THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 10149, 30 October 1896, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

ELECTION PROSPECTS,

At the interview with Sir Robert Stout yesterday our reporter asked him for information concerning the prospects of the approaching campaign. Reporter: Do you mind telling me, Sir Robert, what you regard as the probable result of the General Election ?

Sir Robert: It is ofoen impossible to state the result of an election because the side issues often obliterate the main issue.

Dj you think that the Government will win in the North Island ?—I do not think that the Ministry expect to win in the North Island ; they expect defeat there. I hoar that their most favorable expectation is only a majority of some four votes. lam ci-rlaiu tint in the North Island, at all even's, the Ministry will find themselves next December in a minority of from six to eight. The only question is : What will happen in Canterbury and Otago? From what I can gather, the Ministry are weaker both in Canterbury and Otago. Thoro will be seats won by Independent Liberals which were last year held by Ministerialists. I think, therefore, that the Ministry cannot stand after the new election. How will the Prohibitionists fare ? I think there will be a majority returned to the new House who will he favorable to temperance reform. The trouble in the past has been that many men have declared themselves for Prohibition who have no sympathy whatever with the movement. They have declared themselves Prohibitionists simply to catch votes. Will the fact that there are so many declared candidates appreciably affect the result ?—That is one of the side issues that I have just referred to. In many places the fight will not be a straight-out one between the Ministerialists and those who are opposed to the present Administration. In many constituencies there is more than one Opposition candidate. This fact ia of itself of importance, as showing a wonderful change in public opinion. At the last General Election the Ministerial candidates were much more numerous than the Opposition ones. Many now feci how tho wind is blowing, and they are trimming their sails accordingly. There are numerous Independents also. Any man of very independent mind, and sincerely desirous of seeing the Democracy a success, oan hardly remain a Ministerialist. Many who came into the Houso strong Seddonians have heoomo Independents in spito of themselves. Others, again, would like to so duolaro themselves, but they aro afraid to do so. Some cannot walk alone; they must lean on someone, and that explains their attitude. Then you think the colony is going to see a change in tho new Parliament ?—I do not tncan to fay that we are to have a reversal of the Liberal policy. The policy of 1893 ha* already been cast to the winds. It has been abandoned. The self-reliant, nonborrowing policy of Mr Ballance is not now the policy of Ministers. What will happen will bo that many Independent Liberals will be returned, and there will be a change in our administrators. And it is not before ume. Our public funds are being wantonly wasted for party ends. One has only to read the Public Works Estimates to discover that. They record jobs by the hundred. When do you expect that the General Election will take place?—lt cannot be later than the third week in December, but I expect it sooner than that—perhaps the first week in December.

It is reported that the Liberty League intend to run Messrs C. Louisson, J. H. Marciel, and \V. W. Collins as their candidates for Christchurch.

Mr T. E. Taylor, a candidate for Christchurch, addressed a meeting there luet night. He declared himself in favor of progressive Liberal measures. A vote of thanks aud confidence was carried without opposition.

For the Northern Maori electorate Hone Heke, the present member, will be opposed by Simuel Maioha, a storekeeper at Omapcire.

Notwithstanding the bad weather of last evening upwarls of 100 gentlemen attended Mr Morriaf n's committee rooms, Main road, South Dunedin, for the purpose of forming a committee, etc. Mr J. P. Eagar was appointed chairman, and Mr Mace vice-chair-man. Tho meeting was representative and thoroughly enthusiastic. There will be no dearth of candidates for the Southern Maori electorate. Already there are half a dozen in the field, the latest to enter the list being Messrs G. P. Mutu and R M. Taiaroa.

On dit that Messrs Begg, Earnshaw, and Hutchison will be the Prohibition League's candidates for the City. NAPIER, October 30.

So far no candidate is definitely in the field against the Hon. Captain Russell for the Hawke's Bay seat, but the Rev. Mr Hosking has expressed his intention of standing in the Prohibition interest in the event of no other candidate coming forward. Wi Pere is likely to have opposition for the Eastern Maori electorate, two Wairoa men being announced—Maika Taruke and Taari Mete.