DUNEDIN CENTRAL ELECTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14206, 8 February 1915, Page 4

DUNEDIN CENTRAL ELECTION.

The many supporters of the .Reform Party throughout thoCDominion will be gratified with the result of the, byi'lectiou for the Dunedin Central seat, and Mr (.-. K. Stuthnm is to be congratulated on winning a. weil-deserved victory. No doubt Mr Statham "s sportsmanlike attitude in resigning to recontesl. the. seat when it was found that his opponent lost lhe seat through irregularities in the general election contest, created a favourable impression iv favour of: the Reform candidate. The victory is all the more creditable when it is considered that it was gained in spite of the assistance rendered to the Opposition candidate by Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. J. T. Paul. M.L.C., Mill. D. Bedford, Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., and the various Liberal and Labour leaders of Dunedin. On the other hand Mr Statham declined the. assistance of the Prime Minister and others, thus displaying a commendable indVpendenee which, it may be presumed, gained votes for him ou polling day. Both sides fought strenuously, but, We are glad to note, without bitterness. and personalities were studiously avoided, if, was a fair light between 'Reform and Opposition thereto, and, in our opinion, the best side won. In the event of 'the Hawke's Bay. Bay of Islands, Taumaruuui and Northern Maori members remaining as at present, (he Government will have a majority of two, which is not an altogether satisfactory working majority when the election of a speaker from the Reform ranks is taken into consideration. Opinion is much divided as to whether Mr Massev should try to carry on the business of the country with this slender majority, but there are not wanting signs that he will make the attempt.