WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE 81-ELECTION. A STRAIGHT OUT CONTEST. SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. WELLINGTON, March 12 In political circles here the by-elec-tion tor the Tauranga seat is the one topic of discussion. Sir .Joseph Ward has been spending the week-end in Wellington and has been busy with preparations for the campaign and with efforts to acknowledge the good wishes that have been pouring in upon hint by mail and telegraph from all parts of the Dominion. He will address his first meeting on Wednesday evening and after that will devote himself entirely to the light right up to the eve of the polling. He realises that the election must resolve itsell largely into a contest between the Government and himself, ami he is not complaining in am way of Ministers giving all the assistance they can Lo his opponent, hut he hopes before the

campaign is over lo satisfy a large majority of the voters that he is not seeking to re-enter Parliament for his own aggrandisement. He feels that whatever Government may lie in office when the party tangle is unravelled he will he able to oiler useful service lo the country. His health is now fully restored and lie is entering upon a strenuous fortnight with a light heart and an abundance of confidence. TILE REEORM OUTLOOK.

The Reformers do not attempt to disguise the fact that Sir Jo-epii Ward is the strongest candidate their opponents could have pul in tho field, hut they are reiving upon the large majorities they have scored in the constituency for years past and upon Hie surviv.il of Sir William 'Hemes’s "iiiniiii" to carry Hcjin through. 'limy of them are regretting that Sir Joseph lias not signified his readiness lo cooperate with Mr Massey in restraining the aspirations of the extreme seel ion of the Labour Parly and are still hoping that when he appears on the hustings he '.til! leave them with some hopes in this respect. Sir .lose],lPs intimate friends, however, are giving them no encouragement. They predict thal Sir Joseph will not he a seeker aftci olii'-e : that he will he content to sit mi the Opjio-itinn benches without allying hint <elf in any leader, and that Ills prineinal mission v ill he to give whatever pin !v happens b> he on the Tn-;i-.ii! v "loii-he | . advantage ol his l.iinu ledge and I'.xperieMee. The ex-l.iheral leader he-Ooelf refuses to kg dl a\\ 11 on tit, m; 1.;.., i . 1 -Inti nnii.e

no-il am pel to, tN • 'oar to I he c!e< Inr." ill Tauranga thi - week," lie -aid as he let t for I lie ‘■.vne of action to-day. " I feel in the circumstances they shot;!-! he Hie ii.'-i people lo have m.v ciill'iiie'.u e.’’' ” UITV I'! P <ll ! LIT! US. If Mr McMillan should retain tie • .-.it for i lie Co nn-'-ni. the Mmister's po-.it'nti will L ■ jet i’ '■ --me as at niv-'etii except of ci>tim\ l ha tint he phi.-'- ni a vet 1 able til’d experienced -. dl-:'■:tn• silling with him a rev r ; uit •• i 1 '• .dl hi- parliamentary knowledge to acquire. On tin* "tiler ham! if Sir Jo—ph Ward should sueem'd, lie Government's strict!.' pai iy vet c will he reduced by i wo from lb to ->(». a ml . L- I)i,{>iis?l i-ei itoiiiimilh. at any in.'c. will he reia-f,u'i-"i| '-v (lie in o -1 ready financial do 1 ii I" r a’"ong pi''- oil dav politicians. But is is thought -•again lev his ultimate I l ieu I - 1 hat S',' Joseph W a : d would he no more ready than the HnlcI -, ■ ' i, 1, ■ 11 1 Li hi- a I t ric proved to he <t;*iine. Hie -'"l'm ... vole Mr M-I,:-v- o' heiiug dominuied It.v os in me Ich.mr. Will: Mr Holland au.l } i i ■: .ocial e- out of the way the lab' ... G„. melt:, would have hug, s ,ui the genera! eh "ten. T: 1 tee. ~iii| l' e r<" urn ol ~ b -

it: materially. Probably qi, :. tm in ton tionally, hut nevertheless rife , an. iMr Holland reiiiains the Prime .Mm,, tcr's best friend. LABOUR STANDS ASIDE. I hough Mr C. E. Bloomfield lias announced himself as an unofficial Labour candidate for the seat he i- not likely to divert many votes from the other Iwo candidate-. DTieial Labour recognises that without any effective organisation in thi' eons' ituoney a. d without the least pn spei t of polling more than a few hundred voles il would he wasting time and m.mey am: iu pairing its prestige in th country by filtering tie field, it lias no more love for the Liberals than it has r, )( - the Reformers, probably a lit'l,- less bui there are a considerable number ni w: rkers in every ernst.it lion ay v -e !u vc a kindly recollectien of the t n ie on their behalf hv M.i U, i ;.m a:: ! .Jo-igpli Wip'd in the A! lav; an i so.'ii'’ ■:!' these a ■ -aid to ' - cni SI - .Joseph’s 'Vani.e.M supp.,' ; ev- ; i T 'iranga iusi now. The inevi'.ahie in s: is a report ILabour is si. ml ie g aside in tie present contoG ii: e, t that the Libera! candidate "ay lo •• a clear ran aud re-enter Pa am mml under an o'ligation to Mr ilol la el and his i-alleagees. The stor, hvery far-fetched, and tao clumsy u h ve emaiiateil Irom ! he P'diu iu org. lisation, hut il him got an early s'; rt and is sine to ' Mam credence fri in a credulous el-c "r here ai d Here.