PRESS COMMENTS ON THE ELECTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 124, 2 June 1910, Page 2

PRESS COMMENTS ON THE ELECTION.

OPPOSITION MISS A GOOD CHANCE.

LABOR DO LIKEWISE

faROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]

CHRISTCHURCH, June 1. Referring to the Auckland &ast seat, to-night's Evening News says editorially:—The "Reform League has got a fine platform, and the Erinciples it advocates are worth attling for in the face of any apparent ' odds. If there is a large party in the country anxious to see those principles carried into effect it will never be satisfied with half candidates or any other fraction. It wants strong and capable politicians who will support the platform of the League in and out of Parliament, and who will give and take no quarter till the Opposition forces are led to victory. The vagaries of northern Oppositionists and their alleged newspaper organ in Auckland are therefore incomprehensible to us. The vacancy for Auckland East offered a splendid opportunity of putting up a good fight, and probably a winning fight, for honest finance, clean administration, a freehold land system, and other urgently needed reforms. Apparently a suitable candidate in the person of Mr Clark was available; but with an incapacity to recognise an opportunity when they see it and which has done more than anything else to keep the Opposition out in the cold for nearly 20 years, our northern friends tamely acquiesced in a ridiculous compromise which gave them a half share in a so-called Independent candidate. In commenting editorially on the. choice of candidates for the Auckland East by-election, to-night's Star saVB: —The way is being made easy for Mr Myers. The Labor Party has "hopelessly spoilt its chances by its foolish attack on Mr Rosser, and we are not at all sure that its choice of a candidate has been a wise one. There is no great reason to complain specially of its refusal to take Mr Mcßride, who has no direct claims to represent Auckland; but Labor in the northern city seems to have missed an excellent opportunity of winning the seat. It goes without saying that a Labor-Prohibitionist coalition would have been hard to beat, and it is no secret that Mr Taylor went up to Auckland mainly with the idea of working a combination of the kind. Presuably Mr Mcßride would have filled the bill, although Aucklanders themselves have been discussing the possibility of bringing out a more formidable candidate on the double ticket. However, the little scheme fell through, and now Labor will fight the battle on its own resources.