THE WELLINGTON ELECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6126, 12 March 1898, Page 6

THE WELLINGTON ELECTION.

I [From our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, March 11. The interest and excitement in politics aroused by the recent election still continue, and the effect of the Government's defeat'is being discussed en . all hands. I met the Premier on his way to lunch this afternoon, and in the course of a short chat on the recent contest, he said that of course the Government felt considerably disappointed over the result, but practically, he continued, the election was won during the fourteen days or so which the Government party spent in selecting a candidate. During that period, he had been told, no fewer than five thousand votes had been promised to Mr Duthie; in all probability an exaggerated estimate, but nevertheless indicating considerable activity on the part of Mr Duthie's canvassers. The result of the election, he considered, does not affect the state of parties in the House, and he laughed heartily at the suggestion that it would injuriously affect the prestige of the Government in the country. At least one thousand of the votes cast for Mr Duthie were those of disaffected Liberals, -who had taken tliis means , to show their disapproval of the result of the ballot for a Labour candidate. As was to be expected, Mr Seddon refused to be drawn into any statement respecting the possibility of an early dissolution of Parliament and consequent appeal to the electorates. He f;ave a. laughing negative to ray query as b whether Ministers were reversing their policy and preparing one of a revolutionary progressive nature. " I'm not the man to rush off and tell the papers anything of that sort," he concluded, as he reached his house door.