THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 245, 13 October 1908, Page 4

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

THE CITY WEST SEAT. THE MATOR REQUESTED TO CONTEST IT. DECLINES TO ENTER THE CAMPAIGN. A representative deputation of electors of City West waited on his Worship the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. A. M. Myers) yesterday, with a request that he should contest the City West seat at the coming election. In reply to the deputation, his Worship said that though he felt flattered by the request, he could but repeat his previous decision to confine his attention for some months ahead to the carrying out of the undertakings which had been engaged upon by the City Council. He specially referred to the drainage scheme. He considered it his duty to the city to give the works referred to all the attention at his command. It had been largely at the desire of representatives of suburban local bodies that he had stood for the present term of the mayoralty, and now that the Drainage Bill had been passed, it seemed to him that it was clearly his duty to devote the remainder of his term as mayor to seeing' that a commencement was made on proper lines. It was urged by the deputation that before the next session of Parliament Mr. Myers' term as mayor would have expired. They also stated that Mr. Myers had been expected to come out to contest the seat. The Mayor replied that he thought he was entitled to a rest after his four years of office as mayor. If he were elected he would have to enter the political campaign within a month of vacating the mayoral chair, and, though a change of work might be a rest, he did not feel justified at the present tune in undertaking the task. The deputation then withdrew. THE WATKATO SEAT. Mr. Allen Bell, Opposition candidate, addressed a large gathering at the Raglan Town Hall on Saturday night. Mr. Smith, Town Board Chairman, introduced the speaker. Mr. Bell condemned the Government's land policy, declaring- himself a straight-out freeholder. He was not a ■believer in the Arbitration Act, but believed in some form of conciliation. He believed in No-license, and thought that pocket licenses were not required, and that the No-Heense question should be decided by a bare majority. He thought that public servants should -receive higher salaries. On the motion of Mr. Rutherford, a vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Bell. Mr. Bell addressed the electors at Ruapuke and Te Mata on Monday:— (Raglan Correspondent.) THE THAMES CAMPAIGN. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Hon. Mr. McGowan expects to leave Wellington on. bis election campaign in the Thames district shout the middle of next week. The Minister is not at all perturbed at the prospect of opposition to has re-election.