NEWTOWN

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 124, 15 November 1902, Page 16

NEWTOWN

There are no "dead certainties" for the new electorate. There are no late■comere. All are early birds, and keen after the "politicus vermis." There have been two or three "graceful retirements," but the gentlemen who ■wish to hold the electors in the hollow of their hands are letting them know that each one is "all wool, and a yard wide, and the only wear." Mr. Barber has shoals to negotiate, but he has weathered municipal breakers before, and is expected to put up a good political fight. His address to the electors elsewhere is straight from the shoulder and covers the whole ground. There is no rail-sitting about Barber. Mr. Luke has not been called to the Upper House as rumoured, and is still determined to win a place in the Lower. He is keeping the people well warmed up with, his views, and up to now has probably received less opposition from questioners than any man who courageously faces the people of Newtown.

Dr. Chappie is "dead agm" pomp and show. He is preaching the gcwpel of health and the sinf illness of waste. The Doctor is most interesting, and, even if his speeches had no political significance, he would still be listened to with attention. There was an absurd rumour that the Doctor was keepiug h • nebody else's place sweet so that, at the critical timei, he may retire, and let the other fellow have the benefit of his hard work. He is in deadly earnest all right, and will probably fight to a finish. Mr. Tuistm is to be seen and heard with great frequency. He confides in his audience works himself up to a passion at tlhe administration of the Government, and then smiles complaoentlv, and lets you see in that way tilings are not so desperate as they seen, Mr. Tustin's platform style is interesting. He is distinctly not chosen by the Government, and there will be no seat in the Legislative Council for him even if he retires. The Hon. W. Eislop, old p liticail hand, is endeavouring to convince the suburbs, in that quiet, deep way of his, that he should be one of the reapers in •tine political harvest, and that i.is sickle should be used against the Government. He rarely gives questioners any opening, makes no wild statements, .md the proceedings are decorousi to tj tifg) cc

Mr. Tom. Wilford, confident in his strength, has, up to time of writing, not formed any committee. He knows best, of course. Tom has spoken in a desultory, dilletarate kind of why, but he has not fought yet. He will have to, however for, although Mr. Collier is not likely to give trouble, the announcement that Mr. Pirani, who retired from Politics a short time since, is again looking for fight, puts a diff ereait complexion on the matter. This contest is likely to wake up ivJ.o activity at once. • • * For Otaki, Mr. Field has no opposition. We bog pardon; there is the Rev. Frank Isiitt but, as he is not likely to express any political views other than that on© dealing with prohibition, he is not likely to do anything but s J <r up the people to strike out the top line and hilsi name. We do not suppose, for a moment, that Mr. Isitt has any de^ sire to, or chance' of, winning the Otaki seat. * * * Mr. Patrick Lundon, who is out for Wangamui. as an Independent Liberal, addressed a meeting of 1200 electors last week, and made a good impression. He said each of the oilier candidates had a paper at his back, but he had only the organ they were listening to. At any rate, if Waneranui has only the same confidence in Mr. Lundon that he has in himself, he is the man for Galway, all right. . For instance, this is how he dishes some of the local quid nuncs • — It had been said he was standing in order to allow the Opposition candidate to win the seat. In reply to that, he could not do better than quote the words of the immortal Tom Bracken, statesman and poet — Poor souls with stunted vision Oft measure tnants by their narrow gauge. The poisoned shafts of falsehood and derision. Are oft impelled 'gainst those who mould the age. Mr. J. O. Cooper, who opposes Mr. A. W. Hogg, for Masterton, scoffs at the idea of raisins: a loam on the Australian market. When they went begging from beggars, he said, they could not expect to get very much. Which is a bit rough on the Commonwealth. ♦ • * Congratulations to Sir William Jukes Stewart, Knight Bachelor! After nearly forty years' political service, and a term of 'three years as Speaker of the House of Representatives, he receives the accolade. It will match well the white flower of a blameless life. Here's to you, Sir William! Won't Waimate be glad? * » • After all, tlhere ie to be a contest for the Waipawa seat. Mr. J. Taylor (Mayor of Woodville) has, almost at the eleventh hour, come forward as Mr. C. Hall's 1 opponent. Mr. Taylor is a mediumrbuilt gentleman, of dark complexion., with tihe Scottish brogue in tiis speech. He came on the scene rather suddenly, and took the electors by surprise. His first meeting, held in Dannevirke. was a rowdy one, horseplay and interrogations being ke™t up from s£airt to finish. The candidate acted more like a novice( it may be mentioned that he stood for Parliament six years ago), for he got angry with his audienoe. and "went for" them. He had frequently to appeal for order and several times was one the point of "throwing up the sponge."