OTAGO CONTESTS

FIRST SHOTS FIRED

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.")

DUNEDIN, This Day.

The first shots in the election campaign were fired this week with addresses by the Labour members forj Dunedin North (Mr. J. W. Munro) and Dunedin Central (Mr. P. Neilson), and by Mr. W. J. Meade, National candidate for Dunedin Central. Mr. Munro was the only one sitting member to open new ground when he hinted that probably secondary industries would in future be assisted financially as were the farmers. This could be done by buying out shareholders in the Bank of New Zealand and linking that bank with the xteserve Bank. Through the Chalmers electorate being now absorbed in Dunedin North, Dunedin Central, and Dunedin South, the voting will now be heavier in these three electorates, but with the exception of Dunedin North the alterations of the boundaries is not likely to have much bearing. With Port Chalmers now in Dunedin North, Mr. Munro will have a strong Labour vote from the seaport town. A portion of Taieri has been included in Dunedin South, and this being a farming community the Taieri vote is unlikely to go to the sitting member, the Hon. F. Jones. This electorate, especially South Dunedin itself, however, has always been strong for Labour. Dunedin Central, like the other three city seats, will be fought on purely party lines. This is Sir Charles Statham's old seat, and the National Party's candidate, Mr. W. J. Meade, a young Dunedin barrister, has good prospects of success against Mr. P. Neilson, the present Labour member. A keen contest is expected in Dunedin West between Dr. D. G. McMillan, who defeated the Hon. W. Downie Stewart three years ago, and Mr. T. K. S. Sidey, another young lawyer, son of the late Sir Thomas Sidey. Neither candidate has yet opened his campaign. Labour's strongholds would at present appear to be Dunedin North and Dunedin South. In the country the Nationalists, Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Central Otago) and Mr. J. A. M. Roy (Clutha), have as strong followings as last time. An Independent is contest-

ing Clutha against Mr. Roy and Labour, but cannot affect the sitting member's chance. Waitaki, Oamaru, Mataura, and Wallace are being contested on party lines, except that Mr. D. McDougall, the sitting member, is standing as an Independent for Mataura, although he has voted with the Government in the House.

Invercargill, where four candidates stood last time, has now three, one being an Independent. It would not cause surprise if the Nationalist, Mr. F. G. Hall Jones, defeats the sitting Labour member, Mr. W. C. Denham. Mr. J. Hargest has two opponents in Awarua. The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, is opposed by Labour for Wallace. Neither is likely to be unseated.

The Oamaru election, between the sitting member, the Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer, and Mr. F. E. Cooney,' Nationalist, an ex-Mayor, promises to be interesting.