IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16569, 5 June 1914, Page 7

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

A RESIGNATION. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, June 3. The Hon John Martin, Liberal member for the Eastern division of St Paucras, has decided to tender his resignation, and to ro-contcst the seat as an Independent Liberal-Labour candidate. (The Hon John Martin has had an interesting political career. A native of Ontario, he was called to the Manitoban Bar in 1882, to the British Columbian Bar in 1897, and in 1899 became a King’s Counsel. He entered politics in 1882 ns member of tho Manitoban Provincial Parliament, retaining that position for ten years. In 1888_hc became Attorney-General and Minister of Education for Manitoba, holding theso posts till 1891. In 1.893 he became a member of tho Canadian House of Commons. Seven years later he returned to provincial politics, becoming n niem'ber of the British Columbian Provincial Parliament. He held his sent till 1907, shortly after which ho went to England. From 1898 till 1899 he hold the posts of Attorney-General and Minister of Education in British Columbia, and in 1900 succeeded to tho Premiership. In May, 1909, ho unsuccessfully contested the Stratford-on-Avon division of Warwickshire in the Liberal interest. Ho was first returned to the British House of Commons for St Pancras East in January, 1910, when ho won with 690 votes to spare. At tho second general election, neld towards the close of the same year, tho polling was:—Hon John Martin (L.) 3891, J. W. W. Hopkins (C.) 3038, H. Jacobs (Woman’s Suffrage) 22. In the House of Commons, Sir Martin has always shown more than tho average _ independence, and consequently not infrequently caused not a little troublo to the party whips.)