Election After-thoughts

Observer, Volume X, Issue 624, 13 December 1890, Page 3

Election After-thoughts

1 When the hurly-burly's done, when the battle's fought and won,' it is the privilege of every free born Briton to have his growl or gratulation over the event. Very laconically do I propose noticing the results of the various contests in Auckland district.

CITY. — Two of the Observer men in — Shera and Thompson. General regret is expressed at Porter's defeat, coupled with rejoicing that the Labour vote was not allowed to peipetrate the absurdity of sending two lawyers as representatives. The Star ticket all got in ; shows that stellar light is good when one wishes to see how the cat jumps. Extremes mft on this occasion. The two extremist candidates— Napier, who swallowed everything on the working man side, and Wallis, who would swallow nothing — were rejected. Serve them both right 1 The 256 votes recorded for Farnall are believed to baye s been ' plumpers.' By supporting him thus loyally, the Knights of Labour have shown that their block vote is of some account ; it would have almost put in Porter over the head of Rees. Shera, Thompson, Rees— these are the chosen of Auckland city ; but they are not representatives in the true sense, as only a minority of the voters exercised their privilege.

EDEN. — Mitcbelson beat his opponent by 259. His friends are surprised that he did not get a bigger majority, as all the supporters that could be got for him from the city and elsewhere were dragged to the poll. More than one-half his majority was got at Mount Eden polling place. The Liberal voters of Kingsland and Mount Eoskill gave Greenwood a majority of 38 over Mitchelson. ' Teddy ' is a good man, and as he will not any longer be troubled with the bad company that brought him into disgrace, he will make an excellent member. ' Joe 'made a mistake in not shaking hands with the victor.

PARNELL. — A surprise for the Observer, and for everybody, and most of all for J. M Lennox. This was expected to be a close fight, but Frank Lawry got in by a majority of 209. As the two candidates shook hands at the declaration of the poll, I suppose there is not to be a petition to upset the election, on the ground that one of the polling places was not opened until seven minutes after the time fixed. John King and the Liberal Committee killed Lennox.

WAITEMATA.— The Devil's Own luok attended one of his bairns, and enabled the Palmer to beat the Monk. There will be fewer Jeremiads in the House. I rather like Palmer, apart from his profession. If he would study distinctness of utterance, he might be listened to with respect as a Young New Zealander.

MANUKAU.— Buckland, another lawyer, wins by a substantial majority. He is a bit of a settler, and bad the confidence of the rural voters. He deserves thanks for busting O'Rorke, if he should never make a speech or record or vote in the House ; some people think he would do well if he did neither.

FRANKLIN. — Hamlin saved himself by the skin of his teeth. Sorry to hear it, and further to know that he is talked of as future Speaker. He would be a trifle worse than O'Rorke in that position.

TE AROHA.— Absentee Allen got 172 more votes than Fraser. The elected one is a man of higher principle than his opponent, but in a representative this does not always atone for being on the wrong side in politics. I hope it may in this case. The best that can be hoped of Allen is that he will prove to be 'a second Withy.'

THAMES.— Cadman elected by 104 majority— another surprise to the O.M , and a nasty jar to the people of Thames township, who have plainly lost confidence in ' Jerry.' It is hoped he may profit by his escape. Thames gave 258 of a majority to Taylor, but the other places, and notably Coromandel, pulled Cadman through.

EAST COAST. -'Bill ' Kelly, the popular member, has again been returned ; but the additions to the electorate nearly gave his opponent the seat. Fourteen was the majority.

MARBDEN.— Robeit Thompson had a close run against Elliott, but managed to win the raca. # # #

BAY OF ISLANDS.— Houston beat Trounson by nine votes ; Lundon close up, and Dargaville 29 votes behind him. This was the moßt keenly contested seat in Auckland district, and the unexpected happened, as Trounson was decidedly ' favourite.'

OTHER ELECTORATES.— Egmont has sent back Sir Harry Atkinson with a thumping majority ; but he can never again be Premier or Colonial Treasurer. The Squatocracy carried their men in Napier and Hawke's Bay, but they could not oust W. C. Smith from Waipawa. Ballance, the alleged Leader of the Opposition, had a narrow escape at Wanganui ; his defeat would have strengthened rather than weakened his party. Hew Plymouth did its duty by electing the funnyman, Turncock Smith. Palmerston rejected the Labour candidate, Pirani, in favour of its old member, J. G. Wilson. The Masterton electors have put in Editor Hogg, in place of Beetham— a good change. In Wairarapa, Buchanan has been death on Bunny— worse than stoats and weasels. Mr Macarthur has been returned fcr Rangitikei, and Dr. Newman for Hutt. Hutchison, thp denouncer of the Ministry and the Bank of New Zealand, has been elected for Waitotara by the narrow majority of 22

In Wellington City, Fisher, Duthie and Kennedy Macdonald have been elected in the order named. Duthie is the only one who may support the Atkinson Government, and even he is doubtful. The Labour candidates, Eraser, McLean anrf Winter, were at the foot of the poll. I am glad that Bell and Jellicoe, two of the Devil's Own, were rejected ; glad on principle, though secretly I would rather have liked to see Jellicoe in Parliament. The Wellington electors have made the best possible choice, on the whole ; and in this, as well as in polling six thousand more votes than Auckland did, they have Bhown an excellent example..

The South Island elections I need not review in detail ; but some of them are noteworthy. The best thing of all is the rejection of that worse than useless old master of political demoralisation, Vincent Pyke, Pcobie Mackenzie, who defeated him, is a man of high character and ability. If Pyke is not 4 called ' to the Upper House, it will not be for want of trying. Next in order of merit comes the rejection of Minister Hislop, by the Oamaru electors. ' Tom ' Duncan, who distinguished himself by polling nearly double the Ministerial candidate, is a very popular man. Oamaru also gave an excellent example by polling 71 per cent, of the voters on the roll. Christchurch City returned three Opposition members — Percival, Beeves, and Taylor — and has thus shown its Liberalism more markedly than Auckland or Wellington. Dunedin'b three- "Fish, Hutchison, and Pinkerton— are all Liberals, ton, and the last named, who topped the poll, is a Labour representative. Against this v ctory for the Trade Unions, JA. Millar was badly beaten at Port Chalmers by Jas. Mills, manager of the Union S.S. Coy. Other Labotar candidates returned were Earnshaw (who ousted Larnach from the Peninsula seat), and Jas. Kelly (who carried Invercargill by a large majority). J. C. Buokland

(brother of Frank), has been rejected by the Waitaki electors, but Sir John Hall has been re-elected, while Mr Rolleston re-enters public life as M.H.R for Hals, well. „ *

GENERAL RESULTS.— These are highly satisfactory, as they show a clear majority of eight for the Opposition, with ten Independents, who will (after the manner of their kind) go with the winning side. In this class are included D. Goldie, F. Lawry, T. Thompson, R. M. Houston, and W. S. Allen. The North Island is equally divided, witn 12 each on the Government and Opposition sides ; but the South Island has shown more thorough Liberalism by returning 27 Oppositionists and only 14 Government supporters. As I said last week, the Continuous Ministry is as dead as Queen Anne (or as Sydney Taiwhanga, for that matter), and for that consummation everybody ought to be devoutly thankful. Nobody expects that they will be ejected from office before the meeting of Parliament in February next ; the supply of Government glue will hold out until then. On the whole, the people have gooa reason to be satisfied with the work done on the stn inst. It has made a bigger political change than has taken place for ten years back, and the fruits of victory, if properly conserved, will bs great and lasting.