POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 138, 2 June 1908, Page 2

POLITICAL.

'I'lli; <i;.i\'KII\MICXT AM) MA.TORITV KKI'f'vK.SKM'ATIU.V.

Per Press Association.

Diinedin, l,as( \ie|,|. '".'■ Prime Minister arrived ~,,.;, (||is evening. |R. „ |)( .| N (Ik , wi|l , (l| . S|| , |W to-inoiTow, and liien iii-0,-ee,ls In Invejcargill.

I" conversation with a Time,', reI'oHcr. he .-aid thai during Hie ( ~min; ■Mw-:oi> eilheran Absolute .Majoritv liili "r a Second |!al|„| Hill would l,e p'nt on the «! itu(<-hook. The (lovcrnuient had "''' V'l decided which one of the two measures w.„ii,l be proceeded witl<. SI'KKCIIKS l!V MINISTERS.

Per Press Association. Dunedin. Last, Nhdit. Tie- lion. .1. A. Millar addressed a meeting of hi s constituents to-night, there, was a large attendance. The Minister reviewed the legislation of the past .-cason. and defended the Administration in connection with the lllackball strike. He indicated that legislation providing for the abolition of imprisonment for breaches of the Arbitration Act would be introduced, and that provision would be made for giving all sections of the community, including farm laborers, an opportunity of coming under the scope of the Arbitral ion Act He was accorded a vote of thanks and coiilidence. A vote of confidence in the Ministry was also pas«<4. The I'riiue Minister also spoke, making special reference to the desire of the Covernnicnt to pr. :,.„,,. f|„. objects that were in the interests of tile people as a whole and to introduce legislation to •provide that by fair and proper methods a member should represent a majority ot his constituents.

The prospects of the Government at next elections are very bright, the Hon. K. Mc.N'ab told a Southern interviewer, lie could sec no indication that the Government were likely to lose any seals, and it was a significant I'aet that in a number of places where more than one (loverninent candidate was offering the Opposition had not so far put forward a candidate. Then they had this fact: that two out of the three Independents in tie- House had ollicially joined the (loverninent party —Mr. Thomas, of Wallace, and Mr. Mackenzie, of'Wnikmiaiti. He mentioned this to showthat members who were not previously bound to any .parly had now bound themselves to the Government, thus increasing the strength of the Government party. So far as he could see. the Opposition were not gaining any ground either in the North, or the South Island, and the Government hud every prospect of again securing a good working majority. Mr. McNiili raiid that in the lino of seals (live) from Nelson down (<-. Wes.llaud he had not heard of a single Opposition candidate offering, although for most, of the scuts there was to be competition. In the South Island there were the four Southland seats, for lVhjcl|, ~» far "as he knew, not a single Opposition candidate had been annoiiiued. If the Opposition were hopeful uf a return to power or of increasing their strength, such hopes would be based upon support offering, such as would ensure Opposition candidates for nearly all these seats; but apparently they were unable to get such candiilalfs. They claimed to be stronger in the -North Island than in the South. Possibly that was so, but on. an estimate liberally inclined towards the Opposition, he could not sec evidence of the likelihood of many being won from (lie (loverninent, but, on the contrary, lie knew some seats which the Opposi tion were, fearful of losing. There would ho a great change in the personnel of the House next session, brought about by the- members who were retiring. Some niemliers from both islands had signified their intention to not again oiler their services, those in the South Island who had officially declared upon Ibis course being Messrs. Rutherford and McLuchlan. In addition to this a change would be brought about through thelloss s of three of the South Island sea.ts. At the general elections Mr. K. Sinter, who was till recently- the. wor-kois' member of the Arbitration Court, will opnose Mr. T. K. Sidey, the sitting member, in the contest for the Caverslnvm seat . Dunedin telegram. A gentleman who has jna't returned from the south (Says the New Zealand 'limes) regards Dr. Chappie as a certainty for the Tuapeka. seat. He says that the Wellington candidate is making friends every day, both in his canvatvs end in his racy platform campaign. The election takes place next Friday.