADDRESS. WELLINGTON, Dec. 15. Sir Joseph Ward appeared before several thousand persons assembled in front oh the Times Office early this morniag. V, her die Prime Minister stepped to the front of the balcony he received a very .taxed reception. Thousands cheered and waved their bats, while a loud 000-liooing was maintained. The crowd was not apparently in a bad humov.ir, but seemed out for fun, and would'not give the Prime Minister a hearing. After wanting about half an hour. Sir Joseph addressed a number of ladies and gvntlemen inside the Times Office. Sir Joseph Ward said he was sure everyone recognised the country had been going through a strenuous fight for some time past. The returns which had come to hand were not yet final. He was quite prepared to accept the nltimte judgment of the j people, but he wanted to make it dear I that at tile moment of speaking the Ministerial Party was not yet beaten. —(Cheers.) Be recognised that the closeness of the political parties was going to create a position and feeling of unrest for probably some time. This was quite appurcait to him. and he be- j lievccl to the people generally. It was not his intention to refer in any way to the methods employed during the recent contest. The time was in- : opportune for so doing, but he was sure | his hearers would agree that some of | the men of the GiH’ernment side who ", had gone down in the fight in different parts had been true to the people, and had done their utmost to carry on the affairs of the country for the benefit of New Zealand as well as the particular districts they represented, in a way that reflected the greatest credit upon them. H.e was very sincere in "expressing his sympathy for the men who had fallen in the battle. It looked to him that before another year or so there would bn an opportunity given the people to confirm or otherwise what had just been done, as an outcome of what had been placed before them, and unfairly, too, in his opinion.—(Applause.) After all the absent voters’ votes had been counted, continued Sir Joseph, and the elections properly completed, he would then bo in a position to , judge as to the course that should be taken, but in any ease it would bo found he would do the right thing.— (Applause.) In a survey of the general position ho had come to the opinion that when the elections were completed the Government would have a majority in the House. —(Applause.) and, as" he believed this would be the case, ho wanted to make it clear that the Government would not be deterred in its desire to go on with the important measures in which a groat many of the people were so deeply concerned. In the course of the next w-eek he would know the position, and doubtless the people of this country would know what was the best course to adopt. He did not believe the business of the country would be carried on satisfactorily unless, there was a working majority. If neither side had sufficient members in tile. House to enable the government to be carried on properly the people, of the country would have to decide again, and again if necessary. MB. ALLEN’S OPINION. DUNEDIN, Deo. 14. When interviewed to-night after the results were made known, Mr. Jas. Allen said the Government was clearly in a minority and ought not to attempt to carry on the business of the. country. lie did not think it necessary for him to say anything further at present. INGLEWOOD. i (From Our Own Correspondent.) Dec. 15.—Very general were the exI pressions of satisfaction at the enter- ! prise of the Herald and Budget in sending us the second ballot returns last night. They came to hand very promptly and wore shown on to a screen from the. Coffee Palace. Mr. R. J. Frcwin, with the aid of his powerful cinematograph machine, had made capital arrangements for the display, and a very large crowd were able’ to read the returns almost as early as you were in New' Plymouth.