THE COMING ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14767, 24 August 1911, Page 6

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

MR. A. WITHY FOR WAITEMATA.

At the Masonic Hall, Devonport, Mr. J. C. Mackay presented to Mr. Arthur Withy a numerously-signed requisition, asking him to stand in the Liberal and Government interest for the Waitemata electorate. In presenting the Mr. Mackay said Mr. Withy's father was well known as an advanced and sound Liberal politician, and Mr. Arthur Withy himself had taken an, active part in politics, both in New Zealand and in the Mother Country, and always on the side of Liberalism. Mr. Withy, in reply, accepted the invitation, and said ho would stand as a Government supporter, because under the pary system the " independent" man was neither fish, flesh, fowl, nor good red herring. A man could do nothing ny himself. He must co-operate with those who, in the main, were going his way, if he wished to do anything really worth while.' For 20 years past they had been doing all they could to raise wages, but .their work had been largely nullified by the increase in the cost of living, due to rising rents and rising prices. They should now devote more attention to reducing the cost of living, which in itself would be equivalent to a . rise in wages. Taxes on. food should l>e abolished, and taxes on industry reduced, while taxes on privilege and monopoly should bo increased. . THAMES SEAT. Mr. T. W. Rhodes, newspaper proprietor, of Coromandcl, will oppose the sitting member (Mr. E. H. Taylor) for the Thames electorate at the forthcoming general elections. Mr. Rhodes will stand as a Government supporter on all questions excepting the land, in which connection he is a strong freeholder. He has already started his campaign, and has addressed meetings in various parts of the Coromandel district. TAURANGA. Mr. P. Kee'gan, a farmer, of Whakatane, has- been selected as the Government candidate to contest the Tauranga seat against Mr. Herries. PARNELL. Mr. R. S. Briggs, Mayor of Parnell has promised to give consideration to a requisition asking him to accept nomination for the Parnell seat.