WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1922, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

RETIREMENT OF AIR G. H. M Mc-CLURE.

COUNTRY LOSSES. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. AVELLINGTON, June 1 Apart from any political significance it may have, the retirement of Mr G. H. AT. Alc-Chirc from the office of Land Commissioner at Wellington is an event of very considerable public consequence. Air AleClure has acquired during bis long association with the Lands Department an intimate working knowledge of laud.and settlement conditions possessed l,y few other officers of the Public Scrvii e. When still quite young in his profession as a surveyor, he was entrusted with the sub-division of the Cheviot estate and performed his task so well that he was personally commended and congratulated by the late Sir John Mackenzie and specially reserved for similar work of the kind during the busiest years of the Government's land settlement policy. As Land Commissioner first in AVcstlaiid, then in Southland and for seven or eight years past in Wellington, lie lias been singularly .successful, earning the implicit confidence of the public and the warm approbation of successive Alinisters. Ills services have been in very special request in connection with soldier settlement and they will he held in grateful remembrance by many ieturned men who have committed their interests to his care. IN POLITICS.

The local papers in announcing his retirement yesterday morning also announced that Mr McClure will bo a candidate for the Otaki scat at the approaching general election as a supporter of the Wilford-Statham combination. Colour is given to this story by tlie fact that his unexpected resignation was sent in only just in time to give him a few weeks to engage in the election campaign after lie is relieved from Iris official duties. Hitherto lie lias shown no preferences in party politics, except, perhaps, to his most intimate friends, and politicians of all colours have found him their ready counsellor and cheerful assistant. But lie is of the sturdy stock that, has opinions of its own with the requisite courage and tenacity to stick to them, and if lie goes into Parliament it will lie as a very live member, not easily directed by the party whip. It is rumoured there aie other civil servants, retired or on the point of retiring, contemplating a plunge into the political arena. None of the names mentioned is quite so impressive a- that of Mi AlcChire, lull several of them are borne by men ot parts and experience who would lie a distinct acquisition to the House ot Representatives. REFORM PREPARATIONS.

The general election, which a month ago appeared to he arousing little interest here, is now a subject of very general discussion. Yesterday the “Dominion” cheered tlie Reform sympathisers with ail assurance that all was well with the party. Candidates, tlie party organ said, had been selected for sixty six of I lie seventyy-six European scats, and there would lie no difficulty in finding strong, capable men to contest the remaining ten. There will he some surprises for the public. tJic “Dominion” implies, when the names of the Reform candidates are announced. This is taken to indicate that several previous supporters of the old Liberal Party have decided to throw in their lot with Reform, “for the sake of safety,”- as the current saying goes. Rut with all his assumption of confidence, which, of course, is quite the proper attitude, the Prime Minister is leaving nothing to chance, and the contest on his side will be as strenuously conducted as it would 1,0 if the last effort wore required. THE OTHER STDE.

There are no local signs of similar activity on the part of the Progressive Liberal and Moderate Labour Party, though recruits to the party like Mr McClure ami Air R. Cobh of Fielding show that Mr AVilford’s labours have not been altogether without fruit. The positive testimonw to Sir Joseph AVard’s restored health offered in these columns at the beginning of the week has brought to the late Liberal Leader many messages of congratulation and not a few of advice. The advice generally l-j to the effect that Sir Joseph should take the platform fortwitli and rally the old Liberal and Labour forces in which his militant friends see the only chance of the country’s salvation. But Sir Joseph’s own inclinations do not lie in that direction. Tf ho could he of service to tlie progressive parties it would bo in consolidating their efforts not m introducing a further clement ot dissension. Further than that he has no confidences to impart at present.