GENERAL ELECTION

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1928, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION

MR SEDDON’S CANDIDATURE. Mr Seddon addressed meetings at Moan a and Ituru on Thursday evening when large attendances greeted him. At Moan a, Mr Noel Peat occupied the chair. Mr Seddon spoke on the lines of his Kokiri address, and also went fully into the question of reading in this particular district and the bridging of the Arnold. At the conclusion of his address, Mr Rouse moved that a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Seddon. Mr Boddy seconded this, and the motion was carried unanimously. The schoolroom at Ruru was crowded when Mr Seddon took the platform there. His address was well received and at its conclusion, the chairman, 'Mr Willis, invited questions, many of which were asked and all satisfactorily answered A vote of thanks and confidence was carried on the motion of Messrs Pope, senr., and junr.

Aratika was .visited yesterday at mid-day, while the Kotuku electors will he met in the evening.

HOKITIKA COMMITTEE. The ’Hokitika Committee on Mr Seddon’s behalf, met last evening. Mr T. W. Duff occupied the Chair. A quantity of preparatory work was done. Circulars to district committees were approved. A telegram was received from Mrs R. J. Seddon, Wellington, expressing pleasure at the successful opening of hor son’s campaign, and wishing the workers all success.

The Hon. Secretary (Mr Evans) reported on a number of matters which were approved, and various, arrangements are to be concluded. It was decided to meet again as«soon as the Supplementary Roll was issued. From the reports received from various sources it was evident Mr Seddon’s candidature was being well supported, and the Chairman, as well as Mr Murdoch and others, expressed gratification with the very favourable outlook.

LABOUR LEADER. AT DUNEDIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association). DUNEDIN, October 19. Before a crowded audience, who loudly cheered him when he appeared, Mr H. E. Holland, the Leader of the Labour Party, addressed the Dunedin electors to-night.

A large portion of Mr Holland’s speech consisted of a reply to the Prime Minister’s speech. 1

One found from a study of Mr Coates’s speech, Mr Holland said, that most of those promises which he had made in 1925 remained to-day unfulfilled, and this notwithstanding the fact that he had had such* a large majority* in Parliament.

Air Holland accused the Government of suppressing the figures dealing with its land policy, as well as the figures dealing with the total of the registered mortgages and those dealing with the Post Office Savings Bank. The speaker made a. vigorous attaek on the Prime Alinister with regard to unemployment. He stated that it was tne duty of the Government to provide for every man willing to work. He enumerated other Labour charges against the Government, and said that the Government had been running Parliament on unsystematic and unbusinesslike lines.

HON J. G. COATES. INVERCARGILL, October 19. Continuing his election campaign, the Prime Minister addressed a large audience here to-night, and was accorded a most attentive hearing, until he commenced a criticism of Sir Joseph Ward’s borrowing proposal. Then he frequently was assailed with interjections. The Premier met the raillery in the spirit in which it was given. All Coates said -Sir Joseph Ward Was evidently making a bid for the support of the commercial world by his proposal to reduce and finally abolish company taxation. The Government had given earnest consideration to the representations which had been made, but it was felt the time Was not yet ripe for further reductions. The commercial world, however, could assess this plank in the United Party’s platform at its true value, when it sat down to work out the problem as to how three and a-haltf millions was to be added to the interest bill without an extra penny of taxation. The Premier was accorded a vote of confidence. Air Coates speaks at Otautau to-mor-row night, and leaves for Dunedm by the express on Sunday night.

AIR BLACK AT MOTUEKA. NELSON, October 19. Mr G. C. Black, the United Party’s candidate for the Motueka seat, opened his campaign before a: crowded gathering at the Anglican School Room at Motueka. Mr Black said that representative Government as it was in New Zealand at the . present was the sheerest mockery, and the order-in-Council roll had invaded private enterprise so as to stifle individual effort. The Government’s treatment of the returned soldiers was strongly condemned by the candidate, Mr Black asked the electors to vote the United Party to the Treasury Benches in order to re-write the laws of the Dominion in a spirit of liberalism. Votes of thanks and of confidence in the candidate were carried by acclamation.

DULLER. SEAT. WESTPORT, October 19. Air D. M. Robertson, who as Reform

candidate for the Buller seat, is opposing Mr H. E. Holland, the Leader of the Opposition, opened his campaign •m the Town Hall thik evening before a crowded gathering, and got a very attentive hearing. He spoke generally in support of the Reform Party policy, and also dealt with peculiar needs of the West Coast and railway connections of the South Island. At the conclusion of the address the eandidate was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

WRITS ISSUED. WELLINGTON, October 20. Writs for both the European aiid the Maori General Elections were issued yesterday. To date four nominations have been received at electoral headquarters, being those of F. Langstone ■ ; (Labour candidate for Waimanno), W • A. Bodkin (candidate for Central Otao-o) L. R. C. MacFariane (Reform., candidate for Hurunui) and TauHenare (Reform candidate for Northern Maori).

UNITED PARTY. OTAGO. October 20. - A. B. Sievwriglit, United Party representative for Otaki seat, gave an address to 170 last night. He adverse|v criticised the Government and stated the United Party policy. He was. accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. GORE, October 20. . D. McDougall (Mayor of Gore) an- . nounced he will contest the seat in the interests of the United Paitj. Hon. G. J. Anderson (Reform) the sitting member, is at present abroad for health reasons, and is the only other candidate.