THE COMING BATTLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 81, 3 April 1908, Page 6

THE COMING BATTLE.

PB__?ARTNG FOR THE,, ELECTIONS^

THROUGH THE BAY OF PLENTY.

Asked by a - "Star" representative what the position was politically in the districts he has been visiting, Mr. Gallichan (secretary of the New Zealand Liberal and . Labour Federation) [ replied that there were rather a number of complexities, inasmuch as the redistribution of seats have affected the electorates very considerably.; The result has been the announcement of no less than nine candidates, eight of whom have stated their intention of standing in the Government interests. Mr. Gallich'an's mission to the .Bay of Plenty has been to assist in arriving at a proper understanding, and he states that the intending candidates were all amenable to reason, having the interests of the party at heart. It is therefore likely that the field will.be narrowed down to, two aspirants for the position of representative. A conference of the various Government supporters in the electorate is to be held, and the candidate considered to have the strongest claims will be selected, and duly announced as appearing under the Liberal banner. The supporters of the Liberal party are staunch in their fidelity to the policy and principles they avow, and there is no reason to doubt but that the selected Government candidate will receive the undivided and concentrated support of those in sympathy with the party. Speaking of the political aspect of the Auckland Province generally, Mr., Gallichan said that the outlook was decidedly, healthy. There is, he says, a decided tendency to support gentlemen who will stand in the interests of the Progressiva Liberal Party. It is more generally I realised that a great future lies in the • opening ■up and development of the North, and' this can only be achieved by those whose allegiance is bound to the Progressive party. From the observations he has been able to make, the general secretary of the Liberal Federation says he is convinced that the Liberal party will be even further strengthened after the' next general election. Mr. Gallichan expresses himself as highly delighted with the country which he has just traversed. Round Te Teko he considers there is a vast amount of country which, though not first class, is nevertheless suitable for settlements. From Te Teko to Whakatane much mag : nificent dairying country was passed through. in journeying on to Opotiki the weather was anything but favourable, and as the climatic conditions became more severe, the districts became flooded, and the party met with some exciting experiences. While crossing the Waiotahi River the horse attached to the buggy in which they were travelling was carried off its feet, and the occupants had the rather unique experience of being towed across the stream by a horse swimming for its life. Fortunately the animal was" a strong one, and the driver a capable man, or the adventure might possibly have ended more seriously. From Opotiki to Mo to the journey occupies a good day. There is a distance of seven miles still to complete before the connection is made between the two places. The country between Moto and Te Karaka, the railway terminus, was in flood, and the willow crossings were negotiated with great difficulty. Moto, Mr. Gallichan says, is a hive of industry. There is some splendid timber in the district and a sawmill is at work there. From Te Karaka to Gisborne the country is simply magnificent, and in his opinion it would be impossible to find anything better in New Zealand. When the willow crossings are bridged, and the seven miles of road between Opotiki and Moto completed, as well as the necessary bridges erected at AVhakatane and Tetaka, Mr. Gallichan thinks a new era of business life will spring into existence for these districts, and it will be possible to make one of the finest motor runs m New Zealand from Auckland to Gisborne.