THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 118, 14 November 1902, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

MR. DUTHIE AT THE THEATRE ROYAL. Mr. Duthie addressed the electors at the Theatre Royal last nighb. Mr. A. de B. Brandon occupied the chair, and there was a fair attendance. Mr. Duthie, in the course of a twohours' speech, «spoke first of the Cook Islands. He thought it fell to New Zealand, he said, to undertake the administration of those islands, but he objected to the las manner in which, the Government had carried out its duty in that respect, more especially in regard to the island of Niue, where Mr. Percy Smith had been left for four months without receiving any communication from the Government, and had only learned from a stray copy of a newspaper that a Customs tariff was in force. He also referred to the overcrowded condition of our lunatic asylums, as set forth in the annual report regarding those institutions laid before Parliament last session, and. urged that the Government could not be absolved from blame in that matter. THE AUDITOR-GENERAL. Mr. Duthie then went on to speak about the relations of the Government with the Auditor-General, which, he said, had become a scandal. The Auditor-Gen-eral was the check upon illegal expenditure by the Government of the day, and was responsible to Parliament alone, but the present Government had reduced that official very much from the position that he ought to occupy, and would probably very soon affect the efficiency of that important Department. Mr. Duthie went on to give instances in which the Auditor General had detected abuses, notably the case, which happened two or three years ago, of the bogus sale of £30,000 worth of railway stores to the Public Works Department. That was really a transaction which showed to the credit of the Railway Department an amount of money which in no way belonged to it, and which was necessary on account of the pressing needs of the Railway Deparbment for money Such a transaction as that ought for ever to discredit a Minister wno lent himself to it, and if such things were done in private life the person doing it would lose the confidence of his fellows. Mr. Duthie also dealt in detail with the draft of £3000, drawn by Major Pilcher at Capetown for the Coronation Contingent expenses. Thab draft should have been charged to "unauthorised," but the unauthorised fund was exhausted, and by the exercise of its arbitrary powers under the Public Revenues Act the amount was eventually charged to foreign imprest, and the Auditor-General's objection was put on one side. It must be apparent, remarked Mr. Duthie, that such a system in connection with the public accounts of the colony constitutes a, grave peril. Such an irregularity ought not to arise or to be tolerated in the affairs of the colony, and a Government that resorts to such practices ought not to be continued in power. (Applause.) THE WIDTH OF STREETS. Mr. Duthie also dealt at considerable length with the subject of the width of streets, as provided for in a now wellknown Public Works Act Amendment Act 1900. Under that Act, he said, it was compulsory for any one on selling or subdividing a section of land fronting a street less than 66ft wide, to put back the boundary 33ft from the centre of the roadway, and he pointed out how utterly unworkable such a provision is in a. city like Wellington, Last session, however, the Government introduced a Bill which went very much further, and although it was nob carried, he presumed it would be brought^ up again nexb session. Under that Bill owners of land in private streets and rights-of-way less than 66ft wide must on subdividing dedicate sufficient land to make the road 66ft wide. That meant a very serious inroad on the property of many people, and in a great many cases would mean that the land remaining after the dedication would not be sufficient to be of any practical value for building purposes. It was scarcely credible that a. Government could in cold blood bring in such a Bill, but such provisions were thoughtlessly put into Bills and made law by people who were not giving that consideration which they ought to give to the requirements of the colony. They spent their time flying from one end of the colony to the other, electioneering and attending banquets, and the public affairs of the colony were left to drift as they liked. Then a sudden whim struck them, the Law Draftsman was ordered to prepare a Bill, and so our legislation muddled along. (Applause.) .THE RAILWAYS. Dealing with the question of our railways, Mr. Duthie urged the necessity of the railways being kept in a proper condition out of revenue. He pointed, out, however, that instead of that being done, £1,321,000 had been spent on open lines out of loan money during the past three years, and £450,000 was proposed to be spent during the current year. Such enormous expenditure clearly proved that the Government had been starving the railways in the past to show a surplus of revenue over expenditure. The net earnings of the railways in 1899 were 2s B|d per train mile, and in the year ending 31st March, 1902, they were only 2s s£d ; in 1896 the working expenses' were 4s 6d per train mile, in 1902 they had men. to 4s lid. The cost of maintenance per mile had increased from £138 11s 4d in 1595 to £196 3s 4d last year. He would also compare the Government railways with the Manawatu Railway in various respects. The earnings per train mile on the Manawatu Railway were £1146.; on the Government railways £794; working expenses per mile on the Manawatu Railway, £554; on the Government railways £579; percentage of working expenses to earnings — Manawatu 48.36, Government 65.30. He knew of no question that so much demanded investigation as the condition of our railways. The colony was nob getting the ' result from them that they ought to yield. (Applause.) NATIVE LANDS. Turning to the subject of native land legislation, Mr. Duthie urged thab the titles of the individual natives to their lands should be ascertained without delay, sufficient land, to be absolutely inalienable, should be seb tfbart for the maintenance of every man, woman, and child among them, and every effort should be made to bring the balance of the lands into cultivation. He did not agree with the scheme of settlement proposed under the Maori Lands Administration Act, 1900, and pointed out that for eighteen months after it was passed that Act was, owing to tho apathy of the Government, a dead letter, the result being that the settlement of the native lands was absolutely ab a standstill during the whole of that period. The natives ought to have aJI the rights and responsibilities of other landowners, and outside the inalienable lands for their maintenance ought to be free to cultivate or dispose of their lands as they pleased. It was their property, and he did not think we had any right to interfere with it. Restrictions on the alienation of native lands could only be. removed by means of an Order-in-Coun-cil, and the profession would tell them that those orders could only be obtained by men who were recognised Government supporters. If a person was not a supporter of the Government, he would never get a title tluough. LAND SETTLEMENT. The Government, he went on to say, had spent two and a half million pounds in. the purchase of private estates, while

at the same time it had left the Assets Board lands and the waste lands of the j Crown and the native lands locked up, and had by that means succeeded in advancing the price of land to such an extent thafc dairy farmers were almost in a condition of slavery, owing to the high rents they had to pay. He was nob in favour of the Government borrowing money in London for the purchase of land, considering that it was not to the benefit of the colony thafc the rents of those lands should have to be collected by the Government, merely to be senfc oub of the country in payment of interest. He would assist the people to acquire » leasehold where they could not afford to purchase the freehold, but such leaseholds ought to be subject to periodical revaluation. The 899-years' lease without revaluation was an outrage upon economy, and as far as the unearned increment was concerned, was worsethan the freehold. A wide distribution of the ownership of land was necessary for the welfare of the colony, and if a progressive land tax was necessary to bring thafc about, he would support it. (Applause.) GENERAL. Mr. Duthie expressed strong disapproval of a single tax on land, remarking that under such a system, the farmer would not compete with other countries if he gob his labour for nothing and stole his implements. (Laughter and applause.) He also gave his audience a lucid account of "this horrible Act, known as the Seddon Blot," the Public Revenues Act Amendment Act, 1900 (the iniquity of which, has already been eet forth 'many times and in much detail). He complained thab the Post Office Savings Bank funds to the extent of £1,600,000 are invested in colonial a per cent, debentures, worth only £92 per £100, and thafc £10,000. are invested in Hokitika- Harbour Board bonds, which have not paid one penny of interest for over five years ; he adversely criticised the action of the Government in withholding the Bl Return, giving details of the public accounts for the year ending 31st March last ; he urged that the Legislative Council could only be restored to a position, of independence by making it elective ; and showed how the Government had even interfered with the administration of justice by making Magistrates dependent for . promotion on the goodwill of the Government, and also in regard to the Nelson Police Scandal. Further, he pointed out the entirely unnecessary manner in which the Government had interfered with local government, notably in connection with the Miramar estate, Hutt bridge, the Hutt road, and the Rangitikei bridge. Mr. Duthie received an attentive hearing, and on resuming his seat was greeted with loud applause. QUESTIONS. Replying to a question, Mr. Duthie said he did not think Ministers 1 salaries were too high under present conditions. Another questioner asked Mr. Duthie if it was true that he said 5s a day was a suitable wage for a working man. Mr. Duthie replied thafc that statement was made at every election he had contested, except that the amount had now increased by one shilling. . They would not find a man in Wellington who would say that ; he had underpaid him. His firm had the reputation of paying the full wage. They liked a, full day's >work in return, but they had always paid the full ruling ■wage l>efore tixere were trade unions or anything of the sorb. There was no foundation whatever for the statement ascribed to him. (Applause.) On the motion, of Mr. E. L. Burgess, the candidate was unanimously accorded a vofe of thanks and confidence. TO-NIGHT'S MEETINGS. Mr. Aitken, Theatre Royal, 8 p.m. Dr. Findlay, Skating Rink, 8 p.m. Mr. Tustin, Hearn's Kiosk, Worser Bay, 8 p.m. Mr. Hislop, Victoria Hall, 8 p.m. Dr. Chappie, Mitchelltown Schoolroom, 8 p.m. Mr. Field, Kilminster's Hall, 8 p.m. Mr. Collier, Wadcstown, 8 p.m. Mr. " Atkinson, Mount Cook Boys' School, 8 p.m. Mr. O'llegan, old Jubliee Hotel, Tina' kori-road, 8 p.m. Mr. O'Regan's General Committee, 61, Lambton-quuy, 8 p.m. • Mr. Wilford's Petone Committee at 7.30. Mr. M'Laren, in his address to women electors, said that while standing as an independent labour candidate, he was quite opposed to class legislation, but he felt that the labour movemenb wont to the root of economic freedom, and was a movement for the uplifting of humanity. He dealt fully with the question of education, and thought that a live Minister for Education was wanted in the colony who could construct a more comprehensive system. Education Boards should be elected by the people. In Scotland, Vhere this was the case, the public took a real interest in such elections. On the subject of Bible-reading in schools Mr. M'Laren's views were very decided. He thought any attempt to introduce religious teaching as such would lead to endless disagreement in many ways, and the mere reading o% selected passages would never make a truly religious community. The present Administration was strongly condemned, chiefly on account of its demoralising effect on' the people, and an instance was given where a man, when remonstrated with for broaching cargo, had replied that surely if members of Parliament were allowed to take £40 for themselves there was no harm in his small appropriations. Replying to a question asked on behalf of the Society lor the Protection of Women and Children, Mr. M'Laren expressed himself in favour of more responsibility being placed on the fathers of illegitimate children. As a member of the Charitable Aid Board he came in contact with many cases in which, the public were obliged to keep children and mothers owing to there being no proper legal means of getting at the person most responsible. On the motion of Mrs. . Evans a hearty vote of thanks was given to Mr. M'Laren for his address.

Mr. Allan Orr addressed a well-at-tended meeting at the Jubilee Hall, Tina-kori-road, last night, and at the conclusion of his address received a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. The candidate, in support of the contention thab Labour should be represented in the House of Representatives, pointed to the fact that through the return of a large number of Labour representatives who had supported Mr. Ballance and his party ' reforms had been brought about thab otherwise could not have been obtained. The value of Labour representation had been recognised in the New South Wales Assembly recently, when thiough the action of tho Labour Party there a pledge had been obtained from the Oovernment that free education Avould become ths law of the land. After speaking, at some length on the Labour legislation passed during the last nine or ten years in New Zealand, he contended that the workers had seen the good effects of such legislation, and felt sure that they were still desirous of having men returned who would favourably legard their interests. Mr. Orr also said that he would be unable to address the electors of Wellington many times, as he had to conduct several cases before the Arbitration Court. Some of those cases were up-country, but he felt confident- that, recognising he was doing his best for them elsewhere, the workers would not forget the Labour candidate when elec-tion-day came round.,

Dr. Chappie addressed the electors of Newtown at St. Thomas's Schoolroom last night. Mr. Hunt presided, and there was a large attendance. The candidate replied to Mr. Tustin's attacks, and asserted that he supported the three-fifths majority because he believed the bare majority vote on this question would only injure the cause of Prohibition, which without a strong backing of public opinion would be liable to constant reversal. The speaker was strongly in favour of more justice being shown to New Zealanders in public appointments. The popular opinion thab "no good could come oub of Nazareth" was unjustifiable m face of the qualifications for high offices that New Zealanders were everywhere showing. The importation of men from Home of inferior talent, and surrounded by an atmosphere of traditions and often inferior methods of workmanship, was largely detracting from the value of our educational institutions. Asked if he would favour early closing in shops, the candidate replied he would not support an undue interference with the small shopkeeper, whose living depended upon his keeping open to a, reasonable hour. The speaker received a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.

The Willis-streeb Schoolroom proved too small last nighb to accommodate the number who attended to hear Mr. O'Regan's address. Mr. D. B. Duncan occupied the chair. The candidate spoke for more than an hour and a half, and made a vigorous defence of his views on land and taxation. He said he would take care to make his candidature a protest against the prevailing heavy taxes on the necessaries of life and the gross inadequacy of tho taxation on land values. Electors who did not wish to see their birthright robbed should see that tho question was not losb sight of in the turmoil of the election. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried on the motion of Mr. J. Tuckett, seconded by Mr. Rabe. Mr. Hislop addressed a Well-attended meeting at Mitchelltown last night. He dealt principally with the land question and the increase in the annual expenditure. He said it was complimentary- to him that he should, with Mr. Duthie, have been singled out by the Premier for attention in the South." He pointed out that the Premier found it necessary to misrepresent his views in order to reply to him. Before the Premier had taken any part in land legislation he (Mr. Hislop) had struggled to liberalise the land laws and to promote the interest of persons who could not afford cash. He had drafted the clauses now in Sir John M'Kenzie's Act, and first put in Mr. Richardson's Act of 1887, limiting the holdings which could be taken up and putting selectors of perpetual leases in an advantageous position. He pointed out that before the liberal measures for which the Government now claimed credit 1 were prepared by himself they were never suggested by the members of the presenb Government, or, he believed, thought' of. He showed what might have been done with the amounts spent as increases in Ministerial and legislative expenditure, and pointed out that the amount of these increases capitalised would construct a hundred miles of railway. He also indicated the steady progress of social legislation, and pointed out that though the difficulties of such legislation had been less in late years the movement had been no greater during the last twelve years than formerly. At the conclusion of the speech a vote of thanks and confidence, proposed by Mr. Bey and seconded by Mi 1 . Dowman, was carried unanimously. The subject of the Saturday half-holi-day'was referred to last night by Mr. JJuthie, who said his previous remarks on the question appeared to have been misunderstood. At a former meeting, he said, he was asked if he would support a universal Saturday half-holiday. He explained that he had always closed on Saturday, and did so still. He was in favour of Saturday being the day for the half-holiday, and if he could assist to persuade people to close on thab day ne would do so; bub he would exercise no coercion. He would nob be a parby to any Bill to enforce a Saturday half-holi-day against the wish of shopkeepers, whose means of livelihood were concerned. (Applause.) Mr. • M'Laren addressed a meeting of the electors in the New Century Hall last evening, Mr. G. Jackson occupying the chair. Dealing with the question of finance,, the candidate said we were increasing the public debt by over £2,000,000 a year, the net indebtedness of tho colony being now £51,837,631. The increase per head of the population since 1890 was £5 7s Id. He pointed out that of the £14,136,097 incurred since 1891, some £4,585,000 Avas expended on public works, and only £2.740,000 was raised for advances to settlers. l^ough the country's credit was good, we had to remember there was an ever-increasing charge to be met in the way of interest on our loans, the increase of expenditure on interest and sinking funds last year being £58,323. On the subject of taxation, he remarked that 74 p_er cent, of our revenue was being raised by means of indirect taxation; more taxes being raised by indirect taxation in New Zealand than in either New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, or Tasmania. He would urge a reduction of the Customs duties, making up the balance by an increase of the graduated land and income taxes. He referred to the fact that the Governmenb was paying tradesmen 9s per day when private employers had to pay 10s for the same class of work, and he thought the Government shoidd come under the operations of the Conciliaton and Arbitration Act. A vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate was pa&sed. 1

. r \. G°dber addressed a large meeting of the electors at the Victoria Hall last night, Mr. W. A. Worth being in the chair. Mr. Godber spoke for about an hour and a half, and received a cordial reception. The candidate's speech was mainly on the lines of his previous speeches. During the evening Mr, Godber was well attended to by those who came to question, and came out of the ordeal well. In reply to a question as to whether he was the "selected member, ' the candidate answered that he hoped to occupy that position upon election day. Questions as to Bible-reading in schools, abolition of exemptions of land -lax, reduction of duties on the necessaries of iife, were answered to the satisfaction of the questioners. A vote of thanks and confidence to the candidate was carried on tae motion of Mr. Tyler, seconded by Mis. Drury. [Mr. Tyler called ab this office this morning to state that he moved a, vote of thanks only, and not ons of thanks and confidence.]

Misapprehension appears to exist as to my relations with certain other candidates opposed to the Government in this election, said Mr. Dulhie at his meeting last night. This is perhaps due, he continued, to my following what has in all previous elections been my practice, of working with an independent committee. Between Mr. Aitken and myself I know of no point of political difference. Probably Mr. Atkinson on several questions holds views somewhat more radical than mine, and he has more confidence than I have in coercive temperance reform ; but ib would be a misfortune indeed if all men saw things alike. Mr. Atkinson has won his spurs in the political world; he is deeply conviuced of the need in the cause of good, honest government to reirnove ths Seddon Administration and I

hope every elector who sympathises in this will vote for the above three. These remarks were received with loud applause.

The subject of Customs duties has been dealt with at great length during this election, and many candidates, including those who give unqualified support to the Government, have urged that they should be reduced. It was pointed out, however, by Mr. Duthie recently thab Mr. Seddon had never displayed the slightest inclination to make any such reduction, and now, singularly enough, we find the Minister for Public Works fully bearing out Mr. Duthie's statement. Speaking at Timaru recently, Mr. Hall-Jones pointed ont that the Customs duties only amount to 10s lid per head of the population. " From his experience of the working man, he would not ask to bo relieved of this taxation, he did not want to be furnished with something for nothing, and when he got education for his children, old-age pensions, police protection, and a share of the general administration of the country for 10s lid per head, he did not think the working man would ask that these taxes should be reduced. The burden was not very great on the poorest, and the rich, would easily bear it." Evidently, if the Governcandidates who are advocating the reduction of Customs duties are returned to Parliament they will be in conflict with one member of the Ministry, at any rate.

Mr. C. M. Luke addressed a large meeting of electors at Mitchelltown on Wednesday evening. He combated most strongly the statements made by the Opposition candidates, and pointed out the unreasonableness ' of their claim for office, while promising at the same time to maintain the present Liberal laws put upon the Statute-book by the present Government. He was glad Dr. Chappie had thrown off the cloak and come out in his true colours as an Oppositionist. He asked what Dr. Chappie had done in the interests of Temperance reform? It was only within the last two or three years that he was heard upon the subject. Mr. Luke emphasised the need of vigorously prosecuting the North Island Main Trunk Railway, opening up the back country by making roads and bridges, purchasing native lands, and the settlement of the people upon the lands, and the reduction of Customs duties on the necessaries of life. At the, close of his address Mr. Luke was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks, moved by Mr. Carmody, and seconded by Mi-. Bradley. The chair was occupied by Mr. Mordant. Mr. Field addressed the electors at Tawa Flat last night, Mr. Denis Ryan being in the chair. At the close of "his address Mr. Field was asked a question as to section 3 of the Public Revenues Act, 1900. He replied that the measure received the sanction, of the SolicitorGeneral and the Public Accounts Committee of the House, and there was ample justification for its being passed into law. A ■unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was passed. The New Zealand Alliance Executive has passed the following resolution : — • "That while deeply regretting the state of the law which makes such a course necessary, this executive adheres to its general policy of urging the nomination of a candidate on non-party lines in every district where there will otherwise be no contest, in, order thab the vote at the local option poll may be valid." An Order-in-Council in this week's Gazette notifies the following electoral districts as those in which the poll shall close at seven o'clock in the evening: — City of Auckland, Avon, Caversham, Chalmers, City of Christchurch, City of Dunedin, Eden, Grey Lynn, Hutt, Invercargill, Lyttelton, Motueka, Napier, City of Nelson, Newtown, Oamaru, Palmerston, Parnell, Riccarton, 'lhames, Ti-mai-u, Waikouaiti, Waftaki, Waitemata, Wanganui, City of Wellington. Mr. Luke addressed a meeting of ladies at Brooklyn yesterday afternoon. He dealt fully with matters associated with our industrial / and domestic life, strongly urged the claims of higher technical education, and contended thab children in the lower walks of life should have every facility to pass from the primp ry system through tho universities. He promised if returned to assist in making it possible for scholarships to be transferred from one educational district to another, as many now lose the advantage of scholarships on account of their parents removing out of the district in which scholarships have been obtained. A vote of thanks proposed* by Mrs. Howden, seconded by Mrs O'Brien, was carried unanimously. The chair was occupied by Mrs. Waters. In the evening, Mr. Lnke met his committee at Brooklyn. There was a large number present, and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. Further details ;v\<ere gone into in connection with tho campaign. Mr. W. G. Tustin addressed the electors of Brooklyn in the Ghurchroom last night. Mr. A. H. Pullford was in the chair. Mr. Tustin promised that if elected he would assist other Opposition members in their endeavour to see that fuller information was placed at the disposal of members as to the waste of the colony's funds. At the close of the meeting Mr. Tustin was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks.

On the subject of a preferential tariff, Mr Atkinson writes — Kindly allow me to supplement your report of my remarks upon a preferential tariff. I said that I would take a practical step at once in thab direction, which was more than the Premier had yefc done, by making a definite proposal. The pencils referred to at present pay a duty of 20 per cent. I was prepared at once to suport a reduction of thab duty by at least 10 er cent, in favour of the British article.

Mr. Pirani is to reply to Dr. Findl.iy's remarks on the Public Revenues Bill in his speech ab Petono to-morrow night. At Mr. Wilford's Khandallah meeting last night Mr. M. P. Cameron presided. On tho motion of Mr. J. Nairn, with Mr. Aplin as seconder, the candidate was given a vote of thanks and confidence. At ihe Riddiford-streefc School last night Mr. Barber addressed another meeting, .'which carried Without dissent a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate. Mr. C. S. Mainwaring, J.P., picsided. - - Mr. F. Piraui will deliver his first address in connection with his candidature for the Hutfc electorate in the Oddfellows' Hall, Petone, to-morrow evening. On Monday ho speaks at the Lower Hutt, and on Tuesday ab the Upper Hutt. Mr. Wilford speaks at Silverstream on Monday evening. Mr. Field will speak at Makara to-mor-row evening. Several speakers are announced to address a mass meeting ab the corner of Rintoul and Riddiford-streets on Saturday night. Dr. Chappie meets his central and- subcommittees to-morrow night. Mr. M'Luren is to address- an open-air meeting at the corner of Mercer-street to-morrow Vsvening. Members of his committee are requested to meet to-morrow afternoon and evening. Mr. A. R. Atkinson will speak at the Victoria Holl, Adelaide-road, on Monday next at 8 p.m.

[BY TELI3GBAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] TIMARU, 13th November. At a special meeting of the No-license

Leaguet, it. was decided to nominate the Rev. F. W. Isitb for Timaru, in order to 'secure the certainty of a contested election. DUNEDIN, 13th November. Messrs. William Fraser and A. Murdoch have been nominated for Wakatipu. NAPIER, This Day. Sir W. R. Bussell and the Rev. P.. W. Isitt have been, nominated for tha Hawkes Bay seat. FEILDING, This Day. " Mr. A. H. Tompkins has been norni* nated for the Oroua electorate. ELTHAM, Tins Day. Mr. C. E. Major, Government candidate for the Ham era s-eat, addressed a large meeting here last night, Eithaiu bordering on the Hawent electorate. Ha was accoided a fair hearing, and received the customary vole of thanks. STRATFORD, This Day. Messrs. W. Symes and F. H. Haselden have been nominated for the Patea. beat,, (FBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) | DUNEDIN, 13lh November. Caversham No. 2 roll compnses 60? names, making a total on the roll oi 6478. THE CONTEST FOR BRUCE. [BY TELEQEArH — OWN COERESPONDENT.] DUNEDIN, This Day. According to the Milton correspondent of the Star, the election in Bruce gives promise of providing the closest finish. witnessed here for the last nine years. Mr. Allen will undoubtedly have a majority of the fanning community with him, as in the past. The electorate now contains a far stronger mining vote than, ever heretofore, Knitangata, Taratu, Lovell Flat, and; Fortification each providing a large new vote, by far tha great majority of which -will be cast for the Government candidate. Meanwhile, the Prohibitionists are taking no active part in the election, but should the party ally itself with either candidate that vote will decide the issue. Quite as much interest promises to centte in the prohibition result as in, the election. While it is very doubtful* whether Prohibition will be carried at Stirling, Waihola, and Milton, there seems to be no doubt about Kaitangata and all outlying districts affirming it by largo majorities. On present indications, the Prohibitionists have inoie than made up their minority of 180 votes at the last election.