THE RAGLAN ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1927, Page 1

THE RAGLAN ELECTION

INTER F.STINf! CONTEST. HEARTY RECEPTIONS FOR SIR JOSEPH AWARD. (•• Lyttelton Times.”!

AUCKLAND, Sept. 2-1. Really wonderful receptions have been accorded Sir Joseph Ward in the Raglan by-election. At his three meetings, Waiiiku, Rockland and Ngaruawahia, he has not only received a most sympathetic hearing, but the audiences have risen to their feet and cheered the old campaigner to the echo.

In Auckland there has been curiosity os to whether Sir Joseph Ward would take the opportunity afforded by the by-elcclion to declare himsell as leader of the Liberal sentiment which appears to be growing among dissatislied electors. Sir Joseph has. however, made it quite clear that he has no personal ambition. He is content to stand outside the burly Imrly of party politics, unless there is a widespread and earnest call for his services.

“If men and women throughout New Zealand, which still contains a large number of people of the Liberal faith, want me, then nothing will give mo greater pleasure than to lead the party or to assist it in any way.” said Sir Joseph at Waiuku. Amplifying this statement in an interview he said that he had received an increasing number of communications from all over New Zealand suggesting that he should resume the l leadership ol the party. “ I have never during my political career asked for any office,” lie remarked, “ and under present eii'eumslanees I will not take the leadership unless a large number of people in tHe poli tic-iil world show that they really want me to take it. Their method of show ing that they want me must be left to themselves.”

Waiuku at least demonstrated that Sir Joseph Ward would have its support as Liberal leader. A motion to this effect was carried with cheers. At the Ngarunwahia centre of the electorate Sir Joseph received a remarkable welcome this evening, the demonstration culminating in cheers. He had to begin the meeting at. b. 40 to leave the hall clear for pictures at eight, hut when (he appointed time for the conclusion drew near the audience would not poimit the Liberal veteran to sit down. They asked for more, and so insistently that the pictures management capitulated and granted Sir Joseph an hour’s extension. In replying at Waiuku to an r.sser tion made by the Minister oi lannis that the State Advances Department had advanced £18,000,000 in six years. Sir Joseph said that the -Minister for got that it was he u iio had prepared the financial legislation at present operating, which meant over £ a 0,000,000 to farmers, and tin- loss made on the amount, had been practically nil. *1 corollary to this was the advances made to workers, which had given homes to thousands from end to end of New Zealand. He spoke not of these things egotistically, hut because the new generation springing up ” know not Joseph." ('Laughter and applause.) Sir Joseph stressed the fact that he desired merely to “ lilt the veil ” on what the Liberal Clovernment had accomplished in the direction ,ol placing on tlic* Statute Book and giving homos and happiness to thousands. Fie further pointed ont that lie prepared the widows 1 pension scheme and was responsible for the introduction of the national annuities scheme into Now Zealand.

In criticising tlio land policy ol tlio Reform party, as expounded by tlio Minister of bands. Sir Joseph declared that he did not hold with the doctrine that it was the duty of the Government merely to consolidate the position of the people at present on the land. “1 hold it is the Minister’s duty to help people on the land, hut for us people in New Zealand to stand still and anchor settlement upon the land in this country is going to put a. halter round the necks of the business community and workers,” was his conviction. lie contended that it would he a retrograde step to say that their vision was deficient to the extent of discontinuing the practice of placing people on the land. Me could readily appreciate the fact that the Minist was confronted with difficulties, bu difficulties were made to he overcome (Hear, hear.)

Sir Joseph, in conclusion, made an appeal for support of the Liberal can didate in the coining election. “'I here are fifty-six lie In liners in the Hons at the present time,” he said, “and there is one Liberal. (Laughter and applause.) Is it not a lair thing lo me to appeal to you as good sports see fair play and let the one Liber have the benefit of the support of an other Liberal Figuratively speakin" I fight the whole lot ol them, hut want time to breathe. 1 believe we arc going to have permeating this conn try an active swelling of the Libera movement.” Under the Liberal ban ner, he added, people had cheap money active business in towns and develop ment on the land, and with one exception the Liberal measures remained on the Statutes, lie ended his appeal In, support for Mr Parker by stating tha there were men and women in the Tic minion to-day just as ready a» ever lor a forward move in the direction of Liberal prosperity.

While Sir Joseph's entry into th. light has greatly heartened ({light Liberals, it is generally conceded that the contest is between Reform and Labour. It is a di(lieult electorate to sum up. and there are all sorts of undercurrents. The logical thing to do seems to be to look at the past political history of Raglan. Since 1011, when the electorate first was constituted, the

people have been staunch for Reform and that, record concludes with Mr Bui lard's victory in If)Jo by a majority of 2100. That vote was admittedly a phenomenal part oi the Coates’ wave thn swept the country at the general election. At the same time it takes a considerable swing of the pendulum to convert a majority of 2400 into it minority. If a glance further hack he taken, however, it will he noted that Reform's majority in 1019 was 0?? and in 1022 7,'js. There are many people who take the view that Mr T.ce Martin. the Laliour candidate, is equal to winning the seat. They base their belief rn the general dissatisfaction with the present- Government, particularly among small farmers, the widespread opinion that a severe setback for the Government would have a *salutary effect, and the weakness of the Rcfoini candidate. Mr Waring.

Whether these considerations will be sufficient to swing Raglan remains to he seen, hut the Opposition parties are leaving nothing to chance. Tlio Labour candidate lias the support of Messrs Holland, Fraser, Savage, and Jordan, M.P.’s. and Mr Nash, while the Liberal is backed by Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Veitch, with a possible

reinforcement in All- Atmore. The Reformer has had the assistance of t-lie Hon A. D. Al’Lood and Mr Potter. ALP. RAGLAN ELECTTON. (Bv Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. All the registered electors of Raglan who are absent front the electorate on polling day. 2!Hh inst, will he entitled to record their votes, on making application to any Postmaster for a voting paper. A person who- was on the Raglan Roll at the last General Election and who has become registered in another district, will not, of course, he entitled to vote. Knch elector will he required to declare that he is registered on the RagInn electoral roll and is not qualified to he enrolled as an elector of any other electoral district. He is •' s ” required to declare that, he is entitled to vote for the electoral district or Raglan Personal application must be made at any Post Office during ordinary post office hours.