THE NEW ZEALAND ELECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2399, 14 January 1909, Page 5

THE NEW ZEALAND ELECTIONS.

AN AUSTRALIAN VIEW. THE PREMIER’S TASK Tho New Zealand elections hnve left the Government (says the “Pastoralists’ Review”) with an ample majority, the.gain to the Opposition being inconsiderable in numbers, and no more than was inevitable when one party has held power for so long. Nevertheless the Government has been weakened by the elections, and more so than was expected. An actual majority of the new House lias declared'at tlie hustings in favor of freehold tenure, which means allowing tlie present leaseholders to turn themselves into freeholders, whereas tlie maintenance of the leasehold against (lie freehold has been a point of policy with the Government party over since tho, days of Mr Ballancc. AVhat the “outcome of this situation will *l>o remains to be seen.'' The -Ministry have also suffered a personal loss in the defeat of their Minister of Lands, Mr McNab, and the return to his old haunts of so active and irreconcilable an opponent v.is Mr T. E. Taylor 'will make a difference in tin? tone of tho House. Women lmvo taken a very active part in the election, and No-license lias distinctly gained ground, but the general trend of the elections is towiirds a more conservative policy. New Zealand has been the most legislated-for country in the world for the last eighteen years, and the changes have been so violent and radical that other countries will be interested in witching ihow the Dominion settles down to an ordinary work-a-dav policy, >md how she feels when no further big legislation is possible. Up to the present tlie rich man lias been given notice to quit. The’ next turn of the screw will be for tho man of moderate income, who will be harder to deal with, as bo will have more friends. (Sir Joseph Ward is a man of infinite tact, and he will need it all to keep tilings pleasant for those who have been accustomed as victors to have plenty of spoil.