ELECTION ECHOES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3371, 10 November 1911, Page 5

ELECTION ECHOES.

NOTES ABOUT THE CANDIDATES.

PROTEST FROM THE PREMIER.

WAS IT A SIGNIFICANT STRAW?

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. Till© Prim© Minister protests against t3ie inference which may be drawn from the wording of an Invercargill telegraiml last night, respecting the election o>f his opponent, Mr. Hamilton, to tlx© Southland County Council. Sir J. G. Ward says: “First, I have taken no part whatever in County Council elections ; secondly, a number of my most active supporters throughout the distinct were with my own knowledge activel.v helping Mr. Hamilton’s return to the County Council.” He considers the message “is an attempt to unfairly convey a wrong; impression to tire people of the country concerning this election. Mr. Hamilton’s return to the County Council has no significance whatever regarding the general election. On the contrary, everywhere I have been in Southland the most active and enthusiastic support is being extended to me and by a large number or those who voted for Mr. Hamilton at the County Council election.” The Premier requests that his statement of the position should in fairness to him be circulated as well as the telegram of which he complains.

Mr. C. A. C. Hardy, sitting member for Selwyn, in the .Reform party’s side, intends, he announces, to have neither committees nor _ scrutineers acting toi him during his election campaign.

The member for Masterton may be laid by the heels physically—he has been confined to .his bed for some weeks —but mentally, remarks an exchange, he ds full of fight. Thus he wrote the other day to a friend in Eketahuna. “1 have no confidence whatever in the Government as now constituted, and it would l>e ian advantage to New Zealand if they were hurled out of office.”

An interjector at Mr Massey’s Manaia meeting, by way of expressing disagreement with a statement made by the speaker, ejaculated: “I don’t think 1” Like lightning came the_ reply, “No, my friend, you don’t think. You have not got the brains to think. Your brains could be put in a hazel nut and then leave room to spare.” The audience applauded and laughed, and the interjector collapsed into silence.

The “Waimata Witness” undestands that the Hon. T. Mackenzie is negotiating for the purchase of a superior residence in Manaia. “Whaffor?” asks the “Taranaki Herald.” The other day it was alleged that Sir John Findlay had leased a house in Parnell for a term of six weeks. Perhaps the answer to the question put by the Taranaki paper in that Mr. Mackenzie’s negotiations represent another version of: “How to be cautious though a candidate.”