WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1925, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS

I'M It KLKCTfOX CAMPAIGN. A 1,1 Vlt CA.N'HI DA'I It. (.S]ieciai to " Guardian. WKLLI.XGTOX. Oct . 111. fiic appearance of .Mr .1. ,J. .McGrath as a candidate for the Wellington North scat lias imparted a '‘vim” in the election campaign in the capital city which it sadly lacked before. The Reform organisers had tried vainly to iltdtiee All Alcffrat h to contest the Wellington Central or the Wellington Smith seat. promising him the hearty support of their party and a free hand in choosing his side of polities. lie promptly declined I lie offer, acknowledging the courtesy and chivalry of the organisers and explaining that his syinpatiiics always had been with the Liberals whose policy still made the stronger appeal to him. Interviews with the chairman of the Reform League and the Primer Arinister failed to move him from his determination. Then, in the surprise of everyone outside his immediate circle of friends, lie announced himself as a candidate for the Wellington Xori.li seat where Sir John Luke, who three years ago retained the seat by a very narrow majority from the Labour candidate, again was being sorely pressed by bis former opponent strengthened hy increased experience and better nrgnni - ntioii. Air Al,(froth gave as bis reason and justification for entering the contest the reipiest of many people in the constituency who felt, as he did, tlml neither the Reform candidate nor tie' Labour candidate was ipmlilied to assist in dealing with the great social and economic problems the new Parliament- would have to seriously attack, AY INNING IMS AY AV. Once in tin l field Air Alcßratli commanded the attention not only of the electors of AVellingtou Xortli, but also of the electors of all the other city constituencies. That be was a ready and capable speaker, a man of affairs and a Imppy raconteur was common knowledge from the beginning, bin it was only at his first meeting the electordiscovered In' also had an intimate nciltiaiiiianee with the political history of the Dominion, more than a nodding: acquaintance with public finance and a rather poor opinion of the average politician. From that onward lie hadrawn overflowing audiences wherever lie has spoken and the friends of the two candidates who were before hint in the field are wondering which of them is going to suffer the more from the intrusion of this very live apostle of sane progress, lie spares neither Reform lior Labour, calling a spade a spade will) quite refreshing candour, and never allowing an interjeetor to

■ got away with an advantage. Compared with his meetings those of his opponents seem deadly dull. but. as everyone knows, in political campaigning Ibe rar e is not- always to the swift nor the battle the strong. Afr .McGrath. however, obviously is making progress, his advocacy of fusion with Afr Coates as leader of the best brains and biggest hearts in the new House and his unsparing denunciation of the agitators that batten on Labour winning him friend- everywhere. TIIF CFXFRAI. OFTLOOK. It is too early ye! to prodiet with nnv confidence the outcome of the innlest as a whole. There is a general feeling among people who profess to lie more or 1,--- well informed as to the fompor and lomloiieie.s of the ciinstiftieticies that Labour is going in improve its position hy two or three -eats. The leader- of ihe parly expect a larger accc—ion o! strength, putting their least sanguine hope, down at, l.wen-iy-tlireo: hid even if the party should do no belter than imrease ils present n preseniaj ion hy three it probably would di-sipate the Government'' : dream of an ‘‘independent.’’ niajorilv. 'I'll" Liberal:, ill . larc t liems'.’lvr - mi, i lidenl oi retaining at least lltcir pro- , sent total of fwciily-niie seats. and wit It the stronger candidates they are put tmg in ihe field I hey may not lie unduly upl iniisl ie. If the tv., parlies now lu opposition should come lank 1 with twonlv seals uineoe. which really v

would not I> rifi "xiravaeant eslimaie (111 paper. Ill" position would ho even more unsal isfa.lnry than it has been siui" the (■loot ion <d' ! iii'i o whin m»£*>. Th" Oppositi"ii, assumin'; (hat the Native it-pi’i -sf'i 1 1 hi i<>: 1 wen- distributed ;is it I ins been sine" 1010. nnd Iluit Mr S!:it!i;un and Mr hysnar were returned would consist of 11 1 ifty-niii" Furnpeans and (ino Maori, while the Onvcrnnionl side of the House would coMsist ol thirty-five Tliiropeaiis and three Maori l with Iwo .Independents ivslini; on liio horder line. The possibility of sinli a rout inj/eney is I lie basis of the peforiut.’ sirniig'est appeal.