A STRENUOUS FIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 830, 31 May 1910, Page 5

A STRENUOUS FIGHT.

AUCKLAND BY-ELECTION. A LABOUR CANDIDATE CHOSEN. ACTION BY REFORM PARTY. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, May 30. The Labour party intends to make a strenuous fight to capture tho Auckland East seat at Uμ; forthcoming'by-election. To assist iu the campaign, it has secured Mr. T. E. Taylor, Independent member for Ohristchurch North, Mr. D. M'Laren, ; Labour member for Wellington East, and Mr. J. A. M'CJullough, tho Labour representative on the Arbitration Court. • Yesterday afternoon these three conferred with local leaders in the Labour movement, and also addressed some 200 persons at the Grey Statue.

Mr. M'Cullough stated that, on behalf of the southern Labour people, he wished to associate himself with the Labour party in Auckland, in order to secure tho direct representation of Labour in Parliament.

. Mr. M'Laren remarked that, in Wellington East, people had stated that there was not the slightest hope of putting up a Labour candidate. However, in spite *of this pessimistic view, the sun of Labour had risen, and he believed that Auckland East was, not going to lag behind the southern constituency, but was going to send the Labour candidate to Parliament. He instanced the remarkable growth of the Labour vote at the 1908 election as compared with that of 1905, and added that he felt that tho lesson taught by their comrades ia Australia was not going to be lost.upon this country. •

Mr. Taylor, who was received with cheers, paid a tribute to the qualities of the late .member, Mr. F. E. Baume. He felt. that, in this city, there would be an opportunity during the next three weeks of winning an election which would mark an epoch in the history of New Zealand politics. He thought that the Labour leaders would experience a very great surprise in 1910, and the Auckland East election would afford those persons who did not agree with either Sir Joseph Ward or Mr. Massey an opportunity of expressing • their views. As he had stood as an Independent at the last election, he owed it to his constituents to continuo as such as long as Parliament lasted. Ho had, however, always mado his views clear. • At present there were no strictly Labour men in Parliament, though Mr. MTLaren was nearly such. Mr. M'Laren had, however, not been returned exclusively by the Labour- party. If on this occasion they secured the return of a Labour man for Auckland East, it would leave such a track as would enable 25 Labour men to enter the House at the next elections, and it would be the occasion of the birth of the New Liberal party of New Zealand.

REFORM PARTY'S CANDIDATE. (By TeleeraDh-Press Association.) Auckland, May 30. Further interesting developments in ■connection with the Auckland East byeelection took place at a meeting of Opposition • supporters this afternoon, at which Mr. W. F. Massey, and Mr. Martin, the Reform party's organiser, were present. It ivas decided to approach Mr. Joseph Clark, and ask him . to stand for the seat as the official Opposition candidate. Mr. Clark, who was form erlv pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle, will make a definite announcement to-morrow. . - LABOUR CANDIDATE CHOSFjN. Auckland, May 30. At a meeting of the Labour party tonight, Mr. G. MTCnight, of Auckland, was selected as the Labour candidate. THE HOCKEN COLLECTIONS. , _$_ (By TelcsraDh—Press Association.) Dunedin; May 30. At a meeting held this afternoon, and attended by a number of prominent citizens, it was decided to establish an endowment fund, the income from which will be available for the future maintenance, in a fitting manner, of the valuable colleotion which Dr. Hocken has given to the people of the Dominion.