“SOUTHERN AGITATORS."

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15333, 16 June 1910, Page 6

“SOUTHERN AGITATORS."

It is very natural that Auckland should resent tho attempt that is being made by Mr T. E. Taylor nnd his friends to “ manage its political affairs,” but it cannot fairly blamo the “ southern agitators ” for being unaware that it is able to manago them for itself. Many other people havo imagined in their innocence that the northern city would bo all tho better for a littlo assistance in tho conduct of tho election campaign that just now is occupying so much of its attention. Surely such a grotesque contest has never taken place in the dominion beforo. Neither tho Government nor tho Opposition has had courage enough to bring out a candidate of its own. Tho Government is content with an “Independent Liberal," who does not wish to pledge himself to any party, and tho Opposition is relying upon a supporter of its views who is conspicuously labelled “ unofficial.” libtween these two aro q Prohibitionist, who received the support of the Opposition at tho last general election, and two Labour candidates, who are moro bitterly opposed to one another than they aro to any of the other three. Tho management that produced confusion of this sort may well havo misled tho “agitators.” Mr Taylor made tho initial mistake of trying to foist

a Canterbury candidate upon tho constituency, but ho appears after discovering his error to have behaved with perfect propriety. Of course, if Sir Joseph Ward or Mr Massey had taken part in tho campaign ho would liavo denounced the intruder at once for interfering with tho free choice of tho electors, but the head of the Labour Party does not acknowledge the restrictions ho would impose upon the leaders of tho other political divisions. Ho insists upon a free hand for himself uiid for as many others as will use tho privilege in tho right direction. But the part Mr Taylor is taking in tho contest is less entertaining than tho contest itself. Probably Mr Myers, tho “ Independent Liberal,” will be at tho head of tho poll in tho first ballot, but if there is any understanding between tho Prohibitionist, the “ unofficial ” Oppositionist' and tho more popular of tho Labour candidates ho may have somo difficulty in retaining his position iu tho second appeal to tho electors. Tho Opposition is even more anxious than the Labour Party is to administer a rebuff to the Government, and if it could bring about the discomfituro of tho Independent Liberal, whoso independence is already on tho wano, it would claim with somo justice to have achieved a signal victory. Tho contest which outers upon its final stage to-day is really of more importance than the calibre of the condidates might suggest.