THE RESULT OF THE GENERAL ELECTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 50, 14 December 1899, Page 3

THE RESULT OF THE GENERAL ELECTION.

The result of the General Election upset the calculations of the political prophets, and the man who said ' I told you so ' was not even in evidence the day after the contest. The election resulted in an overwhelming majority for the Government, the reduction of the Opposition to a feeble minority, and the almost total annihilation of that party called the Left Wing — a noisy little group that will ' never be missed.' From a precarious majority of six among the European members in a Houee of 70, the Government have increased their strength to a majority of about 30. The state of parties in the new Parliament will be — Ministerialists, 49 ; Opposition, 19, with two electoral contests yet to take place. As Mr. J. Hutoheson has practically thrown in his lot with the Opposition, the only representative of the Left Wing is the creator of the party — Mr. Pirani, his trusty lieutenants, Messrs. Kelly, Taylor, and Smith, having suffered defeat. A feature of the election was the rejection of some of the most prominent Opposition men in favour of candidates practically without any claims on the constituencies Bave that they declared themselves in favour of the Liberal policy. Among these may be mentioned Mr. W. C. Buchanan (Wairarapa), Mr. Scobie Mackenzie (Dunedin), and Mr. Rollestou (Riccarton). The surprise of the election was the rejection of Mr T. E. Taylor in Christchurch, where it was supposed his seat was quite secure owing to the solidity of the Prohibition party, and the support which was due to him by the Opposition for his work in trying to bring the Ministry into disrepute. Two promising young politicians, from whom much was expected, were also unfortunate, namely Messrs. Montgomery and O'Rsgan. The former lost his seat to an anti-Ministerialist, and the latter to a Government follower. The surprise of the contest, from the individual standpoint, was the return of Mr. George Fisher, who is to-day, as he had often been before, one of the chosen of the Empire City. The quidnuncs said he had not the remotest chance of success ; he was not the selected of any party ; he played a lone hand, addressed but few meetings, and spent but nine shillings altogether on the contest — a record for the Colony. His return was no doubt all the pleasanter when he learnt that Mr. Taylor was not to occupy the seat immediately in his rear in the new House, where the late member for Christchurch worried him with ' asides,' which never reached the Speaker's ears. Another feature of the election was the rejection of nearly all the 'Independent' candidates ; evidently the time has not yet arrived for the doing away with party government in this Colony. The Jiabitues of the gallaries will miss the rapier-like thrusts of the late senior member for Dunedin, but they will have some consolation in knowing that the redoubtable Mr. ' Ironsand ' Smith in all the glory of a white vest, bell-topper, and the most pronounced of ' buttonholes,' will be present to keep the House in good humour.

CALLINGS AND PBOFEhSIONS.

In making a rough estimate of the callings and professions of the new House we find there is a pretty general distribution, but that of farmer or runholder predominates. The following are the various callings or professions represented : — Farmers or runholderß, 21 ; solicitors, 9 ; journalists, 7 ; storekeepers, 4 ; contractors, 3 schoolmasters, 3 ; merchants, 2 ; and one each of the following :—: — Native interpreter, livery-stable keeper, estate agent, clothier, tinsmith, mining agent, newspaper proprietor, sailmaker, clicker, bootmaker, stationer's assistant, lecturer, gasfitter, bookseller, master mariner, sawmiller, salesman, auctioneer, and butcher. Taking the members according to the countries of their birth we find that about 20 of them were born in England, 16 in New Zealand, 14 in Ireland, 10 in Scotland, 4 in Victoria, 2 in India, 1 in Tasmania, and 1 in South Australia. The following is a list of the members elected last week, including the name of Mr. Field, returned for Otaki, and who died on Friday :— AUCKLAND. Bay of Islands — B.M.Houston ... ... G Marsden— R. Thompson ... ... ... G Waitemata— R. Monk ... ... ... 0 Eden— J. Bollard ... ... ... 0 City of Auokland.(thre.e;members)— W. J. Napier^} i.°""»» ... ... ... G G. Fowldsak|s£^ ... ... ... G W. Crowther 55=2... ... ... 0 Manukau— SiriG. M. O'Rorke ... ... G Thames— J. M'Gowan ... ... ... G Ohinemuri— Jackson Palmer ... ... G Parnell— F, Lawry ... ... ... G

Franklin— W. F. Massey ... ... ... O Bay of Plenty— W. H Herries .. ... O Waikato— F W.Lang ... ... ... O Waiapu—J. Carroll ... ... ... G HAWKE'B BAY. Hawke's Bay— Captain W. R. Russell ... ... O Napier — A. L. D. Fraser ... ... ... G Waipawa— C. Hall ... ... ... G TARANAKI. Taranaki — E. M. Smith ... ... ... G Hawera — F. M'Guire ... ... ... O Egmont — W. Symea ... ... ... G WELLINGTON. Wanganui— A. D. Willis ... ... ... G Patea— G. Hutchison ... ... ... O Pahiatua— J. O'Meara ... ... ... G Palmerston — F. Pirani ... ... ... LW Manawatu — J.Stevens ... ... „ ... G Masterton — A.W.Hogg ... ... ... G Wairarapa — J. T. M. Hornsby ... ... G Otaki— H. A. Field ... ... ... G Wellington City (three members) — J. Hutcheson ... ... ... LW A. R. Atkinßon ... ... ... O G. Fisher ... ... ... G Wellington Suburbs— T. M. Wilford ... ... G NELBON, MABLBOEOTJOH, AND WESTLAND. Nelson City— J. Graham ... ... ... G Motueka — R. M'Kenzie ... ... ... GBuller — J. Colvin ... ... ... G Wairau—C. H. Mills ... ... ... Q Westland— Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon ... ... G Grey — A. R. Guinness ... ... ... G CANTERBURY. Ashley— R. Meredith ... ... ... G Eaiapoi — D. Buddo ... ... ... G Riccarton— G.W.Russell ... ... ... G Avon— W. W. Tanner .. ... ... G Selwyn— C. A. C Hardy ... ... ... O Christchurch City (three members) — W.W.Collins ... ... ... G C. Lewis ... ... ... O H. G. Ell ... ... ... LW Ellesmere— R. H. Rhodes ... ... ... O Ashburton — J. M'Lachlan ... ... ... G Geraldine — F. R. Flatman... ... ... G Timaru — Hon. W. Hall-Jones ... ... G Waitaki— Hon. W. J. Steward .... ... G OTAGO. Oamaru — T.Y.Duncan ... ... ... G Waihemo — Hon. J. M'Kenzie ... ... G Waikouaiti — E.G.Allen ... ... ... G Dunedin City (three members) J.A.Millar ... ... ... G J. F. Arnold ... ... ... G A. R. Barclay ... ... ... G Caverßham — A Morrison ... ... ... G Taieri— W. C. F. Carncross ... ... G Bruce — J. Allen ... ... ... O Tuapeka — J. Bennet ... ... ... G Clutha—J. W. Thomson ... ... ... O Wakatipu — W. Fraser ... ... ... O Mataura — R. M'Nab ... ... ... G In ver car gill — J. A. Hanan... ... ... G Awarua — Hon. J G. Ward ... ... G Wallace— M. Gilfedder ... ... ... G STATE OF PAETIES. Government... ... ... ... 49 Opposition ... ... ... ... 19