THE AUCKLAND EAST ELECTION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1056, 2 June 1910, Page 20

THE AUCKLAND EAST ELECTION.

MR. ARTHUR MYERS’ CANDIDATURE. In connection with the Auckland East election, the members of the Trade are left in no uncertainty as to whom they should collectively and individually support. It has been said in these columns again and again that the licensed victuallers of this country dare not identify themselves with any particular candidate, party, or movement, for fear of offending the opposing interests that are, unfortunately, so often in a position to injure the Trade at the licensing polls. Three candidates are contesting the seat vacant by the death of Mr- F- EBaume, K.C.—Mr. Arthur Myers, who served for four years as Mayor of the City of Auckland with infinite honour to himself and much credit to the city Mr. William Richardson and Mr. G'. McKnight- Mr. Richardson stands first and foremost as a Prohibitionist, but it appears tolerably certain, from the action of the Laboui’ party in bringing Mr. McKnight forward, that he will divide the so-called “ temperance” vote with that gentleman. MrT. E- Taylor, M-P-, the noted Prohibitionist and No-license advocate, is in Auckland, with the express idea of helping forward the candidature of the Labour nominee, and may be said to have fired the first shot in the campaign at the “ No-license” rally held in the East-street Methodist Hall on Tuesday, when he declared that “it was amazing to him that a city such as Auckland should think it unnecessary to challenge the ambitions of the biggest brewer in the city to get a seat in the Legislature of the Doininion.” Mr. Taylor also said that “he came to Auckland, not to make speeches, but to endeavour to persiiade a candidate to come out and contest the Auckland East seat against a brewer and a monopolist.” Even the Mayor of Grey Lynn, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, declared that “it was the duty of all well-wishers of the community at large to vote against a brewer going to Parliament. But Mr. Myers has other and wider business interests even than those of the brewery with which the Prohibitionists seek to identify him. Even were it otherwise why the mere fact of a man’s calling should be used against him in this way is beyond our comprehension. Mr. Arthur Myers is one of our most public-spirited citizens; his money has been made fairly and legitimately; his word is regarded by those who know and have business dealings with him as his bond —and that is more than can be said of Mr. T. E. Taylor’s friends of the New Zealand Alliance —and he is capable of rendering the city and province infinitely greater service in Parliament than he has yet accomplished on their behalf outside of its walls- Those interested in the Trade and the great moderate section of the community who object to have their habits, tastes, morals and appetites regulated by the State, have just as much right to deny the fitness of men like Mr. TE. Taylor to represent them in Parliament, as Mr. Taylor has to condemn Mr. Myers’ candidature. So far as the Trade is concerned in Auckland, there can be no questioning the fact, despite the differences of opinion that exist between the wholesalers and retailers (none of which, however, are so serious as to be incapable of equitable judgment) that Mr. Arthur Myers is the one candidate whom they can all loyally support. Mr. Myers’ well-known abilities, his earnest work on behalf of the city, the fact that he is standing as a purely independent candidate, untrammelled by pledges to support either party, and that he enjoys the confidence of the leading business men of the city, may all be urged in his favour, and we trust to see him returned as one of the city representatives to Parliament on polling day.