PAISLEY BY-ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1920, Page 2

PAISLEY BY-ELECTION

' POLLING THURSDAY. .By Electric Tejograpji—Copyright.) .Received This Day at 8 a.in.) LONDON, February 9. Intense public- interest is being displayed in the Paisley campaign. The newspapers are devoting much space to Daily reports and prospects from special correspondents on the spot. It is generally agreed that the polling on Thursday will result in a close run between Mr Ascpiith and Digger, although Mac Kean, despite the fact that he is over seventy years old, is putting up a spirited fight. It is believed in some quarters that Don. Bonar Law’s letter approving of Mac Kean is an embarrassment. He emphasised that he has the support only of the Unionist side of the Coalition.

Bigger is confident of winning as he lias been promised the entire co-ope-ration and votes of sixteeii thousand Irish, but correspondents doubt if they wij) vote solidly. Although supported by the advanced Socialists, Biggei stands on a Moderate platform.

Oil the other hand Mr Asquith’s chances have enormously improved and he enters the final stages a strong favourite. It is believe lie lias largely unified the local Liberal Party by his remarkable scrips of meetings, attract. fn<r record meetings. If successful, his speeches will be published in book form and be known ns the Paisley programme, the text fiook qf Libercilism future. AU the candidates have . arranged strenuous programmes for the last three days of the contest. The total of the electorate is 39,000. All the candidates are assiduously cultivating 'Womens sympathies. Mr Asquith’s efforts in this direction are piquant with interest, in view of his former lifelong opposition to their enfranchisement.

GOOD WISHES

(Received This Day at 8 a.m.)

LONDON, February 9

Lord Robert Cecil in a letter to Mr Asquith said he hoped lie would be successful at Paisley, as his services wore needed in the Commons. International problems were becoming increasingly menacing and complicated, and required the best brains of the country for their solution.