POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3320, 12 September 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

A NEW FACTOR. WILL THERE BE ANOTHER PARTY? tSFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter ) WELLINGTON, Sept. 11. Indications suggest that the debate on the Financial Statement will be not less vigorous, than usual, but the interest of the occasion largely centres in something quite different from a hard--1 fought party battle. It is very probable that in the course of the general review for which the debate on the Budget affords scope, some indication will be given of the attitude of mind in which various members look forward to probable political developments and events of the near future. The threatened new party is at present little more than a pale figment, but it is expected in some quarters that the Budget debate will hardly run its course without giving some shape and color to the new political factor. A Government supporter, in conversation to-day, gave a rough and ready outline of the probable new party, which may be prophetic. A party backed by the No-license and anti-gambling element, led by Hon. G. Fowlds and including in its membership Members Poole, L. M. Isitt, McNab (if he is elected), and others, was the forecast of the informant mentioned. He further opined the new party would, on its fullest dimension, be small, and would command respect and wield power by joining its strength with one or other of the principal parties, as the Nationalist party does in Great Britain. CERTAIN “VETERANS.” Although the friends of Mr Frank Lawry, member for Parnell, were apparently convinced a little while ago that he would not seek re-election, Member Lawry now says he will revisit •his electorate before coming to a final decision. The retirement of Mr Hall, the member for Waipawa, has been regarded for some time as a foregone conclusion,, and whatever political significance it may have is not supposed to be enhanced by the particular time •chosen by Mr Hall for making the announcement. BUDGET INACCURACIES. A REMARKABLE ERROR. The Budget was withdrawn from circulation yesterday morning for the correction of an error, and when it was reissued it was found that the alteration was concerned merely with a clerical error of very little importance. No change was made in regard to a more serious error which had been pointed out. Sir Joseph Ward says in the course of the statement: “1 learned upon my return to the Dominion that there had bene much criticism by those opposed to the Government concerning fthe flotation of the five million loan.” _ • Now, every politician remembers that the loan was floated late in 1910; that the criticism appeared early in the present year, and that the Prime Minister himself replied on the platform in different parts of New ‘Zealand weeks before lie s sailed for Home. THE DUNEDIN SEAT. LABOR PARTY’S CANDIDATES. [FEB PEESS ASSOCIATION.} DUNEDIN, Sept. 11. At a meeting of the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Labor Party tonight, the following candidates were selected to cbntest the seats at- the General Election : Dunedin North: Mr. A. R. Barclay. Dunedin South: Mr. J. E. MacMaous. , Port Chalmers: Mr. A. McCarthy. THE WANGANUI SEAT. WANGANUI, Sent. 11. Mr J. T. Hogan, M.P., announces that he intends to seek re-election against all-comers. JOTTINGS. As a result of a deputation, Mr. Allen Carmichael has consented to stand for Wallace in the Opposition interests. In response to a request from the Liberal Party that he should cuntest the Mataura seat at the coming election Mr. John Mac Gibbon announced on Saturday evening that he was prepared to do so, but would stand as an Independent Liberal. Mr. W. Wilson will be a candidate for Auckland West. He will stand in the interests of Labor. A deputation recently waited upon Mr. W. J. Speight and asked him to contest the Eden seat at the coming

election. Mr. Speight has now decided to accede to the request.