MR. L.M. ISITT'S RETIREMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 136, 10 June 1924, Page 9

MR. L.M. ISITT'S RETIREMENT.

A PICTURESQUE PERSONAIITT. SEAT IN THE COUNCIL? <By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. - The noteworthy incident of to-day in Christchurch is Mr. L. M. Isitt's delinite announcement of his Avithdrawal from political life at the end of the present iarhament. No one Avill gainsay the fact that throughout his political career Mr. Isitt has been a spectacular figure if not a staunch Liberal. Further, his constituency of Christchurch North has been the scene of many bitter fights, and only last election one of his opponents, the Labourite, the Rev. J. K. Archer, took liis defeat in a strange manner. In recent years, Mr. Isitt, although holding very definite ideas in regard to racing and liquor, has broadened very considerably. Only quite recently he publicly announced "that he had changed his mind in regard to the degrees of eA'il of the two, and regarded racing and its attendant gambling as a greater evil than drink. This in itself AA-as revolutionary for him. With regard to the manifesto from the Council of Churches, fathered by the Rev. J. J. North, Mr. Isitt- has shown no practical sympathy, and it is believed he has characterised the contents of. the manifesto as so much rot. Not oA-er long ago the bookselling business of Mr. Isitt amalgamated Avith a local printing firm, which, strangely enough, did a large amount of Avork for those people who are euphemistically called woolbrokers. The amalgamation had its humorous side for those in the : know. Just Avhether Mr. Isitt's retirement from politics Avill prove permanent • remains to be seen, for he is undoubtedly of the war horse type, and even AA'hen sniffing the battle from afar may be tempted to re-enter the lists. Popular 1 opinion lias it, howeA-er, that a seat in the Legislative Council aAvaits him.