IN CANTERBURY.

SOME SURPRISES LIKELY.

SEVERAL SEATS IN DOUBT

WOMAN CANDIDATE'S CHANCE,

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

CHRISTCHURCH, this day.

It is regarded as a certainty that the Prime Minister will retain the Hurunui seat by a huge majority, although the Labour candidate, Mr. R. J. Logan; Who is conducting a vigorous campaign, may secure every available Labour vote: There is an open contest in Kaiapoi between Mr. R. W. Hawk'e, the sitting Coalitionist, and the Rev. J. K. Archer, the. ex-Mayor of Christchurch. Mr. Archer - has had encouraging meetings, with one notable exception, in the farming portions of. his electorate, and.'it is considered that he has a fighting chance. Mrs. McCombs May Win. C'hrjstchurch North may make history. It has been regarded as a good safe Reform seat since - Mr. Isitt's retirement in 1925,. but Mrs. Elizabeth R. McCombs (Labour) is conducting a campaign which is attracting uncommon interest. She has been well received everywhere. Mr. Henry Holland, the sitting Coalitionist, has also received strong support at a series of meetings. The third candidate, Mr. L. C. Walker (Independent) is expected to poll fairly heavily, thereby improving Mrs. McCombs' chances. In' Avon, Mr. D. G.' Sullivan, the Labour Mayor of Christchurch, who has never been more popular, is opposed by Mr. H. R. Young (Coalitionist), and it will not be surprising-if- Mr.., Sullivan again secures the - record New Zealand majority. • In Christchurch East, Mr. H. T. Armstrong, the sitting Labour member, is opposed by Mr. G. F. 'Allen (Coalitionist) whose chances are not considered bright. There is much Speculation concerning Christchurch South, where Mr. E. J. Howard, the sitting Labour member, is opposed by Mr. C. W. ■ McCiilly (Coalitionist), who three years ago was only 433 votes behind in a three-cornered contest. However, in the present straightout'fight'Mr. McCiilly is meeting with considerable hostility 1 in'his campaign, and; it is, possible .that Mr. Howard may be first past the post. , ■ v . Mr. McCombs May Lose Seat. •' Mr. J. McCombs (Labour), who has had many hard fights in Lytteltori, has only one opponent, Mr. F. W. Freeman (Coalitionist), a popular Christchurch engineer. - It is confidently predicted by many that ' Mr. McCombs will be unseated.' Riccarton, a big. electorate composed partly of farming areas,. and. partly .of fashionable residential suburbs, such as Fendalton, has a three-cornered' contest. Mr. H. S. S..Kyle,. the sitting Coalitionist, is opposed by Mr. A. -A. McLachlan, an Independent, who has promised to Support the Coalition, and Mr. G. T. Thurston, official Labour candidate. Each of the tliree is confident of victory, but it seems likely that Messrs. McLachlan and' Thurston will each "poll so well as to ensure Mr. Kyle's, return.

': Fight for Hon. D. Jones. • . . •-j, i ■ " > ■ • ' The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. IX Jones, is being opposed in Mid-Canter-bury by Mr. J. Connolly (Independent Coalitionist), who finished only 55 votes behind; three years ago-when there Were four in the field, Mr. Hiram Hunter, a last-minute nominee of the Labour party, and Mr. R. W. Wightman, an Independent.. The fight rests between the Minister and Mr. Connolly, and it is anticipated that there will be little between the pair when the final figures go up. It is Mr. Connolly's 'third attempt to oust Mr. Jones, and his supporters have never been so confident 'as oil' this occasion. ; . Three years ago iii Temuka only 86 votes separated Messrs. T. D. Burnett (Coalitionist) and. T. H. Langfoid (Independent Liberal), and in the present contest it - depends largely on a popular swing towards the Coalition whether Mr. .Burnett will hold the seat. In Timaru it is believed that a straightcrat. fight would result in defeat for the sitting Labour member, Mr. Clyde Carr, but in the present campaign, with two Independent Coalitionists, Messrs. H. N. Armstrong and H. W. Hall splitting the anti-Labour vote, Mr. Carr's return would seem to be assured. Labour supporters in Waitaki are. hopeful that Mr. A. M. Paterson will unseat the sitting Coalitionist, Mr. J. Bitchener. The Labour candidate is popular in the district and a fluent speaker, and his chances are enhanced by the fact that Mr. G. S. McKenzie (Independent Coalitionist) is campaigning with fair success. ■' Labour Leader Assured. ; Mr. H. E. Holland; Leader of the Labour party, is certain to defeat Mr. J. Menzies, who is carrying the Coalition banner in Buller. Mr. J. O'Brien, the sitting . Labour member in Westland, unseated Mr. T. E. Y. Sed'don (United) by 189 votes in 1&28, and in the present campaign he is pitted against Mr. J. W. Greenslade (Coalitionist), the popular Mayor :of Greymouth. .A close contest is expected, and if the Coalition is generally popular Mr. O'Brien may lose his seat. • In Wairau, Mr. E. F. Healy (Coalitionist) was highly popular, by reason of his fight for the continuation of -work on . the South .Island Main - Trunk railway, but it is stated that his popularity has waned in consequence of Jiis,acceptance of endorsement as official Coalition candidate. Mr. E. Meahen, the Labour candidate, may poll substantially, and Mr. W. J; Girling, ex-Reform member for the district, and now. an Independent, is also expected to do well. Should Mr, Healy be deserted by those who place the railway before all other considerations Mr. Girling might recapture the seat. - , Labour's Debut in Oamaru. The position in Oamaru is complicated at this election by the appearance of a Labour candidate, Mr. Percy Malthus, a farmer and former lighthouse-keeper, who is standing in opposition to the sitting Coalitionist. Mr.- J. A.' Macpherson, and Mr. J. Kirkness, an Independent Coalitionist, who has been nominated by members of the local Reform party executive. It is anticipated that Mr. Malthus may take. about a. thousand votes from the Coalitionist. However, as Mr. Macpherson is the choice of the Coalition leaders it is expected that, despite some. Reform backing .for the Independent, he will be accorded practically the whole of the United vote, and ■sufficient of the Reform vote to give 1 1)} m & email majority.