Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1919. THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1919. THE COMING ELECTIONS.

TifE genera] interest in tile forthcoming elections continues to grow. The candidates for the varfons constituencies are now well on the war-path, and the contest is well under way. Last flight both Mr Massey in the North Island and Sir Joseph Ward in the South Island delivered their principal policy speeches, and from now on the fight will grow keener. Since the la-st general election there has been a readjustment of the boundaries of the electorates. The change owing to the growth of population in the North Island lias resulted in three new electorates being added in that quarter, namely Manawatu, Roskill (part of Auckland) and Rotorua, while three electorates have dioppcd out of the South Island, namely Grey, Selwyn and Otago Central. As is well known the Westland boundaries have been readjusted considerably in the north, the Brunner Borough and Ahaura to Waiutu territory being omitted, while the Greymouth Borough lias been taken into Westland. The new Parliament will comprise 45 European representatives of the North Island and 31 of the South. Islan 1. Of the various seats the following are without opposition so far to the sitting members: Gisborne (Sir J. Carroll),

Bay of Plenty (Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald), Taranaki (Mr S. G. Smith),

and Bruce (Sir James Aliena). There was a difficulty in finding an opponent for Sir Joseph Ward till just recently, but a Reform candidate has now been put up in the person of his former opponent, Mr J. R. Hamilton. Rt Hon. Mr Massey for Franklin will be'opposed by Mr JEJ. Piggott (Labor). Neither of the leaders is believed •to be in serious danger. The sitting soldier members are each opposed by a Labor candidate. Hon. J. G. Goates (Kaipara) has Mr A. Gregory for an opponent. Hon. J. B. Hine is opposed by Mr R. Masters who however has a Liberal leaning. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon has Mr J. O’Brien for an opponent, while Mr W. D. Stewart has* a strong Labor opponent in Mr J. A. Brown. There are however several other soldier candidates. 001. Maoeksy (Liberal) >s one of five candidates for the Marsden seat. Mr Clutha MacKenzie (Reform) is opposing Hon. A. Myers for Auckland East. Brig.-General W. Meldrum (Liberal) is one of five candidates standing for Rangitikei. Col. G. Mitchell (Independent) is opposing Mr R. Semple for Wellington South). Mr D. Q O’Brien (Liberal) i s the opponent to meet Mr H. E.- Holland for Buller—which now includes all the West Coast coalmines. Lieut.-Col. Colquhoun (Liberal) is one of four candidates for the Chaims’*', seat There are three ladies announced so far. ss E. Melville (Reform) for Grey Lynn; Mrs F. E. Baume (Independent) for Parnell; and Mrs F. MacDonald (Lib-Lab) for Otaki. There is a remarkable position about the Christchurch City seats—no Reform candidates are offering. Liberal and Laboi will fight out the following seats: Christchurch North, South, r and East Avon, and (Riccarton. In Wellingtor and Dunedin the position will be hal and half, .but Auckland contests ar( more representative of three parries and triangular contests will result. Tb. Revd, Broom is the Labor c andidat. for Waitomo, the Revd. Modes Ayrtoi for Palmerston North, and the Revd J. K. Archer for Invercargill. Witl the conflicting forces now so well orga nised a strenuous campaign up to po ling day may be anticipated