THE GENERAL ELECTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14789, 19 September 1911, Page 8

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS

ABOUT THE END OF NOVEMBER

MEMBERS BECOMING RESTIVE.

CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Monday. The general elections are assuming a daily increasing importance in the public mind. Members of Parliament who are

compelled by their public duties to remain in Wellington are showing many signs of restlessness, for their districts are be-

ing vigorously canvassed by aspirants for the seats they have held for the last three years. Members are now taking advantage of the week-ends to visit their

constituencies. Members of the Ministry are also joining in the weekly exodus from Wellington.

The popular estimate still determines the closing of Parliament after .another five weeks, that is about October 20. If this forecast is justified by facts the

elections will be held about the end of November. Under the Legislature Act the Governor's warrant is issued to the Clerk of the Writs within seven day 3 after the expiry of Parliament. The writs to tho returning officers must bo issued within three days. The writs are returnable within 21 days. SIR J. FINDLAY'S CHOICE. TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK (BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.} Wellington, Monday. On Monday or Tuesday of next week Sir John Findlay will announce the name of the seat for which he will be a candidate for entrance into the House of Representatives. When questioned on the matter this evening Sir John said he had not yet decided the matter. He expected that he would be able to make a statement early next week. HON. J. A. MILLAR. ■ NO THOUGHT OF RETIRING. iBT TELEGBAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, Monday. The subject of his rumoured retirement was mentioned to the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister for Railways) when he arrived in Christchurch this evening from Dunedin. Mr. Millar said that political capital was being made out of the report that he intended to retire from active politics. He repeated that he was determined to contest the Dunedin West seat against all comers at the approaching election. As far as his subsequent intentions were concerned, he would be a candidate for the seat at the following election if he thought that necessary in the interests of the country, and if the electors desired him to offer himself. i , . I PREPARING FOR THE FIGHT. POLITICAL ADDRESSES. [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Monday. Mr. A. L. Herdman, W.P. for Wellington North, addressed a meeting at Wadestown this evening. He criticised the Government's administration much on lines of his speeches in Parliament. He said the Government had survived its usefulness. There should be a Public Service Board to control the Civil Service. He criticised the railway administration, and argued that each mile added last year had coat £24,842, or £4735 more per mile than was tu'e case in tho previous financial year. The retrenchment of two years ago showed the Government's incompetence, for if the Civil Service had been efficiently administered no men need have been driven out into the streets. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried.

Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, a candidate for Wellington Suburbs, addressed a meeting of electors to-night. He generally supported the Government policy. He said that the Government should run steamers to carry coal from the State coal mines. He advocated the medical inspection of school children. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P. for Wellington Central, addressed a meeting of hie constituents to-night. Ho outlined his political views much on lines of his speech in the Budget debate in Parliament. He declared himself in favour of compulsory military Bervice. He said that .the proposed increase in the graduated land tax should start at a lower limit than £100,000. The speaker received a vote of thanks and confidence. CITY AND SUBURBAN SEATS. AN EARLY MORNING SPEECH. Mr. E. H. M. Clayton, a candidate for City Central, gave an address to the waterside workers at Queen-street Wharf during "smoke-oh" at 3.30 o'clock yesterday morning. The speaker was accorded a patient hearing. Mr. J. S. i Dickson announces that ho will be a candidate in the Liberal and Labour interests for the Parnell seat at the forthcoming election. Mr. Dickson is a member of the City Council, . the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and of the Romuera Road Board. Mr. W. H. Murray (Mayor of Grey Lynn) decided yesterday to contest the Grey Lynn seat against the Hon. Geo. Fowlds. Mr. Murray will be the official candidate of the Opposition party. The name of the Hon. E. Mitchelson was mentioned in several quarters yesterday as a possible Opposition candidate for Waitemata. In reply to a question last evening Mr. Mitchelson stated that he did not intend to stand for any seat. _ Mr. J. W. Shackelford will not be a candidate for Eden, as he originally intended. He states that business arrangements will not permit him to devote any great portion of his time to public duties. A deputation waited upon Mr. J. H. Bradney, member of the Auckland Harbour Board, yesterday afternoon, and requested him to stand for City West as an Oppositionist at the forthcoming election. Mr. Bradnoy promised to give his reply within a couple of days. Mr. E. W. Alison, jun., announces that he will contest the Waitemata scat as an independent candidate. ,

THE VACANT PORTFOLIO. Mr. Vernon Reed, M.P. for the Bay of Islands, who was in Auckland yesterday, informed a Herald reporter that he had no knowledge of the petition which it has been stated was promoted by some of his constituents asking tho Government to appoint him to a seat in the ; Ministry.