The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, November 10,1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1322, 10 November 1914, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, November 10,1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Rumours are being circulated to the effect that Mr Gardner, the Opposition or Wardist candidate for the Otaki seat at the forthcoming general election is not the official candidate of that party, but is standing to split votes with the Social Democrat in order to secure Mr Field’s return. Mr Gardner some time ago gave this rumour a flat denial. If, however, Mr Gardner is not the official representative of the Opposition, it looks as if there has been some bargaining between the Opposition and the Socialist party. Referring to certain disclosures recently make in the House by the Hon. F. M. B, Fisher regarding an alliance between the Wardist and Labour Socialists, the Domi nion says ; It is plain that an agreement of some kind has been entered into by means of which the Wardists and the LabourSocialists are to combine their forces in an endeavour to secure control of the country’s affairs. In quite a number of seats Wardist candidates are not to be run so that the Labour-Socialists may have a free field, while in others the Labour-Socialists have abstained from putting torward candidates rather than compete against the Wardists. This no doubt is the outcome of the wirepulling which has taken place since the gteat strike of last year when the Federation of Labour sought to dominate the country with mob-violence, and that form ol moral suasion which finds expression in brickbats and scrapiron. It was inevitable that the Government which declined to allow the ‘Red Federation’ to terrorise peaceful citizens, dislocate the business of the Dominion, and bring hardship and perhaps ruin to thousands of innocent people, would incur the bitter hostility oi the extreme Labour-Socialists. . . • . Now the Goverumenl is to be called ou by the lawbreakers and rioters of last year to pay the penalty ol loss of office for daring to defy the Federation of Labour. And tbe means by which the Red Federation and its allies hope to wreak their vengeance on the Massey Government; the weapon which they propose to use against Ministers, is Wardism !” Will Mr Gardner tell us why he is not the “official” Opposition candidate? Surely the Opposition voters in this constituency have the right to be consulted if such a bargain has been made.