TARANAKI ELECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13894, 4 May 1907, Page 10

TARANAKI ELECTION.

ABANDONMENT OF THE LAND BILL. ATTITUDE OP THE GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE. (Frou Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, May 3. There is much amusoment in Opposition circles at tho political somersaultiug of the Government candidal*) for tho New Plymouth seat. Speaiiug to tho Now Zealand Times representative. on Saturday last, Mr. Dockrill said clearly that he would support tho Government on all questions, including tho Land Bill, yot. in.his-speech last night, says tho Times, while urging tho claims of tho optional tenure, ho foiled to mako clear his intentions as to. voting on a noconfidonoo motion on tho land question.

His failure to do this was pointed out by a questioner, wjio remarked: " The Government has told' us that its policy is a leasehold policy. If this question is a question of policy, and of tho Government going out of ofSco or not, will you go with it or with tho freeholders';"

Mr' Dockrill replied: "I am prepared to voto against tho Government if it acts in •that way."

Tho announcement, was received with applause and "Hoorays." Tho Tcsult of this is that there is 110 candidate supporting the Land Dill.

Tho New Zealand Times'"Special" says ihere is great excitement over the election, and he gives an interesting resume of the possibilities. It appears that Mr Dockrill had previously sacrificed liis own ambitions to the interests of the Government party, .and on this ground now claimed ihc Government hall mark. On tho other hand, it had to be considered that Mr Dockrill, being a faiiiy old man and not of a fighting disjKHitiion, his personal efforts would not give him an advantage over sueli ineli as Mcs&'s Oltoy and Malonc. Mr Bellringcr is also popul.tr, and would have had the support, of the strong prohibitionists, hut ho would not support tho Government's Land Bill. Mr Mulatto presented tho party with a difficulty. He announced himself a candidate "in tho Government interest," and made it clear from the outset that, he was determined to, stand at all coetvs. He is a man of vigorous personality, and the part ho took in sueh agitations as that for the Opunake railway marked him as a man of fone and judgment in public affairs; but Mr Molone's ideas were too bitter a pill for tho Government to swallow. He reserved the right, not only to oppose the Land Bill, but lo criticise tho administration. Ho hinted that ho considered there was extravagance in the government of the colony. The party, therefore, selected Mr Dockrill, Mr Bellringer had been in Wellington, and had been led to believe that ho was the accepted nominee. Ho returned 011 Saturday to find Mr Dockrill announced as the Government candidate. That announcement, it is believed, was made on the responsibility of Mr Gallichan, organiser of the Liberal and Labour federation, who is now in New Plymouth. The question was submitted to headquarters on Monday, and Mr Dockrill was chosen. (Per Usited Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, May 3. Ycr'y great interest has been aroused in the bye-election for tho'Taranaki seat, all throo candidates addressing crowded houses. So far as the Land Bill is concerned, the only issue before tho electors is that of reasonable endowments versus no endowments. All tho candidates are optional tenure advocates; except that the Government and Independent. Liberal candidates favour reasonable aroas of Crown land being sot aside for tho endowments mentioned in tho bill, the balance of tho Crown land to be• sold 011 the optional system; whilo the Opposition candidate (Mr Okcy) is Opposed to endowments. It is reported that a hall has been engaged for. Mr Massey 011 the evo of tho election, and ho may be assisted by Mr Herries and Mr Bedford. 111 that event it is almost certain that a Minister will enter the field.