The New Zealand elections were held on Thursday week, Final
results in 47 constituencies gave the Opposition 25 to the Government's 22, an Opposition gain of four. In 33 con- stituencies second ballots will be necessary, and three Maori constituencies will poll next month. The Government majority in the last Parliament was 28, and it will probably (the Times correspondent says) be reduced more than pro- portionately by the second ballots. The most remarkable fact is the gain of Labour. In the last Parliament Labour had only one seat; it has now six candidates in the second ballots, and three have a good chance of being returned, while in seven other constituencies Labour is second on the poll. It is probable that the Government majority ultimately will not be more than about ten. A Referendum on the proposal for the total prohibition of the liquor traffic was held at the same time as the elections. The voting was 265,864 for and 202,608 against. Is a two-thirds majority is necessary the proposal fails, but the great increase of opinion favourable to total prohibition is unmistakable.
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