AUCKLAND ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 7

AUCKLAND ELECTION.

VICOROUS LABOUR CAMPAICN

ATTITUDE OF THE OPPOSITION.

(By Telegraph-Special Correspondent.) Auckland,' May 27. Tho political situation in connection with tho forthcoming by-election for Auckland East is growing interesting. Mr. Arthur 11. Myers, who is out as au Independent Liberal, is apparently to havo at least two opponents, ono in Mr. Win. Richardson, tho Prohibitionist, and tho othor in the Labour candidate. The selection of the latter is expected to bo made on Monday night next, and the Labour campaign is to bo fought with vigour. Mossrs. T. E., Taylor and D. M'Laren, M.P.'s, and Mr. J. M'Cullough, of tho Arbitration Court, aro to £pcak on behalf of the party's nominee.

In tho meantime it is beginning to look as though tho filial word on tho subject has. not yet been said as to tho intentions of the Opposition party. Mr. AV. F. Massey, M.P., leader, of tho Opposition, speaking to your representative to-day, said: "I quite understand that Auckland people appreciate tho services Mr. Myers has rendered to tllo city, and that they aro consequently willing to give him an opportunity of showing what he can do in Parliament; but by coming forward just now, and particularly by standing as an Independent, 1 cannot forget that ho is ioing tho Government a great service, inasmuch as, though not standing as a Government supporter, ho is likely to savo tho Government from ignominious defeat. Ho is probably tho only man in Auckland able to do so. Nothing would have pleased mo better just now than a straight-out fight" between tho two parties. Though tho scat was formerly held by a Government supporter, they aro now apparently satisfied whatever .support they may recoivo from an Independent member, who, in his own words, is 'unfettered to • any party.'"

At a meeting of the Knyvett Defence Committee it was mentioned that certain rumours had been going about that Mr. lvnyvett was considering tlio question of standing as. a candidate. In stating that these rumours were not correct, the chairman (Mr. J. S. Dickson) informed the meeting tb>t he had waited on Mr. Arthur Myers that morning, in company with Mr. F. E. N. Gamlin, and Mr. Myers assured them that ho had looked' into the Knyvett case, and felt convinced that a grave injustice had been done. FxC considered that, even apart from what was duo to Mr. Knyvett himself, the interests of every member of the territorial force were affected; and if elected ho would certainly use his best endeavours to see that a full inquiry was set up both into the particular case in question, and also into the general administration of the Defence Department. Mr. Dickson added that ho had further asked Mr. Myers whether, in case of the Government opposing the setting up of such an inquiry, he would vote against them, and Mr. 'Myers replied that 'ho wouldhave no hesitation in doing so.