ON THE HUSTINGS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 47, 19 November 1919, Page 8

ON THE HUSTINGS

: PROSPECTS IN AUCKLAND I. •■•■.•■: A NEW SEAT ; SOMETHING-ABOUT THE CANDIDATES -(Prom Our Own Correspondent.) ; Continuing my survey of election pros- ; pfcts. in Auckland, • tho contest for tho ■ now- seat, called Eoskill, certainly takes at least eecoud place after Auckland West, if it does not come first in public 1 interest. In.tho case of Auckland West the interest, is largely due to tho spirited ' nature of the contest and tho signs of a big swing over to Reform. With Roskxl there are special circumstances, as well i as the fact that the seat is a new-one, to attract attention to tho contest. In Mr. y. H. Potter the Government , .has a strong candidate, who has mado a decidedly favourable impression on tho electors. Hβ is a fluent find forciblespeaker,' and can nioro than hold his , 'own on the platform. Ho served in tho ; South African War and in the Great ■ W&r. In a recent speech ho stated that ho was born in tho Waikato, and had '• gone to school at ilfount Eden and Epsom. He had served in two wars, but he was not trading upon that fact, for he had only done his duty. Ho referred to his experience in civic- affairs at Wai'hi, and to the fact that he had been a member of the executive of tho Waihi Miners' Union, which was a "sano" union. At : present he was a member of the executive of tho Auckland Returned Soldiers' I Association. Mr. Potter is a worker, but ,: lie has no sympathy with Bolshevism iii , any shape, "The Government must rule the country," ho said, "and no one sec- ; tion, and we must have u fearless and ; 6ound Government which will not bo dictated to by the Bolshevik element. (Ap- ,' plause.) I am a worker, but I am dia- , metrically opposed to the leaders of the ;, Federation of Labour, (Applause.) As long as Mr. Semple is in this country he must conform to its laws. (Applause.) ■ A motion of no confidenco wne moved by someone in the back of the hall, and nn amendment expressing hearty confidence was moved in two places. The mo- '. tion was lost, only a few ayes being recorded, and tho amendment was carried ■ unanimously, tho roar of ayes in its fa- '■ vour being somewhat remarkable for volume. At the conclusion the National Antheni was sung and cheers were given for the candidate. Mr. Potter has three opponents—Sir. Peddle, Mr. Gunson, and Mr. Davis. Tho candidature of Mr. Peddle, the Opposi- :. tion candidate, is not creating much en- ; thusiasin. Tliero does not seem to bo much push behind it, but Mr. Peddlo : may figure more prominently as tho contest proceeds. So far the general public has nbt'heardvery much about him. i The position of Mr. Gunson (the Mayor , of Auckland) seems to bo rather enig- , ni-atical. Ho is at present romewhero in America, and his friends are conducting liis campaign in his absence. But the electors see no 'reason why ho should escn.De the ordeal of personal appearance on the platform. They want to hoar his views at first hand, and are not greatly interested in the absent candidate. People ~do not seem to be quite sure as to whore he stands. His committee explain that ! ho is a Progressive Independent. They also declare'that he has never even, contemplated any change from thisposition, and that while they baiove he approves the proposals contained in tho Primo } Minister's manifesto, he will go to the : poll ns a Progressive Independent, and ; that an expected cable message as to hie , platform will make these points p'ain. A candidate who has to address his con- ; Btitnenta by cable is seriously handicapped. In. any case, Mr' Gunson is . likely to take as many, if not more, votes from Mr. Peddle as from Mr. Potter. Mt. Davis, the Labour candidate, is not making very much stir. Ho has no chance of being elected, but he may not be at the bottom of the poll. Taking all things into consideration, the prospects of , the Government'candidate for the new electorate of Roskvil at present are much brighter than those of any of his opponents. In fact, tho general opinion is that ho will win with a substantial majority.