THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 11697, 1 October 1902, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

PROBABLE POLLING DAY.

SIX WEEKS' CAMPAIGN,

[FaOM OUK PABLIAITCKTART RkPOKTSK.]

. WELLINGTON, October 1. There is every reason to anticipate that the General Election will be held early in th-> third week in November, probably en the 15th. Three years ago ..tho session closed on October .23, and polling day vas fixed for December s—forty-three days thereafter. If the present session comes to an end to-morrow, and forty-three days ara again allowed, that will take us up to November 15—that is, the date at present arranged. The question was raised by Mr Hornsby yesterday at the Government Caucus. The Acting-Premier replied that it would not do for the date to be made public at present, but it would be in November. Members protested against a long campaign, and on being pressed on the point Sir J. G. Ward intimated for the information of members that November 15 would be the probable date of the General Election. MR CmSHOLM'S CANDIDATURE. A preliminary meeting of Mr R. Cbisholm's friends and supporters was held in the Rattray street Oddfellows' Hall last night, Mr James Brown, of Bond street., being voted to the chair. There were about 100 persons (several of whom were Ladies) present The Chairman, introducing Mr Chieholm to the meeting, remarked that the latter during his mayoralty had shown such conspicuous ability throughout a period of a most trying character that it was eafo to hazard the 'opinion that he would yet. make hi» mark as a practical legislator. Though personally he did not see eye to eye with Mr Chhhdlm on all political questions, yet he felt sure.that he would not support any measure that was calculated to do injury to the great bulk of the colonists; and with that conviction he was prepared to do all in his power to promote and support Mr ChishohnV candidature, feeling sure that as a member of the House for the City he would do his utmost to advance the material interests of this City in particular and of the colony in general.—{Applause.) Mr Chishoim, hi a few remarks that were well received, said there was no occasion for him to offer an apology for becoming a candidate for their suffrages. During a long residence in Dunedin be had occupied a number of public positions, and always taken a fair part—in some cases a prominent part—in the affairs of the City, which would enable them to judge of his qualifications to perform the duties appertaining to a member of Parliament. Ho had occupied the position of City Councillor, and for seventeen months had been in the mayoral chair, during about the most lively time that Dunedin had ever experienced. If past services were to count for anything, no thought it was reasonable for him to expect that he should receive a very fair measure of support at the General Election. I Since he had announced himself as a candi-' date the promises he had received had made him verv sanguine in his expectations. Promises had emanated from every section of the comnranjtjr—from workers and em> ployers alike he had. received encouragement and promises of support. The railway servants had nominated him as one of their candidates, and the Saddlers' Union bad almost that he was j the moßt fit and proper person to represent them. The Liberal Federation had also been good enough to nominate him as one of their candidates. Hu wished to say that he was a true Liberal—j »liUcally. He was not a Liberal because Mr Seddon and Sir Joseph Ward were Liberals, or because iht> Ministry , were a Libkral Adsainistrafcion, but because he true Liberalism meant teue progress, tad because he bad professed Liberal sfrinciplcs all big life. (Applause.) ] Referring to . a personal matter, k fi noticed that someone writing to; tbe 'Star' had complained that his /lKwainatron by the Liberal Federation wai due to the presence of hia persona! frienoe and a number of his workpeople. he had a very direct, and he hoped oonrmcing, answer to that If a man, when aspiring to a public position, could not appeal Tor support to the very persons Who knew him • best. thm there a screw loose somewhere. He (Mr Chishoim) thoWht that his best rpcommehdat'on, and he felt sure that the mass of the electors hreuld say so, iay in I the fact that;his intimate frienda. and his own ;workpeople tf i» man were, standing shoulder : > to- should/* in this contest, ana meant to lease, no] nae unturned to secure hi* B&jbmm^

supporter 3 exit the 'f^aw-'^^nWfiMllnii.lY i and proceeded to dusmisg^Jtoanbiiil 'pmtv 4 tieta of th© colony, wßcftfbVTsM wtdnikf • ,i----.soundl Dealmg withiftfewjlaborjaialtt**. J '« he teid he i was glad to Main that ssffh ' 'Star' that there was no "intention'-«ff the,? , ' I part of the City Council to construct the; 1 ' I tramways with labor imported, front 'Aatik-' i land. There fit plenty of labor inv* 1 , mid* capable « 4t>bxg the requisite work. '' and it was tiba doty -of the Cfiry Council m find employthftnt-ior it on this' «ndert*kui>—(Hear.) Whilst he generally approvid of the wise .and. basmess-llke methods of Sir Joseph Ward as -Minister of Railways, he could not avoid saying that Sir Josepli had made a great mistake in recently importing so much rolling stock 4rom America. In biß (Mr Chisholm's) view the carriages, etc, could , have been, constructed here equally well, and even if they cost more to make locally they (mould be built In oar own workshops for the twofold reason that by so doing we would keep our own artisans fully employed, and Would be circulating the money among ourselves, instead of sending ib to a foreign country. On the motion of Mr J. Wren, seconded by Mr W. Reed, the meeting resolved that Mr Chisholm was a St and proper person to represent Dtmedin in Parliament, and those present consUtuted. rtkettselvea a general committee to" secure his return! Mr ;F. Meyers having been elected-secre-tary to the -General Committee., Mr W. Rod. suggested that they should,at once proceed to elect ward ohathnen, who would take charge of matters in Useir tricts. Tho. *Brar», that night had announced that the date of the General Heetion would be on or about November V», which would" only be giving about fly* wrecks for running the election. As it Was likely to be a.short and sharp contest, It behoved Mr Ousholm's friends to bo up and . doing at once.—A gentleman at the back of the hall objected to the election of ward chairmen in the absence of notice, as many , who would have otherwise attended wouw. be taken by surprise.—-The majority of too meeting, however, shared Mr ReioVs.vioW, and forthwith acted on it, with, hhe result that Mr W. Reid. was' selected, for /High. Ward, Mr P. Carolin for South Ward and Mornington, Mr Gk Ritchie for Bell Ward, and Mr J. W. Butler for Leith Ward.