WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 September 1918, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE BY-ELECTION. W NATIONAL GOVERNMENT NOMINEE. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Sept 16. Mr. W. T. Hildreth was not very eager to take the field as the National Government’s candidate for the vacant. Wellington Central seat in the House of Representatives. His selection seems, however, to be the best that could have been maae in the circumstances, Mr. Skerratt having declined the nomination and other gentlemen more ready to sacrifice themselves on the altar of public duty commanding only personal and sectional support. Mr. Hildreth was chairman of the late member’s election committee, and though possessing no striking platform ability nor ,wide knowledge of politics, he has shown himself a good organiser and a shrewd man of affairs. The contest of 1914 brought him into close contact with the Labour Party, Liberalism and Labour having made common cause against the sitting member, and he is sure ito have the support of a considerable number of workers in the approaching election.

THE OTHER CANDIDATES. At the moment it looks as if the anti-Governmeut vote would be divided between at least three candidates. The official Labour candidate is being selected by ballot to-day, the names, of the Mr. John Read, Mr. Peter Fraser and Mr. M. J. Reardon being submitted to the members of the Unions, and the result will be announced tomorrow. Mr. M. J. Mack, the secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, has been invited to stand and should he consent to do so be probably will receive the support of the prohibitionists and other sections of the electors wffio are pledged neither to the Government nor to the Labour Party. Mr. J. B. Fitzgerald and Mr. Harry Atmore, both Independent Liberals with leanings towards Labour, are in the field, but though likely to make as good a show as any ! of their opponents on the platform, they have no organised party behind them and can have little chance of success. THE LICENSING ISSUE. Though it is generally understood that in the event of Mr. M. J. Mack contesting the Wellington Central seat be would have the sympathy and support of the prohibitionists in fee constituency. irrespective of bis views on general political questions, the promoters of the “efficiency cam-, paign” have not committed themselves to any definite action in the contest. Some of them, at any rate, feel it would be impolitic at this stage to raise, as their interference in the election would, the party issue on behalf ox prohibition. They hope to secure assistance from all parties for their particular aid towards “efficiency,” and as a matter .of fact are doing so, but plunging themselves into a party fight at the present juncture instead of showing their strength, might seriously prejudice their cause in the ultimate appeal.

THE COAL TROUBLE. The negotiations in regard to the settlement of the coal trouble, as far as the public are allowed to knbw, stand just where they stood at the end of last week. 'There are indications, however, that they are progress, ing satisfactorily and that “sweet reasonableness on both sides is making towards the desired result. Since 1 the conference formulated the basis of an agreement the representatives of the parties have been in communication with their principals and it is tolerably safe to say that in the course of a few days an official announcement will remove all present cause'’for anxiety and establish a peace that will endure at least till the conclusion of the war. In that case the result will have justified the men’s demand for a round-the-table discussion and the employers’ acceptance of this solution 'of the trouble.