IS THE OPPOSITION ASLEEP?

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 93, 17 October 1908, Page 5

IS THE OPPOSITION ASLEEP?

CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 14. While there is a fair amount of activity in one or two of the Canterbury electorates, it is difficult to realise that we are within five or six weeks of the general election (says the Press). The first or second Wednesday in November has been suggested as the probable date, but we cannot believe that the Government will time the appeal to the country so as to clash with either of the two most important agricultural and pastoral shows — the Manawatu show held in the first week and the Canterbury show in the second week of November. Nevertheless, it is not at all unlikely that the polling day will be fixed for the third week of November, and this allows but little time in which to bring forward suit-able-candidates in districts which as yet do not furnish so good a choice as is desirable in the interests of the •country. In Otago as well as Canterbury the Opposition party seems to be lacking in political enterprise, and deficient in organisation. The consequence is that while in some electorates two candidates may be wooing the Opposition vote, none are as yet forthcoming in- other districts where one good candidate woiild have an excellent chance. If we want illustrative instances near at hand we may refer to .Hurunui and Ashburton as examples of Oposition vote splitting, which will be fatal to the chances of the party if persisted' in, while "Christchurch North affords the most conspicuous case of an electorate which is crying aloud for a. good Opposition candidate to declare himself.