CANTERBURY NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1294, 24 November 1911, Page 8

CANTERBURY NOTES.

, ABOUT BICH MEN. (By Telccraoh.—Special Correspondent.\ Christchurch, November 23. Dr. Thacker, the fourth candidate for Christchurch liast, inado his opening speech last night. Ho said that when he stood for Lyttelton it was as a straight-out supporter of the Government, On the present occasion ho stood as an Independent Liberal. His reason for doing so was that Mr. Hogg and the Hon. George Fowlds had resigned from the Cabinet because the Government was not progressive enough for them. It seemed to him that if old Parliamentarians like Messrs. Hogg, Fowlds, and Field wanted more independence, young.ones like himself also wanted more independence. Matters required stirring up, and if ho were returned ho would not be a week in Parliament before ho stirred things up. "What do you consider a fair wage for a working man?" was one of the questions put to Mr. E. 11. Rhodes at his Halswell meeting on Tuesday. "I believe a fair wage for a married man is the highest wage he can got," responded Mr. Rhodes amid much laughter and applause. Dr. Thacker, who says ho is only comfortably o(T, has slated that his supporters were assailed by the cry that he was a rich man. But the richest men in NewZealand were at the present timo either supporters of the Government in the Houso or in the Legislative Council. Thev continually heard that the "fat man 1 ' ran the Opposition, lie had no tickets on the Opposition, but ho loved downright fairness. Let the Government admit, and let the Opposition admit, that they both had rich men. Rich men might support the Opposition, but the Government had tho ten richest men in New Zealand, either in tho Lower or tho Upper House. Mr. D. D. Mncfarlane, Opposition oandidaio for Hurunui, has completed a week's campaign in the Kaikoura district. His reception has been most cordial all along tho line, and the prospect, of his winning the seat appears to grow brighter at) polling day approaches. It is tlie first

time for many years that the issue between tho Government candidate and the Reform party has ben clear-cut. Side issues have been dragged in previously, such as No-License and Laliour, though notwithstanding this tlio .Opposition have jKilled surprisingly well.- Mr. Maciorlane has onlv to convert some 350 voters, which total is small out of approximately 0000 electors. Mis experience as , president of the New Zealand. Agricultural Conference ""<1 the Canterbury A. and I'. Association, in addition to that of a large amount of local government,. .undoubtedly entitlo him to tho confidence of the electors. The chances, of. the. Ilurunui se;it, hitherto a. Government stronghold, bejng represented by. nil ; Opposition member are decidedly favourable.