PAISLEY POLL.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 37, 12 February 1920, Page 5

PAISLEY POLL.

ASQUITH A WARM FAVOURITE.! OUTLINING LIBERAL POLICY. (By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) LONDOX, February 11. | Intense public interest if being dis-! played in the Paisley by-election coiupaigu. Leading newspapers are devoting much space to daily reports of the prospects from their special political correspondents on the spot. It is generally agreed that the polling mi Thursday will result in a close run between Mr. H. H. Asquith and 'Mr. Biftgar, th» Co-operative-Independent candidate, although Mr. Mackean. the •CoalitionUnioist candidate, despite tlie fact that he is 70 years old. is putting up a spirited light. It is believed ill some quarters that Mr. Bonar Law's letter approving Mr. Mackean's candidature is an embarrassment, emphasising that he has support only from the Unionist side of the Coalition! Mr. Biggar is confident of winning. He has been promised the entire Co-ODerative vote of 16,000 and the Irish vote of 3000. but Press correspondents doubt whether these sections will vote solidly. Although supported by the advanced Socialists. Mr. Biggar stands on a moderate rjlatform. On the other hand" Mr. AsquitVs chances have enormously improved. He enters the final stapes of the campaign a strong favourite. It is believed that he has largely unified the local Liberal party by a remarkable series of meetings, attracting record crowds. Already he has addressed :tO meetings. If he is successful his sneeehes will lie collected in book form and will become known a< the Paisley Programme, and will oe il text, book of Liberalism in the future. All the candidates have arranged strenuous programmes during the last three days of the contest. The total electorate is 39,000. All the candidates are assiduously cultivating the women's sympathies. Mr. Asquith's efforts in this direction are of piquant interest in view of his former opposition to the enfranchisement of women. Lord Robert Cecil, a Unionist, in a letter to Mr. Asquith. expresses the hope that he will be successful at Paisley, a= his services are needed in the House of i Commons. International problems are increasingly menacing and complicated, and the best brains of the country are j remiired for their solution.— (A. and , >;.Z. Cnble.t