WELLINGTON CENTRAL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 309, 18 September 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON CENTRAL

WRIT ISSUED & ROLL CLOSES) POLLING ON OCTOBER 3 The writ for the by-election in Wellington .Central was issued yesterday, and polling is to take place on Thursday, October 3. The prompt issue of the writ was not expected, and this is perhaps the main reason why the number of applications for enrolment has been comparatively small. Up till 6 o'clock last night, tho timo for the closing of the roll, the Registrar bad received 1000 applications, ten applications from seamen, and not a single request for an absent voter's permit. As three thousand nanies have been struck off tho roll since last election, the roll will ob smaller by about a thousand names than it was in 1914, MODERATE LABOUR'S ATTITUDE. Referring to the candidature of Mr. M. J. Mack, national secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Mr. R. Hampton, national president of the A.S.R.S., when approached by a Christchurch "Sun" reporter, said:—"What really is happening is that a large section of Labour is dissatisfied with the present 'machine' party, and claims that that party, itt its extremo ideas, does not represent tho general body of Labour." That feeling has been growing for some timo. both in Wellington and the other centres, until now it is tryinjr to find expression. As a result, a large deputation of members from various unions, but representing tho moderate side of Labour, waited upon Mr. Mack with request that ho should stand as an Independent Labour candidate. Mr. I Mack may have the eupporbof the ProI hibition Party, as Ms sympathies are strongly in that direction; but it js Labour' which "brings him out. . . •