Political Dilemma.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 May 1914, Page 2

Political Dilemma.

1W U KitllJlUxNUb i'A\UUit UXtAL. uutiii County in ine past has uad an embarrassment ol ricnes .iu iar as ii.tu.or.uji canuidates were concerneu. ±o-uay mere seems ujieunood 01 similar trouble lor ijiu lieiorin i'ariy, lor tliougii Air w . 11. iUeld lias announced liinisell as an independent .Liberal no is understood to be lavourably inclined towards the Massey Administration, and many supporters oi 1 lie present Government are inclined to aid Air l' leid s candidature. (Jll the other hand, there are those who are of opinion that only an out-and-out Masseyite candidate should receive the support of the iieforin Party. Lately 1 here has been set up, m l (1 oxton, a jUeform Committee to decide upon what steps should be taken to secure the election oi a supporter ol iveionn to represent Utaki Electorate, .hollowing 1 upon some verbal communications between the secretary of that committee and Mr Byron Brown, the unofficial lieiorm candidate for this electorate, a letter has been sent by Mr Brown to the secretary of 'hat committee which puts a novel proposition before the committee, and one that is J ikcly to raise some excitement in the four chief towns of Utaki Constituency shoufd the suggestions it makes be given effect to. The letter runs:—

"J. ii. Homblow, Esq., Hon. Secretary loxton Reform Committee. Dear Sir,

"Mr Field's and my candidature Jor Otuki:

"You inform me that your committee has been formed with the object of finding out which of us would be the stronger to run for ' lie Otaki seat, in the interests of Reform. I fully realise the stupidity of two Reformers running against one Labour candidate, and with a view of »ettmg the wishes of the electorate, would make the following suggestion:—

"That Mi- Field and 1 hold joint meetings at Foxton, Shannon, Levin, and Otaki. At each of these meetings we shall/put forth our claims to ihc Reform nomination, in short speeches ot twenty minutes duration: a!(V'.i. which 'he voters present In: ::■'!<<■<! , to record their votes on piiniedjj hallo) papers, as to the candidates^ 1 ihev think most deserving and Siiiialile lo lie the Reform nominee. The candidate receiving- a bare maioiilv of the aggregate votes of the four meetings to oc awarded the nomination, and the other to retire from the contest. The meetings to be well advertised and suflicicnt notice given to ensure a large and representative attendance. Neither candidate to make any attempt to "pack' the meeting and the total expenses to he jointly shared by them. "Representatives of each candidate to meet to draw up conditions', which shall be binding upon both or either. "I make this offer with a conscientious desire to avoid the unhappy contretemps that was perpetrated last election.—Tours faithfully, BTIION 13R0T0,"