THE WELLINGTON ELECTION.

Thames Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 7032, 14 January 1892, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON ELECTION.

Tli© Government Candidate the Favorite.

KEEN STEUGGLE ANTICIPATED.

THE LATEST INCIDENT.

(Pee Pbess Association.)

Wellington, This day.

The followers of Mr McLean are betraying increased boldness as the polling day draws near. Until recently the betting was in favor of Mr Bell, but yesterday and to-day a marked change has come over affairs, the slight odds on Mr Beil being readily accepted. It in said that one wager of £150 to £100 was laid. The betting ia now practically even, and Mr McLean's supporters are extremely confident. Mr Bell's friends, however, are eager for the poll. The latest incident in the election struggle has been the quotation by Mr McLean of figures purporting to show the difference between the amount of taxes now paid by Mr Bell and family and others, and what they would have to pay under the Land and Income tax. Mr Bell admitted the accuracy of the figures, but attacked in scathing terms the breach of secrecy, declaring that the information could only have Been got from the Property Tax returns. He exonerated the' Commissioner, however, and Mr Crombie himself declares that no Minister has ever had access to information in the Department, and would not be allowed to see it if he applied. Mr McLean has been challenged by his opponent to say where he got the figures from, and it is understood that he gives a Dunedin paper as his authority. Mr Bell addresses a meeting in the Opera House for the last time to-night, and Mr McLean, assisted by Mr Hogg, M.H.H., holds an open-air meetings

Lateb, Mr McLean's explanation of how he obtained the figures about the taxation of certain properties is that he took the Government returns published in 1889. and worked out the calculations himself. They appear to have come approximately correct in some respects, but in others Mr 801 l does not admit their accuracy.