Canterbury roads worst
A motorist who recently made the trip to Dunedin has suggested to a Christchurch writer that the south road from Christchurch should be more clearly indicated at corners. He wishes others to know that they should avoid travelling through Burnham, and take the Ellesmere road route. He is of opinion that the worst portion of road in the South Island is between Bankside and Rakaia; he goes further than that, and states that the Canterbury roads are the worst in the South Island. Leaving Ashburton he went through Hinds, which road was not only shorter, but just as good as the Maronan road.
New Parliament takes shape
It seems probable that the country will have yet to wait two or three days longer before the results of the general election are determined sufficiently to indicate what the actual strength of parties will be.
As matters stand, there are six seats which, on the present figures, have been lost to the Government by a total in all of 202 votes. Given these seats, the Reform Party would have been a homogeneous combination of 44 members, exceeding by eight all other parties and groups combined. This shows quite clearly that it is only by a small margin of votes, averaging about 34 over the six constituencies, that the Reform Party missed what would have been a triumphal success. Even if it does not gain any of the half-dozen seats the destination of which is at least possibly doubtful, the Government commands 38 votes or very nearly one-half of the entire House. Against it are the Liberal Party, not homogeneous, of 19, the Labour Party a solid phalanx of 17, three Independents, two Independent Liberals, and one Independent Labour member.
Though there are 42 members of the House who are not Reformers, there is no combination of them that can be effected in order to defeat the Government. The Liberals could assume office only with the support of the Labour Party and could hold office only by leave of the Labour Party. — ODT, 10.12.1922
Compiled by Peter Dowden
