POLITICAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1925, Page 1

POLITICAL.

MR SKI) DON’S CAN DID. AT UHL. A meeting of supporters of Air T. E. A'. Scddoii’s candidature for the Westland electorate was held in the Town Hall last evening at 8 o'clock. The attendance suffered as the result of the very inclement night, about thirty Lillies and gentlemen being present. Air A. (!. Bilkington was voted to the chair, and in opening the proceedings stated that the meeting had liven called lor the purpose of electing a committee to further the interests of Air Petition at the coming election, and was a preparatory step to the opening of the political campaign. Air D. J. Evans lead an apology for absence from Rev. J. Perkins, Messrs T. R. Chesterman, T. AY. Dull'. C. J. Nightingale and others. Air T. K. V. Seddou addressed the mewling at some length. He thanked them all for their attendance on such an extremely inelement night, and appreciated the compliment it implied, lie wished to have an informal talkwit li them in reference to the coming campaign. He had had an enforced three years holiday from the political arena, and had thoroughly enjoyed the respite, hut during that period he bad been able i.o make a visit to various parts of tin.* electorate and renew many friendships. This election was going tn be dillereiit from, the last one where ll'ere were four candidates to divide up the voting. The heads of the Liberals and Reform parties had recognised l-hat from a political point of view the i.-ouiui'v had reached a crisis. They had arrived ai this point oi view by different routes but. the result, was Hie same. During a recent visit to Wellington he hail made many enquiries as to the present position. When in May last the death of A(.r Massey took place, it opened the way on Air Coates taking office for negotiations to be opened for a suggested fusion, but the negotiations entered into hail not, collie to a definite issue it being agreed that the present time was not. opportune for fusion, as Mr Coates had decided to eairv on the policy of the late Air .Massey during the life of the present Railiament. The Reform Party were not. njiposing Air AVill’oiTl, while there were many changes coining. All Guthrie and Sir Heaton Rhodes were not standing again. Il was not his intention to outline the policy of the Liberal or any other party. There was not a great division I jet ween the parties. but the Liberals would stand for elect ora I reform, proportional or preferential. While the three party system exists there is always the risk of minority representation. The general wish was that, after the election the. two parties should come together. If they did and he were elected he would want the right to criticise the administration of the various depart-

ments Hi the Government in power, for instance there was the action ol the Raihvav Department in changing the headquarters of the Coast to Christ, church. The railway heads were taken away and the prestige of the place was lowered. At present officers were cmlinmilly coming Loin Chrisiehiuvh I" the Coast to enquire into matters requiring nlleniiim. All these visits cost money, and the railways were uni worked as efficiently as Indore. -As an in.-tani'C of the visit, of the railway ollicials he quoted the following list from the Grey "Star" of that evening:- The ( Tiristcliurrh-G i eymoiil h trip retain. it-, popularity with Radwav officers, the following being among io-dav's visitors :—-AI r 11. 8. Chapman. District Traffic .Manager, ( Tirisichureh. Mr B. R. Sword. Assistant Divisional Superintendent. Bon lii I sland. M.r Gavin Wilson. l.in-o-Kiipi-niiti'iidvii!. ('hrisLelniivh. Mr A. McNeill. Business Manager. Wellington, who is proeeciling to the hranz Josel Gtaeicr. Mr A. Tailin'. Loco-Inspector for South Island." Referring to id her ma tiers All Hi'ddon sai l l ihere was tin* necessity oi seeing all friends wore on the roll. Alluding In his ail itilde as against the other parlies Mr Soddon staled that ii elected that ill any no-confidence motion moved l>v Air Holland or his party he would vote against, it. lie would not belong to a party which was only strong enough to go on the I reasury Benches with til" assistance ol the Official Labour Rally, but he would use his best endeavours lo bring about a coalition of fusion between the two parties whose dill’ereliefs were of such a minin' nature. A I'eteiviln' was mad.' lo ihe seamen’s strike which promised to cail"' an uphea val of I rude. Persona! and pally advantages wiiufil have to lie sacrilied to bring about a stable form of government in this country and meet the menace that threatened from the Official Labour Rally.

Air Evans expressed bis pleasure at the reappearance of Air Seddon again. They expoeted him to play the game in the future as lie had in the past. He moved that all present, with power to add to their number lorm a general commit tee, that they meet next A\ edliesdav at the County Chambers and that Air T. AY. Dull' be appointed permanent chairman. The motion was agreed to on the voices. After a general discussion the meeting lei minuted with a vote ol thankto tbe Chairman for presiding.

[nv TF.I.F.ORAPrt PI.R PH ESS ASSOCIATION.] RARLTAAI KNTARY CANDIDATE*. WELLINGTON. Sept. T-’-Mr Mail: Eagan, of Tarnkolie. Tabaka. who for some veals was ehainnsu of the Inaiigahiia llospiial Board, and secret ary of the Miners’ Union at Reefton. has been selected as tin- Labour candidate bn* tbe Alotueka seat. Mi J. AY. Kenton. .Mayer of Kiiifnngata. and member ol the South Otago llospiial Board, will he Labour's nominee fill- the tTuilia seai a! the genera! elect ion.