THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2069, 19 October 1893, Page 20

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

(From Our Own Couukstondent).

Wellington, October 12,

I hear that the Premier has had sheafs of telegrams from Auckland urging him to offer himself for that fair city of the north. I daresay he feels it pleasant to find himself thus wooed, but a man of the other side put it to me to-day briefly thug:— "lt's all adjective bluff, and the game is being worked to choke off Opposition candidates." But this, of course, I can't accept.

October 15. Some barefaced roll stuffing has been detected by the registrar of electors.

October 16.

Election matters continue quiet, and locally there is but little apparent interest. The Opposition are understood to be organising wilh more energy and effectiveness than was supposed — a fact that is now in part associated with Mr Mitchelson's recent visit to tfie South Island.

Some ordinary, level-headed men say to-day that Mr Scobie Mackenzie is the coming man for his old district, and Oppositionists are delighted to learn that Mr Buckland will again offer himself for Manukau. This is a surprise indeed, for he more than once spoke from his place in the House as though when the session ended it would know him no more. Mr Buckland, with all his brusqueness and generally rough methods, is a very capable representative in committee, ■where his legal knowledge is felt and appreciated.

To-day I hear that even Mr Bruce may be induced to forego his wish to retire from political life, and sacrifice his desire for privacy upon the altar of party. Dr. Newman, at the Hutt, has committees of women all over the district, and he is working with all his characteristic alertness and energy, addressing meetings almost every evening. His opponent is making extraordinary efforts to win, and has behind him all the influence of the Government, but the dector is confident and his friends in no sense dismayed.

Then to-day Mr Duthie has given a conditional assent to his nomination for Wellington, and altogether her Majesty's Opposition are, I think, taking a mere hopeful view of their prospects than at any time since the X>rorogation. The Minister for Justice, the Hon. Mr Cadmau, left to-day for Wairarapa, and goes thence to Hunterville, and through to the Waikato electorate to address his new constituents. This district, with Lake Taupo almost in its midst, is about the largest electorate in the colony.

Of the various candidates for the Nelson seat, Mr Franklyn declares that he is in favour of the present Ministry with leanings to Mr Seddon as a leader. Mr Kerr says that he is not in favour of drastic legislation like that introduced by Mr Reeves, and shows a Conservative tendency. Mr Graham comes out as an independent candidate. There is uncertainty regarding him, but it is expected be will support the Liberal Administration. Mr Harkness, in a speech on Saturday night, claimed for the Opposition the carriage of woman's franchise. The Government party predict that the election ■will be between Messrs Kerr and Graham, and the latter is expected to win the seat.

Yesterday Mr B. Mitchelson arrived in Wellington from the south on his way to Auckland, where he is to begin the work ef the election. He will be a candidate for Eden, his present seat. Mr Mitchelson's opponents are Messrs J. M. Dargaville, M. Niccol, and Hunter.

A special meeting of the Trades and Labour Council was held last Saturday evening, when Mr H. B. Vogel, one of the candidates for Wellington City, delivered an address on the leadiDg political questions of the day.

lt is stated that Mr Charles Wallace, of Otaki, intends contesting the West Coast Maori seat. Mr Wallace is one of the most intelligent half-castes on the Coast, and was long an associate of Sir G. Grey's and Mr Sheehan's. Mr Broughton, of Patea, also intends to contest the seat.

It is said that there are between 14,000 and 15,000 names on the main roil for the city. Up to the present time about 900 persons have applied to have their names placed on the supplementary roll.

Auckland, Ostober li-

Mr Malcolm Niccol closed his address to the electors of Waitemata, at Devonporfc, last night by saying he would now anticipate a question which had been put to a candidate who had previously addressed the electors, doubtless to clear the way to put it to him. The question wa- : " Have you always paid 20s in the pound ? " There was a passage in his life which took place 15 years ago which he would be glad to relegate to oblivion. He had paid the penalty of his folly, and he thought 15 years' penance should be sufficient-. If it was nob, he simply lefc bitraelf in the hands of the electors. He wished to God he could say "Yes " to the question, but he could not. The past could not be undone. He had done his best to atone for it. If that was not enough he could do no more. — (Loud applause.)

Wellington, October 12,

The Hon. Mr Seddon has, after duo consideration, decided to stand for Westland, his present constituency.

Mr T. W. Hislop's name is mentioned as likely to contest Wellington, and a requisition to him is being signed.

Despite the wretched weather the Opera House was crowded to hear Mr Travers, one of the City candidates, express his views. He declared himself opposed to the Government, and criticised the financial policy adversely. He regretted the change in the incidence of taxation, and thought with a large surplus the Government should have reduced the duties on the necessaries of life to the lowest penny. He characterised the system of taking up waste lands as rotten, and said the should adopt a much more simple form. He opposed the lease in perpetuity, but favoured the deferred paymei t system as helping small capitalists. He would favour a grant to private schools where there was a sufficiency of teachers to impart to pupils secular instruction equal to the State standard. Religious instruction should be allowed in schools, but the State should only be asked to defray the cost of secular education. He was <juite in sympathy with the temperance movemont, and wh.la not prepared to go the length of th'i direct veto, would insist on the better regulation of the traele. The meeting broke up wi'hout passing a vote, except one of thanks to the chairman.

It is rumoured that the Opposition will brii'g out Messrs H. D. Bell, Duthie, and Waller Johnston for Wellington City.

The main roll for Wellington contains 13,000 name, and about 700 have been received since. s October 17. The date of the general election is yet unlived, excepting that it will not be later than 17th December.

_ The Premier has received a numerously signed and influential requisition from the electors of Wcstland begging him not to consent to offer himself for any other constituency, and pledging themselves to support him to the

utmost of their abiliLy under all circumstances and against any other candidate lor the suffrages of that constituency.

Sir Robert Stout is the guest of the Rev. C. S. Ogg. Mr Fitzgerald, editor of the Timaru Herald, has been requisitioned from Westland, but has not yet declared himself. It looks like a walkover for Mr Seddon, but there maybe a surprise in store.

Mr Duthie, in his published address to the electors, states that he is not desirous of continuing in political life, and wants it to be understood that if candidates of similar views come forward before the end of this month he should be allowed an opporturity of retiring. Christchurch, October 17.

Mr W. Boag, a candidate for Riccarton, gave his opening address to-night. He declared himself independent, opposed to interference with the education system or the present railway management. In regard to the liquor traffic, he stated that he held moderate views He was accorded a vote of thanks. Invercargill, October 11.

Afc a meeting of Wallace electors, held here to-night, it was resolved to invite Mr Cuthbert Cowan, formerly member for Hokonui, to contest the Wallace seat in the farmers' interests.

October 16.

The Invercargill Licensed Victuallers' Association, at a meeting to-night with the object of selecting a candidate to represent their interest, resolved — "That it is desirable to get a public expression of opinion from candidates for the representation of Invercargill re the Licensing Act before pledging the support of the association."

The Inangahua main roll contains 3063 name 3, of which 593 are those of women.

Sir Robert Sboub has addressed a farewell letter to the electors of Inangahua. He states it was impossible for him to oppose Mr Reeves, and though severing his connection with the district he will always have its interests at heart.

The Christchurch main roll is expected to have about 12,000 names on it.

Mr John Holmes, in a letter to the Christchurch Press, says the grounds of the political struggle now at hand are clearly marked out. On the one side are the Moderates, or honest Liberals, whose policy is to advocate progress without revolution, to give security to all citizens, to uphold liberty, equality before the laws, justice to all, and no class legislation, and to encourage the inflow, the saving and the investment of capital, and the consequent employment of labour. On the Government side, as shown by their political acts and words, are the Extremists and Communists, who advocate revolution with retrogression, who destroy all feelings of security by proposing schemes of tyranny over and robbery of the individual, who advocate unequal laws and restraint of men's liberty and violation of their natural rights, and who prevent the introduction and accumulation of capital by destroying all confidence in the stability and honesty of their legislation, and thus diminish the employment of labour All our policies and laws should be based on the Divine teaching that we should do unto others as we would they should do unto us. That is the basic creed of honest Liberalism. That is a political faith worth fighting for. It has justice and truth for its foundation. All men who hold that faith will oppose a Government who disregard it in every act they do and in every law they propose or pass.

Mr Hugh Gourley announces that he is a candidate for the City.

It is understood that there is a probability that Mr W. S. Mosley, of Inchclutha, will offer himself as a candidate for the Bruce seat.

There are fully 4500 names on the Chalmers electoral roll, and of these about 1000 are females.

It is estimated that there will be from 18,000 to 20,000 names on the main electoral roll for the City. In June last there were about 7000 names on the roll. The Cavfrsham main roll will contain something like 3000 names. On the roll printed in June last there were 1803 names.

The main roll for Oamaru will contain over 3500 names, the proportion of females being about 37 per cent.

The Oamaru Mail says rumour is still busy with the names of candidates, the latest mentioned being Mr Heber Newton, for Oamaru, and Mr John Reid, of Elderslie, for Waitaki.

Mr J. Gore is being invited to contest the city.

On Saturday a deputation of electors in the Waikouaiti district waited upon Mr James Green, county chairman, and urged him to stand for that electoral district. After talking the matter over, Mr Green mentioned that be had not made up his mind to offer himself, but as there seemed to be a very general wish expressed that he should come forward he left himself in their hands. The deputation stated that in that case they knew how to act, and that they would bring forward such a requisition as would leave no doubb on Mr G'een's mind as to how he should act, and that in the event of his standing they pledg j d themselves to do all in their power to secure his return.

Mr John Bryce, in an address in the Waikato Times, says : — "Meanwhile I am not a candidate for the district, and I think it right to add, however improbableit may ba under fche circumstances that I shall be a candidate for Waip^, ib is infinitely more improbable that I shall become a candielate for any other district in the colony at the next general election."

The Hon. W. Rolleston opens the Ellesmere campaign with an address at Akaroa on Wednesday evening.

Invercargill admirers of Mr Scobie Mackenzie are talking of inviting him to address the electors and let them hear the other side.

Mr W. S. Allen will not be a candidate for the Waikato, as the district is too extensive to canvass, and Mr Isaac Ooates will be put forward as a local man against Mr Cadman.

There are six candidates for the Ashburton seat— viz., Messrs C. W. Purnell, J. C. Wason, J. M'Lachlan, I. R. C. C. Graham, C. Waby, and R. M. Cuthbertson— three farmers, two lawyers, and a retired runholder.

Dr Frankish, one of the candidates for Christchurch, attempted to address the electors on Friday, but was subjected to a running fire of interruptions.

It is somewhat significant that after an experience of three sessions the editor of the Taieri Advocate has come to the couclusion that party government is a mistake. Our contemporary says :—"ldentification: — "Identification with a party means very often that good, horest, and conscientious men have some time to take a course directly opposite to their own convictions. If they take a firm attitude and act s\s they think best on an emergency they are at oiice placed in a position of peril. They run the risk of being discarded by the party to which, on the whole, they are attached aud worse than this, of being denounced by th*-ir own constituents as traitors to their party. Hero, then, is a pretty dilemma for the unfortunate representative to be placed in, If he avoids Scylla he is sure to fall into Charybdis. The more grit he shows, the moro he allows himself to be guided by considerations of prudence, patriotism, and principle the worse it is likely to be for him. Under these circumstances what wonder that party sometimes becomes stronger than principle, and men vote as they otherwise would not do ? All who study

politics know that the facts are as we represent them, and no wonder that there is a desire for change " Mr T. Patterson, of Ngapara, is opposing Major Steward for the Waitaki seat.

Mr E. G. Allen intimates that he is a candidate for the Chalmers seat

An effort is being made to bring forward a candidate for the Waikouaiti seat whose wellknown Liberal views, it is believed, will entitle him to the confidence of the party. The gentleman in question is considering the representations which have been made to him, and it is believed will agree to contest the election. At Invercargill yesterday the Registrar of Electors sought the direction of Mr Rawson, R.M., on the construction of sub section 2, section 6, of the Electoral Act. A man born in the colony, but who had t been out of it from 1888 to May this year," had applied to the registrar to be enrolled on a residential qualification, but the registrar was of opinion that a year's residence as defined in the act must be the 12 months before the statute came into force. Mr Rawson decided that 12 months' residence may have taken place at any period of life so long as the applicant was three months in the district in which he desired to register, and therefore instructed the registrar to accept the applicant's claim. It is stated that Mr A. Sligo has declined to accept nomination as a candidate for a City seat. The name 3of Messrs A Burt and N. Y. A. Wales are now mentioned as probable candidates.

Those whose names appear on more than one roll should remember that they have now only nine days in which to make election in which constituency they will vote

Mr John Duncan, of the Sounds, is mentioned as a probable candidate for the Wairau feat.

The Hon. W. J. M. Larnach thinks the Government gave £40,000 too much for the Cheviot estate.

At his meeting at Wellington Mr Travers said he was in favour of regulating the liquor traffic, but he "could not go the leugth cf agreeing to the veto by a mere inajorny of the people. — (A Voice : ' Will you not trust the people?') Well, the people were trusted by Pilate, and they cried out, ' C'ucify Him ! ' — (Applause.) He did not see how he could ba satisfied with the verdict of the raajirity. He was there that night to protest against the verdict of the majority in pu'ting the present Government in power."