THE LIBERAL VICTORY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12882, 24 September 1909, Page 4

THE LIBERAL VICTORY.

As was generally expected, the Rangitikei by-election has resumed in the return of the Liberal candidate, Mr R. W. Smith. While the voting at the first ballot was largely influenced — on the Liberal side at all "events— by personal favour, the second ballot was a straight-out party contest. The result is that the Liberal Party, which needs no reforming, has triumphed over the party which has reformed itselft and,, having abandoned its old errors, adopted "Reform" as a -battle cry. A consideration of the figures at both ballots is interesting, as shedding some light upon the way in which the electorate' reglwde the respective merits of the Liberal'tohd Opposition parties. One argument used by the latter againsi the second ballot was that, having already been put to the trouble of recording their votes, the electors would not trouble to go to the poll at the second ballot. Notwithstanding, higher figures were polled ,at some second ballots in the general election last year, than at the first. This has^ been repeated in the case of the K«ngitikei by-election, where there were 242 additional votes at the second ballot, the" totals being: First ballot, 4179; second ballot, 4421. That argument of the Opposition's against the second ballot has not, therefore, stood the test of experience. With regard to the party vote, the Opposition candidate polled 1548 votes at the first ballot in the ivangitiked by-election, and haa 2631 cast against him. He had, thus 1063 votes to come and go on for the second ballot, or, including the 242 votes which were not recorded at the first ballot, a total of 1325. How those 1325 votes were cast indicates the favour or otherwise in which the Rangitikei electors hold: the Government. An. analysis of the figures show thau the Opposition scored only 463 of. them. As some of the Liberal candidates at the first ballot stood' on an Independent ticket, and did not bind themselves to allegiance to the Government, it was only "to be expected that some of their supporters would vote for the Opposition at the second ballot, rather than for an administration with which they were not satisfied. Still 862 additional votes were cast for the Government at the second ballot, as against the 463 winch the Opposition gained. Another interesting comparison, as showing the Liberal spirit of * Rangitikei may be found in the majority of 399 scored by the Government candidate, as against the majority of 155 in 1908, and 247 in 1902. Mr Remington's huge majority of 1710 in 1905 can. haidly be taken for purposes of comparison, as it was largely made up of a more or less floating population, due to the large number of men then engaged upon the construction, of the Main Trunk Line, and who have since removed elsewhere. In congratulating Mr Smith upon his victory, we would like to compliment him and --s opponent, Mr Hockly, on the amicable way in. which they conducted the contest. We have also to express our pleasure at the loyal way in which the defeated Liberal candidates, Messrs Meldrum, Hornblow,- and Georgetti, stood by their party* and worked So* Ka*d to secure thevictory of a Liberal candidate. The. only jarriftg note in the campaign was the interference of the Leader of the Opposition, thus necessitating Ministers* — who ha-I previously studiously refrained from taking any part at all — coming up from Wellington to defend the Government from the unfounded aspersions cast Upon it. The result of the election is significant, as showing that the country is still shy of the Opposition, and does not trust/ a party whose alleged "Reform" is the transparent trick of abandoning its old platform, and appropriating the-. Government's. "