OAMARU ELECTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1923, Page 4

OAMARU ELECTION.

AFTER THE POLL

OR EAT LIBERAL REJOICINGS.

(Lyttelton Times Corespondent.) OA.MARU. Alay 2. Tile "rent popularity of Air J. A. Macplierson’s splendid victory yesterday with the supporters of the Liberal Party in the electorate, was very much in evidence to-day, when a number of enthusiastic demonstrations took place. Early this morning settlers from the outlying districts commenced to arrive in the town to personally congratulate Mr Macpherson and the leader of the Liberal Party. During the morning a large number of Liberals assembled and a bundle of heather tied with the M'Lean tartan (Airs AVilford being a AP Lean.), was handed to Air AVilford by Air Mnophcrson’s ladies’ committee, for him to present to Airs AVilford, as a. token of the esteem in which the Liberal ladies of the elcctoiate bold the loader’s wife. .Mr AVilford also was presented with a handsome travelling rug, and flowers and. bouquets were showered upon him.

Later the railway station was thronged with a mass of people who had gathered to farewell Air AVilford on his return to AA'ellington. Rousing cheers were given for the leader and for his party as the train moved out of the station. All along the line until Pukeuri was reached hands of supporters were assembled at vantage points and enthusiastically l'arewelled the Liberal leader. During the day hundreds of ccngrntuhuorv telegrams were received by Air Macpherson and Air AA’ilford, a large number also arriving for Mr Wilford after bis departure.

Yesterday was the thirtieth anniversary of the beginning of the late Ah’ Seddun's long term as Prime Alini-ter of New Zealand, and Afr AVilford telegraphed last night to Airs Sodden. as follows: “The great victory of Air

Alaophcrson on the anniversary of the commencement of the Premiership of our late revered leader, Richard John Seddon, marks with emphasis that bihPialisin has been re-born." LIBERAL LEADER'S VIEWS. •‘The result of the Ounaru ejection lias given the lie direct to the statement frequently reiterated by the Reform Press that the Liberal cause 'is a dying cue.” said Afr AVilford last evening. He said that I lie demonstrations of delight in Oaninru yesterday were for the Liberal Party. All the Liberal Associations which had been formed in the Dominion since the general election had testified to the delight they felt, at Air Alaeplieison’s victory. As to the future, ii was Afr Mas.-tev's next move.

Air AVilford remarked that the principal topic of conversation apart from the result of the election was the hurried departure of the Prime Minister on I uesday. leaving Air Lee a lone figure on the balcony when returning thanks on behalf of himself, the llelorm Party and the Government of the Dominion. “I sensed the position, and shook hands with Air bee when he appeared before the croud, and asked for a good hearing far him, as there was a hostile section present,’’ s'dd Air AVilford. “He was accorded a good hearing and f congianilated him on taking his licking like a. sport. But it will lie a long while before the flight ol ihe Prime Minister on the eve of the declaration of the pull will he forgotten by the electors of Oamnru." ' ___ IMJ ESS COM.A HINT. LlßEßAi.i.sai vindicated. j AA’ELLINGTON. Ala.v 2. I Ilia “New Zealand Times". com-j moating mi the Oamani le-tilt. state;., j ■'The Government has suffered a| really tremendous defeat. The Piime Alitiister intervened in the eont-st- with

immense vigour. lie fought: so !t?ro that he appeared to be il’o centra! \ ~ "re, Ins ‘second sir-oncost Alin- ;i : - i-i'iul: Into, pinying lii.t. ;i subsidiary part in one of the greatest electoral c-oiitc-t.s of recent times. That wax the import:)me given to it deliberately I>y the Prime Aliui.-ter, uho actually stak("l ~tvery exi-tenco of his Govornmoiit on tiie i-see.”

Ti:e ‘‘Tiiiirs" pays a tribute to Air M.cjilierson’.s lighting qualities and Air Wil fords’ timely intern-mien. and proceeds: ‘•Hut the host wen post handled l.y Afr Alacphersmi was l.ihc-r----alism. He told the history of l.i’jcrulism ; he l!rw its ting; lie upheld its piinciples. That was the chief eleimnt i f !tis .success. He hurst the bubble of the argument that declares Liberalism ami llelorm to I a one and the same, fn this Afr Wilfoj-d helped him well and between them the two have replaced Liberalism on the old pedestal from which the thoughtless removed it. Tn that we have the .significance of the Liberal victory at Oamnru. The significance is accentuated by the enormous effort put forth by the other side and emphasised further by the tremendous nnd miprooode/tod defeat of the campaign headed, plannoed and conducted by the Prime Afinister himself.” The “Dominion” in a brief comment declares:

The result acords fmther proof of

the instinctive resentment of the average elector to the unseating cf a successfiil Parliamentary candidate on legal grounds, ft would lie difficult to recall invasions on which a heaten candidate who lins petitioned to upset an election on the grounds cf inl'oi nullity or illegal procedure lias been successful in the election following on the Court’--judgment in his favour. Electors do not trouble e ver much as to tlm justice of the petition. Their sympathies usually go out to the candidate whom the law litis unseated as n matter of sporting instinct. Tn the On morn byelection, Afr Alaephersoii cleverly turned this: feeling to lii.s own advantage and secured a clear-cut win over Afr J.ee. It i- probable that in ordinary circumstances Afr Lee would in t have troubled to petition to upset the election. hut in view of the state of parties and the petitions l»y opponents of the Government bo upset the election of the lion. J. Parr, and Sir Alatii Poniarc, he no doubt felt it his duty to the Government and to his party tn do so. Though his action was justified bv the circumstances and by the judgment of the Court, it, no doubt- as is usual in such eases, militated against liis chances of success in the contest by gaining for his opponent n sympathy vote.”