THE "NO CHANGE” ELECTION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 6, 8 February 1911, Page 44

THE "NO CHANGE” ELECTION.

The "No change’’ election, as it is called, eame to an end this week. A “No change” election is almost without precedent in political history. For oaee the pendulum failed to ewing. The coalition went out with a majority of 122 on the Veto policy; it comes back with a majority of 126. The Unionists hail this result as a

moral victory for themselves. But when the tumult ami shouting die down the plain facts of the situation may be expected to assert themselves. For the third time in succession the Unionists have been defeated at the polls. The issue before the eonntry this, time was narrowed down by both parties to the question of the House of Lords and its Veto. On that question the country has endorsed the Government’s policy by a majority of 126 votes in the House of Commons. If we take the number of votes cast for and against the Government policy at this election we find that the Coalition polled 2.804,644 votes and the Unionists 2.402,722, giving a majority for the Coalition of 401,922. By all theories awl precedents of representative government this means a victory for the Liberals’ Veto policy, and is a mandate from the country for its enforcement. Any other reading of the situation is anarchic, and makes representative government impossible. The Parliament (VetoJ Bill will be intr..di*ced as soon as the new Parliament meet* at the beginning of February. It is idle to propheey what the Lords will do with it, for no one knows. In the Liberal and Labour circles the general opinion, I believe, is that the Lord* will not venture to ignore so unmistakable a mandate aa that given for the Parliament Bill at the general elec-

tion. They will do well to pass ths biH, and probably they know that. Times have changed since that historie night in 1909 when the Lords threw out the Budget, and thereby sealed their own downfall. Ever since then they have been fighting a losing battle.