RANGITIKEI SEAT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 595, 25 August 1909, Page 8

RANGITIKEI SEAT.

MR. HOCKLEY'S CANDIDATURE. HE DEFINES HIS PLATFORM (By Tcjeefaph.-SDeciiil CorreßDondmiM Huntervillo, August 24 At a largely attended mooting of Opposition supporters at Hunterville last evening a resolution was unanimously carried pledging its support to Mr Hocklej's candidature The meeting was thoroughly representative of tho whole of tbo lower end of the electorate Mr. Hutchison, the other Opposition candidate, 1 attended, and claimed that there was at present no reason to believe that ho should bo tho rejected candidate. If after a fortnight tho organiser's report was adverso to him going to the poll then ho would give it most serious consideration, with a mow to its adoption After the resolution was carried, he stated he could not accept any verdict of the meeting Thoy were all apparently admirers of Mr Hockley, and ho fullj recognised his popularity 'ihey could not expect him to retire at present, but if after going through the constituent ho discovered the reeling was against him thou ho would probably rotire in la\our of Mr Horklej. At huntervillo to-night Mi Hoekicv, addressed a largely attended meeting, Air. Jas. Bull being in tho chair. The speaker was given a splendid leixption, and cicated a favourable impression , Dealulg first with the death of the late member, to whoso memorj ho paid a graceful tribute, ho passed On to give his reasons for contesting tho seat Mi Hockley clearly showed tli.it ho did so at the request of many strong and influential supporters in the district, and his declaration of Ins determination to go to tho poll was leceived with loud and prolonged applause The speiker trenchantly condemned tho Socialistic tendencies of the present Government His advocacy of the option of land tenure was most favourably received bv tho audience The increase of the public debt of tho Dominion was touched upon in en able manner, as was also tho question of education defence system Sir Hookley, after delivering a particularly able and well thought-out speech, concluded as follows: —"I stand for the optional tenure system in the disposal of our Crown and Native lands; for a strong desire to see the,trade of the Empire conserved within the Erapue; for free education from the public school to tho universitj : for the extension of tho sjstem of technical education J for an adequate system of defence througnout the Empire, for the reform of the Civil Service bv placing it under the control of a non-political board; for a reduction in taxation as the result 1 of careful and prudortt administration, for legislation th-it will restore the confidence of the lnteiestmg public, and so, make work plentiful, and tho Dominion prosperous and progressive,' in short, for iifiad, sound, honest Government " At the conclusion the speaker was loudly applauded, and icccived a very heart} voto of thanks.

A GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE. ' (By Telegraph—tres» Asdociallon ) Talhapa, Auguh* 24. Mr R. W. Smith is definitely announced as a candidate for the vacant Rangitikei seat as a supporter of the present (icveminent, and a pledged freeholder, i Mr. R. E. Hdmblow, who is contesting the Rangitikei seat as an avowed Liberal and 'Labour candidate, pledged to give a general support to the Government, has received the following telegram from the Act-ing-Prime Minister: "As thero arc moro Liberal candidates than one announced for the Rangitikei seat fully satisfactory to tho Government, it feels that tho choico should be left to tne electors without any declaration of preference.—J. Carroll, ActingPremier."