THE LYTTELTON SEAT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1917, 27 November 1913, Page 6

THE LYTTELTON SEAT.

The contest for the Lyttelton scat rendered vacant by tlw death of Mr. G. Lauhexson seems likely to be productive of a very mixed struggle. The Government candidate, Mr. MiU-eb, an ex-Mayor of Lyttelton, and a widely-respected citizen, will in all probability find himself confronted with at least four opponents. The Federation of Labour, or rather its political branch, the misnamed Social-Democratic party, is busily engaged on the task of securing aignatiires to the requisition said to be necessary under its rules before it can bring forward a candidate at a Parliamentary election. -When the necessary number of signatures is obtained* (500 we believe are required) a choice will be made of the candidate who is to carry the Red Flag of the organisation. At present Mn. Voycii, scprctary of the Lyttelton Watersidevs, and Mn. a Labour Union secretary of Christchurch, are stated to bo aspirants to this honour. It may be taken for granted that the Labour-Socialist vote will be a fairly solid one in this constituency on the present occasion. The Opposition candidate will be a brother of the deceased member, a resident of Christchurch, well-known in business circles. He is president of the Industrial .Association and vicn-presideut of the Employers' Association, and is hardly likely, therefore, to be penon-a r/rala with the Labour-Socialists of the R-ed Federation, whose votes the Opposition have been so diligently bidding for in Parliament of late'. Mif. Laubenson, so far as we know, has not previously taken any active part in public affairs, but he has been in the public eye in various ways, and it is to be assumed that he will secure a sympathy vote in addition to the support lie may win on his personal merits. Two other candidates mentioned are Dr. Thackeh and Mn. W. Radcliffk. The latter is well known in Lyttelton, and, at one time held the office of Maydr of the borough. Dn. Thacker contested the seat against the late Mn. G. Laurenson in 19GS as an Independent Opposition candidate. He > then polled 2780 votes against his opponent's :.'iSS2. At the last general election he stood for Christchurch East, as an Independent Liberal, and headed the poll at the first ballot, but was badly beaten by the sitt'ing member, Mr. 'T. H. Davev, at the Second Ballot, the Labour vote going against him. At the last election the contest for the Lyttelton seat was be-tween-the late Mk. Laurenson and Mn.' C. Cook, who stood as an Independent Libera!. Mk. Lauhenson on that occasion had an easy victory, polling 4160 votes to Mit. Cook's 20S0. It is, in the circumstances, a more than ordinarily difficult task to forecast the probable result of the coming contest. The strength of the Reform and Labour votes are quite unknown quantities in the electorate, and, in addition, the position seems likely to be confused by the number of candidates.