POLITICS ON WEST COAST

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2151, 18 May 1914, Page 5

POLITICS ON WEST COAST

FEAR OF THE "ALLIANCE." Mr.. H. L, Michol, questioned by a Christchurch i "Sun" reporter with regard to the political situation on tho West Coast, said that the Reform movement had mado wonderful, progress in every part of tho district. .This was perhaps best omphasised by tho fact that at the last' General Election, and tho by-election for Grey, the Reform party had polled 8000 out of'a total of some 12,800 votos cast. At the time of tho General, Election the presont Opposition wore in power, and all tha "machines of State" were used to assist the sitting members, all of whom '•■were on their side of the Houso. Ho .thought that tho prospects of tho Government's winning the Gre.y and Westland seats wero good indeed. Who aro tho candidates? "Well, that I cannot say at present. They havo not been definitely decided on;,but this I can say, that the whole of the West Coast seats will be contested by the Government." Tins chango of political feeling, Mr. Michel said, was all the moro extraordinary in view of tho fact that tho West Coast had always been the centra of the "Old Liberalism," and also the Btorm centre of the Red Federation of Labour. The chango had become moro marked owing to tho fear of a combination of tho Liberals and the Red Feds. This combination was viewed with great alarm by what might bo called ''sano Labour" and tho sottlers. They did not forgot that Dr. M'Nab, ,a prominent member 'of the Liberal party, had wired to Mr, P. C. Webb during tho second ballot stago of tho Grey election, "Go in and win." It must bo romchibercd that during tho Waihi strike, Mr. Wobb was president of the Federation of Labour. "Sano Labour" and the settlors naturally thought that such action pointed to the existence of some bond jf union between tho Liberal and Labour parties. .