IN CANTERBURY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 126, 23 November 1935, Page 12

IN CANTERBURY

THE FIGHT IN NORTH

(Special to the "Evening Post.") CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. As polling day draws nearer support is being more consolidated for the candidates of the two main parties, and the Democrats and the Independents are being relegated to the background. There are, however, two electorates in Canterbury where the Democrat candidates seem to be holding their own very well and have a chance of being near the top of the poll on election night. These are Riccarton and MidCanterbury, where the contests appear to be very open. In all the other Canterbury electorates where there are Democrat candidates it does not appear at the moment that they will do better than finish third. So far as the electorates of Christchurch East, Christchurch South, Avon, ana Lyttelton are concerned, the retiring Labour members are still quite securo, though in Lyttelton the Government nominee, Mr. S. F. Marshall, a young man of pleasing personality and excellent platform ability, has been creating a most favourable impression. He is handicapped, however, by the fact that he did not enter the campaign until the eve of nomination day snd also by the impression that is felt, throughout the electorate that Lyttelton is a safe Labour seat on account of the large majority by which Mr. T. H. McCombs was returned at the by-elec-tion a few months ago. The Democrat candidate for this seat (Mr. B. H. Riseley) is not being taken very seriously, but his presence makes the position of Mr. McCombs more secure. KEEN BATTLE IN CITY NORTH. In Christchurch North, which at past elections has never shown a disposition to swing towards Labour, the Labour candidate, Mr. R. M. Macfarlane, is making headway against Mr. S. G. Holland, son of the former member, who carries the nomination of the Government. The third candidate, Mr. D. F. Dennehy, who is standing as a LiberalDemocrat, has been getting in some effective platform work against the Government, but it is doubtful whether it is doing more than build up the Labour vote in the electorate. Mr. Dennehy's audiences listen to him attentively while he slates the Government, but do not show very much enthusiasm for his own candidature. Mr. Macfarlane is creating a favourable impression on the platform and is expected to poll well, but the silent vote should be sufficient to carry Mr. Holland to victory. Mr. Holland is an able candidate and he has been conducting a vigorous campaign, and has not shown any traces of bitterness even when under fire from hecklers. RICCARTON STILL A PROBLEM." The position in Riccarton seems to be sorting itself out, but the result of the election is still difficult to estimate. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle, the retiring Government member, has not been having too good a time in the urban portions of the electorate, while his three opponents, Messrs. G. T. Thurston (Labour), F. G. Dunn (Democrat), and J. E. Colechin (Independent), have all been favourably received. Full allowance must be made for the silent vote in this electorate, and also for the farming support that can be expected to rally to Mr. Kyle on polling day. He should just scrape in with Mr. Thurston as his most dangerous rival. Mr. Dunn will certainly poll well, but it is doubtful whether he can rally sufficient support to do better than gain third place; while Mr. Colechin, whose candidature has been the most spectacular of all the contestants, may also poll better than seemed likely a week ago. LABOUR'S HOPES IN KAIAPOI. The Kaiapoi seat is one which the Labour Party feels confident of winning from the Government by a good margin. Latest indications are that this confidence is well justified, for with Mr. R. W. Hawke, the retiring Government member, and Mr. A. A. McLachlan (National-Liberal) .dividing the anti-Labour vote, Mr. Williams's chances are much improved. It will be surprising if Mr. McLachlan polls a big vote, but his participation in the campaign can only have the effect of weakening the anti-Labour forces. The most interesting development that has occurred in the Mid-Canter-bury campaign in the past week has been the progress made by the Labour candidate (Mr. H. E. Herring). Before the election campaign was begun few people would have given him any sort of chance, but he is doing so well in his tour of the farming districts that he must be considered as an important factor. .The Government candidate (Mr. James Carr) is not a particularly attractive speaker, but he can rely on a strong body of support. In the Borough of Ashburton (Mr. W. H. Woods), the Democrat candidate, who is Mayor of Ashburton, may top the poll, but it is hard to estimate how much support he will secure in the farming areas. The odds are in favour of Mr. Carr securing the verdict by a good majority, but in this far-flung electorate with three candidates who are new to campaigning a surprise is possible. Mr Herring may win if Messrs. Carr and Woods divide the anti-Labour vote fairly evenly. HURUNUI FOR MR. FORBES. There has been a lull in the interest m the Hurunui electorate owing to the absence of the Prime Minister (Mr. Forbes) on a tour of the Dominion, but he is now back into the fight. His two opponents, Messrs. D. C. Davie (Labour) and O. Duff (Independent) are still very hard at work and are meeting with a good deal of support, but the Prime Minister's hold on the seat does not appear to be in jeopardy in spite of the fact that some of his former supporters have turned against him. WEST COAST SEATS. Buller is one of the safest Labour seats in the Dominion, and the supporters of Mr. P. C. Webb are so confident that he will be returned by a large majority that they have told him that he will be serving their best interests if he occupies his time assisting Labour candidates in other electorates.. Mr. Webb is opposed by Mr. J. H. Powell, chairman of the Buller County Council, who, though a popular figure in the district, does not look like a winner. The Westland seat is not such a safe proposition for the retiring Labour member, Mr. James O'Brien, and he has had to undertake a vigorous campaign, but he does not appear to be in danger of defeat. His opponent is Mr. H. R. Young (Government), who stood against Mr. D. G. Sullivan in Avon four years ago. Mr. Young is a good campaigner and is largely interested in gold mining, and he can be expected to poll a substantial vote. THE ANGLER'S WAIT. With rod and line right you sit silently on the bank and prepare for a long wait for the first nibble on the bait.' This surely is a time "when a fellow needs a friend," and that friend will be found in a pipeful of Edgeworth, tobacco. 2oz 2s 3d.—Advt,