ELECTION PROSPECTS IN DUNEDIN.

North Otago Times, 4 December 1911, Page 1

ELECTION PROSPECTS IN DUNEDIN.

Naturally at th> present juncture, the topic of nil topics in the "Edinburgh of the South" is the election. "'Who's going in for Runedia West.?" "Is Bedford going to teat Miller?" "Is Statham going to oust Arnold ?" "Is Dunedin going dry?" Theso aro a few oi the quieries that, just now, assail on every hand the ear of a visitor. The prospects, as far as tho North Otago Times' representative could judge when down in Dunedin last week-, are that Sir J, G. yard's lieutenant, Hon, J, A, Millar, will be found playing "second fiddle" to Mr H. ,D Bedford, the young silvertongued orator, so well and favorably known to Oamaru audiences, His addresses down in Dunedin are ;.eing received -with the utmost enthusiasm. He, Mmßelf,' on. being expressed himself as being very confident, stating that he was gaining ground every day.

Mr G. M. Thomson is regarded as a oertainty for Dunedin North, al-l-hough it is anticipated that Mr R, R. Douglas will poll well. The sitting member (or Dunedin South, Mr T. fi. Sidey, is looked on as a very "sure thing"; but it is "on the cards" that his opponent, Mr J. E. M'Manus, will poll well, and as this electorate is. essentially a "Workers" electorate, it may furnish one of the "surprises" of the 1911 election. What promises to be ono of the clcssst of the contests is that -between - Mr J. F. Arnold and Mr O. •I. Statham. Supporters of each candidate are very confident of success, and everything points to a desperately close finish, We would not caroio speculate many thousands on the chances of either candidate.