GOVERNMENT SERENELY CONFIDENT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14956, 1 May 1914, Page 8

GOVERNMENT SERENELY CONFIDENT.

Cspecial to "the press.") WELLINGTON, April 30. Tho political campaigning which is at present being carried on industriously in many electorates by rank and file members of the Opposition is not taken very seriously by tho veterans of tho Reform Party. An example of the fact was supplied tho other day, says tho "Dominion," when the Oroua electorate was invaded. While Air L. Al. Isitt, at Feilding, was thundering denunciations of tho Reform Government, Air D. H. Guthrie, tho member for tho district, was serenely transacting business In the interest of his constituency at Wellington. Mr Guthrio had been advised that his electorate was to bo invaded by Alcssrs Isitt. Forbes, and others, but evidently the invasion did not impress him as being important enough to warrant any departure from the even tenor of his way. Another sign of tho times is to be found in tho result of tho polling for the City Mayoralty. Mr Luke's vote increased by 1507, while AL- AlcLaren's decreased by 4947, and tho total Labour-Socialist vote, notwithstanding the fact that there were two candidates in tho field, and despite the strenuous efforts put forward by both, decreased by over 600 votes. Yet another evidence —and it is a very significant one—of the feeling in regard to the conduct of the late strike has been supplied by the result of the ballot for the secretaryship of tho Wellington Building Trades' Labourers' Union, which was declared last night. The retiring secretary (Air E. Kennedy) was re-elected by a majority of six to on». The defeated candidate is Air A. Agnew, who was chairman of the main •Strike Committee during the recent industrial upheaval.

Unusual interest was taken in tho •Mayoral contest last evening, and large crowds collected to hear the result of the polling. "It has been maintained," wdd Mr Luke, after tho poll, "that this city stands for constitutional government, and that it has no desire*to see the pillars of society overthrown, but rather that it has an honest, sincere desire to see the Dominion develop and

progress on safe and sound lines; to see a continuance of good government not only from to-day, but throughout all time."