THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 65

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

L ' - i OPPOSITION CANDIDATES. AUCKLAND, February 19. Political circles, in the Dominion «X 4 .already looking forward with keen, interest ' to the forthcoming elections, and naturally , both the Government and Opposition, parties, are preparing' in. the- country for the battle. The Opposition party- has bad- ■ its organiser (Mr Martin) travelling oon- '- stantly^in the different electorates, -and the ' selection. _of candiates has now been announced in the north. ' __ The first electorate — the >Bay -o£ Islands — ' is uncertain, but a pronouncement may b« 1 expected in a day or two. : The Maraden electorate will be contested by the sitting member, Mr F. Mander. . In Kaipara an interesting ■ contest may be expected, as Mr A. £. Harding, an ex-Independent member, who was defeated 1 at last election by » narrow majority, will take' the field as a pronounced Oppositionist. At Manukau Mr F. ,W. Lang, who was elected at a bye-election, will again stand. Waitemata will be contested by thesitting member, ' Mr E. W. Alison, M.P., and Mr John Bollard, M.P., who has so long represented Eden, wilt be the candidate for the - latter" electorate. In Waikatoithe Opposition will bring out Jpaptain Allen Bell, a well-known, settlor and acting- president of the AuckiftH^ Farmers' Union Executive and chair- .* man of the Waikato : bwmch. Franklin, it is scarcely necessary to say, " will see the Opposition leader, Mr F. W. Maseey, M.P.; -going to the polls, if he has to face a contest. ' With reference to the- Thames, Ohinemuri, and 'Gfsborna electorates, no statement has as yet been made, but the Opposition will select candidates for these seats. • Tauranga, one of the new electorates, will have Mr Herries, M.P., now representing the old Bay of Plenty constituency, as a candidate, and the Bay of Plenty will b» contested by Mr James Gow, a wellknown resident of Opotiki. For Taumaruhui Mr Bowfiter has been selected. No pronouncement has yet been made with reference to the city and the_ two suburban electorates, "but" a. requisition is* being . signed asking Mr - O. ~Nscholsofc (Mayor of Mount Eden) to contest th? Grey Lynn seat against the Hon. G. Fowlds. ' The letters delivered in London on Mondays are 30 per cent, more numerous thai 1 on any other day during the week.