POLITICAL POSITION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12540, 11 May 1915, Page 4

POLITICAL POSITION.

THE BAY OF ISLANDS ELECTION

LIBERAL PARTY'S PROSPECTS

(Lytteltou Times' Corrsepondent.) Auckland. May 10.

As a result of the decision of the Election. Court, by which the Bay of Islands election Ins been declared void, the political situation becomes more tense. At the present time the Opposition and Labor vote is but, one less than that of the Government, with a seat still undecided. The actual state of the parties at present is:— Government 4(1 Opposition 39 To be elected 1 Total 80 When Parliament meets Air Speaker has to be elected and as the onus of filling the chair falls principally on the party in power, it may be taken for granted that a Government supporter, presumably Air Lang, will be elected to the dignity, thus robbing the Government of another vote, and. on the present showing, giving the Administration only the benefit of Mr Speaker's casting vote, with the Bay of Island's vote in doubt, anil a pending judgment in the Taumaruiuii election petition. The political situation therefore hangs on the result of the coming Bay of Islands election. It is anticipated that every effort will be made to hold the bye-election in time to enable the new member to take his seat, when Parliament assembles. As the last Thursday in June, which this year falls on the :Mtli, has been, the usual date of assembly of late years, this affords an interval of about six weeks, -and as the writ is returnable within '2B days after issue, while 10 days is allowed between the. necessary" "Gazette" notice of the vacancy anil the election writ, it will bo .seen that little, time must be lost to complete the election before the House meets.

In view of the acuteness of the position the struggle for the seat is bound to be a keen one. That the Government party were alive to the possibilities is evidenced from the fact that within 24 hours of the Court's decision a- Government candidate has been announced. Air William Stewart, of Kawakawa.

It is stated that- AJr Stewart will make an immediate start with his election campaign. The Bay of Islands electorate is, however, regarded as being Libera] in its sympathies. The exmember, Air Reed, won it in the Liberal interests in 1908 and again, in 1911. while at the 1914 election, standing as the Government candidate, he secured a: majority of only RIS votes over the Liberal candidate-, J)v Ruck. Jn his evidence before the .Flection Court Air Reed .stated that- had the contest been a straight-out one between himself and l)r Buck he did not. expect that the margin would have been greater either than 150 or L'Ot) votes. It will bo seen, therefore, that the Liberal partv h-ave well founded hopes , of enpturihg the seat, and a vigorous campaign will be instituted in the- Opposition interests.

The inline most freely mentioned :it present ji.s the Liberal candidate is that of Mr J. C. Martin, and it: tin's gentleman is prevailed upon to stand it. i.s confidently expected that his popularity ;\nd eminent personal qualifications will be. sufficient to secure a Liberal triumph. Another gentleman whose name has been mentioned as the possible Opposition candidates is Mr George G. Menzics, of Rawcne, Hokianga. an old and weil-knowu residentof the north. Mr Monzics. who is county engineer for Hokianga. intended standing in the Liberal 'interests for the Bay of Islands scat last year, f.ut upon Or Buck being announced as the Opposition candidate he decided to leave the held clear to that gentleman. Dr Buck is at present on active service in Egypt.