The Elections.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4813, 29 November 1893, Page 2

The Elections.

{From the Lyttelton Times.) The general election of 1893 is now over, and the result has more than realised our most sanguine expectations. The issue before the people was whether the Liberal Government . should be continued in power or should be displaced by a Conservative Ministry. For the first time in the history of the Colony, this issue was submitted to a truly popular tribunal, unhampered by*" any condition as to sex. Many were the hopes and fears kindled by the calculations and speculations as to how the womanhood vote would affect the strength of political parties. Not a few Conservatives supported the women's suffrage movement in the confident expectation that the conservatism of women m social and religious matters would be actively exerted in the political sphere. Not a few Liberals feared that clerical influence and social glamour would capture the womanhood vote on behalf of Opposition candidates. As the election contest proceeded, the Liberals became more confident, while the Conservative organs could only indulge in vague hopes and settle down to "expect the unexpected." Well, the unexpected (so far as they are concerned) has happened. The womanhood vote has not in the slightest degree helped the Conservative cause. The constituences are not less Liberal, but all the more so, because of the extension of the franchise. "The leap in the dark," has been indeed a leap into the light of full and free Liberalism. A truly progressive measure of political emancipation has prepared the way for still more advanced legislation, with the all but unanimous endorsement of the people of the Colony.

j Never waa there a more emphatic verdict returned at the polling booths j than that which was recorded yesterday. In nearly every constituency, Opposition or Independent candidates j were challenging the Government ! policy and inviting the electors to declare for a change of Ministry. The issue was clearly placed before the people, and they fully understood for what and for whom they were I voting. Each party to the struggle i fought with determined vigour. The Opposition put forth its full strength and denounced the Government and all its works with a violence and J virulence almost unprecedented. And j the result of all the Conservative ' efforts has been utter and ignominious

defeat. It is not so much a victory aB a slaughter. The leader of the Opposition has fallen before a young and untried politician ; a similar fate has overtaken the Hon Gt. E. Eichardson, who was qualifying for the poat of Colonial Treasurer in Mr Holieston's Ministry; and the rank and: file of the party has heen terribly thinned. To all intents and purposes the old Opposition party has ceased to exist. It has a few possible Parliamentary leaders in the persons of Captain Russell, Dr New- j man, Messrs Mitchelson and George Hutchison; but there are not sufficient to form a Ministry, while there is no •• following " whatever. It is too soon .to speculate upon future probabilities. Whether the Illiberal phalanx -will break into two divisions, or whether it will give a practical exemplification of how well the Colony's affairs could be managed if party government —ere abolished, must be left to the evolution of time and circumstances. Those Oppositionists who professed to have discovered that party government was most objectionable, nevertheless conducted the election contest on extreme party lines. Doubtless their wisl^ was that there should be but one party in the State, and that the Conservative Party. The electors thought differently. The source and fount of political power has decided that if there is to be one party it shall be one of advanced Liberalism. The people have given most emphatic endorsement to the Liberal policy of the past three years, and have given equally emphatic warrant for a pursuance of that policy in the future. That this result has been attained in the face of superior wealth, social influence and concentration of energy on the part of the Conservatives, in spite of malignant personalities and wild misrepresentation of the Government policy, and notwithstanding the fact of Ministerial candidates competing with each other in many constituencies, is a magnificent testimony at once to the soundness of the Liberal principles and to the intelligence and staunch loyalty of the electors.

On the whoie, the election has brought about a considerable alteration in the personnel of the House of Representatives, and that change is, we think, for the better. It has, at the same time, added to the strength of the Liberal party led by Mr Seddon, and given a guarantee of an extended regime of progressive legislation and sound administration. That the womanhood vote contributed to these results cannot be doubted. Electors of all. classes have our warmest congratulations upon the way in which they attended at the polls in discharge of the highest duty of citizenship. The ease and comfort with which the women electors recorded their votes ought for ever to dispose of the contention that they require some different treatment from men as to the manner of exercising the franchise. We felicitate the people upon the splendid victory that has crowned their loyalty to principle, and we congratulate Ministers upon the overwhelming evidence that haa been given that they possess the confidence of the people.

The Parliamentary situation created by the practical annihilation of the Opposition party casts a 'very grave, responsibility upon the Liberal Government and its supporters in the House. They will have to carry on their legislative and administrative functions without the often useful check supplied by Opposition criticism, suggestion and argument. On the other hand there is ample compensation in the knowledge that obstruction being minimised, progress will be more rapid and Parliamentary amenities more rational and pleasant. With an Upper Chamber brought into harmony with the popular will, there may even be a danger of legislation going on too rapidly. But this is no time to anticipate difficulties, especially as there is in Parliament a strong leaven of practical sense and moderation that will prevent any crudities or extravagances of legislation such as might flow from too generous impulse, or over-ardent zeal for reform. The present is a time for hearty rejoicing over the final downfall of the party of privilege and class legislation in New Zealand. The future may well be trusted to the Liberal Government and party, who have worked such great reforms during the past three years, despite the unscrupulous and unpatriotic attempts of the Conservatives to oust them from power by misrepresenting their policy and decrying the credit of the Colony. Since there is to be but one party in the new Parliament, it is gratifying to know that it is the truly national, patriotic and progressive party. Having this assurance, we can face the future with hope, courage and confidence.

The following list shows tiie constitution of the new House of Bepresentatives :— Ministerialists (52). Houston Pirani Thompson Stout O'Eorke Tanner Lawry Joyce M'Guire Montgomery Willis , Eussell, G. W. Stevens Eeeves Collins M'Gowan Harris Cadman Kelly Carroll Graham Mills Buick Guinness . Smith, G. J. Saunders M'Lachlan Maslin Flatman Meredith Cornell Buddo Hall Hall-Jones Hogg Steward Smith, E. M. M'Kenzie, J. O'Began Duncan M'Kenzie, E. Millar Seddon Pinkerton Hutchison, W. M'Nab Morrison Ward Carncrosa Kelly Pyke M'lntoah Oppositionists (15). Monk Wilson Mitchelson' Duthie Crowther Bell Button Newman Lang ' Allen Captain Eussell Mackenzie, T. Buchanan Fraser Hutchison, G. Independents (3). Grey Earnahaw Green The returns for the four Maori seats are not yet available. • I