THE RAGLAN BY-ELECTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3833, 30 August 1927, Page 27

THE RAGLAN BY-ELECTION.

A TRIANGULAR CONTEST.

REFORM’S CHANCES FAVOURED.

WELLINGTON, August 28. Hie by-election for the Raglan seat vacant through the death of Mr Bollard’ wil be an interesting contest. It is certain to produce candidates from the three parties—Government, Labour, and Nationalist, Liberal, or whatever the new party is eventually gointr to call itself. The late Mr Bollard won the last elec, tion by a big majority, and the seat is still regarded as a safe one for Reform, especially because it is certain that Labour will put up a candidate with the object of keeping down the number of the third party in the House, so that Labour itself may retain its present status as the official Opposition. It is said by- those who know the district best that the seat could be won by Mr A. H. Waring, a Taupiri farmer, who was a close friend and supporter of Mr Bollard, and who is a staunch Reformer. It is not known whether he will agree to be a candidate. Mr Waring is at present in Wellington. THE NEW MINISTER. ’

Of more importance and of greater general interest is the question: Who will be chosen to take the vacant seat in the Cabinet? There are at the moment 10 members of the Cabinet—the Prime Minister (Mr Coates), Messrs A. D. M‘Leod, J. A. Young, rt. A. Wright, K. S. Williams, O. J. Hawken, W. D. Stewart, G. J. Anderson, W. Nosworthy, and F. J. Rolleston. Thee first six are North Island men, the other four South Island representatives. Sir Maui Pomare is a member of the Ministry without portfolio.

Three men in the present party stand out prominently as being in the running for the vacant portfolio. These are Messrs D. Jones (the member for Ellesmere), Mr Adam Hamilton (the member for Wallace), and Mr E. P. Lee (the member for Oamaru). All three have the qualifications of ability and debating power, Mr D. Jones is one of the best debaters in the House of Representatives. Mr Adam Hamilton is a good speaker and a man with original ideas, while Mr E. P. Lee is also effective in debate and has the added qualification of having already had experience as a Minister of the Crown. The question of personal popularity, important as a Ministerial

attribute, may be ultimately the deciding factor as to who will be chosen, but it seems fairly certain that Mr Coates will not go beyond the three mentioned in his choice, of the new member of Cabinet.

Messrs Jones and Hamilton are members of the Export Board, and the appointment of either as a member of the Cabinet would no doubt involve resignation from such a position.