HAWKE'S BAY SEAT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3014, 27 February 1917, Page 4

HAWKE'S BAY SEAT

THREE NOMINATIONS.

By Telegraph—Press Assocfeti|m. Hastings, February 26. ' Nominations for the Hawke's JSay seat closed at noon. The nominations A Sir John Findlay, National Government nominee. , A. L. D. Fraser, supporter of the National Government. \ H. Lan Simson, supporter of the National Government. SIR JOHN FINDLAY'S CAMPAICN. OPENING ADDRESS AT HASTINGS. , By Telegraph—Press Association. '" Hastings, February ,26. Sir John Findky,opened his election campaign at Hastings to-night by ad* dressing a huge audience in the Municipal Theatre. Sir John confined his opening remarks to explaining his reasons for offering his services to the electorate. He said he had no desire to thrust himself upon them. When first approached he had refused, but afterwards he was pressed by supporters of both political parties, who urged that in this time of Imperial crisis there was a call for men who by training and experience were qualified to help the Government to solve the problems created by the war. On this appeal to ,: his patriotism he consented. Both 1 loaders. had desired him to offer hiin- ; self, and he did so intending the eleoi tion to be a non-party contest. Had he studied his own interests he would not have consented to run an election for a Parliament which had less than nineteen months' existence. Regarding objections which had been raised that he was not a resident of thn district, 'he said-such objections .were narrow and parochial. Even in times of peace and national security' an 1 intelligent electorate would surely select a man who could best serve it, but in a time of great national crisis certainly _ all local considerations must be rigidly subordinated to the great purpose of how best to help win the war end meet the conditions and solve the problems of the present. He supported the National Cabinet in which party hostilities and party platforms wero suspended, but in doing ro ho had surrendered none of his Tadical principals. They were merely in abeyance until the Tvar was over. Sir -Tohn Findlay outlined at considerable lenath the problems which Jind already been handled by the National Government, and dealt with the many thine? that have yet to bo donfl. included among which was the miestiou of excessive shippinc freiehts. This, ho said, was no time for tenderness to sectional interests. If private interests and urivst* selfishness ! were embarrassinn; to the _ Government, a.nd adding to costs of Vr-rhs. then, Tie said, let the State uatiomlise that industry in the interests of ths whole country.