THE GENERAL ELECTION

Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 37

THE GENERAL ELECTION

THE PARNELL SEAT.' SIR J. G. -FINDLAY A CANDIDATE. AUCKLAND. September 26. A large and -representative deputation of electors of Parnell waited upon Sir John Findlay (Minister of Justice and Attorneygeneral) this afternoon and asked him to accept nomination for the Parnell-seat. In giving a favourable reply Sir John Findlay said: "My acceptance of nomination for Parnell will involve my resignation from the Legislative Council, and if I am beaten my retirement from the Cabinet and public life. I have been told by many men in the Lower House that if they had a safe seat in the Ministry and in the House, as I have, they would not imperil these advantages by_ appealing to a general election-; but in this step the last" thing I want to do is to vaunt any spirit of either courage or sacrifice. If I win I shall have the wider field of action, and I hope of usefulness, which I so much desire. If I fail I shall return to private life with its many attractions and to an honorable profession. There is nothing disturbing in this latter prospect. My ready consent to stand for an Auckland seat, is due to several reasons. First I like, and have always liked, Auckland, I have a large circle of personal friends hei-e, and I have many memories of the kindness of its people, especially when I have had the privilege of addressing them. The invitation, I have received not only from this deputation, but from very, many in the electorate, representing npt only every section of the community, but entirely different views■' on political -questions; induces me to believe that I can win the Parnell seat both on party, , and, if necessary, on personal grounds. Auckland is now much the largest city in the Dominion, and I would therefor© feel it. a special distinction to represent an Auckland constituency. Moreover. Parnell has in the past proved itiself to be to its member one of the most loyal . and steadfast of seats. I have been asked why I did. not stand for a Wellington seat. Probably I should have been safer of election there if I had. I have run an election ence, and once only, in my life, and that was for Wellington -nine years ago. I landed here in Auckland in November, 1902, after an absence of nine months in England without the least intention in the world of entering public life. When I reached Wellington I was persuaded'by Mr Seddon and. eome influential friends to take the field l , hastily, it must, be admitted, as the elections were then only a few days off—l think, 14. There was no time for any organisation, and I did no canvassing. I had to rely in the fortnight available upon four or five platform addresses, and yet, against such political veterans as Mr John Duthie, Mr Aitkeai, and Mr George Fisher, who were elected, _ I polled nearly 5000 votes. Such a rejection can scarcely be called a bad defeat. It ift certainly strong evidence that I could win- a Wellington seat if I wanted it, but two independent reasons have decided my choice. First, I prefer to represent Auckland; secondly, .even if I had preferred Wellington, I could not under existing circumstances have honourably contested a Wellington seat, for a Minister has- no right to contest a, seat held by a man who has supported has Government and thus helped to keep him in office, and he has no right to oppose for any seat a man already definitely chosen by the Government as its candidate for that seat."

Sir John Findlay went on to say that when he left New Zealand last, March for the Imperial Conference he, had no intention of seeking- election to the, House of Representatives. His disposition at that time was, for professional reason©, to retire at the end' of this year from political life. It was not until a short time before they reached New Zealand that it "was arranged between the leader of their party and himself that he should contest a seat at the general election. By that time all the Wellington candidates for seats held by those on the Opposition side had been chosen, and he was. therefore, asked to stand for a seat elsewhere, preferably a northern one. For these reasons he had declined-the 'very strongest encouragement for a Wellington electorate. If these reasons had compelled him to come to Auckland, he found the compulsion a very pleasant one, and iif elected he would have the satisfaction of knowing that he represented one of the best constittienoies in New Zealand. Moreover, Parncll had l>een a Government seat for over 21 years, and as no one else had any vested or expectant right to it the Government felt that it was entitled to run" a. member of the Cabinet for Parr.ell. It might be said that he was not a resident, but if his sunporters desired it he w r as ready to at once transfer his home to Parnell and bo a resudent, not in any nominal or technical eense. but really and in every sens© a member of the community. lie had to thank them for their very cordial invitation to be their candidate, and to express his willingness to contest the seat. Ho knew, as Mr Lundon had remarked, that he had the fight of his life before him, but he was going to see it through. There were only six or seven weeks in which to carry on the campaign. He would re-

j turn to Auckland in 10 or 12 days and ! deliver his first speech at an early date. j After that he would speak as often as j possible, and he hoped that his sup- ! porters would enter into the spirit of the ' contest as whole-heartedly as he intended i to do. THE HON. T. MACKENZIE. STANDING FOR EGMONT. WELLINGTON, September 26. The Hon. T. Mackenzie has decided to contest the Egmont seat, which is now held by Mr Dive. " I am going in for a very big agricultural programme," he told a Post reporter, " and have therefore j selected a district that I know appreciates | progressive work in that direction and I that will be sympathetic with my efforts. i I feel that the time has arrived when the I people of New Zealand ought to recognise ■ the necessity of devoting the utmost atten- ' tion in both a practical and scientific ' manner to the agricultural and pastoral 1 development of the Dominion. It is my j desire, if elected, with the co-operation of ■ the Prime Minister, who is in entire ac- : cord with my views, to widen out our 1 operations. We are realising how much other countries are specialising and the ' excellent results that are following ; their commendable enterprise, and that if we in New Zealand are to continue the same I high civilisation that' we are happily enabled to give to our people and at the same time hold our own in the great markets of the world, it is essential that wo should utilise* in the most efficient manner all the natural agencies-that we can control, so that we may be able to put .our produce on the market in such a condition as to enable us to hold our own with any competitor." s THE KAIPARA SEAT. , Mr J. Gordon Coates, of Maeakohe, will contest the Kaipara seat at the general election as an Independent Liberal. He I recognises that several of the planks in ' Mr Massey's platform are consistent with the principles of true Liberal reform. \ ■ _ CONTEST IN PATEA. Mr F Train, a candidate for Patea. opened the campaign at Waitotara. on September 25. He declared himself a straight-out supporter of the Government and m favour of the bare majority. He received a vote .of thanks. WELLINGTON CENTRAL. WELLINGTON, September 26. Mr W. T. Young, the Labour candidate for Wellington Central, opened his campaign to-night. He said that_no more Crown lands should, be sold. The State should retain and operate -sufficient land to meet al' demands in regard to a " national food supply. The Wellmgton- ■ Lyttelton ferry service should - be nationalised. Old-age pensidns should be increased ! to £1 per week, and the age reduced to 60 years. The second Chamber should be abolished, and borrowing should cease. , The candidate received a vote of thanks i and confidence. THE EGMONT BATTLE. " (Fbou'Otjb Own Copkesfondent.) WELLINGTON, October 1. The contest for the Eganont seat between I Mr Dive and-the Minister of Agriculture promises to be a very interesting one. It is understood that the Prim© Minister will be asked to give an aoSress in favour of the Government candidate, and the Leader of the Opposition will in all probability also make his appearance on the Egmortt platforms. To-day he received a requisition bearing a very large number, of signatures from the district, and couched in the following words: —"We, the undersigned electors of Egmont electorate, respectfully request that you will take arr early opportunity of delivering a political address in i Manaia. We strongly feel that at the pr«a- ---\ sent moment it is a matter of the highest national importance that the people should ! understand thoroughly the issues on which ' they will soon be called upon to record their opinions, and that it is.only by the j fullest and) freest discussion that sound and enlightened conclusions can be arrived i at and the true interests of our country . most effectually eerved. We therefore hope j you will give 'us the benefit of your views on those questions now appealing for treatment at the hands of the Legislature, and thus add another to the many services you have at an expenditure of much time and ' labour patriotically rendered to the country. I labour patriotically rendered to the country." THE MATAURA SEAT. GORE, September 30. Mr John Mac Gibbon:, who is contesting j Mataura. as an Independent Liberal against j Mr ■Anderson (sitting member) opened his ' campaign at Edendale last night, when he I addressed a small meeting. He favosa the I freehold, approves of the leasehold as a ! stepping stone to the freehold, and would limit the freehold to 500 acres of first-class 1 land. The country must continue borrowing to enable its railways to be completed and roads made for farmers to carry their I produce to market. He prefers to go to | the House as an Independent. If ever it ! comes to the issue of Mr Massey or Sir i J. G. Ward he could not vote for Mr j Massey at any price. He found fault with both the Prime Minister and Mr Massey. A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded the candidate. THE TIMARU SEAT. TIMARU, September 29. The election campaign at Timaru was opened by Mr W. Angland (Independent), who addressed a large meeting. He favours triennial Parliaments, an elective 1 Legislative Council, the abolition of the second ballot, the l.i.p. leaseholders' option of freehold, the money resulting to be used in the purchase of more estates, the reduction of advances to settlers below £2OO, provision of land for workers' homes, and advances to workers at £>s per cent. Many questions were asked of the candidate,, who received a hearty vote <of thanks. THE WALLACE SEAT. . INVERCARGILL, September 29. Mr Allan Canmichael is definitely announced as the Opposition candidate for Wallace at the general election. Mr Carmichael is a well-known farmer in the district. THE CHALMERS SEAT. Mr J. Dickson, of Portobello, who was awaiting the announcement of the Repre-

sontation Commissioners' final determinations respecting the electoral boundaries before lie declared his intentions with reference to the Chalmers seat, informs us now that ho is definitely in the field as a candidate in the Opposition interest. Mr Dickson, who represents a considerable portion of the district at the present time on the Otago Harbour Board, trA is also chairman of the Portobello Road Board, is well known in the greater part of the constituency to which he will offer his services. WHANGAREI, September 28. Mr E. C. Purdie will contest the Marsden seat in the Liberal interests with the sitting member (Mr Mander), the only other candidate. Mr Purdie resigned the head mastership of the Whangarei School in order to engage in the campaign. ROTORUA, October 2. Mr Robert King, 'of Te Puke, has announced himself as a candidate for Tauranga in the Government interests. CHRISTCHURCH, October 2. Mr J. H. Blackwell received a requisition on Saturday asking him to contest Kaiapoi. He gives his answer this week. It is understood that the request came originally fijom the prohibitionists, who are not satisfied with Mr Buddo's attitude re-, garding the baro majority issue. Mr Parker M'Kinlay, tandidate for Bruce, was (the Clutha.. Leader reports) asked at his meeting at Clarendon if it was true, as had "been neported, that he would, if elected, vote against the Government on the freehold question, Mr M'Kinlay said it was, and he would go further, and vote against any Government which favoured land nationalisation. As Mr J. T. Johnson will find it necessary to devote eight or 10 days to his mining business during the course of- the election for Chalmers, he will commence the campaign at, Wharo Flat on the 9th inst. - ,