PARS ON POLITICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 821, 30 November 1905, Page 26

PARS ON POLITICS.

The writs were received in Auckland last Friday. Five p.m. on Tuesday last was the last hour for the nomination of candidates. * * * Elections finally fixed for next Wednesday, the 6th December. * # Mr A. L. D. Fraser, at Napier the other day, enumerated the various political organisations in the colony, and said that if a candidate for the purpose of getting into Parliament became a creature of. any one of them, he could not, he maintained, do his duty as a representative of the people. # In discussing at a dinner the voting frauds of Philadelphia, J. G. Gordon,the Mayor’s counsel, told a story of a repeater.” “He was an ignorant chap, this repeater,” said Judge Gordon. “He had the stolid and unmoved look of an animal. “When they arrested him he asked what crime lay at his door. “ ‘You are charged,’ said the policeman, ‘with having voted twice.’ “ ‘Charged, am I?’ muttered the prisoner. ‘That’s odd. I expected to be paid for it.’ ” # # Next Wednesday the Polling Booths for the districts named are at the following places :— AUCKLAND WEST. Ponsonby Hall, J envois Road. Primitive Methodist Schoolroom, corner Franklin Road and Wellington street. The Schoolhouse, Richmond Road. The Schoolhouse, Barfield. AUCKLAND CENTRAL. Federal Hall. Wellesley-street West. St. James’ Hall, Wellington-street. St. George’s Hall, Great North Road. Sailors’ Mission Hall, Lower AlbertAUCKLAND EAST. Drill Hall. Rutland-street. St. Benedict’s Hall, Gladstone-street. King Edward’s Hall. Lower Symondsstreet. Endean’s Buildings, corner of Queen and Quay streets. Epiphany Schoolroom, Gundry-street.

PARNELL. The Oddfellows’ Hall, Parnell (princi-

pal). . , r The Lecture Hall (opposite Maori School), Gladstone Road, Parnell. Public Hall, Newmarket. St. Mark's Hall, Remuera. Remuera Road Board Office Buildings Remuera. The Schoolhouse, Tamaki West. Mr Shelley’s Store, St. Helier’s Bay. The Public Hall, Panmure. Cairns’ Hall, Ellerslie. GREY LYNN. Grey Lynn College (principal), corner Pollen' Street and Rose Road. Newton West Public School, Great North Road. Primitive Methodist Church, Richmond Road. Church of the Epiphany School, Arch Hill. Mount Albert Public Schoal, Mount Albert. Eden Terrace Public Hall (Fire Station), New North Road. Victoria Hall (Masonic Hall), Eden Terrace. the elections. _ The issues before the electors on this occasion can be whittled down to & fine point, and there is not much to distract the minds of the people on the 6th of December.

Firstly, the colony is in a very prosperous condition ; it was never more so The Government claim the credit therefor ; the Opposition say they have no right to it. The common sense of the people of the colony will settle that point.

Secondly, the Opposition failing to make out a case against the Government, invite the leaseholders under the Crown to claim the freehold, and promise if returned to power they will grant the concession. Whether the bribe is honest or not may fairly be left in the hands of the people also. Thirdly, the Prohibition party in their quest for power now say: We only want to close the hotels, you can keep as much liquor as ever you like in your homes make every house, if you hke, a private pub, but close the hotels and return us to power.

These are the simple issues, and they can safely be left in the hands of the people to deal with without comment. This colony is governed by the common sense of the people. MIL BAUME AS A MINISTER. INTERESTING RUMOURS. Rumour is already busy, says the “Post,” with regard to Cabinet reconstruction. It is stated that the Hon. T. Duncan is to retire after the election, and he will be promoted to a seat in the Legislative Council. It is stated that the vacancy in the Cabinet thus created is to be filled by Mr Baume, who, it is said, has been promised the portfolio of Education if he secures re-election. It is also rumoured that Mr R. McNab will find a seat in the Cabinet, for which purpose, it is stated, the Hon. C. H. Mills will make the way clear by retiring if elected. CITY CENTRAL. The contest here is between Mr Kidd, the sitting member, and Mr Bagnall, and so far it has been a very quietly conducted contest, as all contests might be if candidates or their friends would avoid looking for assistance in abuse. Both gentlemen are well known to public life, and have rendered good service in different offices. Mr Kidd has not the reputation of being a platform orator, but he is known as a hard worker and level-headed man in business and in politics. The fact of his having been appointed Government Whip is an evidence of the esteem in which he is held by the Government Party, for to attain that position a man must be popular with both sides of the House, as the position is great responsibility. With his long experience of public business in his intimate acquaintance with men and measures, he is well fitted to represent the city advantageously and with credit, and having the ear of the Government he can be of greater service to the city than a new member could passibly be. His seat seems secure, but the Opposition will contest it with vigour, and in Mr Bagnall he has an opponent not to be despised.

THE FREEHOLD. LAWRY HITS THE NAIL. Speaking at Remuera, Mr F. Lawry, in referring to the proposed conversion of the leasehold into a freehold, said : “Now, ladies and gentlemen, I want to ask you what the people of this colony would think of the Government if they brought in a measure to compel th® trustees of the Dilworth estate to give to every one of their leaseholders the right to acquire the freehold ? And that is the position as between the State leaseholders and the Government, who are th® trustees for the peoule. If in the one case it would be unjust, so in the other. It is dishonest to propose to the State leaseholders that they should seek to return men to Parliament pledged to commit this fraud upon the public estate, just as it would be dishonest to compel by Act of Parliament the trustees of the Dilworth estate to grant the freehold.” (Applause.) BURGOO-JAMMERS. Mr G. Laurenson has a pretty taste in chaste and elegant language (remarks Christchurch “Truth”). At Woolston, for instance, he described the reception the “famous four” New Liberals received at Dunedin, and observed that when they took the platform they were faced by “3500 howling, hairy-toothed burgoo, jammers.” This charming bit of picturesque diction incensed a band of antagonists in the hall, and they rose and yelled in their wrath, “How dare you use such language!” CITY EAST. Mr Baume, the sitting member, has been well received by his constituents, and there is nothing to show that he has lost any strength. Dr. Bamford, the Opposition candidate, may come in as the runner-up. He is a fluent speaker, young, and wanting in political experience. H® is looking to the future, and is contesting the seat now more as an introduction. Mr Richardson the electors are not likely to take very seriously, while Mr Way does not come within the purview of practical politics. This seat is a certainty for Mr Baume, who so far has proved himself a useful member, and has now the political experience which goes for weight in all Parliamentary work.