CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14918, 22 August 1910, Page 5

CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES

PRE-ELECTION ACTIVITY.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, August 21. Since Air Colvin's nomination for the Chairmanship of Committees an active canvass on his behalf is being made on tlie Government side Of the House. Sir William Steward, however, is still a candidatb fbr the position, and will receive a good deal of support from the Opposition. Mr Colvin is very popular in the House—indeed, he has not ;>n enemy,-but either Sir William Steward or Mi - W. Fraser would fill the position far more sutisfactori ly. The Government, however, is in a dilemma and will prefer a second-rate chairman to a rebuff in the House.. Meantime some of the disappointedones are rather sore because of the Ministerial- decision, and there are inutterings, not loud,' but deen. The election promises to be an interesting one, for even the Opposition candidate, Mr Fraser, wilt poll a. good number of votes. It is, of course, quite unusual to have an Opposition nominee in the field for such an appointment, but owing to the dilaforiness of the Government Mr Massey was quite justified in proposing someone to fill the vacancy. - *' lhe probabilities of the election are 1 that Mr Colvin will be elected by a ■ majority over Sir William Steward. In. that case Mr Fraser's nomination cannot be put. • •