WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1920, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

BAY OP PLENTY SEAT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) As m generally expected here, the Mrtest yesterday for the Bay of Plenty Jeat in the House of Representatives, tendered vacant by the death of the Poa. W. D. S. Mac Donald, resulted 1 in Jm easy victory for Mr. K. S. Williams, f&e Government candidate, who polled a ißijority of 662 votes over his Independfcntliberal opponent, Mr. F. J. Lysnar. Plr. K-. S. Williams, who stood against Er. MteDonald at the general election December, increased the Reform vote |bjr W, but Mr. Lysnar fell short of Mr. McDonald'* total by 1817, the polling ffcns showing a net decrease \oi 1748 Inin. .This doubtless was largely due lo the unfavorable weather preventing JBUV electors getting to the poll, and to tike inability of the candidates to fa&i anything like a complete canvass w the constituency in the short time allowed them.

LABOR'S ATTITUDE. It is quite safe to say, however, that If every Reform and every Liberal vote (n the constituency had been polled the victory still would have remained with Mr." Williams. Mr. Mac Donald's firm hold upon the constituency from the rjtime he was first- elected in* 1908 till t!m ,4ay of his death was in a great measure Bne 'to' his personal popularity. This •was an asset which his party could not retain after the passing away of the jnair. But probably the deciding factor Sb election was the abstinenCA of the great body of Labor electr.rs In lie 'constituency from voting. Mr. Map Donald, as he deserved to be, was Us'popular with these electors as he «as with .his fellow farmers, bnt Mr- Lysnr,. through no fault of his own, d'd Hot make the same appeal to them.

THE WATERFROSJT DISPUTE. At.the time of writing the suspensions of work on the watcfront, which KVde out of the trouble in connection With the unloading of the Calm on Tueslny' morning, continues. The ivpre■tatafcives of the employers and of the •en. still are discussing customs, rules. •ad 'agreements, and sanguine people ate. Roping they may reach a settlement ■tabling wbrk to be resumed to-morrow ■onoog. But. the position still is very tfWcal. The fact of the matter is tkp men were allowed to have very much Il*ir own way during the war period in Bfrler to. keep work on the wharves |»rog u smoothly as possible, and* now tft resenting an 'attempt by the i>rnetyers to introduce some sort of method A discipline into the administration. Here •is plenty of work to lo toby and plenty of men to uj it, but so. far the. parties have not come together.

PRICE OF BUTTER. 7|e Batter Prices Investigation Committee has completed taking evidence, L if whiah-ty has had a plethora, a-id is ' »cW busy with tJio preparation of its report.. ; It is expected this will be jW for presentation to the House on ratid&v. The great bulk of the evikfttce has come from dairy farmers, who, -lltltml with one accord, have insisted 3fjlt batter making has been carried on ft a* tos during the last two or three |ylirt>'ft*ljll*t ITtty JHJJUI? of til* 111'

pert price will be required to enable them to carry on during the present season. In this contention they have been Bdpported by high authorities, including officers of the Department of Agriculture, and it is tolerably certain lhair view will be endorsed by a majority of the committee. If the consumer is to obtain any relief it will come through the Consolidated Fund.