THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 14631, 29 July 1911, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THE AWARUA PROSPECTS [St’KCIAL TO TH2 STAR.] 15 LUFF, July 28. The forthcoming elections promise to be particularly interesting, so fai as Awanio is concerned. In addition to the candidature of the sitting member for the con etiiucncy (Sir Joseph Ward) there are likely to be three others in the field, and strangely enough in different interests. They'arc Mr J. R. Hamilton (Winton), Mr T Fleming (Invercargill), and Mr A. W. .Morris (Waikiwi). Sir Joseph Ward has held tht Awama seat for over 20 years. His acceptance of a- title will no doubt add to his opponents those electors whose democratic and Socialistic ideas are more radical than those of the average elector. However, those have heard only one side of the question, and it is possible that after Sir Joseph Iras spoken on Iris native heath for half an hour he will win over a large percentage of, if not all, those who are at present crying down a Liberal politician who has seen fit to accept one of the honors of the nation. The Opposition interest centres in the candidature of Mr J. R. Hamilton, who hits occupied with credit a seat upon the Southland County Council for some years past, and he is reported to have a strong following in Winton and the surrounding district. Mr eu pi porters are sanguine that their candidate will poll heavilv at the forthcoming poll, and no doubt a plank of this candidate's platform will be what has been termed the undemocratic action of tho pre cent member in accepting an hereditary lillc. It is al-o anticipated that Mr Hamilton will poll well as a No-license advocate. but it appears to me that however bright Mr iiamiltens chances may have been when his candidature was first announced they are fome--ir.it discounted by the fact that the:-;: are now two additional candidate- in Hu- field. Should Mr Hamilton poll as heavily as anticipated by the ()pp.>:i!inn party '■<; may have an opportunity 01 mcaser--: l,b>;b.t, with his redoubtable cppcn.nil on a second iKtllot. Mr ITemb'/r'c : bam: to be that d an Indfp-.m.’hmt, awl it has its advantages, aithc.’gh it in difficult to say with (Oil duly at the present moment with what Ivhl tie- candidature <f an Independent'will be u',yarded in Awaxua where Ini-To a• !> able re preventing the main panics. Mr A. \V.' Morris contested the scat !a.-i; ch-ci ion, and tire year he stands again. Mr Moms failed to reach

~ .000 votes in 1908. but as h«* appears this year as a Labor candidate he anticipates making a fight of it. The Labor vote in Avarua is not s.itllcienl in itsalf to affect fceriously the position of I 1!" eittin;. r mcmhor, and it is '[■ ■ ■die that unless Mr Morris evolves a. policy which embraces something more proa- ’.si c.; ihan the Labor articles his possi bi lit-i cs of successfully contesting tire Awarua scat, as he implied himself in a recent Bluff addra-ss, are not the rosiest in the world.

Mr James Dillingham an noun cos himself as a candidate for the Christchurch Bast seat as an independent. Mr L. It. PhillinFs determination not to seek re-election for Waitcmata is duo to family reasons. Messrs E. Harris (Opposition) nad F,. Alison (Independent Liberal) are already declared candidates for the seat. Keen interest is already being taken in the West Maori election. Six candidates are in the field—viz.. Mr Henare Ivaihau (sitting member), Kori 'Fold Te Aha (a cousin). Honui Tamhiao (brother of Mahuta), Pepene Eketone (who was defeated by some 500 votes at the last election), Bangitakica (another defeated candidate), and Dr Pomare Tarapepepe (son of Tupu Taingaicapa). Yielding to presme by the Reform League, Mr Joseph Taylor, of Papanni, has agreed to withdraw his candidature for the Kaiapoi scat. The probabilities are that the contest will again prove a duel between tho Hon. D. Buddo and Mr U. Moore, a former member. WOODVILLE, July 29. At a meeting of the Opposition party 8. J. H. I*.scott was rejected by 15 votes amiinst. Mr S. Dolton. 12 votes, to run in no Opjwsition interest at the Oencral Elect ion. Mr Kscott is a farmer in Woodville, and a prominent memt'er of tho Farmers' I’nion.