POLITICAL PILOTS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 28 January 1914, Page 2

POLITICAL PILOTS.

The next contest for the Bay of Islands seat is evidently going to be a pretty hot one, the present member, Mr Vermon Reed having made many enemies through his having thrown over his old chief, Sir Joseph Ward, in his hour of need —in fact, ratted behind his back, v But there is no accounting for the way mf the wimsical man looking out for a soft thing for himself. Not long since the Member, in reply to a question put at one of his Mangonui meeting —" he didn't know what he would declare himself to be next election until the time came."

The following are almost a certainty as candidates :Mr Geo. Wilkinson, a bred and born farmer of.Oruru Valley (Mangonui), and who was a (and still is) staunch Masseyite at last election; Mr .Richard Wrathall a labourite and late Chairman Mangenui County Council; Mr Harrold Booth of KeriKeri (pretty conservative too) ; Mr. A. R. Cotton of Hikurangi, and Mr A. G. McKenzie of close proximity and Chairman Whangarei County Council, but these two might just as well save their time, money and ambition ; then we have Vernon I. whom Wilkinson will push hard.

Timi Carroll has been indignantly denying the statement that he is going to throw up the £300 a year job as a member of Parliament; J. A. Millar whose future actions are the subject of much speculation, is not going to resign but will retire at the end of the year, devote himself to carrying on a shingle selling business from the property he has possessed for some years in the Hauraki Gulf.

The Red McKenzie, or more popularly Roddy, is likely to have opposition for Motueka seat in the person of Mr. Horatio Everett, who stood as a Radical Independent against the Hon. C. H. Mills about 20 years ago and was not elected by 300 - votes. Horatio gallantly remarks:—"With the introduction of the freehold, which is very dear to the heart of the agriculturist, and the way in which the Government have met the labour difficulty, and have kept pretty consistently to the election pledges, I have come to the conclusion that the time has come to support them."

The friends of the Prime Minister will be pleased to learn that his visit to Auckland hae greatly improved his health. Whatever faults or virtues Mr. Masseymay possess, he is a worthy compeer of Richard John Seddon as a born and dogged fighter. As Leader of the Opposition he put up an aggressive performance which won him and his party their present proud position. As Prime Minister he has had to act on the defensive, not so much against solid attack as against snipers, for the past session was really one of guerilla warfare which necessitated the utmost vigilance and constant presence of the Leader of the House.

C. H. Poole, ex- M.P. for Ponsonby who recently returned to Auckland, when questioned as to whether he intended to stand again at the next general elections, replied it the people desire me to stand again I shall be glad to consider such a request and fight again for prosressive principles. lam entirely in the hands of the electors ot my old constituency, and the near future will probably settle that question.', As the plump Charlie remarks — the near future will settle it through this paper does not fancy that the settling will help Charlie, erstwhile styled the carpet bagger, to get. on the salary list as M.P.

T; J.enni"gs who has had ai spell as M.L.C and another as M.P and yet another as ex-M.P is causing a stir among the people who live in the bush and by the streams and creeks that flow to the ocean around Waitara Harbour since 1903 and in 1911 was appointed by the Liberal Government as Government nominee. Last April a number of people objected to Jennings sitting and taking part m the proceedings of the Board on the ground that his name was not on the roll. Then the Minister for Marine requested Jennings to resign and Jennings requested the Minister to mind his own business. The case is to be heard before the Supreme Court on the 3rd Feb.—Auckland Bulletin."