ELECTION PROSPECTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 932, 10 January 1890, Page 28

ELECTION PROSPECTS.

There is a rather widespread feeling that a dissolution of Parliament will interrupt next session at an

early period of its history, and that in consequence a general election about June next is a genuine probability. The idea is that the Government are likely to find the House in such a disorganised and scattered condition that an appeal—compulsory or voluntary, as events may happen—will be made to the country, with a view to concentrating and solidifying parties. Humour has it that such a contingency is very well provided for in this district, and that many gentlemen who aspire to Parliamentary honours are in imagination already buckling on their armour and in other respects preparing for the prospective fray. There is every probability, indeed, that the number of candidates for the city seats will be larger than it has been for some years, and that the elections will be very keenly fought. Assuming that the Representation Acts passed since the present Parliament was elected are not altered this year, as it is very unlikely they will be, Wellington City will have three members, and the electorates will be amalgamated. Of the sitting members Mr Fisher and Mr Izard are pretty certain to stand again, hut Mr Menteath may not be a candidate, and there is just a probability that Dr Newman will contest the Hutt. Mr Duthie will be a candidate, and so will Mr T. K. Macdonald and Mr F. El. Fraser. Rumour has it that the Mayor, Mr C. J. Johnston, who represented Te Aro until 1887, will offer his services to the city electors, and Messrs A. W. Brown, E. G. Jellicoe, and W. McLean are also mentioned as probable candidates. Thus it seems safe to assume that Wellington is likely to have a liberal choice of representatives for the first session of the eleventh Parliament of the Colony. Whether or not a dissolution and a general election really are in the immediate future is, however, a question which has more than one phase for consideration. The Government will unquestionably meet Parliament stronger than when they parted from it last, and opposition, either from Mrßallance’s or any other of the various sections of “ out 3,” will have to be a great deal stronger, and very much better organised than it was last session if it is to succeed.