WELLINGTON BY-ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12834, 6 April 1905, Page 5

WELLINGTON BY-ELECTION.

THE EVE OF THE CONTEST.

FINAL ADDRESSES

[BY TKLKGKAI'II. I'RESS ASSOCIATION".]

Wellington", Wednesday. ■ Election fever reached a high temperature to-night, the eve of the contest for the city scat, when the three candidates gave their final addresses. Thousands of people gathered at the Town Hall, and speeches were delivered inside and out. Mr. Hutcheson again proclaimed his hostility to Mr. SeiK.cn, Mr. Fisher reiterated his independence, and Mr. Izard repeated his adherence to the Government. The polling to-morrow will 'be very heavy. [IIY TKLEURAPH.—OWN" t'OUKESI'ONDENT.] Wellington*, Wednesday. The by-election to-morrow is generally regarded as vey open. Tho remarkable fca tore of tho campaign is the candidature of Mr. Fisher, who appears to have captured the enthusiasm of a very large following, especially amongst the working classes, who were ardent supporters of his father. He will undoubtedly secure an enormous number of sympathy votes, despite the fact that he took pains at the beginning of his campaign to disclaim any such sentimental reason for seeking the suHrages of the people. Mr. Hutcheson, in JL. Fisher's absence, would be absolutely certain to i win, but as these two men will, to a very large extent, split the Opposition and prohibition vote, tho friends of the. Government hope that this fact will enable Mr. Izard to secure a victory. Mr. Fisher will, for the reason already given, gain a proportion of the labour vote, and may interfere with Mr. Izard's, chances on that account: but the candidate who will be most, affected by his candidature i-, -Mr. Hutcheson, and for this reason the contest will be very keen. All the candidates will poll heavily, and, owing to the. three-cornered character of the struggle, it is impossible to say with any degree of certainty how tho election will result. It is expected, however, that that strong Opposition vote, which has always been so potent, and at the sanio lime silent, a factor in Wellington elections, will tell its tale, and that Mr. Hutchesoti will win, though only by a small majority.