THE TARANAKI ELECTION

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 36, 25 May 1907, Page 2

THE TARANAKI ELECTION

Another Opposition Victory,

THE result of the election for the Taranaki seat is fraught with considerable political significance. This is the second bye-elec-tion within a comparatively short period that has been won by the Opposition. There were three candidates for the Taranaki seat, one representing the Government, and another the Opposition, while a third stood as an independent Liberal. Mr Okey, the Opposition candidate, polled 1991 votes, Mr Dockrill, Government, 1627, and Mr Malone, the independent individual, 1010. Previously, the seat was regarded as safe for the Government. Now it is held by the O^^osition.

From a Ministerial point of view, this reverse must be regarded as disquieting. It is attributed to a split Liberal vote. This explanation, however, cannot be regarded as either sufficient or satisfactory. Mr Malone, the third candidate is a lawyer and a society man. Unquestionably, he obtained a large share of what might be regarded as society support, many votes being given to him on personal grounds that would otherwise have been cast against the Government. On the other hand, the Labour vote was solid for Mr Dockrill, who also enjoyed a considerable advantage from the fact that he is Mayor of New Plymouth. As a rule, the solid Liberal and Labour support is never split, and there is no reason to beheve that it was divided between Messrs Dockrill and Malone last week.

Taking the reverse at New Plymouth in conjunction with the Opposition victory at Manukau some little time ago, it is necessary to go further than any question of a spat vote for the cause. Is the reason for the loss of the Taranaki seat not to be found in the disappearance of Mr Seddon from the political arena ? It is safe to say that if he had been alive the latter reverse would not have been suffered by the Ministerialists. We are quite prepared to believe that the Hon. J. Carroll made a good fight for the Government candidate, but Mr« Seddon would have made a better. There is also another consideration that must not be lost sight of. \y±<.u. the passing of Mr Seddon, the terrorizing influence of his Political personality is gone, and individuals and parties are now free to give play to their political consciences without fear of reprisal or punishment. ♦ ••■ ♦

This is a change in the political filiation that is making itself felt -Hi Jttje country and that was fairly 'reil&bed in the result of the Taranak^lection. The dominating and terrorizing personality of the late Premier having disappeared from politics, the issue has once more become one of measures, and it was ■solely on grounds of policy. that the Government was defeated. To a farming constituency, their land nolicy is not satisfactory. But above Hand .BB£aji^t>hisr, there is a feeling of jfil^ita $&Ksf^ iet throughout

the country because of the disposition of the Government to proceed to extreme lengths with experimental legislation, and more especially in the {>assing of labour laws that are heaviy penalizing both industry and the industrious. Even the thrifty working man is taking alarm at the disjpositi -v of the Gove -rment to m&ke successive further concessions to the labour agitator at a sacrifice of the best interests of the working classes. The agitator has had his day. If the Government continues to play to him, its downfall is a certainty, because the prevailing political sentiment throughout the country is a desire for industrial peace.