AUCKLAND PROVINCE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2328, 9 December 1914, Page 8

AUCKLAND PROVINCE.

■■ OUTLOOK VERY SATISFACTORY.' ■ (Br Teleeraiili.-rSpecfol <Jorre6pon<lent,l : .;Z ' Auokland, December 7. Twenty .European electorates; are comprised in the Auckland' province, and three years ago the vigour of the Reform movement was so great that in fourteen of' them a candidate who supported , Mr.: Massey's policy was elected. _< That was a most valuable' contribution to the strength - of/the party, and 'there is substantial evidence that the adherence of the province -to Reform has not;, been shaken. ■ In. only,one district, Bay of Islands, are there'two candidates standing as 'supporters of Reform. . Efforts .to induce either Mr. Reed or Mr. Wilkinson to withdraw,have not been successful, and both will go to the poll'with Dr/Rangihiroa. The division' of.the Reform vote suggests an easy victoryfor the Oppo- : sition candidate, but reports from the .Far North suggest that'the appeal | made by tho late member for the Northern Maori District, has .not been reioived very ' cordially/ and • the possibility that Mr. Reed, the.official candidate, will head the po)l is almost certain. .' •■'■' ■ ' '.'',. ...... Marsden and Kaipara can < be relied upon to return Mr. Mander and Mr.. Coates to the ranks;of the Reform Party, while in Waitemata Mr. Harris's pesition.has not' been seriously assailed by Mr; Tew'sley, who apparently relies upon a compliment paid him by Mr. Massey " some years ' ago, as the principal evidenco, of his qualification as a representative of tho people'. The urban community- was represented in tho last Parliament by threo Govormnent and three Opposition supporters, but there is now a very good prospect of four of tho half dozen seats Jams, aeoured bx Reform. Very good.

progress has been made by Mr. Holmes in Auckland East, and in addi-' tion to the solid support of the Reform people, he has the endorsement of the Prohibition and Bible-in-schools parties. It is unlikely, however, that he will be able to accomplish more than a substantial reduction in Mr. Myers's majority. The issue is somewhat confused in Auckland West, but the. campaign of misrepresentation which has been prosecuted in this district has created a definite reaction, and Mr. Bradney's chances' of retaining the seat .have greatly increased in the last few day 6. . There i 3 a triangular contest in Auckland Central, ana although Mr. Glover has a reputation for_ having reduced electioneering to a science, at will he found that the veteran candidate, Mr, Richardson,, will very closely challenge his title to the seat. A keen contest is in 'progress in Grey Lynn, and recent developments havo been greatly in favour of Mr. M'Lean,. the Government, candidate. Apparently the seat will be won by only a. narrow /najority, and the decision of Sir Joseph Ward to invalidate the votes given for the Opposition by volunteers from Grey Lynn may even be the deciding factor. The final order in this contest will almost certainly "be: H.'Lean, Payne, Fowlds. - Victory for the Government ia assured in Parnell and Eden, for in .the former Mr. Dickson has only the opposition of Mr. Sullivan, who doe's not command even the whole of the Liberal vote, and Mr. Parr, one of the leading oitizens of, Auckland, mil easily bu£-. distance his two opponents.' The absurd slanders of the ostrich farm have been employed as the only weapon against Mr. Ma6sey and Mr. Lang, and both the Prime Minister and Mr. Lang will survive these attacks with majorities that will demonstrate their strength in their own electoratea. «

So far as the southern seats are concerned, it may be safely predicted that the Government will retain Raglan (Mr. Bollard), Waikato (Mr. Young), Taura : nga (Sir. Herries), and Taumarunui (Mr. Wilson). The issue is in ' doubt in Thames, where Mr. Rhodes is opposed by a former member in Mr. Taylor. Ohinenrarilwill probably return Mr. Poland for another, term. ....

• A powerful bid for- support from the majority of the electors has been made by Mr. Williams in the Bay of Plenty, but Mr. Mac Donald is not easily defeated, and an Opposition victory can bo expected there. The candidature of Mr. De Lautour for Gisborne has been very popular, and may even accomplish the defeat of that veteran politician Sir James Carrol.