The General Election.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXV, Issue 3944, 24 November 1908, Page 2

The General Election.

The second ballots rendered necessary by the Act of last session in connection with the General Election where no candidate secured an absolute majority of the votes polled are being held today. The following is a list of the districts concerned, and the first and second candidates, with the number of votes polled by each at the first ballot: — NORTH ISLAND.

Waitemata:L. R. PhillippsO, 2947, W. J. Napier G, 2038. Total votes polled 5932. Ohinemun: H. Poland G, 2091, F. H. Haselden 0, 1259. Total votes polled 4607. Bay of Plenty: W. D. S. McDonald G, 2409, J. Gow, O, 19G4. Total votes polied 5274. Gisborne: Hon. J. Carroll G, 3437, G E. Darton L, 203 G. Total votes polled 6912. .

Hawke'sßay: Sir W. R. Russell O, 1659, A. Dillon G, 1518. Total votes polled 5795. Bjjmont: R. Dive 0, 1618, G. P. Wake G, 1355. Total votes polled 4695.

Wr.nganui: J. T. Hogan G, 3014, G. Hutchinson O, 1850. Total votes polled 6555. Pahiatua: R. B. Ross G, 1839, J. C Co.iper O, 1239. Total votes palled 5424.

Palmerston: D. Buick O, 2675, W. T. Wood G, 2G26. Total votes polled 5424.

Manasvatu: E. Newman O, 2100, J. Stevens G, 1794. Total votes polled 4457. Oroua: I). H. Guthrie O, 22(7 O. C. Pleasant G, 1369. Total votes polled 3461. Wellington-Nqrth: A. L. Herdman O, 3363, F. G. Bolton G, 2354. Total votes palled 8198. Wellington East: A. R. Atkinson 0, 2400, D. McLaren L, 1741. Total votes polled 6512.

Wellington South: W. H. P. Barber G, 2588, R. A. Wright O, 2340. Total votes polled 6404. Wellington Suburbs: J. P. Luke G, 2182, J. E. Fitzgerald G, 1903. Total votes polled 6625. SOUTH ISLAND. Nelson: J. Graham G, 2871, H. Atmore G, 2658. Total votes polled 5823. Hurunui: G. W. Forbes G, 2027, O. F. Clothier O, 1359. Total votes polled 4225. Avon: G. W. Russell I, 2186, W. W. Tanner G, 2162. Total votes polled 6565. Ashburton : F. R. Flatman G, 2293, W.'Nosworthy O, 1336. Total votes polled 5604. Geraldine: T. Buxton G, 1683, W. Jeffries O, 1627. Total votes polled 4091.

Timaru: J. Craigie G, 2573, W. D. Campbell O, 2457. Total votes polled 7418.

Chalmers: E. G. Allen G, 2556, E. H. Clark G, 2463. Total votes polled 5121.

Dunedin North: A. R. Barclay G, 3384, G. M. Thomson O, 3066. Total votes polled 6982.

Tuapeka: J. A. McPherson G,. 1544, R. Scott O, 1441. Total votes polled 4283.

By Telegraph.—Press Association Christchurch, Last Night.

The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Labour, informed a reporter that he had a few days' work to do fixing up matters after the election, and would return in the latter part of this week, or the beginning of next, in order to be back time to see the lion. W. Hall Jones off from Wellington by the Corinthic, on December 3. As many as possible of the members intended to gather there. The Minister declined to say anything about probabilities with regard to the vacancies in the Cabinet. Referring to Mr McNab, he said that his defeat was not altogether unexpected, and added, "You never know when a byelection may take place," but he indicated that he had not heard of anything of the sort as likely to happen. It was impossible for him to say much about the second ballot, but he thought the Government had a good prospect of winning 16 more seats, and as it had practically lost nothing now, it would feel quite contented. Mr Massey had not been at all pleased with either the number of representatives returned, or the proportion of the voting. Mr Miller remarked upon the requests made to the Prime Minister to deliver a speech before the second ballot. He said that he did not think it likely that he would speak, as it was quite impossible to do so in all the electorates where a second ballot was necessary. As Mr Massey had set a different fashion by speaking in Wanganui, it was possible that Sir Jospeh Ward might change his mind. Ministers had made up their minds not to interfere at all with the situation during the week so he (Mr Millar) had no present intention of speaking in Dunedin, but he may do so if circumstances made it advisable.