GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1928, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION

t•*'«.. .i': 1 MR SEDDON’S COMMITTEE

A Hokitika and district committee was formed in the interests of Mr T. E. Y. Seddon-s candidature for the Westland constituency, at the County Chambers last evening.\ There was a representative attendance, Mr J. A. Murdoch being voted the- Chair protein. Air Murdoch said the first shot Wfis being fired under the old Flag. It would be a short, sharp and meiiy contest' to determine the , AVesthmd seat. It ivoUld be one of the shortest contests yet held. The new act for the conduct of elections was full ,of pitfalls which would have to be avoided. They would need' to ' be : careful also and see the result was not as close a finish as last occasion, though amid laugher, Air Alurdocli added it was an ill-wind which blew no one any good. However, lie felt sure it would not be a close contest. He thought they' could meet the situation with every confidence. He had been able to .gather good news from various parts r of the electorate,' find though he had been in many contests before, be never felt so sure of victory as on this occasion. It was nice to say so. Mr Seddon deserved the position and honour. He had served the constituency well. He had won his contests in' the, past fairly, and squarely. - Hehad 'to apologise for the absence of Air Duff who would attend later. being detained at another meeting. AVith a good committee working consistently he felt sure no stone would be'left unturned to assure >victory. (Applause). Air Seddon spoke in the first instance-, with regard -to Hie last elec--tion and thanked all for their support. Tlie long drawn out finish to decide who was member was a strain,, but he had received generous help and thanked all. Perhaps last election was invested by a-,, spirit of- .apathy by many v wlio thought his election was sure, and did not work as they might. It behoved all his friends and supporters to realise the position and do ‘.their best. He knew the Labour Party was bitter about the result and were paying him special attention. As regards his position in: the. contest, there was every possibility of tlie United or Liberal Party securing tlie position of the official Opposition cat the coming elec-, 'tion: He;' believed that the Govern- : ’ merit' was keen to see this coming-to pass.' ' They had to remember that Labour represented one section of the ‘community only and could not function on general questions. On the other' hand,' the United Party .Ura-s;-composed, of farmers large and small, workers, commercial men, solicitors,and, others, and did not have a party programme which was nqrrow. He, wanteef to be perfectly candid with the electors in declaring where he stood as a member of the United Paity. That party would not accept the sut>nprt of the Labour Party to gain the Treasury: benches. -Personally:, as he said before', arid so acted through the term of Parliament, he would not vote with the Labour Partv on a noconfidence motion against tlie Governorient/' He would pledge himself to PcVfit for constito.tionn 1 ipm as against' the Labour Socialist tactics. They had seen some evidence already of red fedisin against constitutionalism at the recent Greymouth outburst, when the Red Flag was produced, and tlie Red .Flag song Was '.sung. It was due to the Labour Party to say that throughout the '.session the members of tlie party bad been sweetly reasonable--an election was approaching.. But behind it all was the reel fedism which could not b e disguised when excitement was created. Air Seddon proceeded to refer to the alterations of the Electoral Act which now permitted postal voting chiefly for those sick nr infirm, or too distant from a polling booth. Absent voters out of the electorate. on the polling day. .may _ vote at any-' polling booth within the Dominion bv making the necessary declaration. In concluding Air -Redder said there,-..would be no invasion of the electorate to-‘assist him with lm campaign. He .-would conduct his campaign in person, and as usual without personalities and with every intention of being thoroughly sportsmanlike all through. Ho trusted that at the finish. tire ' result '-Would''ile not quite so close as last time. (Applause). " J Air Murdoch referring to the good work, done by ATr Seddon as Member fpr AV.estland, spoke of several important matters in band for the benefit, of the district, and would give this message to the electors:—“Not to change" horses while crossing the stream.-’

Mr D. J. Evans, in reply to a request, snoke of the yeoman’s service by the Member for the District, making a special' reference to the exteiiof the meat 'south road, for which Mr Sedclon had to work si tide hand'd till capturing the support of the Prime Minister. Mr Evans’: alko?mentioned the strenuous campaign Mr Seddon was entering upon. There Were, only some twpntv-four vnp«king dav«. during which the candidate was scheduled to visit over sixty centres. Thev were glad he was in (rood health 'and fit for the task. Mr Seddon had proved his capability ' previously in ; conducting a strenuous campaign and they could expect him tt> carry it through with equal success on this occasion. Mr Evans agreed with the advice. tendered by Mr Murdoch as to the importance of the mission of the member for Westland''at this juncture in the history and'-progress c* the dis v trict, and said it would indeed he, a mistake to “swap horses” at such a critical time. Mr T. W, Duff (who had arrived)

expressed satisfaction, at such a representative -gathering, and spoke of the great experience Air' Seddon had acquired during tlie long period he had been Member for AVesthmd. Mr Seddon had si personality which carried hi in anywhere and he was always a welcome fig’ire and guest. I hey had been fortunate in having, him as their member, rt.’id he hoped that the same good fortune would come to pass next month by a\ renewal of the term of Afembership foflr Mr Seddon. Air R. ALeharn"- wlio had been an old supporter of tbe late Air Seddon, said he had supported their present member all' through\ his career. For fifty years now he hlad voted Seddon and liacl lost his vote?, only once in all those contests. He \ recognised Mr Seddon had been a gniucl man for the district, and had well earned the support of the people. s Air Murdoch moved that Air Duff he elected Chairman of the) local centre committee. Air R. J. Appleton seconded; Carried, and Mr LVff took the Chair. Air Seddon took /he opportunity of expressing thanks to Air Duff, and also Air Evans, /for their loyal suoport and interest o'l.i Ids he half during past years. ' On the motion of Air Duff seconded by ATr T. J. Stuart, Air Murdoch was elected. Deputy Chairman. The question of itinerary wrls -discussed, and ATr J. Forsyth moved and Air AV. Gooch seconded that tlie '.matter be left to ATr Seddon's discretion. This was agreed to. ATr D. J. Evans was appointed h,on. secretary. , ...Those present with power to add -.to tiieir number, 'were appointed a general committee,, and arrangement were made for regular meetings. ■

It was intimated that the electoral,', .roll would close at G o’clock on Friday,.evening, and all names should be enrolled by that time. Before , the meeting closed it was resolved to telegrnph All’s R. J. Seddon,' at AVcllington, intimating that the first shot had been fired, and that the Committee were undertaking Mr Seddon’s cause with every confidence in final victory. Before the very successful meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chair, ATr Seddon apologised - for the absence of his wife who was detained at Greymouth by domestic duties. Mrs •Seddon, like himself, was very grateful for what was being done and was taking a keen personal interest in the progress of events.