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Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1924, 5 December 1913, Page 7

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NOTES ON CANDIDATES AND RECENT HAI'PENINCS. • A BREEZY REVIEW, A correspondent forwards us lire following account of the Lyttelton by-olee-iion and the candidates engaged therein : — There are some amusing happenings in connection .with the by-election at Lyttelton. Tlio overshadowing feature of the coui.es!: is the determination of the "Red Feds" to break up every meeting in disorder except when.their vv;n candidate is concerned, This is. the rapidly-developing feature in tho terrorising campaign of the "Feds." However, the electors sire decent enough to resent these methods, and the pooplo most likely to he damaged will La tlio 'Tied Feds" themselves. The antics of the candidates, hotvever, occasion grejit amusement. Mr. Miller, the Government candidate, is an honest, sober-sided, God-fearing man, eery earnest, and yen* lugubrious, but a good citii'en, and well-respected. Mr, Miller, "having his leg pulled" by soma cute questioner, is n quaint character, but his absolute straightforwardness will pull him out of any difficulty. Mr. Radcliffe is one of those iiorcelydeteriiiined men, who delivers a strong .speech for twenty minutes, and then answers questions for an hour and a half, and succeeds in turning himself

completely inside out. He delivers a speech strongly in favour of the Government, then pronounces himself in his. filial sentence as a red-hot Oppositionist, and flourishes a letter .from Sir Joseph Ward, which lie will not read to the audience, but is prepared to pass round to anybody privately. Wliat was in it nobody knows. ' Probably, nobody cares. 'The joke is that Mi.. Laurcuson also produced a Setter from Sir .'Joseph. "WntiT, in which Mr. Laurenson was definitely labelled "the" Opposition candidate. So far as one can gather, _ the Opposition havo a sort of reserved right over nil the candidates except Mr. Miller. They will accept whichever one is in tin; second ballot. But the speeches. They are laughable, Mr. Laurcnson, who refused to answer a. question as to wlwther he was a member of the Citizens' Defence Committee, is also a prominent member' of the. Employers' Federation. His attempts to prove that he joined the Employers' Federation in the interests of Labour nearly drive the "Red Feds" into convulsions. Indeed, so fluxions is Mr. Laurcuson to pacify his enemies that, lie actually declares that he "does not think that the Federation of Labour should he put down and the Employers' Federation upheld." One wonders'how 'this''scpsarcs with his attitude, on.thtf Employers' Association. He bids outright for the blind unintelligent elector's vote, Ho wants all education free; from end to end, universities and all. • He winds all hooks and stationery for all grades absolutely free. He ' wants pensions paid irrespective of all residential qualification. Thus New Zealand' would become the popular resort of widows and orphans from all over tho world. It is fully anticipated that, should Mr. Lnuronsmi bo in tho second, ballot, he will, before tho contest is ended, he advocating freo lodgings and drinks at all city hotels and liberal pensions for all persons, except employers, under the ago of 03. Oft tho .oft clisuieo of contesting a Bccond ballot, Mr. Lauronson of the Employers' Fedoration is already recognising that his platform and that of the Social Democrats has much in f-omnion, and tint ho is emphatically a supporter of Labour. Ho believes the Federation of Labour has mild? "eii honouriihle attempt towards industrial- peace," It is said, that upon hearing this statement mado one of Mr, Laurenson's confreres -upon the Employers' Federation was taken most ill. Dr. Th-iekcr is tho biggest "joak" of the campaign. Ho weighs about 20st. His bulk is great. His knowledge of politics is small. Ho has been beaten :it various elections so often that he is ik.w a- seasoned loser. He has many quaint ideas. Ee is the "workers' friend." He owns a lot of limit and profits uracil by tho unearned increment, but he is philanthropic to the extent that he is quite prepared, when he dies, to allow his tenants to purchase the freehold of liis estate. This overwhelming evidence of philanthropy brings tears to the eyes of his audience. It is such a generous, such an ennobling thought. Ho wants an export tex on mutton, hides, and butter. He is evidently not fond of cheese, since he proposes to allow that to bo sold without export tax. lie declares the Government is throwing away, a quarter of a million a week in maintaining "specials." The Government should buy the Union Company, lock, stock, and barrel. He doesn't helievu in any liquor laws .at all in New Zealand. ' Ho said he was "like a big bluebottle in a room, and if ho wait to Wellington ho would malco himself felt." The crowd decided that be Would jjo on' ''blowing and buzzing" in Canterbury for some time longer, which Ira will .probably do. Mr. M'Combs, tho ''Red Fail." candidate, is a politician of the "han-hau" tvpe, a fanatic full of wild theories aim nervous twitch. He i-s against most everything, and makes irrespoJisiWo statements with a fluency and caso that arc astonishing. Ho declares that ho is the official "candidate- of tho "Red Feds." whoso chief policy plank is ."tho settlement of disputes by arbitration." His "Red" audience applauded this statement immensely. His regarded as the most subtle joke of the campaign and will probably be, published in "This . Maoriland Worker" without charge. Another one of Mr. M'C-ombs's witticisms is: "The Social Democratic party believed in every wau being a unionist or not having tho right to Work." This doctrine in plain language stands: for compulsory contributions ■ . Inwards tho maintenance of a.gitatora. It is exceedingly popular amongst the Semple-llickey-Mills type. Mr, M'Combs, who savagely opposes trusts, combines, ami monopolies, and execrates private profits, is a draper by profession. The tremendous antipathy of drapers to excessive profits no doubt accounts for Mr M'Conibs's ardent yearning to represent the "lumpers." Jt is a funny, funny world. It is not the candidates alone who ato providing entertainment. Messrs. Robertson and Webb, M.I'.V liavo also joined in the fray. Thoy have implored their friends to allow Mr. Miller tho right of froo speech. This is not because Mr. Miller is admitted to havo any right to speak (not Wing a. "lied Fed."), but only because tho conduct of the "Feds." 'n't public meetings may cause public resentment. Tito day .will no doubt come when candidates for Pariiament will be allowed to address Inn electors bv permit issued by some strike committee. But ihialt of tlio base incratitudc- of Mr. Robertson, M.P.. Aftei- ■ all the liberal sympathy which Ims been extended to the-"Red Federation," to think that Mr. Robertson, M.P. shonld be the one to turn and rend them. Mr. Robertson said: -"The Liberal party had ceased to be actuated by any definite principle, and was lila* a ship wallowm; 1 about in' a sea of political oxpffdi«ney. The Lih'n-sl partv would never again bo a ijrivini' force." What, "'ill llw Rmht 'Hon. Sir J«Kc»h Ward think of thisiMo«t cruel, most unkind., most ungrateful,' Mr. Robertson. Lytielten is m a pretty pickle.