Election Shots.

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, 28 November 1914, Page 17

Election Shots.

[By "The Snipeb."]

Locally election meetings have assumed almost as much importance as Belgian Funds. The battle of the Mons is ancient history and small small beer, compared to the battle of the seats. During the week every candidate has hurled his thunders, and some have gone so far as to accuse their opponents of not being statesmen. This is most unkind. Everybody knows that before a New Zealand candidate dares to offer his services he learns everything that is to be learned about political economy. The fight between Mr Harris and Mr Tewsley in Waitemata has given rise to some small but one-sided personalities, wherein the ability of the Opposition candidate has 'been impugned. Mr Tewsley has countered by producing a testimonial from Mr Massey, who is Mr Harris's leader, which, among other things, says that "any electorate in the province would be glad to be able to retain him." Waitemata is in the province, therefore if Mr Tewsley is not returned Mr Massey will obviously be most disappointedMr Tewsley is fighting a gentlemanly fight. 'He absolutely refuses to use obvious ammunition. .w .• » In Eden the position is not as it was when Mr J. Bollard represented the district. It has added several thousands of voters, and is emphatically a workers' district, who may or "may not believe that Mr Parr's heart bleeds for them. Presumably Lawyer Tuck represents the people also represented by Mr Richards, and will split the vote with this gentleman. If the Social Democrat by any chance withdrew Mr Tuck would shake the Parr citadel. The size of Mr Richards' vote, will determine the battle, and his appearance is a fortunate circumstance for the Mayor in a ' first past the post" conflict. In Auckland East the contest is not very interesting, mainly because "all is over bar shouting." Mr Myers will retain the seat, and will deserve to, not only on account of his work for Auckland city, but because of his work for New Zealand. There is none of the cheap jack element about Mr Myers' meetings. Auckland Central is just as uninteresting from a fighting % point of view but if there is a point worth mentioning it is in relation to the ■superb assurance of Mr W. Richardson that he can beat Mr Glover. It is possible that Mr Richardson is well known enough to obtain some votes, but it is unlikely that when the numbers go up that the names will be in any other order than Glover, Savage, Richardson. Still it gives them all a chance to exercise their vocabularies.

The interesting circumstance, as far as Grey Lynn is concerned, is that Mr Payne, M.P., must be first past the post to beat Mr Fowlds,' for he won the previous contest at the second ballot. The fact that Mr Fowlds is not an absentee may enrich his chances. Mr Payne has declared that he does not stand as a Social Democrat, because there are not the necessary 500 S.D.s in Grey Lynn. He is an Independent Labour man now, and does not believe the people are sufficiently edu cated to appreciate the value of Social Democracy. Mr Payne unquestionably possesses a very large following, and his unconventional style is refreshing to many. He will fight all he knows.

Auckland West is a battleground wherein Mr Bradney, M.P., is industriously striving to "make good." One fears that Mr Bradney's frequent inability to stem turbulent orators at his meetings handicaps his chances. At Ponsonby the crowd practically took charge of Mr Bradney's meeting, while the member produced samples of the political goods be had made in Parliament. It is impossible to pretend that Mr Bradney made a political speech at Ponsonby. The audience made the speeches and the disturbance. Ponsonby did not pass a vote of confidence. Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Bradney's opponent, Mr Poole, were heartily cheered.

Mr Glass, who will endeavour to wrest the pay trident from the ruler of the country at Franklin, has had mixed receptions at Pukekohe East, Aka Aka and Patumahoe. One at least admires Mr Glass for his stand against a redoubtable opponent, and it is obvious that although he can't win the seat he is preparing the ground for another triennial crop of votes that may bloom into a political salary when Mr Massey succeeds Mr T. Mackenzie m London.

Parnell is uneasy, and probably each Opposition candidate (Messrs J. C. Gleeson and J. J. Sullivan) believes he is being badly treated. Despite all accusations of double dealing, the fact remains that both are in the field, both have promise of good support—and both are well able to fight their own battle. Both these gentlemen have declared that they will fight a clean battle, so why refer to each other's past doings at all. Why not go bald-headed for victory on merit alone? The fluent Mr Sullivan is a practised platform man and apparently has been well able'to hold his hearers. The sitting member, Mr Dickson, has enunciated no new or startling > theories of statesmanship, but it is to be remembered that the two Opposition candidates will chop a vote, and that Mr Dickson may therefore slide in between. It' is unfortunate that this is not a straight out go— •the best man to win.