THE COMING ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12909, 4 July 1905, Page 6

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

ACTIVE PREPARATIONS IN CANTERBURY. [BY TELEGBArH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Cheistchubch, Monday. Current interest in political affairs has reached suoh a stage that, even during the session, the work of organisation will be carried • on by the Opposition party in preparation for' the struggle in November. It is a foregone conclusion, that the elections will create more excitement than on any previous occasion, for the last 15 years, and it is quite on the cards that more than one Government supporter will lose his seat. For Christehurch East 10115. candidates are already spoken Messrs. T. H. Davey (one of the sitting members), W. W. Collins (an ex-member and also an anti-prohibition-ist), G. 'J. Smith (another ex-member and a temperance supporter), and C. M. Gray (the present Mayor). The latter, it is said, may come out as an independent. Messrs. Davey and (Collins are, of course, Seddonites, and Mr. Smith, who would secure a good deal of support in commercial circles, would probably enrol himself under Mr. T. E. Taylor's flag.

No opponent is yet forthcoming against Mr. Taylor for Christehurch North, nor against Mr. Ell for Christehurch South. Mr. Tanner will have to fight hard for the Avon seat if he is to beat Mr. J. R. Brunt, an independent, with Opposition leanings, who ran him very closely at the la.st ©lection, and on this occasion has the advantage of a committee and good organisation. Mr. Witty, who has disappointed his Riccarton constituents by going over bodily to Mr. Seddon, will have as opponents Messrs. It. W. Russell (the former member), Atkinson (socialist), and Caverhill (Opposition), and the latter may get in. Mr. R. Moore is out for his old seat, Kaiapoi, in .the Opposition interest, and will probably relegate Mr. Buddo to the obscurity of private life. Mr. A. W. Rutherford is safe for Hurunui, and in the event of the Opposition, coming' into power would probably give them support. No one is yet spoken of to contest Lyttelton with Mr. Laurenson, and Captain Rhodes will have no difficulty in retaining the Ellesmere sept. Mr. Opie, an ex-schoolmaster, has ho hope against Mr. Lewis for Courtenay. Mr. Hardy will probably hold Selwyn, against all-comers, and; Mr. Maslin will hardly defeat Mr. McLachlan for Ashburton, though a stronger man could win the seat for the Opposition. Mr. Flatnian will have opposition in the Geraldine seat, but nothing, is yet settled. : For Timaru Mr. Hall-Jones is to be opposed by Mr. Frank Rolleston, a younger son of the late statesman (the Hon. W. Rolleston). He is a member of a legal firm, personally very popular and highly respected, and will tight tinder all the mana of a great name.' It will be on© of the most interesting contests (of the elections, and Mr. Hall-Jones may need all his influence to keep his seat. Mr. Meredith, an ex-member for Ashley, is out against Sir W. Steward, for "Waitaki, but the voteran should] squeeze home. v , Much may happen before the poll is declared, but at present it looks as if the .Opposition had a good chance of winning at least two seats in Canterbury from the Government, and possibly three. The Poli- 1 tical Reform League is active, &nd will play j a prominent part in the fight. '"