THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 620, 24 September 1909, Page 6

THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

V;r^>!:;.i-C'i®Jv>J^fwit-tSiiecial 1 Exporter.)V: tK-: ? , &\"-.^'fo&^y'-^-* , iV-v'Kuritery.i|lei .September *'.- 23.i vj- ■„, Qionoiiivwpather.'prevaiied'. to-day; whgh. thi ''^v'.;-^cpnd;:baji(ot ! the.Rangitike Vl{'-:• ; b^election-vtooti .place.. I .'-.;So,intenso, ,th( X;i;-;interest : Hhaf..business .'■ was' , practically -i, at-, i '.t4'3 th< -!f">.fl^%"^p.sei:on;!it/sb l poll ;Oi'v.;iPß:.Tv?s agoing:'.to.:bp.';hGaTier.-..thani°"oii*-thei,occa' ;-:s.-;sipp;^fj',tny ; :.fiKs ,^ ';;'y-Mnfsfo^(th^,Hbn.:;J;f,Carroll) !ai titd 'afternoon, whilsi iv Mr!>jfa?seyj (leader: : of 1 , the.''Reform} party] .- : V V .- visited .several^of the" larger .centres ''by;jneani -- ; ;^of^a;motbr(caf;.du^ing..th6 J (layi-'; Shortly; aftei ,•;.-; .the."pp|lj"clpsed(, : .the. .main ; tho'roashfare3,.of--thi &£''.{ l ief;.;to.wnst^esp(&^^^ residents S f- -in ; -t:lie';[suttoundin'iß ; ;;dW ivy :^pW-''A?i-?^'.^e'o(»adon: bf%t^e'"fiist i i^: with: cbmmendablt v^-pr^ptlfiftlo^'.'V::;'-'-;;-? , "-*^-::':^'-.:■-. ■• ■:•-■ ---.-. ;:;':^'^™P?E-?th'o^fir?t. v an"thatiin^regard; to'"'Hiuiierville, practically'settled, the'problem as'tc ;»-;,^oth e r/:3lr.v:Smith.,-had,■ received.,(the blocl ::iv^fe!* r '^^°te-;-?^l l is:. rettirn: thai ■"'" •'»■ ■'•'■ Sy%'^^^d'«6; votes,;as againsf ' :;:: -Jβ- -f 2^r castfor .tho wholt &- ; o f vtHe.'febcral.. candidates' there Sat v thpfrriitial :^iX W: note; ? hmvever, VJdit'.fibpiit 7:-b'ciock-the--/ihterett --Tf' -'.tiie S" :; KS ; t^i" -^^"1 !^ 11, "^ the -"t«™ ; from ,:.:;;Taihape, -Which-indicated' that Mr.'Smith had : ■ ■ fotainra: 597-.votes, "as.vdompttred i*ith -403 for jaa:s?2/for aii/tho'EibLi: c "n^afe Mr. shown ■:fi ?%J ht > : fa ? t^fi«vtte::Heform"i!ar^s?i candidate ?■■:-. nad:.aufein.ejited .Bii'.jrote<fromuiJ3 "to; 188 - -■'■•■■., ':'ji\\m\ ;this;jnn'ctnreivwhen 15 returns?had'ebme t.;,tqr. nandj-.:a , ; roughv estimate,: totfe! .'Mr, Smith .-.oret,,™ Totes,' as -against -sliglitly;.' : over'-'BOO j'. :;T(rtes/:for,VAlir. 'Hoofcly, ■■'v ->4^: ; : .-*; ■■'•■' f ■.'•.'-', ; ■'- ■ •■' ' *. ■ \: > ■■ ! 'Mnigi«teKa"- i was --amongst < the' f-'next i- returna ;v>riuch;>.werQ;;teceive:a. ii.ttf.con'tairiedVa';'snrprise ; : r, ; l^ : ff at --" t fl e 4™to.-''her,e.:.was;-C9ntrary;itq.'pxpcc- ;;; tenons,-, smftllef'.than bnthevprovioiis occasion. :^i-An -.feature -in regard-' to -this-ffe turn ■:;w;aß ithatjJlr/ Smithiftiled : by. a-substantial ;- •:margin ; ao>hqld.va.lli ■■.theV.yptes.-.whidfr: had'.- been :--. ; candi. .:;:datts,therevat.the,nrslp.oll.';lh all/Mr; Smith -■:■;■• ecftur.cd;4W- ffttis' ther«,:as against 61 cast -'.tor ".: hinjselt-am) 2C9 foi himself and'the defeated .■xca.ndidateSflasPl'huTsday;-v - ■ -V'-'-'a.;,..:" -~" " ,:■■':■: "M;'lMi when' 31' returns had com 6 to hand, .viMr. -Smith'sVaggregatp-;■ was '■ 2003, -..and ,llr. S;Hockly/s tptaMsß3°:r:':'-:v; Vt" : V" ■'■:-'-.-,K. ■■.: ■ ■;■ :*; :Thev^rpte|;at-.Eas.tpViii wa9;'affected '.Iby- : .'the ;.:fact" that nuijlbers, or , residents .in , other" parts :;';.;of.;the.;e.leptbrate;(T6ted .therei'ontheir/way to v'>the^aces'li&'WaiigttnHi;v : : - -"v-3;,r '*:'{■% '-';.''■ Buring': the next:: f ey ' minutes,'.-' siippbrfers ; ;^6f.. ■;';; Mr. ■ ':;-Hockly_!:-: sKad■! van 1 "f; opportunity ' vto, ■.. express i'A their \-J , gratification ;.y ; at • ■:the '; .Vote: :' wHictt ' 'had-' .Aeon ; - jecprded .. at o? Mangahoe ' ■ Road .-?where.r. the^: Reform ;#.candidate-:gajned.-?all the:;. 35 .votes v rcgistercd y there; ;' ; Hpwever, Mr. Smith's"Kiipportprs'wor-) .^no.t':putdpne,-ifpr,.;a;.moment"litcrj the~;;retera "v "from.-; Awarna.'■ showed.-■that , the! ■iihad >'plumped -.'for the .Government i.^:f'Xi .37 '.rpturns'had liorri; received giving ; : jJMr.';Sniith A 2J73; l vptes ; toiJlh-jHocUly's; 1725..' ;;':.?-'TChen-i'8.15. o'clock\\arrived:'tkere wers "only , returns.s'-nales'-.Track and' ;-.;,Tanaarai'i' and V. the, v aggre'sates'''were;-':' Mr. , ■j'-SmitH'. 2«H, -Mr.."Hockiy. 20f.. v '= The ..returns -.'frcfrf-'Te'uiAtTa-inade.-'the':totals: : Smith- 2410 , ; :vHbckly.:.2o!i:; : 'iThis v lefta;niy^HalcV. Track to :.. : Dβ' accounted for, .at which place 13 votes' were :,V.recbrded- at, the. first -iballot, 'nine going' to. : ;:-.Mr.-Bpckly,.ahd'fpur : to'. ; Mr. Meldrurh;-' ■ ■:.<■ ; ; fi'---At it^is.,etage:;vword : was; received '■. that, the -"•;: i 'pnpportersVof.j-Mr..fmithfa't Taihape. were" de- ;■ /.lightejlr.beybnd ■ bounds. :. % We-.'caa't let"him "v/goaw'ay.frpfti. Taihape to-night"' me's;;x sago, 'which i.iaroused.■.-■Mγ.';. Sinith's ''■ 'supporters ■ ;-ne.re>. tp:;great ; enthusiasm.-: -.-i- , r.' ■: r-- , ; ™

';|ifv:;^?^?H , .Vßy i ) : ;M^ME,LDßU.Mi:''- | .:,'?'--: : ; .:^J!ast ; ;befert; 9 'Mr. ''■ Meldrum 1 ' :■;>dressed; amid 'applausciVthe/electors from- As^, ■: v.cpt; -balcony; -'-He had, '■ ho' said, ; 'l)eeii Mr, ; S=Stnith ;to.7return', thanks <m .:,:;, Jis j behalf. - to,-: :them<' and •-' to , : all' the •- other ,C>Liberal; .debtors.'Of vEangitikei-ior , .the' posi-■-V!H<>ittn-,-whiyi,--.they-bidiplobed.,.hini.,-.-'-'lt-rwas ■'.ra-splendid fiptpry-'fpr'lh'o-Liberal Tarty, and -the.j charges that ■'■■ :??d-. been; made , against:; the' Liberal: MttiiF :;, ;istratipfl ? Dy--the;.Opposition'' PartyV■ ■ I'ho. ; re-' ■v' t ?S 3 '. s ! 1 ? w<: <l : that«tn&"'Eiberal;electors bf<Eau'-' -■•.'■ gitikef.-had. pneq ■agaW'-proyed-tihat.--the : con- , .;-6titnency •-' was'- ,ttVl,iberal "'seat;',' arid ' that ::--J ne y.K:'i.ntendcd.. v to,;-keep:H- it '-/so. -The vie-" to the : paeans • .;pi':-Miumph,:.-;;uttered .--byi,:-the',v. Opposition ■;'.'■•?Sw: ; -'v'"?ysr-:.>- , '-'- ; t|ieiir'-."'■■: gains . ■,:at-:;:'-the .-last general>election.-,Jtv : amounted to'.'s- vote •.:et-.-cuUhdence..-iri -the -Liberal-/ Adajinistration, •and would'be regarded-as'such throughout 'JJew c•■? 1 f« 1 . a .#. • J«fv>ie:aruni''went' riri to:-say that th *--A,<:ting-PrimeMinister".(the.;Hon."J. Car-- :-/. I P<!t:S a , tl; ; al , s ?. : a * e ,d: J him -to say '.a .ifew words nfiaina -behalt, -He.'would .like to add .that ■ the :: Oppositwnrcandidate had fought : -?^ ha , rd: fe ht^ n . (l '" cl enn.-fight,:butas-he'.had -been .fighting -lor;:one/bf ■, the '.Government'-seats ::it-ivas.uo disgrace' tohini-thnf he -had-'failed -:to.win.i>;--<i.f. ! ;'-: ■W^.-:-,-■:- y■■-■■-■".'■ ■•-•■■ : Cheers-w«ro .-'then'. Jie'artily given '■'.' for - Jlr : : ,'.Din'.;^i.'f,.-:.--:.'' , ]-'; s ;--Y...;.,'«:;-.: - ... i -i-';-- .-i :-.-.■'- ' -. ; -'-'"-, '

W::^ .thanks.;., '■-■m {; :^M r-j|Mly;.:rfho on'step Vi : s',;>:Pas^rwurd,;said,:thu.t'he: had.been'beaten in V P^V^S-'W fo !V; v i tl Olio of the.StifTest'and.most ■■■'?!'& Ar U d '' f t e; v : R? , ' {ici,l "-' : '' , 0{ jy:'^v; ; ;:,:^lnnd, : ; ;; K'^ '' ■M^*^^ os -'We-'.af.the/comiriand ; 'of :'the m:V ■* |5 i>%? i™ , ' Pfwit of: theygreat -:b6dy. of SK7^■« hloh ,-vsupported';him^proving'that' k r;.:,'.;^^X 1 .™ 6 -"' : u l<;..toe<Qppp9ihon,ahe -maioritv for /}■;■: -■ ; .%Goyernynont:Vaa,over 1700,':whercSrS the fc-K-^f^^^^^^tUt^ould^eMhder^-which kDf : r ' o':in 'QUE -■: ■ , ',-,;/,;;.;";,.';;,::! : : •■ h^^-'^^lntervie^ea^vhen ;the ; resnlt.of ; tho poi\ : hii ■:»; v : ;:. ;befln : -lnade;,known; ■ ■ Ui, vMassey,'' deader °of Inform-.party, said: ;"Wo''wero beaten \-SH ■■ to : : put, up -frith , 'it. - Certainly ; ;• .■■■^■: , ; w ?i'are-...npt, discouraged. Mr; -Bockly wo ; ..;;-- :.■ have,.one'.of .-the-very; best- fellows I have ever f:-V-r ; vniet.;.<He;:is;i;ertaini;to>cpine into.Parliament R;;:V::;and.';when;h.eVgets.:there - he-will- be an- ox- ;.::.: ■■;■;• ceeilingly.: useful .'representative' of. the ■ peoplo ?\*£-Z-- : Tha xiqntest; has been the. keenest .Ihet'-I '■ have r-"-.. : . ■■.'.oxperibnced-fpr a.'very. long.time past, but the j-■;-,-. xdds.',werea'gainst''ilß.-l!'our: | Minißters, three ;■■'-,;,' ■■.■B&uccessf pi'-candidates,-one member of Parlia- ■''■■ '•■ N■.:■.-■- ment,<and.'one■'■ ex-member, besides 'a' whole host ?;.v'.'' ,'o.f' others,-workod their- vory: hardest against !:Kvv- '"'■■■■}&< a && : ?h: tbjiiof -all that,-raisleading litora-' (::?'■■'■ -tTire.-nrhich■ was: circulated broadcast ; all over, f: i: : ': the- electorate by the.Government, made it'iinJj.; ,^, :'Ppssiblo..fpri,the;Eeform party to win.- l.have <:fi vv----.'ni«l 'one r 'or;two;-.'similar- experiences in lOther ■ ' ; ' - J 'P a r's- o? bnt ;in; those instances :-',v-?.i:'.'-: '-.the.' electors'-when' .they, got; better, acquainted '■i- ■:>^v. ; 'VUh." n sT?) : P rile< l : t o:^arll * ame ' lt an upholder-of j-. ; "-;fc■;".■ .''oiir,!yieireVrand-'.so I;reaUy'believe it cill he [■■f-;S;.V ;;')qth-?Eaigitikei. : 3ntil, tp-daj J' 'thought that,

; Mr. SMITH ELECTED. i i \ * i "" '- GOVERNMENT .MAJORITY REDUCED BY OVER ; r -[ ' ". v • 1300 VOTES. \ ,' | ' _________ ' " A. WELL-FOUGHT POLITICAL CONTEST." t •' THE POLLING^ '. ' ■ -' . , ; ' SMITH -. ... 2410 . ' HOCKLY ... ' 2011 ■"' ' Majority 3og Ono Return has yet to Coma.

llr.Hockly's .chances bat this .morn-' ing '.when;l 'visited Taihape'.l realised that 1 what might .be.called thOawmilling .vote'; prd-' bably.;.lf)oo strong, was practically "solid-for' '■Mr.*; Smith/, who, 911: this, occasion,' is the (Jovertment; candidate, "and! felt that : although Mr. Hockly" had the'great majority' of., the .settlers : with' him it would, be. almost impossiblej'for, himjtojwin.-. From: what'l - can .sea, ft?' contest has cost someone or other.several thousands of. pounds,, and if I wanted; to upset the; election;. I. could;' do", so .without I the very V slightest:* difficulty. 1 I don't -think"; that ■wo'are-likely; to' adopt that course, ''as'" I am persuaded' that next election wo can win the seat without,as,much .trouble. Although- Mr. Hofckly'has not been able to secure .a' majority, still the' support that , has been' ■ accorded him is.the heaviest that has been ■forthcoming oa>behalf of-an-Opposition candidate'.! lor-many-years past.'. At the general.election' Am Smith, who is now the Government xandidate, .stood as an'.lndjpeiident liberal arid •polled -well, beibg only 130 or 140 :behind; the Ministerial candidate. - In connection with the 1905 'contest llr. : Sommerville, the■ Opposi--' tionist, failed:to get.within 1800 votes of the Government nomine?., 'As : Mr.,'Hockly polled' 2011 'straight-out •Opposition ■'votes as against 2410 for.' Mr Smith, who had-.the full and Active;'support of. the Ministerial party, •it shows unmistakably, thatVtho:' tide",is" running iin'jourj.f.ayoui-;. in tiiis electorate, as is- , also, tlio case :in. a- number of Kothbr.' constituencies now.'represented' by^iGovernment -'carididat'es. : Onaccpput-pf Mr; Smith ;standing ns an'Jn.dependent .-'Liberal 1 at the general election and -receiving the greatest part of the -support f H'. jeiierally goes, to .the '.Opposition,' and as he is moiyn,,to..haye - worked..liard: in -tlib,interval;, he .started- on : ,this'-: occasion with a great advantage,: as numbers of electors who-suppbrtcd iim : last.time, and who would otherwise give' ;heir support to an 'Oppositionist,,, felt that they should give him another chance,: and if possible'an opportunity to show, what he could' 16 .in" parliament.- I, of course,-cannot answer :for-the -whole.' of : ■ Mr.''. Hookly's: : - supporters, atnong'whom are some of.the very'best people whom I have''eyer..'met, but my 1 advice'to hem.'wiir be. to' take I ,their defeat making tho bDst' of ' : 'it and to' l turn it into victory at;:|he. jvery first" opportunity.'' .:'-;v-'; '",■:.' ..'• .■.Naturally, Mr. : Massey:is''feeling the'.effects' .of-,the--yery strenuous - campaign 'lie .has 'juet conjunction with Mr.: : Hockly.puring.the past week, he has been workine fullv s iwen(7 hours, per day,.and; his. platform work'.has.i occupied at'lenst'six- hours,per day'" 'More', than 'once, in order" to meet his'e:n"agDmont at-'a distant, township,-, he foundit-neces-' sary:to,nse at 5 and after having been kept engaged the whole day' and evening would .not ; get to bed until after midnight -, ;His ■popularity,, .which was as gr&t; ! if not greater,-.than that of anypne.else in' the electorate -during, the campaign, was. evidenced by the large,,number, of congratulations which were'«fendea;tp-him' to-day upon'the'sple'ndid fight ?wliich'; : he had put up in company .with' .Mr.iHockly against such tremendous.odds; , Hji willv"probably-Jeave , to-morr'pw . morning! for Auckland; where he has to got 'ihe session, vwhich. promises io be , one -of the. most interesting,-for some years;-past. , <,•;# •;.;..>!? -