POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3434, 27 January 1912, Page 10

POLITICAL NOTES.

Writing on receipt of the news of the recent New Zealand elections in London, the Auckland “Herald” correspondent says:—l have not met a single New Zealander in London who has even pretended that the election results were no surprise to him. Anticipation regarding tiie second ballot was based chiefiy on the High Commissioner’s report from tiie Government and on the messages of the “Times” correspondent. The latter stated, immediately after the first ballot, that Sir John Findlay was almost certain to be defeated, but a later cable, published in the same issue, stated that Labor had decided to throw in its weight with Sir John, who would thus be saved from almost certain defeat. With that information to go upon, the New Zealand colony was quite unprepared for the news' that the Government had been defeated and'that both Sir John Findlay and Mr Fowlds were amongst the victims. Opposition supporters are, of course, jubilant.

Tho wisdom of continuing the organisation used so effectively for the support of Reform candidates in the general elect-inns,' was emphasised by Mr W. H. Herries, M.P. for Tauranga, at a social political gathering at Ellerslie. He said that though it-was improbable that there would be an election during tin’s year, it was possible that an emergency might demand the exercise of the enthusiasm, and the energy with which the campaign for reform was conducted last year. Ho urged that the organisation should not be allowed to fall to pieces, and that to. prevent this occurrence, and to maintain general and’active interest in politics, election committees should constitute themselves branches of the Political Reform League.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie, speaking at the driving of the. first pile of the new Ta-ieri mouth bridge, said that the matter of opening up country- districts by roads and bridges was, to his mind, more important than the * construction of railways. There was nothing more commendable than bringing the back districts into touch with the centres, lie was sure that no greater nor better work could have been done than had been done during the three years that he had been associated with the Ministry, and if they had the luck to continue that good work would be continued. If, however, others were to take over the reins of the country, ho could only express the hope that they would continue to carry on the good work. They had far too* much politics and not enough practical work, and politicians were the greatest drawback in the country. It was not the thistles nor the rabbits that were the nuisance, but the politicians. There were many tilings urgently needed, but what he would like to see established was colleges where the sons of. the country could be instructed in agriculture, and afterwards become workers on their soil-