KEEN CONTEST LIKELY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 852, 25 June 1910, Page 4

KEEN CONTEST LIKELY.

CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES There promises to to a very interesting contest in connection with the election of Chairman of Committees in the House of Representatives, which position Mr. Wilford intends resigning in fulfilment of a promise to do so if ho were successful in his candidature for tliu City Mayoralty. It will bo remembered that hist session when the office had to he filled there were several probable candidates (including Mr. Davey) among the members on the Government side, but they were induced to stand down in favour of Mt. Wilford who was the Government nominee for the position. Had Mr. Davey not wavered in his determination to stand it is not unlikely that he would have been returned, for in addition to the assistance which he would have got from supporters on his own side it is almost certain that practically the whole of the members of the Opposi-; tion would have cast their votes in his favour. Upon this occasion Mr. Davey will again be a candidate, but he will, bo opposed by Sir William Steward who was in South Africa when the election of chairman took place last year. It will thus be seen that tha Government is placed in a awk- 1 ward position in having to select a> nominee. Perhaps it will get out of' the difficulty by getting the party toagree to let the candidates stand ontheir merits. Mr. Davey has already; opened his campaign for votes and it lis understood that his visit to the. north this week is not unconnected with the election. On the other hand Sir William Steward has circularised members to the effect that he will be a candidate, and asking them to abstain from promising > their votes in the' meantime. . ■