POLITICAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16508, 25 March 1914, Page 10

POLITICAL.

OTAGO NOTES. THE BRUCE SEAT. [Frois Our Correspondent.] ■ DUNEDIN, March 24. Mr Parker M'Kinlay, of Benhar, will oppose the Minister of Education for the Bruce seat. He will bo the Liberal candidate. The Prime Minister will visit Moa Flat on Monday and deliver an address in the evening at Tapanui. MR FISHER'S TOUR. TPer Press Association. 1 PAHIATUA. March 24. The Hon F. M. B. Fisher, who has been touring the Aki'tio coastal district, arrived from Pongaroa this afternoon and was welcomed by the Mayor, Mr J. D. Crewe, on behalf of the citizens. In reply to a deputation asking him to remind Mr Fraser, Minister of Public Works, of the grant for county roads, Mr Fisher said the strike last year cost £450,000 in hard cash, and that probably some items in the Estimates had been cut down. In reply to a deputation from tho Pahiatua Racing Club regarding the restoration of' the permit for the totalisator, Mr Fisher held out_ no prospects of the Government itself taking up tho Bill introduced last year by Mr G. Hunter, M.P., providing for an increase in permits, but ho thought the House would put it through. His own opinion was it should be put through. Ho described the Racing Commission as the "Race-horse-Owners Fat Stakes Commission." It was a metropolitan commission and old-established clubs had been wiped out ruthlessly and relentlessly. The Minister afterwards went to Eketahuna. LIBERAL-LABOUR FEDERATION. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 24. Sir Joseph Ward has sent the following reply to Mr Hiram Hunter, president of the Social Democratic Party, Christchurch, in regard to the new Liberal-Labour Federation in that city:— "In reply to your telegram conduct your business as you thin!: best. I have no right directly or indirectly to interfere with the decisions of yourself or any other section of the community.—J.. G. Ward." LIBERAL CAMPAIGN IN THE NORTH. rPER Press Association.] ' AUCKLAND, March 24. Messrs W. D. S. MacDonald (Bay of Plenty), J. C. Thomson (Wallace), ami G. Witty (iticcarton), opened the work of the Auckland Liberal campaign last night, when they delivered speeches at Helensville and Port Albert. Resolutions were carried expressing confidence in the Liberal Party and in Sir Joseph Ward as its leader.