HAWKES BAY SEAT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1917, Page 1

HAWKES BAY SEAT

Party Visws

HASTINGS, Feb. 23.

The National Government’s compact for respective parties in the event or

bye election to accept the nomination of a candidate supportingythe party of the one whose retirement or death created the vacancy, is not bringing Hawkcs Bay that political peace and harmony which the leaders intended.

The Reform organisers liere are honourably standing by agreement entered into by the Premier, but a- large number of the rank and file are very dissatisfied with the position, and resent being asked to vote for a candidate imported from Wellington, or a local man who has not their syinpathies.

Many (Reformers have declared tneii* intention to abstain from going to the poll.

Discontent is also rampart in the Li beral Camp and a considerable section has threatened to break away and not support the official candidate, being dissatisfied with the methods adopted on his selection ; and altogether a good deal of feeling is displayed, and it is questionable whether the so called trnew will not engender .more bitterness than there would he'on an election fought on party linos in normal times.

In the meantime the candidates are making the host use they can of the short time allowed for electioneering. Mr. Simson opened his platform campaign at Wairoa this evening, and (Sir John Findlay makes his first pearance before the Hastings electors on Monday niglit. Mi-. A. !L. D. Fraser meets his supporters to-night and is expected'to cide whether he will, or will not, nominate.