LABOUR MAKES BATTLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 649, 29 April 1929, Page 8

LABOUR MAKES BATTLE

SOCIALISM FIGURES IN SOUTHERN ELECTIONS MILK AND POLITICS (Special to THE SUN) CHRISTCHURCH, To-dav. Socialism is figuring in local government more in the South Island than in the North, and in Christchurch and Dunedin the issue for the mayoral and city council elections is a straightout one of Labour v. Anti-Labour with a few independents thrown in as makeweights. In Dunedin an interesting position has arisen over the mayoral contest. Standing against the solitary representative of organised Labour, Mr. Frederick Jones, are three ex-members of the Dunedin City Council. The main fear of the members of the Dunedin Electoral Committee, which is running the election for the Ratepayers’ Association candidates, is that the anti-Labour vote will be split, to allow Mr. Jones a clear run-in. At first there were four ratepayers’ candidates in the field—Messrs. R. g. Black, C. H. Hayward, J. McDonald! and J. S. Douglas. Mr. Douglas, in response to an appeal from the committee, withdrew from the field, but the three remaining candidates were deaf to appeals against splitting the vote. One of the most important issues in the fight is the Waipori power station. There was a suggestion that the Dunedin City Council, which originated and owns the station, should sell to the Government, and let the Public Works Department develop the plant, but several candidates are in favour of the council retaining the station. Milk and Labour politics are the main points of controversy in the Christchurch civic battleground. In the closing months of its reign, the present Christchurch City Council, which has a Labour majority, indicated that a strenuous endeavour would be made to municipalise the Christchurch milk supply. A Bill will be introduced in the House of Representatives next session with this object in view. The decision of the council has aroused great opposition, particularly of course from the milk suppliers, who have entered one of their number, Mr. J. Parlane, as a candidate for the City Council. The milk question is a very live one. and one which may settle the fate of the Labour candidates. It is quite likely that, although the Rev. J. K. Archer (Labour) is certain to be returned as Mayor, many of the present Labour councillors will lose their seats. Mr. Archer is standing for the mayoralty against Mr. W. Hayward, a prominent member of the Christchurch Citizens’ Association, hut a man who has taken no part before in civic life. For the 16 seats on the council there are 32 candidates, including Dr. H. T. J. Thacker, an exMayor, and an independent-