THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Evening Star, Issue 13090, 24 October 1908, Page 5

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

}lß G. M. THOMSON AT HOWE STREET. Mr G. M. Thomson, the Opposition candidate for Dunedin North, opened his campaign in the Howe Street Hall last evening, when, owing to the very bad weather, there was only a moderate attendance. The Mayor (Mr J. M‘Donald), who presided, said that Mr Thomson had been associated with education for many years, and had been secretary and president of many important societies in the City. He was president of the Young Men’s Christian Association, and a gentleman holding that position was deserving of every respect.—(Applause.) Although not on the same side of politics as Mr Thomson, he was one who admired that gentleman, and he was sure that his personal character was of such a nature that even those against him in politics must respect him as a citizen and a good man.—(Applause.) Mr Thomson thanked those present for braving the elements on one of the worst evenings for a long time. He was not discouraged by the comparatively small attendance, because a number of great and important movements had (begun with very small gatherings. A few weeks ago he opened his campaign by speaking to those who were prepared to support him, and since then he had had to face the usual criticism from friendly critics. He had been told that he was —Too Straight to Stand for Parliament.—' Two'persons had told him that he was not sufficient of a rogue, that he was not up to the dodges, and so on. That sort of objection answered itself. If true, it would be a terrible reflection upon Parlialiament, and it would be the duty of the electors to put in straight men. ’He had also been told that he was too much of a philosopher, that he was not practical enough, that he was a Conservative, and a few other things. His reply was that whenever any opening presertted itself to him for doing something for the benefit of the community he had not dreamt about it, but had endeavored to do something practical if he could. Consequently he had been associated with a great many projects that Required a deal of to carry out, -and those things which Re had taken an active part in carrying out had been, he believed, uniformly successful. ■He might take credit for having inaugurated the Technical School. He carried it bn as secretary and superintendent—both honorary positions-r-for eleven years. That institution was the parent of all the technical schools in the Dominion. s Other movements that i he had bden connected with had -also turned out Whatever he had undertaken for the advancement of the common interest had been at the cost of his own pocket. He was not a wealthy man, because he had —Given His Time to Many Things—for the benefit of the public. He had been called a Conservative. That was an awful thing to call a man! But not much meaning attached to the terms Liberal and Conservative. He found that men who claimed to be liberal, and talked about it, were not recklessly liberal with their time or their money or their abilities—the only thing they were liberal with was other people’s money. He (Mr Thomson) was associated with many movements that marched with the times, and could claim to be as progressive a man as any that walked in Dunedin to-day. He was a good deal handicapped. He had had no experience of this kind of work, and must trust to the good will and influence of his friends to help him. He had no organisation of any kind behind him, though he stood —ln the Opposition Interest.— He was not an employer, therefore had no support from the Employers’ Association. He was absolutely “on his own.” If he won it would be “ off his own bat,” and if ha lost ho hoped he could take a licking with_ any man. But he would sooner be put in from the fact that he was one who had worked and had a record rather than as one who went about promising and pledging or patting babies on the stomach. He could not cadge for votes. He had been asked to show himself on bowling greens. Why should he? He did not play bowls, for he was partly incapacitated from that sort of recreation, and took his pleasure instead in his garden, and to pretend to be a bowler would be a sort of cadging that he would not descend to. On a former occasion he had stated that he was in sympathy with the Opposition, and he now wished to give some of his reasons for opposing the Government. Hi was against the Government because he had a conscientious feeling that they were in many respects on the wrong lines. He would never find fault with any Government in any work they did for the good of the community. Therefore he was —Not an Oppositionist Out and Out, — and certainly not a party man. But there were many reasons why the present Government had not commanded sympathy. After briefly touching on the question of defence (concerning which he held that it was the duty of every man who was able to qualify himself to bear arms if necessary), and remarking that he was opposed to any Government legalisation of gambling, the speaker went on to give some , of the. reasons for his opposition to the Government. One. reason was that the Government had debauched the

community in a political sense in trying to find out not what was for the benefit of the community, but what would gain them support, and they had trimmed their sails to get that support, so that it was now recognised that if a thing was wanted to be done the Government must be supported. Things had come to such a pass that men would hardly stand against the Government now. He was the solitary Opposition candidate in Dunedin. —Finance.— He was not a pessimist nor an alarmist, but those who tried to realise how the public business was conducted would agree that a radical change was required. We heard a great deal about the prosperity of the country, but it was uncommonly hard to get money, and living had become very dear. There were, of course, many causes for this that had nothing to do with the Government, but he would just give a few facts. The Public Debt in 1904 was 55 millions; in 1905, 57 millions: in 1906, 59 millions; in 1907, 61 millions. It was going up at the rate of over two millions per annum. In 1904 the interest that we had to pay on that debt was £2,203,420, in 1905 £2,2997901, in 1906 £2,388,316, and in 1907 £2,457,285. This y®ar we might be quite sure it was over £2,500,000. The figures were from the last Year Book, compiled by the RegistrarGeneral. Taking it another way: In 1905 the population increased 2.90 per cent and the debt 4,24 Mr,,cent.; in 1906 the population increased 0.69 per cent, and the debt 3.95 per cent.; and m 1907 the population increased 2.26 per cent, and the debt 2.86 per cent. He only read one thing in these figures, and that was that we were going on, at a very extravagant rate, and that tne countrv was getting deeper and deeper into debt. The Premier saicL-that these figures were misleading, because the increase in the Public Debt was largely due to the expenditure of money on reproductive works. Well, take —Railways.— The totdl cost of construction up to the 31st March, 1907, was 23* millions, and the revenue was equal to 3.45 per cent, on the capital cost. But largo items were charged against capital which ought to be charged against revenue, so that if the accounts were set out fairly and squarely, the net revenue would be found to be much lower, prob’ably about 3 per cent. These railways were all mqde out of borrowed money, on which the country was paying 4 per cent. But he was going to take the Government’s own figures, and e ? el * assuming that they were correct, would show what they meant. Four per cent. on £23,504,272 amounted to £940,170, which was the amount of intdtest to be paid annually; 3.45 per cent, on the same sum was ‘£810,897, which was the net revenue gained by the railways The difference for 1907, £129,273, was dead loss, and in the last year it would be still higher. If any private concern were run on the same lines it would soon find itself bankrupt. In other States better results were shown. In New South Wales the railways paid 4.43 per cent, net revenue on their cost, in West Australia 4.54, and in Victoria 4.03. Why should our railways not pay as well? The explanation was that our railways "were in the hands of the Government, and that they would pay better if run, as they were in other places, by a non-political board. We had a first-class lot of men on our railways, but in certain departments there were duffers, who would not be there if the concern wore run privately. In some of the workshops there were men who would not be accepted in any engineering shop or foundry in town. They were political hangers-on, and the Government had not the courage to put them out. The Government couldn’t. The only cure was for the Government to divest themselves of the management. That was the sort of evil which the Socialists and others wanted t d intensify. He would give another instance of the Government’s recklessness. There was the Public Service —Superannuation Bill, — which included all future entrants to the public service. Over and over again it was saad that the Railway Fund was sound. Now if it was sound, why was it closed down’ and why were those who were entering the service now or since the closing downlorced to pay a higher rate thanbefore? He thought that it was notoriously weak, and he believed that in the future it would oost the country over £IOO,OOO a year. There were something like 5,000 persons in the railway service under the old 80, and tteir rights, 'of course, could not be touched. He believed that during the next three years a very large sum of money would be required to be paid into the Public Service Fund, and it was admitted that the amount, whatever it was, would have to be increased as years went on up to some £60,000 a year or more. That was only the Railway Fund. The Police Fund was practically insolvent. The Government saddled it with a liability of something like £70,000, and put in nothing to meet it. It was no exaggeration- to say that about £200,000 a year would be needed to supplement contributions 7 for superannuation funds instituted by the Government. There were something like 25,000 public servants in the country, and they were all touched by it more or less. He did not object to supplementing annuities, especially in the case of teachers, .where men and women denied themselves by bdntributing to a fund for thirty or forty years. Apart from the heavy prospective liability, the Public Sor-

vice Bill was an ill-considered* one.*/ 7 The Government' subsidy*, added Ihrge ’ annuitants instead pf aiding large majorities, who could: never rise very.lpgh because ,of lack of ya-, cancies. There I ■were other ‘ reasons- why he stood in the Opposition interests. One was 'that, the Government gave them a ; fearful lot of bad.yydigested legislation. The Premier said it was time to —Stop Legislation.7-r , . , Ho thought it was time it was,stopped long a S°- They brought forward .measures in the last hours of on expiring Parliament, •and carried, them- through by a process of exhaustion, .-which certainly was.not so.bad* to-day as it . was ; in the late Mi Seddon’s time. He held that legislation in the form of any Bills of importance whatever should be circulated in time for everyone to consider them thoroughly before they were put on the Statute Book. The whole history of New Zealand legislation was a succession of amendment Act after amendment Act. If members spent less time talking to their constituents' through ‘ Hansard,’ and put more time into their work, then they would have less bad legislation.—(Applause.) One. of the important measures put through last session was the —Second BallotBill. No one wanted it outside the Ministry. He was not concerned whether it was going to affect him or not, bqt he simply said that it was not wanted by the country. It was a perfect waste of time, and he called it a political jofy and nothing more. The —Foods dnd Drugs Act—was an Act which was wanted, and one for which the Government took a very great deal of credit. Towards the end of last year, to show that they were bona fide in their intentions, they had gazetted certain regulations. But from that date to this they had not brought up a solitary individual in connection with that Act. The Government had not enforced it, and had no intention of enforcing it. The only reason he could suggest was that it was not convenient for them to enforce this Act till after the elections. —The Government’s Policy.— He had been trying to find out what the policy of the Government was, and he was not clear what was their main plank. He thought it was that they were in power and were going to stop in power. He and they were simply opportunists. The Government were dallying with —Socialism.— They had several pronounced Socialists in their ranks. A Voice: Who are they? Name them. Mr Thomson: I think Mr Fowlds, for one, is an advanced Socialist. A Voice: No; he is a Single Taxer, Mr Thomson : And Mr M‘Nab is inclined to Socialism. A Voice: No, Freehold. Mr Thomson said tliat they had another position before them. Mr Hall-Jones had been appointed High Commissioner. Why did not the Government fill his position? It was rumored that it was to be given to Mr Laurenson, who was surely a sufficient Socialist for them. The Government, he repeated, were dallying with Socialism, and men who were dallying with Socialism were not the men to go to Parliament and fight against it. They should put men in to fight against that principle. The men they wanted were not Socialists.—(Applause.) i —Arbitration.— Over this question we now found this state of affairs, that the mar who seventeen or eighteen years ago engineered the biggest strike we ever had was now in antagonism to tho very men whose cause lie advocated at that time. Th© trend of events had certainly brought about a very odd position. How the Hon. Mr Millar would come out of it it was hard to ray. He (Mr Thomson) did not blame Mi- Millar. That gentleman had tried to tiring in a measure that would bring about industrial peace, but he (Mr Thomson) did not think that his effort would be successful. He did not think it could be done at all by legislation. What was wanted was the application of strong, sound, common-sense, and if we could get both sides to submit their cause to competent men, who were prepared to look into their troubles, we should be better off than under the Arbitration Court. Li saying this, however, be wished to clearly drisociaie hjmself from those who attacked the Court and accused the Judges of partiality. He was positive that these gentlemen possessed the jilflicial Tnind, aid would riot'be biassed. —(Applause.) • He would also express the opinion that the new Arbitration Act was a bona fide attempt on the part of Mr Millar to meet the position. He was afraid that i( wc had hard times the whole Arbitration Act and all that business would go to the wall, and that w© should have to start do novo. —Conclusion.— He would not deal inf that address with other subjects. What he had to say about Socialism would take more time than could be fairly occupied that night. In what he had said he was aware that at the best he had only succeeded in speaking plainly. He had not the gift of making an address entertaining. He could only speak as he believed. If they did not approve of what he had said he was sorry, but he could not help it. In concluding for the present he could assure the people that, if elected, he would be true to his convictions, and would be guided by what he believed to be right, and by what seemed to him to be common sense, of which quality he thought he possessed a fair share.—(Applause.) —Questions.— In answer to questions, Mr Thomson said that he had not studied the Fair Rent Bill, and oould not give an opinion about it. He agreed with the necessity for the medical inspection of school children. He was not in favor of a State Bank. He would do what he could to make it easier for our young people to learn trades. —A Vote of Thanks.— Dr Fulton proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Thomson for Iris earnest and lucid address. Mr W. M’Donald seconded the motion, and it was carried with hearty applause. MR T. MACKENZIE, M.P. Despite a steady downpour of rain last night, the Volunteers’ Hall, Mosgiel, was almost filled by male electors, assembled to hear a political address by Mr Thomas Mackenzie, M.P., a candidate for the Taieri seat. Mr H. H. Inglis, mayor, presided, and introduced Mr Mackenzie very neatly. —Why He Was There.—.. Mr Mackenzie, who was received very heartily, expressed regret that. Mr Donald Reid had retired, and pleased his audience early. He said he was there as a. candidate for the Taieri seat because of two reasons. The district bad no member, and he was a member without a district.— (Laughter.) He referred to the perpetual upsettings of electorates that had marked the political history qf New Zealand for some years, and hoped they had seen the last of them. In connection with what was called 1 —Town v. Countryreadjustment of electorates, the most serious point was that the towns retained their representation, whilst the country was losing. Three members from country districts had been taken from the', South Island. What would be the result of such a movement? The result was very clear. The power would be gradually transferred from the country to the towns, and the towns, having Socialistic and land-taxing opinions, would make these opinions felt more widely than formerly. If the country lost in redoesentation it lost power to voice the wants of country people. In Otago there were now only four purely country representatives; formerly there were twelve. The city and suburbs representation had not diminished. A fight was needed, and a greater fight was in store than had over been fought in the past, to save the country interests from being overshadowed by city* opinions. The duty of country districts : was to return to Parliament men who understood their wants, men who possessed, the power arid the courage to fight for these , wants and interests.—(Applause.) ThereSwas a.statement that the country was on the verge of depression. He behoved, however, that there would be a —Shortage of Money,— . due to the fact that in the, future there would'riot be such an increased amount of money taken up, on mortgago-as had been

the* case daring the past few years. That "would lessen the 'cii'colatibn"df ‘ money in that way. Regarding .the statements ,as to the Advances to’.Settlers Department not supplying inoremdney to'settlers, it ought to be stated, in order to put the position fairly,. •-that; ; on? . and "miUioris had been advanced by the department this year, a sum-nearly as much as the, united totals advanced in the two proceeding -years. He felt safe in saying that unless the Government had been able to advance that amount the rates of interest to borrowers would have hardened. ; The greatest fall' in export- values occurred in wool. He was optimistic,-and''had every confidence in-the future of wool; Truly, New .Zealand was ■ — ; A -Wonderful Country.*— Since the introduction of the frozen. meat industry no less than £175,000,000 ’ had wen obtained from sheep alone. The Dominion’s 7 wealth had increased from £145,000,000 some years ago to £311,000,000 now. _ He referred to unsatisfactory phases in connection with v the -national life, and commented on the birth fate, pointing out that the increase of population now- in proportion was no greater than it was when the population was half of the present total. It was a pity that in such a favored country existing conditions should indicate a so distinctly unsatisfactory state of affairs. There was also an undue amount of both public and private extravagance that should be discountenanced. The .question of —lncrease in Taxation—per heed of the population was the subject of much controversy.' True it was that per capita there was an increase in taxation, but that was due to the fact that the Cust*™ increased from under two millions in 1897 to over three millions last year, being over £1 per head on the population. Investigation showed that on the necessaries of life the present Government had made substantial reductions. In enumerating varied articles ho emphasised the fact that last year £200,000 was taken off sugar, which represented a saving of 2s 4d per bag to the buyer. Without these concessions the unfortunately high cost of living would have been much higher now. In reviewing the number of articles upon which increased duties had been obtained he found that —Spirits and Luxuries—ranked very high. Spirits were responsible ™L,an grease last year of 200,000 gal since fi-f n °t he called a necessary that increase represented iIoO.OOO of duty. Motor cars, which represented £oo,ooo three years ago now totalled £163,000, and these cars were subjected to heavy duty. Another phase worth consideration was that exports had increased **??? ten millions in 1897 to over twenty millions in 1907, whilst the increase of population was only 27 per cent, during that period, which showed that the people had far more 1 money to spend, and that much of the money, apparently, had been spent on luxuries and the non-essentials of life. -The revenue from the Income Tax had Moreased m ten years from £115,000 to £004,000, and as no one paid that tax who had lea than £3OO, it showed that those who paid the tax were in a very good position indeed.—(Applause.) Other items could be enumerated which would show the same thing. Reciprocity had in some respects fulfilled the anticipations of its promotor.3. He had long favored preference to British goods in British markets.—(App.ause.) r The Hon. Hall-Jones’s Appointment—to the Home Office would, he hoped, lead to important reforms in the commercial branch of that depaitment. He (.Mr -Mackenzie) had had occasion to criticise severely the misleading reports regarding the prices of wml received from the High Commissioner's Office—prices which were below these then current-, and which were calculated to have a depressing effeqt on the market. More up-to-date information regarding the great changes taking place in trade ramifications, the transit and condition, of meats, was required. The exhibitions, too, of New Zealand products had been faulty and inadequate, and had been condemned by visitors to the Old Country.^—(Applause.) —Land Laws.He approved of the Act introduced last session by the Government to extend the principle of Land for Settlements Act by allowing some who took up land to acquire the freeho.d. It was a welcome concession. (Applause.) He strongly favored the ophonal tenure. He cited historical proofs of the advantages resulting from the subdivision of lands into reasonable areas held on tenures such as the people desired. That system ever resulted in individual and national prosperity. Ancient and modern history made that clear. Small holdings in France had given great satisfaction. In Scotland and in Ireland the peasantry had been driven off their homes to make way for deer forests. One-sixth of the area of Scotland was now occupied by deer forests. If the freehold liad been possessed by the small cultivators of the land, that unprofitable condition could never have been effected.—(Applause.) The Irish peasantry demanded the three Fs—free purchase, free rent, and fixity of tenure. The time had armed when much should be done in the direction of regressing the interior lands of New Zealand.—(Applause.) Under a proper system of enoouragqpient to State tenants holding pastoral country, twice the number of sheep could be depastured. That was his opinion. As to the —Dominion’s Defence, — he approved of the increased naval subsidy, and pointed out that military mattens in New Zealand were in a highly unsatisfactory condition, r" Our whole system . required reorganising and revivifying. It was depressing and distressing to see volunteer corps of long and honorable standing being disbonded, and excellent volunteers retiring with the feeling that it was not worth while to be a volunteer. The time had arrived to train the male population, to encourage young men to enter the volunteer system, and to train boys in connection with the school curriculum. He referred to the military and naval abtivity in Europe, in the United States, and in the East, where development had been amazing and strikingly successful. He advocated the need of establishing a polio}' for the thorough development of New Zealand and the increase of her population, so that she could compete against any competing foe that might approach her shores. If they were able to defend New Zealand, they might take it that the ability to defend would probably prevent the necessity to exercise their power of defence. As with individuals, so with nations.—(Applause.) —Education.— The passing of the Education Amendment Bill last session pleased him. He liad declared before the House met tliat the Minister could not longer resist the demand he had voiced on behalf of the smaller school, the demand that there should be a fixed salary with annual increases when good woik was done, irrespective of trifling alterations in the attendance of pupils. Tliat had been effected, and it would involve an expenditure of about £7S,OCX) when the Act had been adopted fully. He opposed the Government taking from school committees the right to a voice in the appointment of teachers. They proposed that the names of teachers should pe sent, and the responsibility thrown upon the Committee to say whether they were not qualified; Hi’s amendment was accepted by the Minister. He was pleased that the Government had seen fit to grant free books to school children. That was a great help to people with families. The adoption of the proposed principle of uniform school books would not have been a wise thing to do in the interests of education. Thri subject of —Socialism—was so much discussed now that one could hardly pass it by. He thought that uncontrolled Socialism arid uncontrolled Individualism were equally bad for the community. A mixture of both was wanted. Undoubtedly, for certain services within communities the State and the municipality could do better for the people than he individual oould._ For products that had to be produced afld exported it would be impossible to devise any State acquirement of industries and exterior distribution that would prove successful. He favored the profit-sharing principle, and would watch with interest the results of the offer of Sir Christopher Furness to his workmen* 'to carry on his large shipbuilding yards by ffan. principle dot

one .year. The.detp-of -the was 4a 1 see that labor was carried out under proper and wholesome surroundings.—(Applause.); —Parliament and Cabinet. He frit persuaded that triennial elections did not make for steady > work. Under the present system the country was ib a state of perpetual political unrost. Rightly or uTongly, Ministers had got into tho habit of going over the country, presumably for the purpose of obtaining information. Their opponents contended that it was for purely electioneering purposes. Perhaps the truth lay halfway between these views. —(Laughter.) The (fact remained that there was no! settling to steady wort. It would be better to lengthen the parliamentary term. Certainly, one of three things must occur in connection with the Ministry : they must lengthen the duration .of Parliament or do away with territorial representation in the Cabinet, or increase the number of Ministers. The work was falling into the hands of under-secretaries, which was not a good thing. Some of the Ministers had far more work than they could properly attend to, and the greatest difficulty was experienced by members in even seeing them during the session. On the question of the position of political parties his opinion had long been that the time had arrived for a N —Recasting of Parties.— Time and experience had modified the views of the one side, and increased experience had given the other side a greater idea of the responsibilities thrust upon them and what was practical. It was unlikely tliat changes of Government in New Zealand would come about as often as at Home That was due to the fact that the power of patronage now posssfsed by Governments was so wide as to almost Control the country. All the State functions this country had taken over, and the great distribution of public money, entirely altered the system of party government now. Tho Administration could never .be displaced by the ordinary methods obtaining in the Old Country. If reform were required, it must come from within, and the better the men who were associated with the Government tho higher would the. work of legislation and administration become. There wore clear lines of demarcation at the present time between those who believed in progressive Liberalism on sound, constitutional lines and those who considered that the State should nationalise all sources of production, distribution, and exchange, and those who would call upon the land to pay tho taxation necessary to carry on the functions of government. It seemed to him that those were the two distinct lines between the parties, and he believed that before the elections of 1911 such would come about. That was to say, if what he did indicated did not come about, they would see the three-party system of government established in this country, with revolutionary Socialists attempting to secure the balance of power at the elections of 1911, and that would not make either for the interests of tho workers or for the interests of the producers of tho Dominion. Referring to the Imperial aspect of —New Zealand’s External Policy,— he contended that no one viewing the wide ramifications of our vast Empire could fail to realise the necessity that existed for bringing it into closer touch. Ho believed that the time was ripe for the establishment of a truly Imperial Parliament in the Mother Country, whore representatives from all parties could attend in proportion to their contributions and interests, and where all important questions of war and peace might be discussed and foreign tariffs and ’ treaties determined. If this were done, it would tend to the building up and the consolidation of their great Empire, of , which they were all so proud. —(Loud applause.) —Questions and Tlianks.— Mr John Wright wanted to know why more was paid for New Zealand produce here than in England, and why fish was a luxury when millions were around our shores?—Mr Mackenzie said that tho English prices referred to very often represented prices for whole cargoes or the output of a factory for a season. Consumers at Home often paid much tlie same as New Zealand consumers. As for fish, the only way out of the present difficulty was for municipalities to control tho sale and' distribution. The Farmers’ Union asked if the candidate, if elected, would lie in favor pf giving all Crown tenants tiro statutory right to acquire the freelrold of their Lands after the usual conditions had been complied with; also, if he approved of taxation by the Customs for purposes of revenue only? —Mr Mackenzie said that the person who prepared the first question had little idea of the position of lands in our community. He would no more think of parting with mining reserves, endowments hold under leasehold, and great tracts of pastoral country than he would of withholding tho freehold from small farmers.— (Applause.) The second question was foolishly drafted. There wore certain industries in the country now that bad become important, and it would be extremely wrong if the tariff imposed on goods they manufactured were interfered with. On the motion of Mr Jolm Wright, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Mackenzie was accorded unanimously. AUCKLAND’S JEALOUSY. Mr A. Kidd, who is seeking re-election for Auckland Central, addressed his first meeting last night', and received a vote of thanks and confidence. In reply to a question regarding the subsidy for the Wellington-Tahiti mail service, he said that he did not think that it would interfere with the Auckland service. The subsidy had been granted only for a year, and at the end of that time they would bo able to, form an opinion as to whether it should be continued. THE ASHBURTON SEAT. Mr Davis (M.) has retired from this contest, and by doing so has improved tho chances of Mr Flatman, the Government selection. ANOTHER MINIhrcRIALIST RETIRES. Mr Dickie, tho Liberal candidate for Sehvyn, has retired from tho contest, alleging as his reason his inability to cover the ground in the short period before polling day. The Prime Minister yesterday endeavored, but without success, to induce Mr Dickie to go to the poll. Mr Hardy will now have a virtual walkover. THE PERSONAL FACTOR COUNTS. [Special to the Star.] CHRISTCHURCH, October 24. The Domett correspondest of the ‘Cheviot News’ writes:—“l hear that the friends of Mr Reiter have persuaded him that all Conservatives have beards, and if he goes round the country with a beard he will undoubtedly be taken for an Oppositionist. The result is that Mr Reiter has shaved off his beard, and his appearance (so the ladies say) has greatly improved.” • THE EAST COAST SEATS. [Special to the Star.] GISBORNE, October 24. So far the people of this district are taking election matters very quietly and philosophically, probably because it is recognised that the result is a foregone conclusion. Two of the candidates who are opposing the Hon. James Carroll have been doing pilgrimages in the country districts during the week, while the Native Minister is working the southern end of the electorate and visiting Pohni and Tarawera on the Taupo road. Next week politics, will give place to the show and races,. after which there may he a short hut merry campaign. The most sanguine hopes of those who are opposed to Mr Carroll are that there will be a second ballot, and that tho supporters of Messrs Clayton (the sheep farmer) and Barton (the ultra-Labor people) will unite, but oil and water will not mix. In the Bay of Plenty district the event is more open. There are three Richmonds S, Macdonald (Ministerial), Gow (Opposition), and D. Luadon “Mr. M^cdflnaldj

but the prepend Rotorua end,4nd mi« 4» impression Mr Macdonald,' who ’^ISkH working Rotorua and Bayof PbrntTaaSaSHß ■on his audiences. ''**■ -- : In the Tanrapga electnrnte S Is that Mr Hemes will l«m> 1 a' fight _ against the Government and it is quite on the cards secure only second place. THEiSTnm;. kM ■ •■ [SMCUL to tti &&i|| „ Now that Mr Seddon has definitely ;Ott k:, ®s tered the lists the fight,fprihe Weatitoflß seat may be said to have fairly menced., Mr H. L. Michel has been".wl|l the warpath for some weeks, has abedly.i« covered most of the ground, and good receptions all through the district, bemg a fluent and ready speaker. Sum supporters express in the?! result. Mr Seddon is we eeleoted Govern* meat candidate, and has had very CordialO! telegrams from the Prime Minister An3.i 1 prominent men on the Liberal side, withal mg him success. He spoke at Boss IMb* I night, and will bo entertained at -"%ir “social” there to-night. He will speak' $ at his birthplace (Knrnara), after which 'i he will spend a fortnight in the norihenil f part of the district. Mr Seddon ~ls 'ah."' $ donbtedly very popular, as proof of which*; i statement it may .be mentioned that : tnj I addition to speaking every night ntiCm *| week he will have to attend two GocSOr | and a ball in his honor in different putftl $ of the electorate. Mr Michel’s supported * are now organising socials in hsfc.l ’ The rivalry between the two parties'Jft.| 5 fairly keen. The opposition and interrupt *i tions on countered at Mr Sed don’s mekmg, ’!■ had only heightened local feeling. \TIS'- N contest will be one of the most sfeommDS'j | waged here for many years. As far as canto j | gauged, both the northern and the sottth>l | era districts will give majorities for that % late member, but in the middle dirtriofe’ f the fight will bo very bitter. At the ‘ election Mr Michel had a majority in this! S division, which includes Hokitika, where ' he has resided for many years end is '• widely known. Both the candidates are to speak again in Hokitika. From pre- ' sent appearances the result is likely to to < in favor of Mr Seddon, with a- substan-' tial majority.