POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 278, 17 August 1908, Page 6

POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

COMING ELECTIONS. CHANCES OF THE OPPOSITION., (HI TEt.ECKII'U.—SI'ECUI, CORRESPONDENT.) Christchurch, August 15. Mr. W. H. Herries, M.Pr, who lias bcei in Ghiistcliurch during Grand- National weok, speaking to a member of "The Press" staff as to the prospects of the Opposition, : said ho thought that Messrs. J. Alien, W. Eraser, and A. S. Malcolm were pretty safe in their respective constituencies. Air. Scott, who stood for Tuap.eka at the last electon, would bo standing again in- the Opposition interests for one of the country constituencies. It was very probable that tho Opposition would have candidates out for several of the Otago constituencies. Tho position thoro was already better than in Canterbury. As to the North Island, the Opposition expected to gain several seats. Three new constituencies had been created, and the prospects of the Opposition gaining two of them were good. Mr. Herries was standing for tlio new constituoncy of Tauranga, which includes a portion of the Bay of Plenty, and Mr. Gow is standing in the Opposition interest for tho Bay of Plenty. Second Ballot In the Country. "A great many of the members'do-not like the proposed Absolute Majority Bill," said Sir. Herries, when asked if there was any prospect of its being passed into law this session. ''It is very unfair to the country districts, as it will be extremely difficult to get the elector? to tho polls a second time. It is hard to get them there once, and if they have to vote a second time, it is possible that members will ■ still be elected by minorities of the voters. The absolute majority is' all right for the cities, as the electors can easily get to tho polling booths, but-in the country constituencies we are afraid that the great ■ preponderance of voting powers will ha secured to tho small townships. - The second ballot will also mean enormous expense to tho candidate, as ho is certain to work right up to the taking of tho second ballot. Then we will probably have Ministers invading doubtful electorates, and promising all sorts of things in order to secure the return of their candidate. Land and Arbitration. "The land question will still bo a very, big one in the country districts. Then there is a great feeling among the country people against the Arbitration Act, and if it is not amended this session in a way satisfactory to them they will probably demand its repeal. No practical work has been done this session so far. The Government don't seem to have their policy Bills ready. For instance, a Native Bill, that is of allabsorbing interest to tho North Island was introduced a fortnight ago, and is not yet printed." With regard, to the re-erection of Parliament Buildings, Mr. Herries expressed the opinion that tho whole thing was already "cut and dried," though the House was waiting for a report from the' committed to which tho matter had been referred. His own opinion was that competitive designs should be called for so as to give a j chance to architects outside the Government . servifeo. ' MR. T. MACKENZIE. (BT TEIBBIiAPH—PEESS ASSOCIATION.) ■ Dunedln, August 15. , The Minister for Lands, when down South, received a deputation representative of the . southern part of the Wakatipu electorate, who put forward a request that Mr. Thomas Mackenzie should stand for that electorate against Mr. W. Fraser. A portion of : the Waikaia district was formerly represented in Parliament by Mr. Mackenzie. It is not likely that Mr. Mackenzio will be a candidate for tho scat. •