THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 214, 3 June 1908, Page 6

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

AUCKLAND WEST SEAT. '• (BY TELEGEAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) . . Auckland, Juno*2. Mr! R. Thompsonj ex-member for Marsden, has stated, in answer to' a deputation that ho will' contest the Auckland' West seat against Mr. Poole, provided that no Opposition candidate comes forward. Mr. Thompson said that when he came to Auckland to reside,:'he made up his' mind to retire from politics. As to: tho present request, ho sttid: You have already, a member representing you who is a Government supporter, and that makes the: position rather awkward, but; although I am a Government supporter. I am neither a single taxer nor a Socialist, and I havo a strong belief in. the optional tenure as regards our waste Crown lands. On this point I reserve freedom of action. I have the fullest confidenco iii Sir Joseph Ward as Prime- Minister, but this is the difficulty I am in. As a supporter of the Government I object to splitting .votes if an Opposition candidate cornea' into the field. Should an Opposition candidate come forward I must declino to have anything' to do with it.: On the other hand,, should no Opposition candidate come forward, and it is the desire of the-electors that 1 should be a candidate, I' am prepared to place, myself at your" disposal. .' , Continuing, he said he had represented the ■Marsden district for fifteen years without a break, but six yeats ago, owing to the alteration of electoral briunaaries, he had lost that seat. Without any wish to boast, he could say. that no member had worked harder than ho had when member for Marsden, and if he were elected for Auckland West he would work equally hard. ; -;"I have resided in! the Auckland province," he said, " continuously for the past forty years, and therefore I assure you that I am neither a carpet-bagger nor an ad venturer."