POLITICAL NOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 140, 15 June 1908, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

[from our correspondent.] WELLINGTON; Saturday. Dr. Chappie, M.P., is back in town looking very fit and happy (as indeed he ought to be) after his campaign for the Tuapekai, seat. His unsuccessful rival, Mr Horn, declares, I-see, that for the present he has. had enough of politics,, and it is not considered likely that ho will contest a seat at the coming general election. A large slice of the present Tuapeka seat, including Lawrence, will be merged into Bruce next December, and the Bruce election" will be one of the most interesting in the Dominion, especially if Mr James Allen is opposed by Mr Tom Mackenzie. They are both good men, long experienced in politics, and it seems a pity that redistribution will compel one or the other to leafe Parliament. That is, of course, on the understanding that the two gentlemen named .contest the same seat. At one time: it was suggested that Mr Mackenzie should stand for one- of th© Dunedin seats, but this paiticular rumour seems to have died out lately. The Post the other day hinted at the general election coming off in October instead o,f ■December, basing this on the alleged fact 'that the printing of the electoral rolls is being pushed on with all possible speed. It is difficult, hoxvfever; to see how the election can be held before the usualdate. There can be no change unless the Governor granted a dissolution, and one can hardly conceive of his Excellency granting a dissolution merely becausef 34embers will necessarily suffer some' discomfort and no small inconvenience in the cramped quarters they are to occupy during i the session. . The story goes that Mr A. E.; Jull, ] a well-to-do 'brewer, and prominent business man of t^aipawa, is to contest the Hawke's Bay seat against the sitting Member, Mr Dillon, and that political veteran, Sir William Russell. Mr Jull has'had a long experience on local*!bodies in Hawke's Bay, and is a thoroughly progressive up-to-date man, but should the three candidates I hsive just named all stand, it simply means that Mr Jull will split the Government vote with Mr Dillon, and that "the Captain," as Sir William is still familiarly and affectionately balled all through Hawke's Bay, must win the seat. Mr George Hujtehison, formerly well-known in ihei political arena as Member for Patea-^-what a thorn he used to be in poor Mr Seddon's side —was in town the other day. He now resides in Wanganui, where he has recommenced] practice as a barrister, and it is not likely that he will long remain outside the political world. He has not yet declared his intention of standing for Wanganui, but it would not be surprising were he to appear ■ as. ir candidate. Mr Hutchison was ofae" of the brainiest politicians New Zealand has ever [mown, a fine debater, and he would be a tower of ■ strength to whichever side with which' to might decide to throw in his political fortunes. It is probable, however,; that he may choose' to wait for another three years before making'an attempt to re-enter Parliament. The present Member for Wanganui,/Mi* rHogan, is to be opposed, I hear, iby a Mr Bassett, a well-known Wangakui business^ man. Mr Bassett, who;would stand in the Opposition interest, or else as an Independent, wdtitd have a strong support, for he is'ruir ardent Prohibitionist, and woultT receive large aid from the "church element. So long as the -working-men remain true to Mr Hogan, th^ totter should hold the seat. :" "'' '; ''!v1 ■"''', ■ ', Mr O'Regan is retiring from his Chairmanship of .„; the Conciliation Board, on the] plea that, the Board has to h,old so j many sittings outside Wellington and that he; cannot do justice to his work on the Board and at the same time attend to his own business as a lawyer. Mr O'Regan has shown great tact and moderation in his tenancy of the position he ;i&, now resigning, and his work is well spoken of bothj }.<■ by the tradesunionists and the, employers. So fa* nothing has transpired ; .a£ to his intentions with regard to the coming genera^ election, but the all-knowing "man in the street"" is declaring to-day that "Pat intends to t have another bout with; Don "-+-" Don," I may explain, being the nickname generally given to Mr Fisher, the present Member for Te Aro. Mr! O'Regan is a game''fighter, and a gentlemanly fighter, , but his Single Tax views frighten the Liberal Moderates, and his Free-trade opinions are not calculated to win him imanv votes in a constituency such as Wellington Central, .where there are so many factories, ana where, naturally, Protection is wore favoured than Frep-trade. It is an open secret that Mr Hislop will run against Mr Fislier, and if these two gentlemen were left alone to fierht it out.it would be difficult to pick"the winner:? But with Mr O'Regan also in the field, Mr Fisher would, I think, win, for the Oppositionists would give him their support, whilst the Liberal, or Government vote would be split between the Mayor and the Single Tax. champion. For the Hutt seat Mr Wilford is 'to be opposed, so the story goes, by three or four gentlemen. One name mentioned is that of Captain McDonald, a clever, pushful young man who is at present an official in the Defence Department, and who at one time was Mayor of the Hutt. where he gained many friends by the progressive, energetic manner in which he pushed the interests of the borough. I can^Jia-rclly ' think, however, that Captain McDonald would throw up a good Government billet to enter upon such a risky enterprise as endeavouring to oust Mr Wilford. Another candidate is said to be a popular artisan at the Petone workshops. I fancy Mr Wilford will have no difficulty in retaining his seat. _ Mr Mills's determination to retire from politics, temporarily at least, is variously regarded here. Some people unkindly say that Mr Mills is^ doubtful of his chances' of success, and has deemed discretion to be the better part of valour. But this opinion is only held by a captious few. Most people hold that Wairau is losing a very energetic. hard-working Member. Mr Mills's unfailing good nature and geniality Avon him 'a host of friends in Wellington when he was a Minister, and whatever be his political future he will always be remembered as a genial, well-meaning, industrious Member. I see the Lyttelton Times hints at his being called to the Upper House in the not far distant future, and seems inclined to take exception to such a course being followed by the Government. Put so long as we have an Upper House Mr Mills has a much better right to be nominated to that chamber than have many who are thero already, and the Christchurch paper's remarks appear to me to be both ill-natured and unjust.