A POLITICAL SURPRISE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1354, 10 February 1898, Page 17

A POLITICAL SURPRISE.

- ■ SIR ROBERT STOUT WILL RESIGN. OWING TO BUSINESS ARRANGE- ' MENTS. ■ The special correspondent of the Otago Daily Times and' Christchurch Press recently telegraphed to those journals stating that there would be another election shortly. This, confirming rumours which have been afloat for some time, acted as a spur to conjecture. The question arose: “Who is about to resign ? ” We are in a position to state on excellent authority that owing to business arrangements Sir Robert Stout will shortly give up his seat in the House of Representatives and retire, for the time being at anyrate, from politics. As announced in The Times of Thursday, - Sir Robert Stout has decided to resign his seat in Parliament, and his address to the eleotors of Wellington City on the subject is published. Among the “ probable candidates ’ for the vacant seat a number of names are mentioned. Amongst others, Mr R. C. Kirk, Mayor of Petone, has been approached and asked to stand. The names of Messrs A. R, ' Atkinson, A. S. Menteath, John Duthie, E. J. Le Grove and Dr Newman are also mentioned as “possibles” or “probables.” The time £ is not yet ripe for any definite developments Mr John Ross, of Sargood, Son and ' Ewen, writes ns to say that there is not the slightest foundation for the report that he is a probable candidate for the vacancy in the House of Representatives caused by the retirement of Sir Robert . Stout. ' Now that the Premier and Minister of Lands are back in Wellington, speculation is rife as to who is to be the candidate on the Government side in the foithcoming by-election. We understand that the seat will be contested, but that until the different sections of the Liberal and Labour Parties have had an opportunity of fully discussing the matter nothing definite will be decided as to who is to be the Government candidate. We have authority for stating that Mr E. J. Le Grove- has no intention of contesting the candidacy for the vacancy created by Sir Robert Stout’s retirement. MR * DUTHIE THE LIKELY OPPOSITION CANDIDATE. It is considered now that Mr John Duthie will be the Opposition candidate - for the vacant Wellington seat, and it is recognised that the opponent who will beat him will have to be a very strong man. Therefore the choice of a Govern- . ment candidate will be watched with the greatest anxiety by the Liberal electors. Prom enquiries made by a representative ‘ of The Mail on Friday, it seems that Mr Duthie is to be the only Opposition candidate. So far it seems that the Government choice of a candidate will rest between Messrs A. Collins, R. C. Kirk, C. M, Luke, and John Ross. DEPUTATION TO MR DUTHIE. On Friday morning Mr John Duthie was waited upon by a large and influential deputation of citizens, of whom Mr H. D. Bell was the spokesman, and asked to become a candidate for the vacant seat. Mr Bell said what the deputation wanted • was that Wellington should return a man representative not only of this city but of the colony. At the last election business and other reasons bad prevented Mr Dufchie’s candidature, but the deputation understood that those reasons did not now exist. The deputation was a genuine expressmen of public opinion from all parts of the city. Mr Duthie, in reply, said he would like a day or two before giving his decision. If - they would give him till next Wednesday he would endeavour to give them a favourable reply. (Applause.) He would strain every point he could, but if they could see their way to selecting another candidate he would be gratified; to him it was a very ..serious matter of consideration. The deputation thanked Mr Duthie and withdrew.

X SIB R. STOUT S CAREER. Sir Robert Stout entered political life in 1872, when he became a member of the Otago Provincial Council. Sir Bobert was a member of the Provincial Executive from 1873 to 1876. In 1875, at which time he was lecturer on law at the Otago University, Sir Bobert was urged by Mr Macandrew to come forward as a candidate for

the House, to help to fight the battle of "X provincialism. He stood for the Caversham constituency against Mr Larnaeh, whom he defeated after a good fight. Towards

the end of the year he stood for Dunedin against Mr Reynolds, and was elected on the same ticket along with Messrs Macandrew and Larnaeh. He joined the Grey Government in 1878, but retired in 1879,

as his partner in business (Mr Sievw right) was suffering from illhealth. From 1881 ‘to 1884 he was a member of the Otago Land Board. In the latter year he again entered Parliament, and was head of the Ministry sll 1887. In 1893 Sir Robert again entered the House at the suggestion of Mr Ballance, just before the latter died. THE TRADES UNIONS ACTIVE. A large and enthusiastic meeting of delegates of the Trades and Labour Council was held at the Trades Hall on Monday, Mr A. Collins presiding. The Premier was present and delivered a short address. After he had retired the following resolution was passed:—That in the opinion of thiß Council a Labour candidate should be run at the by-election for Wellington City; that nominations be received till - Thursday, the 10th inst., at 10 p.m., from the Unions affiliated to this CodUcil, and from organised bodies recognised as such by the Council, and that the names so received be submitted to a ballot, or ballots, to be taken up to Thursday, 17th inst., for the purpose of determining the person who shaU be the candidate on their behalf at

the forthcoming election; also that a meeting, to be addressed by only those so nominated, be held between the dates of receiving the nominations and taking the ballot.

At a meeting of the New Zealand Workers’ Union on Monday it was decided that the Union would act in concert with the other labour bodies in choosing a candidate for the Wellington seat. The Premier was present and addressed the meeting, and was assured that as long as he advocated Liberal principles, os he had done in the past, he would have the support of the workers of the colony. Mr McLeod was appointed a delegate to attend any meeting that may be held in reference to the choice of a candidate, and report to the Union. The following committee was appointed to revise the electoral roll and attend at the Trades Hall to enrol electors: —Mesdames Tasker, O’Sullivan, Dight, Messrs Orr, Lennon, Burrow, Faucett, Pauling, Stewart and McLeod.

A meeting of the Southern Cross Society was held on Monday, Mrs Fleming in the chair. The secretary was instructed to write to the executive of the Women’s Council, which meets in March, for a programme of the proceedings. A short discussion took place on the political situation, but as none of the candidates had deelaredthemselves.no action ensued. One lady thought a vote should be passed expressing dissatisfaction at Mr Atkinson not coming forward, and another did not think the Society should support Mr Duthie, as he was opposed to women having the franchise, was in favour of the Bible being read in schools, and was the nominee of the liquor party. It was decided, however, to adjourn the discussion for a week. The following resolution was passed unanimously : “ That the Society regrets the retirement from political life of so able and upright a statesman as Sir Robert Stout, and desires to place on record appreciation of his admirable services to the country/’

Mr A. Collins will attend at the Trades Hall'daily from 12 to 2 p.m., and from 5 to 6 p.m, for the purpose of enrolling electors. The electoral roll may be inspected at the Trades Hall.

The Registrar of Electors has had so many complaints from people who have been struck off the roll, as they allege, without warning, that he has decided to issue the notices all over again. The difficulty is to get them delivered, however, so frequently do people change their abode. The better course would seem to be for all electors who did not vote at the last election to reinstate their names on the roll. The main roll and three supplementary rolls used at the last election will be consolidated into one, and another supplementary roll, to contain the fresh names, issued. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In the columns of the local journals appear announcements that certain parties —possibly people of considerable influence —are urging certain other parties —no doubt highly estimable citizens —to offer themselves as candidates for the seat shortly to become vacant in the representation of the city of Wellington. I venture to think it would be well if the electors—who may fairly be presumed to have some interest in the matter—were informed who these irresponsible busybodies are who take it upon themselves to promise all sorts of things on their behalf. Being at present under a system of party government, in my opinion the selection of candidates should be left to the leaders of parties, but my opinnn is neither here nor there. What I want to know is who gave to Tom, Dick or Harry—irresponsible political nonentities, the rag-tag and bobtail of a party—authority to ask, beg, beseech politically flabby and nerveless creatures to undergo such a severe ordeal as the coming contest will most undoubtedly prove ? On behalf of the electors they are not in a position to promise anything, and their conduct, in my judgment, is a very gross piece of presumption. Let us know who they are anyway. —I am, &c., Fitz.