The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1911. LABOR'S CHANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 143, 13 December 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1911. LABOR'S CHANCE.

Whatever way the elections go tomorrow, one thing is certain, and that is that the Labor Party will figure prominently and exercise an influence that lias so far been denied them in New Zealand politics. The decision of the Parnell seat rests with Labor. If Mr. Mack's people support Sir John Findlay he will be returned; if they throw in their weight on Mr. Dickson's side the Minister will be "outed." In Wanganui, a straight-out Labor man in Mr. Veitch opposes the sitting member, and requires less than half the votes polled for Mr. Mackay and Mr. Hutchison to displace him. In Otaki, Mr. Robertson, Labor's representative, appears to have the race already well in hand, for he has had promised the Opposition support accorded Brown and Monckton. In Wellington, the position is very interesting. The two candidates left in Wellinfton East are Mr. McLaren, the only out-and-out Labor representative in last Parliament, and Dr. Newman (Opposition), and the odds should be in Mr. McLaren's favor, though in the "little doctor" he has a keen fighter and the veteran of many a fight. In Wellington South the battle is between Mr. Wright (Opposition) and Mr. Hindmarsh (Labor). Mr. Wright was only 250 ahead in the first ballot, whilst Mr. Barber, the Liberal candidate, scored 1220 votes. If.Labor and Liberal join hands the Labor candidate must win. At last elections, however, it lias to be remembered, Mr. Wright's position in the second ballot looked almost as hopeless, and he scored a . victory. Mr.

Wright is a man of the people, liighprincipalled and a patriot to the core, ami is an effective platform speaker. Many of those who disagree with his political views support him on personal grounds, and this may happen to-mor-row. In Wellington Central the differonce between Mr. Fisher (Opposition) and Mr. Fletcher (Liberal-Labor) is only one vote. Mr. Young, the straightout Labor candidate, was accorded 1300 votes at the first ballot, so it can be seen that the advantage is all on the side of Mr. Fletcher, who is a very popular man, and is, moreover, closely associated with Labor, having been a wharf laborer himself not so many years back. He is at present chairman of the Harbor Board, and during <Mr. Wilford's illness acted in his stead with much ability. Oil paper it looks as if he must defeat Mr. Fisher. In Wellington Suburbs Mr. Bell scored 2373 votes, and the next man (Mr. F. T. Moore) only 1279, but the Liberal candidates (Luke and Fitzgerald) scored 2207 between them. If Labor and Liberals coalesce Mr. Moore will win, but there is some doubt about their doing so, besides which Mr. Moore is considered somewhat erratic. It looks as if the seat will go to the Opposition. The issue of the Dunedin Central election depends almost entirely on the attitude of Labor. 'Mr. J. Millar was only 300 votes ahead of Mr. Bedford. Seven hundred odd votes were cast in favor of the Socialist candidate.. Mr. Bedford is a Radical of the first water, though he stood in the Opposition interests. and it may be he will be able to capture sufficient votes from the Socialists to unseat the Minister. This should prove one of the most interesting •f the many interesting struggles tomorrow. Labor also will'have a big say in the Riccarton contest. Mr.' Witty (Government) secured 2015 votes, Mr. Ensor 1951 and Labor and Independent candidates over 1600. If the latter go over to the Opposition Mr. Ensor will win, but it looks as if the Ministerialist will detain his seat. Labor will also determine > the Avon and Christchurch Eas| Seats. In the former Mr. Russell Had'"onJy about two hundred of a lead oyer the Independent candidate (Mr. J. McCothbs). The Opposition vote will .'go, to the latter, and if Labor does the ilr. 'Russell goes out. Dr. Thacker lfjis a lead of 'but 25 over Mr. Davey for C%jsWrtrch East,' but the Labor and Whim vote is very large, being no l&s.'tljan 2723. The issue all depends ypm how'that vote is cait. '.Labor also .largely. in the Invercargill., WaiJtalq, Chalmers, Ohinemuri, Ilawke's Bay elections. There never was le history of the country Labor occupied such an important as now. It has the opportunitV of ilife, and it will be interesting Hf' i( " how it will act. If it joins hands wfttf the' Oppositionists generally, then a r HcAv era in Xew Zealand polities will f !Pe').ed aiid one fraught with possibilftres : of a most perplexing nature.