GREAT ACTIVITY IN OTAGO

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

GREAT ACTIVITY IN OTAGO

EIGHT SEATS FOR REFORM PREDICTED.

(By Telegraph.-Speoial Correspondent.) x t .' . Dunedin, December 8. breat activity i& being shown by the supporters of, the Reform and Liberal parties, Labour is also bestirring itself ' to an unusual extent, and tho Socialists are working for all tney are worth' —winch is not much." There is a solid ' bedv of people not merely in the Liberal ranks who. consider that the election should have been postponed, and aa • many of these people may not go to •the poll tho voting will probably not be so heavy at this election as it was " three-years ago. When one views the ' contestants; on the grounds they' re- "' spectively occupy it is ovident there will be little change in the representation .of the constituencies that come within the Otago district. Commencing in tho north, Mr. Francis and Mr. Anstey are putting up a vigorous fight, and the concensus of opinion eoems to be that Mr. Anstey ' will once more enter the Parliamentary ' halls ' ..■■•:

Mr. Lee is gaining ground in Oamaru, and is likely to win by a fair majority. In Otago Central Mr. Bodkin, a young solicitor, is pushing the sitting member, Mr. Scott, very hard, and it would not surprise either side to see him secure the 6eat by a narrow margin. - Mr. G. M. Thomson has the tacit support of numerous members of.the Bible-in-Schools Party in Dunedin North. His opponent, Mr. Walker, is-a Labourite with Socialist leanings. He is.a poor platform spenker. but ilis committed 13 energetic, and if victory should bo his the result will be due entirely to the exertions of his supporters. V tt is .not generally thought,' however, that Mr. Thomson will loso his seat.

Mr. W. Downie Stewart, the son of a former member of Parliament of the same name, is the cbming member for Dune- ~ din West. Mr. Johnson, the.Opposition nominee, and Mr. M'Guire, who is supported by certain sections of / Labour, have itot entcrod tho -ontest with much , spirit, evidently recognising that Mr. Stewart, a popular; ex-Mayor of the' city, carries too many grus for them. In Dunedin Central Mr; Statham, tho sitting member,' is opposed by ;Mr. Munro, a Social Democrat, and the only one of whom Otago can. boast. Botn parties have engaged in a Btremious fight, and if Mr. Statham gets home on election day ha will have little to spare. Mr. H. D. Bedford and the Hon. J. TV Paul, M.L.C., are addressing meetings ' of workers in the interests of".Mr. Munro. .

Dunedin South is a gift to Mr. Sidey, the present'member. His opponent, Mr. Dalton, may be a coming man, but his chance has not oomo yet. . .

■When Mr. H. E. Moller letired from Chalmers .it was recognised.' that the seat was safe for Mr. Diokson, and since that time Mr. Mason, the Opposition nominee, and Mr. G. S.; Thomson (Labour) have been working assiduously, thus really improving Mr. Dickson's chances. It is probable that Mr. Thomson will not'poll many hundreds, but every vote is one off Mr. Mason's total. In Bruce the Hon. J. Allen is encountering ..strong ' opposition from Mr. Smith, whose committees are particularly well organised throiighont an extensive district.;- Some say the. Minister of Finance will .get the run of his life at this-j election,' but such a view is not well founded: :

' Mr. Malcolm and Mr.- Jenkinson (exM.L.C.) are tho contestants in Chitha. The latter has found many friends and made. many, but it is not 'anticipated that he will be on top when the numbers gO-Up. - '.; '-.'.' . • ' .' The Hon. W. Fra6er is leaving no stone unturned.to retain the honour, of representing Wakatipu, and it is probable he will somewhat easily account for his opponent, Mr. Stephens ,'-... Altogether it is probable that Otago will return eight. Ministerialists and three Opposition. Messrs.'Eraser, Allen,, Malcolm, Dickson,' Statham, Stewart, G..M. Thomson, and Lee;constitute the eight, and Messrs. Sidey, Bodkinj and Anstey the smaller number.'.-. ,