THE GREY SEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10824, 18 July 1913, Page 1

THE GREY SEAT.

YESTERD AY'S BY-ELECTION. CLOSE VOTING. SECOND BALLOT NECESSARY. MICHEL AND WEBB AGAIN GO TO POLL. [Per Press Association.] GREYMOUTH, July 17. Tho election to fill the vacancy in tho representation of tho Grey electorate in the Houso of Representatives | took place to-day. Tho weather was threatening, but did not interfere with tho pilling, which was very heavy. All the motorcars and vehicles on tho West Coast were pressed into service, and never before has tliero been such a collection ! of cars in Greymouth. i The result of the poll was announced as follows:—■ H. L. Mieliol, Government , 21G0 P. C. Webb, Labour . . 2074 , M. Hannan, Liberal ... . 1982 Figures for- individual polling booths have been received as under :

Totals . . . 213-5 2071 1954 There are only small country return* yet to come in, comprising about 70 votes and voters' permits, ivljieh total about 93, making 163 votes, which can hardly affect the result. A second ballot will bo necessary.

SPEECHES BY THE CANDIDATES. [Fbom Our Correspondent.] GREYMOUTH, July 17. At nine o'clock, when the result was beyond doubt, the three candidates addressed tho electors from the "Star" office, in front of which was a crowd of 2500 electors. Mr Michel, who was greeted with cheers and prolonged applause, said ho had most sincerely to thank the people of _ Grey for the splendid position in which they had placed him on tho poll. He realised that the coutest had been fought on distinctly political lines, and ..would noty nave had a ' Buckley s show against Mr Hannan. Ho realised that the votes, recorded for him had really been an expression in favour of the present Government, a recognition by the people of the district that the policy of the Government had been liberal and progressive, (Cheers and hoots.) He felt deeply grateful not only to the men and women who had voted for him, but also to the large number of people who had worked hard to bring about the result of the contest. The final issue would be fought out next week between the_ Government and the Federation of Labour—(renewed hoots and cheering)—and he hoped that the final lap would be fought out in the same good-natured way as the first heat had been. He felt that the electors had not only paid him a great compliment, but had shown a confidence in the present Government for which he sincerely thanked them. He concluded by calling for three cheers for the other candidates and for the Government.

Mr P. C. Webb was also greeted with loucl cheers. He said ho wished to express his great pleasure at the result of the poll, because it showed a great victory for Labour in the district. When the Government could only obtain 2000 votes in a district like Grey, it showed that the electorate would never again tolerate a Tory Administration. On this occasion the people of Grey had shown that they were in favour of a policy of progress, and not stagnation. He was also satisfied that the result would be looked upon throughout New Zealand as an indication whether the people would stand by a Government that only represented a minority, or by those who represented the majority—tin? workers. As to his opponents, he had nothing but what was pleasant to say. It haa been a clean fight, and. ho believed that it would be quoted throughout New _ Zealand. as an indication of advancing civilisation and a better order of things'for the workers. He had to thank his committee, all who had worker! for him, and also the returning officer (Mr B. Harper) for his courtesy and absolute fairness to all parties. Before another week had run out, Mr Michel and he would have another opportunity of placing before the electors the views of the parties they represented, and he sincerely hoped that the final would be fought as that day's contest had been—on political issues, and not on individual considerations in any shape or form. He thanked the electors of Grey on behalf of the workers for the great vote recorded in his favour, and lie hoped that next week he would again have occasion to do the same. It would have made little difference to him had he been at the bottom of the poll, because ho knew that in the end his cause must triumph, _ the cause of the workers and humanity. (Cheers and applause.) "Once "more," Mr Webb concluded, " let me thank you for the magnificent support you have given our cause, and may every man and woman in the electorate show next week whether they are in favour of the workers or the policy of the present Government," (Cheers.) Mr M. Hannan, on coming forward to speak was most cordially received, and loudly cheered. Ho said ho appeared before them ns a defeated candidate. (A voice: "Not yet.") Well, there were certainly some small results to come in, but he did not think they would affect the result. At nnyrato he would accept the position of being at the bottom of the poll. Ho had told the audienco at his last meeting that if defeated he would not be so much disappointed for his own sake as for that of his friends and supporters, who would feel the reverse much moro keenly than he did. Personally he would, perhaps, be much better out ot the House. Ho had come forward in interests of tlm Liberal party, and .Hd it not been for the splitting of ?otos between them and the Labour party he did not think the Government representative would have had a chance. (Loud applause). As ho had no further interest in (he election, except to record his vote at the second

ballot, he coukl do no moro than thank J those who had voted for and assisted i him during the election. He confessed | to a sense of disappointment that tho town of Greymouth had not given better support to the Liberal cause. Ho concluded amid loud cheering. THE GREY SEAT: ITS HISTORY. For thirty years the Grey scat has been held by a Liberal. At the general olection of 1881 the successful candidate was Mr Joseph Petrie, a staunch Progressive. At tho succeeding general election, held in July, 1884. when tho Atkinson Government, defeated in the House on a no-confi-dence motion, appealed to the constituencies, Mr (afterwards Sir Arthur) ■ Guinness entered the lists against Mr j Petrie, also as a Liberal, and succeeded , in displacing the sitting member by a • majority of 238 votes. Three years later the same candidates were nomi- i natcd, representing tho same interests j as on tho first occasion, and fought a j valiant fight for the honour of repre- j sonting Grey in tho popular Chamber, i Again honours rested with Mr Guinness, although his majority a . shrinkage, dropping to 186. In No- : vcMiber, 1890, was fought the sharpest ! political duel so far witnessed in the constituency, Mr Guinness's opponent being Mr W. H. Jones, also an avowed Liberal. After a short period of un- , certainty, however, it was found that ! victory lay with Mr Guinness, although ( by a very narrow majority, only 19 \ votes separating the two candidates, ; the figures being:—Mr Guinness 1109, Mr Jones 1000. Three years later the fight was a triangular one, Mr Guinness being onposed by Mr 11. Nancarrow and Mr'K. F. Bell both Progressives. • The result was an easy victory for Mr Guinness, who polled 2405 votes against 1016 cast for his two antagonists. At the general election held in November, 1896, Mr Guinness was again opposed by Mr R. F. Bell, but the contest resulted in a hollow victory for tho late Speaker, who secured 2653 votes against 788 cast for Mr Bell. When the nest general olection came round in December, 1899, Mr 'Guinness's opponent was Mr Michael Hanuan, the Liberal candidate on the present' occasion, who stood as an advanced Progressive, but once more Mr ' Guinness headed tho poll, scoring 2660 votes against 1874 cast for his opponent. In 1902 it was recognised that it j would be futile to oppose Mr Guinness ' with the idea of ousting him, and con- I seqtiently there was no party or sectional opponent, but in order to secure an effective local option poll the Prohibition Party nominated Mr F. W. Isitt. Mr Guinness added yet another to his list of successes, polling 2762 : votes against 618 given for Mr Isitt. In 1905 Mr Joseph Petrie, Mr Guinness's old opponent, once more entered the lists, again in the Liberal interests, , but the future Speaker had the advantage when the numbers were an- j nounced. polling 3080 against 2703 [ given in favour of Mr Petrie. At the general election held towards the close ! of 1908, the late Speaker's opponent was Mr J. Kerr, a Liberal, but the old campaigner found littlo difficulty in retaining the seat, winning by a com- j fortable margin of nearly 1100. For ; some timo previous to the general elec- j tion of 1911 the Conservatives spoke i of bringing out a candidate in opposi- j tion to Sir Arthur Guinness, but ulti- j .mately they decided not to do so. : However, Sir Arthur was not to be allowed a walk-over; as Mr P. C. Webb, a prominent leader of the advanced ( JiaSo^4\ipyenienit 4 ,.,wasnominated ior. the seat and conducted a vigorous campaign. But Grey did not turn its back on tho politician who had served it so long and well, Sir Arthur being re■turned by a majority of 1138, the figures being:—Sir Arthur Guinness 3677, Mr P. C. Webb 2539.

Michel. AVebb. Hamiau. Hinnu 5 7 17 Grey Comity Council 23 30 42 Kowamii 1 16 1 Roa . , . 15 3!) 9 Big River 5 23 28 Mawherariti , 7 1 7 Eapahoo 3 10 12 Courthouse , , 180 ,02 232 Globe nill 15 41 13 Barrytowu . . 5 21 33 Grsy Hospital . l->3 14 GO State Mine , , •2 8 5 Taylomllo 86 63 37 Reefton School . 75 43 69 Ikainattui 35 14 i S'3 Dunnollie 27 124 27 Lower Broadway (Reefton) 95 51 73 Reef ton Railway . . Reefton County C'ncil 80 5 14 190 109 146 Cobclsn . " . 167 135 119 Blackball , 5S 347 70 Blaketown . 73 •11 32 . Runanga 46 400 24 Blackwatcr ]2 .73 27 State Extension (2) 0 S3 7 Canoo Creek , 2 5 13 St Columbft 23 2G 212 Grey School , . 325 40 145 Waitahu . 11 4 19 Hukuwni , 2 51 7 Town Hall . 481 322 371 ITerrijigs 3 4