GISBORNE AND BAY OF PLENTY SEATS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16702, 10 December 1919, Page 11

GISBORNE AND BAY OF PLENTY SEATS.

I'srEciAi. to "-rar. tress.") G7SBORXE. December 9Chief interest in the East Coast electorates centres in the contest for Ihe Gisl>orno seat. Here Sir James Carroll, who has represented tho constituency lor 20 years, is being opposed by Mr W. D. Lysnar. Mr Lysnur previously was a supporter of Sir James Carroll and the Liberal Party, hut he declares that more v.gmir i> required in local representation than Sir James Carroll is able to give, especially in the matter of railway advancement and native land settlement. He is supported strongly by the Reformers, ana has said that though he is standing as an Independent, he would vote for Mr Massey on a no-coufidence motion. Mr Lysnar, however, is not tho kind of man to be tied to .party, and ho is receiving very strong support, because many people beliovo that he will carry out his declared intention '"to mako sparks fly" if he gets into Parliament, and that, he will not hesitate to oppose any Ministry that neglects to give tho EastC'oast its proper share of developmental assistance." Mr Lysnar is held "in high favour by tho shecpfurmcrs. because he has "battled" so persistently on their behalf, in regard to wool and moat shipments. One strong point made against 31 r Lysnar is that he resisted the commandeer Sir James Carroll is mooting with a good deal of support.-from old friends throughout tho electorate, hnt, there is now a now generation which ''knows not Joseph," and is inclined for a change. Nevertheless, Sir James's flowery eloquence and his smile have always hitherto gone a long way towards winning the seat, and I expect, when the numbers go up, the "old warhorse" will bo in the lead, though run very close. The third candidate, Thomas Rrindlo (Labour) will probnbly snatch more votes from Sir .Tamos Carroll than from Mr Lysnar. Rcd-Fedisin does not find mu£h support in this constituency, which sent so large a proportion of its sons voluntarily to the war, and it is not expected that the Labour candidate will poll more than a few hundred votes.

In the Buy of Picntv electorate, Mr "W. D. S. Mac Donald is again opposed by Mr K. S. Williams, who has had very encouraging meetings, but can scarcely hope for suci«ss, Mr Mac Donald having a strong hold on tho constituency through nis personal popularity and his close attention to district matters, as well as the standing he has obfained in Parliament. Mr K. S. Williams is also exceedingly popular, and is a stamp of settler who would bo a strength to tho Legislature. His remarkable generosity in purchasing estates and leaving them to tno soldiers of the Waipu district hasput the soldiers under a debt of gratitude to liim. and from the soldiers he will liavc strong support A good sportsman, and a good fellow, it is unfortunate there is not a more easily-won scat available for him.