A COVETED PRIZE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14265, 3 August 1910, Page 6

A COVETED PRIZE.

CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES

An absolute, deadlock has occurred in connection with ihe Chairmanship of Committees. Then- arc, snys :i -i.yltel ton Times" snocial, three Vaudida t'c.v, Mr T. H. JJavev, the Government nominee, Sir William Steward, an independent candidate with a i'ollowino of eighteen or twenty supporters, and Mr Vi'. Fraser, the Opposition nui'iinee. it is regarded as an absolute certainty that neither Mr Davey nor Sir William Steward can carrv the dav in the present stan. of feeline; in the throe camps. The mailer must ho sol Hod one way or another v-ery .soon, but it is a iau;:J<d skein now. This motion "That Mr Davey he .appointed Chairman of Committees" will havo priorit v, and I he incvitahlo amendment, l„ strike out all (.ho words after I lie won I "That." will he earned by (he combined parties that support ihe other candidate'. There will he a fusion in the same manner against r.iiv motions to anoolio either Sir William Steward or Mr r'ra-er, as the Liberal Part.-, will, no doubt, vote solidly against the Opposition candidate, and Mr Davov's supporters are nor likely to east a vote for Sir William Steward. This will throw all three candidates out of the rnnninji. and probably a third Liberal will oeenpv the seat after all. There hare 'been rumours of Mr Davev's v. ithdrawal. but the member for Christclinrcli Kast is entirely in the hands of the Party, as lie has been from the first. A solution of the diflicultv is the withdrawal of both the Liberal candidates and an airreemcni on another nominee, hut Sir "William Steward's withdrawal is highly improbable. There is no foundation for the statement that the Opposition would jdvo a block vote Mr Haver. The 'TVess" special has another sneCesfion: —"Reports current in the lobbies lend colour in the belief iliac ultimately the Government will ha found eivinc; its suiinort in connection with the election of Chairman of Committees of Ihe 'House to a Ministerialist as yet: unnnminated. It is clear, in view nl' the strong I'oelinu; pr.M ailon-. that if either Mr. liavev or Sir William Steward were defeated.' the -1 a ilia-he -t supporter of the llieir votes in favour of Air W. l-'raser. According to renori- in lisuallv wellinloriiicd political circles,. M,- |i,-,vcv Inn now decided 10 withdraw from the contest. Sir William Sleuard. In.v.-evor. is not 1o he ~-;ven the Mipoori. of the Government pariv The (,ne-ii,,i, as lo who will bo the Government nnmim-o will, it is furl her reported, lie settled later in the week."