OHINEMURI.

Observer, Volume XXIII, Issue 5, 18 October 1902, Page 3

OHINEMURI.

When the Boundary Commissioners cut Waihi off this electorate and tacked it on to Bay of Plenty, they made things more difficult for Mr Jackson Palmer. But the staunch manner in which Mr Palmer stuck to the miners in their dispute before the Conciliation Board, leaving his business in town for months in order that he might watch over their interests, will not easily be forgotten by the men. Therefore, he starts the contest with a solid labour vote, because whatever else may be said of them, miners are not ungrateful. His strongest opposition will come from Mr E. G. Moss, also a staunch Liberal, though an opponent of the Government. Mr Moss will have the Prohibition vote and strong support from Paeroa where he is a lawyer in practice. For a time, it was thought Mr Poland would also have a say in the contest, but in his oapacity of chairman of the County Council, he has handled the matters in dispute with Waihi with so little tact and diplomacy that he has prejudiced his prospects hopelessly. After all, the main road boycott against Waihi has re-acted also on Waitekauri, Waikino, Karangahake, and even Paeroa, while, with a little more skill, the gold duty trouble might have been amicably arranged to the mutual advantage of both vVaihi and Paeroa. Mr Poland has still lessons in diplomacy to learn before he essays to become a member of Parliament.