DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 148, 17 November 1914, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

PATEA. From Our Own Correspondent. An ever increasing interest in politics and the coming general elections is being evinced locally. The gTeat war is paling into insignificance as a topic of conversation in the face of Liberal interests versus Conservatism in this district. Mr W. Morrison, the Liberal candidate, started at the southern end of the electorate, and fired the first shot and has since been meeting with splendid receptions wherever he has spoken. Mr (!. W. Pearce, the present member, has also received a good hearing at the various places where lie has appeared before the electors.

In discussing the pros and cons of the coming contest, it must be borne in mind that the Massey candidate at last election won by a majority of over one thousand votes but on that occasion he waso pposed by two Liberal candidates. Adding the Liberal votes together one finds that Mr Pearce still had a majority of five hundred votes. The question then asserts itself, Is he going to retain that majority? Men whose judgment is usually sound have assured mc that he will not. His vacillating nttitude in the House in connection witli the Patea Harbour Bill will lose liini a

number of supporters here. The casting of his vote against the Wanganui Harbour Bill will undoubtedly influence voters at the Wanganui end of the electorate. Then again last year a sum of £2OOO was placed on the Estimates for the maintenance of >-oads and bridges in this district, but at a County Council meeting, Mr Pearce moved that this amount be reduced by half! This despite the facts that our roads arc in anything but a good condition. At the county election, a few days ago, Mr Pearce only succeeded in retaining his position by one vote. It is significant? Per contra, this is a farming electorate, and it may be said that the farmers will vote solidiy for Masseyism. Mr Morrison, the Liberal candidate, is himself a farmer, and a certain number of farmers will on this account be found voting for him. Mr Pearce declares that labour will again be found voting for Masseyism in this election, but that is very doubtful. Mr Morrison is a tyro at public speaking, but his evident sincerity should in a large measure compensate for any shortcomings in that direction. He has a clear voice and an unfaltering delivery, giving one the impression that he has j 'tlie making of a very fine speaker, but at present he lacks the fire and vigour of a trained orator. Taking into consideration the various aspects and looking at the position in an impartial way, I think there is a possibility that Mr Pearce will lose his position as I'atea's representative. The Eev. W. A. Payne, M.A., has been apointed sub-Warden at St. John's College, Auckland, and takes up iiis new position after the Christmas vacation.

Mr Payne has since his advent among us done splendid work in the district and made a host of real friends, and his

departure from Patea will be very keenly felt. ' There is much disappointment at the rejection by the Marine Department of the plans for harbour improvement as submitted by Mr McDonald, of Gisborne, the Board's consulting engineer. This means that the Board was put to an expense, amounting to £3OO in the matter, and must now fall back on the original plans of Sir John Coode. The work will not, however, he delayed, anil I am assured that there will be fully fifty men employed on the harbour works early in the new year. The work in connection with the water and drainage scheme for Patea in to be pushed on without delay, and this will mean the employment of a goodly number of men.