The Gret Triennl Battle.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XVI, 18 October 1902, Page 996

The Gret Triennl Battle.

Parliament is over, and members are season much more than when the Legisla-.* keen. Without the elections to stimulate not evaporate altogether. Now for the n-x- . of Parliamentary buildings: our ears will . field, and the papers will become stodgy wi-*

Heiss for the great triennial struggle. It is at this at public interest in polities may be said to be ■ime to time it is questionable whether it might will be living, as it were, under the shadow and counter cries of the candidates in the speeches.

THE STATE OF PARTIES AT THE LAST GENERAL ELECTION, DECEMBER, 1599. At the last general election of 1599 the Government returned to power with a greater majority than ever they had had. Of seats in the House they could claim to have captured 53. as against the Opposition's 19, and the two independent seats. Much interest was taken in the elections. 77.59 per eent. of those on the rolls recording their votes. Of male voters there were 210.529. or only 4244 short of the full number of adult males in the colony, as estimated for the day of the election. The males represented 79.06 per cent, of those on the rolls, as against 75.90 per cent, in 1596. Of womwn. while there was a larger proportion of the population registered as electors in 1599 than at the previous elections, actually a smaller proportion recorded their votes. This would seem to suggest a greater activity on the part of those who got the ladies’ names on the roll than a greater enthusiasm among the female eelctors to exercise their privilege. The election of 1*99 was the third occasion on which the women of New Zealand went to the poll.

OCCUPATIONS OF MEMBERS. The occupations of the members of the last Parliament showed a healthy preponderance of farmers and runholders. There were twenty of these, besides seven given as settlers or gentlemen. Of barristers and solicitors there were nine: the ranks of journalism supplied eight: and four came under the varied heading of mining advocate, interpreter, lecturer, teacher. So much for the profession. Commerce had fifteen representatives in the last Parliament, there being one auctioneer, one director of a financial company, one native agent, six representatives who were stationers. drapers, grocers or butchers, two iron merchants, two storekeepers, and one clerk or commission agent. There were three contractors, thirteen farmers, seven sheep-farmers or runholders. two builders or engineers. two tailors, and seven members who entered their names under the heading settler or gentleman. Tt will lx* admitted that the gathering was fairly representative of the different classes and occupations of the people. It is presumed, too. that it was equally representative of the intelligence of the community. Of that, however, rhe electors have had ample opportunity of judging, and they are now about to have rhe opportunity o' rectifying any error in that respect.

THE OPPOSITION OUTLOOK. Sir William Russell. the Leader of the Opposition, interviewed recently at Christchurch, said he did not think the session had been a particularly profitable one. The Government had not been in a particular hurry to do anything more than to get plenty of money to spend during the recess. Sir Joseph Ward managed the party capitally, but rather by avoiding difficulties than by getting over them. Sir William does not expect to see any great, change in the relative strength of parties after the election. The Opposition may win two or three seats, and there will probable be a larger number of members on the other side who will refuse to bow down on all occasion' be.ore mautocratic leader. There had keen more signs of independence during the present session, but they may have been due to the absence « f Mr. Seddon. He will be back for the elections. and it is Sir William Russell's opinion that so long as he has plenty of money to spend he will remain in politics. There is a strong feeling in Wellington, which Sir William confesses he shares, that Mr. Seddon does not intend to end his days in New Zealand.

THE PROHIBITION ISSUE. I here is every indication that greater interest than ever will be shown in the local option poll, which takes place on the same day as the polling for the election of members to the House of Representatives. Last election »he voting in connection with local option was slightly heavier than in the ease of the ordinary poll. 281,men and women voting at the licensing poll as against 279330 who voted at the other. Of the total rot ( ! g.-S-i.; were r.eordedgn favour of the continuance of existing licenses. 107.731 were for reduction, and were for no license.. In th:rt.-te en districts the majority of voters were in favour of continuance; in nineteen none of the proposals were carried: : :.d in one (Clioha) a sufficient majority of voters polled to secure prohibition. In twelve districts a majority of those who polled voted for prohibition, but no: the necessarv three - fifths required to carry that issue. The prohibition partv contend that a comparison of the figures relating to the licensing poll of 1899 and those relating to the poll of 1896 show conclusively that they are gaining strength, and they express themselves very sanguine as to the result of the coming struggle.