AVON CAMPAIGN OPENS TODAY

Chronicle (Levin), 12 May 1947, Page 7

AVON CAMPAIGN OPENS TODAY

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CHRISTCHURCH, May 10. The forces on both sxdes are gathering for the Avon by-election. Headquarters officers of each party havo arrived from Wellington' and ;the work of organisatiOn' is' well under way. The starter 's pistol will craek for both candidates on Monday ■ when the Labour candidate, 'Mr. J. Mathison, will speak at Linwood, and the Nationai Par.ty. candidate, Dr. R. A. McDowell, will. open: ,his. campaign at New Brighton. Both party organisations now have lists of the outside speakers wlio are to rally to ■ the support of the candidates. The first of them wili probably be the Leader of the Opposi tion (Mr. Hollan'd), who is. expected to speak on Wednesday evening.' Other prominent National Party flgures who are to visit Christchurch to take part in a fortnight's intensive canipaigning will include Mr. R. M. Algie (Remuera), Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Pahiatua) and Mr. T. L. Macdonald (Wallace), who is the party 's junior whip. Mr. Holland is expected to speak at least twice during the campaign. Local members of Parliament who will also assist Dr. McDowell include Mr. J. T. Watts (St Albans), Mr. J. K. MeAlpine (Selwyn) and Mr. W. H. Gillespie (Hurunui). Wliile few Opposition supporters pre sanguine enough to prophesy that the National Party can • win the seat which for 28 years returned the late Hon. D. G. Sullivan with sueh large majorities, the moral importance to the party of drastically reducing the Novernber majority of approximately 5000 is fully realised. The Nationa1 Party also regards the by-election as an opportunity of ventilating views on current problems to the publie. The party 's attitude is indicated by the following passage from an editorial in the official organ, Freedoin : "Irrespective of its results, the Avon by-election is of vital importance be cause it provides a forum for the dis cussion of recent happenings which have greatly disturbed the people oi New Zealand and shaken the country 's economy. It is admitted, even by the leaders of the Government, that the country faces serious difficulties amounting virtually to a crisis . . . " To counter the heavy guns brought up by the National Party, Mr. Mathison will have the services of a team_ that will include the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), the Minister of Works (Mr. Semple), the Miniater of Rehabilitation .(Mr._ Skinner) and the Minister of Health (Mr. Nordmeyer). Apart from the -proposed appearance of Mr. Semple at New Brighton on the eve of the poll, there is no present certainty as to when these Ministers will visit the constitbency, a complication being a Governnierit eaucus called for next Tuesday and expected to last four dayg. A repori1 that' the Prime Minister is indisposed/by* a bad eold niay'also have' a" Ipeapng on his plans, but the candidate has exlpressed a wisli that Mr. Fraser shoul,^ spea]i during the campaign and, he is regarded as certain to do so.