PROSPECTS IN OTAGO

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 139, 10 December 1919, Page 5

PROSPECTS IN OTAGO

STRAIGHT-OUT CONTESTS

(si TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL TO THE POST.)

DUNEDIN, This Day!

So far as the contest for the.four T).uh■edin seats is concerned, there will' be a straight-out fight. WAITAKI. Starting from the northern portion of the provincial district, Waitaki first claims attention. Part of this electorate is in Otago, and the balance, including the main polling-booth, in Canterbury. Advices from the sister province say j that there will be a big fight, and that any of-the three candidates—Mr. Anstey (Liberal-Labour member). Mr. W. G. Paul (Labour), or Mr. Bitchener '(Reform) —may be found sitting in the new Parliament. In view of Mr. Bitchener's fine record in local matters, I am inclined to favouT his chances, despite the handicap of his coming into the fray after the. other pair had made good headway. ■ • OAMARU. Oamai'u will be a duel between Mr. E. P. Lee (Reform) and Mr. J. A. Macpherson (Labour). Tho latter is likely' to poll best in the country, but the late member may be expected to counterbalance the deficiency by his majority in the White Stone City. Mr. Lee ought to Tetain the seat. -, CHALMERS. Chalmers is providing a triangular i contest, the participants being Lieuten-ant-Colonel Colquhoun (a returned "soldier and Liberal standard-bearer), Mr. J. M. C. Dickson (Reform), and Mr. J. Gilchrist (Official Labour, but not of the Red Fed. kidney). The electorate, which extends from Moonlight to Mosgiel, amonument to the idiosyncrasy of carving by the Boundary Commission, is being assiduously canvassed by the three candidates, and it will be the day of polling before their round is completed. Mr. Dicksoji's prospects; of holding the seat for a further term/appeal' to me. DUNEDIN NORTH.. Dunedin North is in the curious' position of being wooed by two representatives of Labour—but of extremely divergent views. Mr. A. Walker is the nominee of Official Labour, while Mr. Ketfett represents Moderate Labour. Neither; tho Reformers nor the Liberals seem anxious that Mr. Walker should be re-elected, and for that reason are giving Mr. Kellett (who was a member of the Military Service Board, and a loyal Labourite) a free run. Those electors who do not regard either candidate with favour— and there are scores and scores in Dunedin North of that way of thinkingmay vote for Mr. Kellett, as the lesser of two evils. Adopting that view, lam prepared to see. Mr. Walker ousted.

DUNEDIN WEST.

For Dunedin West Mr. Downie Stewart, who was a Masseyite in the last Parliament, but like many others is now standing, on the Independent ticket, is opposed by Mr. J. A. Brown, who!has the backing of official Labour. How this came to be so bestowed is a puzzle,' seeing that Mr. Brown is a vice-presideilt of the Manufacturers' Association.'! As showing the manner in which Labour is campaigning one iijcideut only need be mentioned. Though opposed to Mr. Stewart's politics, Lieutenant-Colonel Colquhoun has felt impelled in a spirit of fair-play, to write to the Press denying the rumour persistently circulated that Mr. Stewart "never reached Prance, .but Was only in England." Lieutenant-Colonel Colquhoun chivalrously says:'.—"Mr. Stewart joined my. company "(the 14th South Otago) as a- platoon commander in Egypt, and went with the company to France. Mr. Stewart served with • the i Ist Battalion of the Otago Regiment in the trenches in front of Armentieres during 1916. Mr. Stewart was an officer who looked after the safety and comfort of his men. It was on account of his devotion to duty, and because ho hung on too long, that he is suffering the great disadvantage of bad health to-day. In politics Mr. Stewart and lam on opposite sides—he. is an Independent, and I am a Liberal—but I cannot stand by and see a- true comrade and a brave gentleman hit below the belt." A cause that needs men-da-, cious backing must surely be a losing one., -;- DUNEDIN CENTRAL. Dunedin Central, as in 1914, is being contested by Messrs. C. E. Statham and J. W. Munro. Five years ago the firstnamed had a majority of a dozen votes only, which he succeeded on the second ballot in increasing to 107. Another keen fight is predicted. Mr. Statham stood as a Reformer previously, but during tho late Parliament he declared his defection from the party system, and is now out as an Independent, though, like Mr.' Stewart, he will vote with Mr. Massey on a no' Confidence motion. Mr. Munro is one of the. staunch/Official Labourites.. Mr. Statham will, I think, have an easier win this time. DUNEDIN SOUTH. As regards Dunedin South, now that Mr. Black has withdrawn, the contest will be a duel between Mr. T. K. Sidey and Mr. J : T. Paul (who resigned fromthe Upper House to contest this seat). Despite Labour's optimism, for the party will not hear of Mr. Paul's rejection, I am of the view that Mr. Sidey, who is a supporter of Sir Joseph Ward, will once more be the elect ot the southern portion of the city. BRUCE. Bruce- will prove loyal to the Defence Minister, Sir James Allen, whose opponent is Mr. J. Edie (Liberal, •- and engineer for Tuapeka County). CLUTHA. Cfafcna has fntfr Richmonds in the field, and I will content myself by trying to place them when the numbers «re- announcejd on week. The

order may be: Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Reform) first, Mr. R. A. Rodger (Independent) second, Mr. W. §. Maslin (Liberal) third, and Mr. J. Christie (Liberal-Labour) a poor fourth. WAKATIPU. ;Wakatipu will provide a big fight between Mr. R. Scott (Reform/late member for the defunct electorate of Otago Central) and Mr. J., Horn (Liberal, who gave Sir W. Fraser a good go at the last General Election). There is. a third candidate in Mr. A. Ashworth (LiberalLabour). This gentleman is likely to injure Mr. Horn more than Mr. Scott, and for that reason I plump for the last-named, with the reservation that had it been a straight-out contest the Liberal .. standard-bearer 'would have been likely to succeed.