POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 156, 27 November 1914, Page 6

POLITICAL.

GISBORNE NOMI NATIONS. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Gisborne, November 2G. The nominations for Gisborne at present are Messrs'. 11. IX de Latour and George Smith. The latter is a local pawnbroker, who is standing as a prohibitionist. THE SELWYN SEAT. Rakaia, November 25. Mr W. J. Dickie, Opposition candidate for Selwyn, addressed a largely attended meeting at Rakaia to-night, and was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, though a great number of the audience did not vote, and the chairman .not calling for noes.

DUNEDIN CENTRAL. Dunedin, November 25. 'Mr C, E, Statham, the retiring representative of Dunedin central, addressed a large meeting of electors at Mornington to-night. The candidate spoke of the legislation by the Massey Government, and gave a very clear account of the effect of such legislation. The candidate criticised Sir Joseph Ward's recent speech in Dunedin, and controverted several of his statements as regards the financial question. He had a sympathetic hearing, though at the conclusion of his address he was called upon to answer a great number of questions, many of them referring to the Huntly disaster. He was given a hearty vote of thanks. ' CANDIDATES RETIRE. Auckland, November 25. After an amicable conference between the parties concerned, Mr W. G. Murray, Government candidate for Grey Lynn, lias decided to retire from the contest in favour of Mr Murdoch-McLean, official Government candidate. Mr Murray is urging bis friends to give all possible support to Mr McLean. A similar decision was also arrived at to-day by Mr <E. T. Field, Government candidate for Kaipara, who liasretired from the contest in favor of Mr G. Gordon Coates.

A GREAT CHANGE. ' Fresh evidences are forthcoming daily of the great change which lias taken ?lace in public opinion throughout the lominion concerning the political situation. Everywhere there are signs of the strengthening of the Liberal forces and a corresponding weakening of Reform. Sir Joseph Ward is having quite a triumphal procession from town to town and meeting to meeting, and even the Dunedin Star, which went over to Masseyism after the last election, finds itself impressed by the wonderful welcome extended to the Liberal leader. In the report of his speech the Star says:— "The Eight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward (Leader of the Liberal party) must have been impressed by the perfect reception accorded him last night by a concourse of Dunedin citizens, of whom 500 could not gain admission to the Garrison Hall,which was crowded to the limit of regulation safety. The hall was decorated with the flags of the Allies Forces, and the Leader of the Opposition was quick to note that fact and to speak optimistically of the operations of the nations now joined together against an ambitious .militarism. The tone of the meeting represented complete and cordial friendship to the Liberal Leader, who icceived an ovation at the outset and an encouragement throughout which must have given him great heart to wrestle with the Reform party for administrative power." Commenting cditorally the same paper remarks:—"lt is a long time since a leading Liberal in New Zealand was received .with the cordial spontaneity, the same measure of welcome, and support as was proffered to the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, the leader of the Liberal party, by an overflowing assemblage of Dunedin citizens last night in and about the Gar-, rison Hall; it is a longer time still since a demonstration of the popularity of a political man included the exercise of horse-power by staid men who, in order to display their enthusiasm and friendship, yoked themselves to their favourite, carried and drew liim triumphantly to a local fountain-head of oratorical wisdom and salvation. There have been occasions when the feelings of men find expression in horseplay against rather than in horse-power for representative politicians. There was no regrettable "counting out" last night. The only regrettable feature was that hundreds of eager citizens were locked out, a fact which again demonstrates tho need in Dunedin for an adequate civic hall. It is as clear as noonday that as far as Sir Joseph Ward is personally concerned