REFORM AND LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1310, 13 December 1911, Page 7

REFORM AND LABOUR.

AT THE SECOND BALLOTS, • THE POSITION AT WANGANUI. (By Telesraph.—Roecial Corresoondent.l Wanganui, December 12. The keenest interest is being shown in the second ballot on Thursday, and the closing stages of the contest aro being marked by strenuous work. The Government party is making desperate efforts to retain tho scat, and are leaving no stono unturned to divert the Opposition and Independent vote from the Labour candidate. Mr. M'Laren's outburst in Wellington against Mr. Massey greatly incensed the Labour party hero„ who are not backward in saying that to securo his own return Sir. M'Laren has jeooardised tho chances of nearly every other Labour candidate in, the second ballot. The Labour people here also express preat disgust at the attitude of Mr. Mack in I'arnell, and they devoutly exnress the hope that if Mr. M'Laren is returned ho will not be chosen to lead tho now Labour party. Tho Government partv hero were greatlv delighted at Mr. M'Laren's attitude, thinking it would turn the Opposition vote against Mr. Veitch. The local Opposition party, Tiowever, do not now look upon it as being a caso of Ward versus Massey (so far at any rate as Wanganui is concerned), but whether Sir Joseph Ward shall stay in or go out. Consequently, _as .Mr. Veitch is pledged to vol* against Sir Joseph Ward on a noconndpiiee motion, the only effect of Mr. M'Laren's attack on Mr. Ma-swy's party has been to harden up both the Opposi- ■'! and Independent votes in Sir. Veitch's favour., and the Labour candidate is meeting with such snlid ■>nd • having Mich enthusiastic meetings that his return is looked on as assured.

REFORM JOINS LABOUR. Wanganui, December 12. At a meeting of .Mr. George Hutchison's election committee to-night the following resolution was carried unanimously:— "In the circumstances of the second ballot being between an avowed supporter of the Ward Ministry and a Labour candidate, who will vote 'no confidence' in that Ministry, Mr. Hutchison's committee resolves unanimously to urge on all electors desirous of reform to vote on Thursday for Mr. Yeitch." Tho committee proceeded in a bodv to Mr. Veitch's committee room, where thcr woro enthusiastically welcomed. Several members of Mr. Veitch's committee expressed the opinion that the Reform party more nearly approached tho Labour party's ideals than did tho Government party, IN DUNEDIN WEST. Mr. J. W. llunro, who was third in the first ballot in Dunedin West, wriles thus to the Dunedin "Star":—"l am informed that somo of Mr. Millar's committee arc canvassing the electors of Dunedin West with tha story that I am going to do all I possiblv can to get the Minister returned ou the second ballot, and that I promised Mr. Millar to that effect. I wish here to give an.emphatic denial to that story, and anvone stating to the contrary is saying what is absolutely contrary to fact." REFORM IN WAITEMATA; n-hY;w mat vV is ,.T of man y seats in which the VI ardists aro endeavouring to persuade the people that tho candidate, excluded by tfio first ballot are working lor the Wardist nominee. At his meeting in Devonport on Saturday night, Mr. Harris, the Reform candidate, stated that .ur. h. \\. Alison, jun., and his committee were now supporting his own candidatures in furtherance of a promise made before the first ballot. "The Harris and Alison committees arc out to win the day,' said tho speaker, "and we are R° ln ß. to win it." Mr. Napier had said that if YVaitcmafa worn represented by an Opposition member thev could not expect public money to bo spent in the district. "I Quite agree with him," said -Mr. Harris amid hearlv laughter; "it' you put Mr. Napier in you will be Opposition." Mr. Harris concluded his nddiess with reference to the facilities that were necessary in the best interests of backblocks settlers in the Waitemata district, and said the time was coming when the district would get n fair share of Public Works expenditure. One of Mr. Alison's supporters then mounted the platform, and said he wished to deny a statement that had been circulated at another meeting to the effect that Mr. Alison's committee had gone over to Mr. Napier. That statement was absolutely incorrect; the committee were already working for Mr. Harris. Tho Harris and Alison committees hare amalgamated. TOE FORCES AGAINST MR. FOWLDS. On Saturday night the committee of Mr. Murray, who stood as the Reform candidate in Grey Lynn, met to consider what notion they would lake in tho second ballot, Great intorcst wus manifested ia.tlio proceedings, members from ollj

parts of the electorate attending. Mr. Murray presided, and the following resolution was unanimously adopted:—"Thai IHe committee tender their full .support in the interest of Mr. J'a.yno at next Thursday's poll, and wo earnestly appeal to all those, electors who east their votes in Mr. Murray's favour to support Mr. Payne on the day of the second ballot. We favour Mr. Payne because he is an ardent supporter of local industries; because ho is an advocato of tho freehold, and because ho stands for clean and straightforward administration; and, finally, because he is diametrically opposed to single- tax." After tho vote had been taken, Mr. Murray said he fully concurred in the resolution, and (rusted the Opposition electors would second their eliorts on Thursday next.

TIIE PABNELL SEAT. , Tho Auckland Labour manifesto calling upon thre workers of l'amell to voto against Sir John Findlay, issued in accordance with a resolution carried unanimously at an extraordinary special meeting of the New Zealand Labour party, Auckland district, December 9,11)11, slates that "the present Government, whilst pretending to ba the friend of Labour, lias deliberately secured the defeat of the official Labour candidate (Mr. J. Mack), by sending into Parnell to opposo Labour its appointed Attorney-General," and concludes by calling upon tho workers in (heir own interests and "iu tho interests of tho whole New Zealand Labour movement" to voto against the Government candidate.