A NEW REFORM CANDIDATE;

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1935, 18 December 1913, Page 5

A NEW REFORM CANDIDATE;

FOR THE. WAITAKI SEAT. (By Toloffrapli.—Special Correspondent.) Walmato, December 17. Between forty and fifty prominent electors in tho Waitaki district met in the Olynipia Hall this afternoon. Mr. A. Garland, who was appointed chairman, said that, as they all knew, Mr. F. H. Smith, M.l'., did not intend to stand for re-election for the district, and it was. the object of that meeting to put beforo;Mr. N. Francis a requisition to stand as tho Reform candidate at the next general election. Mr. Garland then presented a petition signed by upwards of 1100 persons. .Mr.. Francis said that, although ho had to consider carcfully tho questions of possible damage to his health anil the. loss of time necessary from his private business, ho did not feel justified in refusing at a time like tliia a call from so largo a number of tiie electors. (Applause.) Tho fight would bo a strenuous one throughout the country, and he appealed to every .elector appreciative of the sterling .work done by tho present Government during its brief term of office to remember that if Waitaki was to be again represented by a Government member then it would be necessary for them not only to voto on polling day, but to seize every opportunity to further tho interests of the Reform Party whenever adverse criticism was met with. This, however, was not tho time io discuss hia ; ''platform;"