N.Z. ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1931, Page 2

N.Z. ELECTIONS

LEADER of opposition. (By Telegraph —Per Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, November 16. The Civic Theatre here was packed to overflowing to-niglit when the Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, gave an address. I lie audience was a very enthusiastic one and there were no hostile interjections. A unanimous vote of. confidence in the Labour candidates and in the Labour Party was carried amid cheering. The meeting closed with more cheers for the Labour Party and for Mr Holland.

AUCKLAND FIGHis

AUCKLAND, November 16.

The election campaign in Auckland began in earnest to night, when about twenty meetings were addessed by candidates representing all tlie major Parties engaged in the ten seats.

In the Auckland .metropolitan area, an outstanding development outside the meetings was the retirement of Sir George Richardson from the negotiations for the selection of a Coalition candidate for Auckland Last. This was owing to the inability. of tlie Reform and United Parties to agree on a nominee.

Dr, W. H. Horton is the United nominee for the Coalition endorsement, Sir G. Richardson being Reform's nominee.

REFORM CANDIDATE. AUCKLAND, November 16. “Both the Reform and the United Parties wanted me, and asked me in the interests of the country to stand,” declared Mr W. J. Holdsworth, the Independent Reformer for Roskill, in opening his compaign to-night. Answering a question, Mr Holdsworth said that if returned he would support the only party that was doing right, and no one else. MISS MELVILLE. AUCKLAND, November 16. Opening her campaign in Auckland East to-night, Miss Ellen Melville (the Women’s candidate) said that women were determined to secure representation in Parliament as had been achieved in many other countries. For that purpose the women electors concerned had formed “a little Coalition of their own.” She claimed that, if elected, she would also be able to represent the men.

Miss Melville said that she would not vote against the Coalition Government to put Labour in power THE INDEPENDENTS. / ' AUCKLAND Novemher 16. HvirT. dependent candidate for Grey Lynn, speaking to-night, said that the group of Independents in the House wanted a national Government that would be representative of Labour and of all tile other Parties as well. The Independents did not believe in the Coalition, but they believed in building a national Government. MR JORDAN AT ONEHUNGA. AUCKLAND, November 16. Mr W. J. Jordan, the Labour candidate for Manukau, speaking at' Onehunga to-night, said: “If we had today a Liberal Labour Party imbued with the spirit of that old Party of the Nineties, there would then have been no room in the country for the Labour Party.” What was wanted today was a Government with the same courage and same vision as the old Liberal Party leaders.

PLATFORM OF LABOUR. AUCKLAND, November 16. Tlie claim that the Labour Party was the true successor to Seddon and the old Liberals, was made by Mr A. S. Richards, Labour candidate for Roskill, who opened his campaign at the Cnldton Hall, Sandringham. A motion expressing confidence in Mr Richards and pledging support for him at the election was carried unanimously. ,

, REFORM LEADED DARGAVILLE, November 16. Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates opened his compaign in his electorate, Kaipara, to-day, when he addressed meetings at Ruawai, Tangowahine and Tekopuru. At each place the Reform Leader was welcomed and accorded an attentive hearing. Dealing with the financial position of the country, Mr Coates emphasised the magnitude of difficulties which so -seriously affected national income, and resulted in internal disorganisation, through unemployment’ Matters became so threatened that it became an absolute duty for the major Parties to form the Coalition Government. He made a spirited appeal to the electors for unity/ to ensure speedy rehabilitation of the country. Tnere were difficult problems to be solved, and it was no time for recriminations or party bickering. The appeal to the people was for stable government. The United and Reform Parties had pooled their political re-

sources for the sole purpose of facing New Zealand’s greatest economic crisis. The Government had worked out comprehensive plan for rehabilitation, and asked.a mandate to accomplish this purpose. They did not make extravagant promises for a speedy return to prosperity because it was impossible in existing conditions, bub they asked the people to realise the seriousness of their responsibility in choosing a Government. for possibly the most crucial years in the history of the .Dominion. This was no appeal to sentiment. It was an appeal to sound commonsense of people to safeguard their own interests and help themselves up a difficult road to economic stability and prosperity.

CLUTHA SEAT

DUNEDIA3, No v;e in lap' 16

An appeal to the electors for support, was made by the Official Coalition candidate for Clutha (Mr F. Waite) at a well-attended meeting in Waitahuna on Saturday night.

INTEREST REDUCTION.

DUNEDIN, November 16,

Mr W. K. Hayward, Reform candidate for Dunedin North, opened ms campaign to-night. The candidate also adversely criticised the appointment of the Railway Board and railway policy. He also advocated a State bank. A vote, of thanks and confidence were passed.

AIR DE LA PERRELLE. INVERCARGILL!, Nov. 16. At ;l meeting of Reform supporters this evening it was decided not to oppose,,, the official Coalition candidate, Air P. A. do la Perrelle. MAORI ELECTIONS. WELLINGTON, Nov. 16. A Supplementary Gazette to-night contains notification of tlie issue of tlie writs l' 0 r the Maori elections, trie appointment of Returning Officers, the list of polling places, arid other notices respecting the Maori- elections.

IND IMPENDENT G PROGRESSIVE POLICY. DUNEDIN, November 16. Mr Thomas Scollay, the Independent candidate for Chalmers, addressed a meeting at Aiosgiel to-night. Air Scollay stressed the importance of instituting a reduction of the rent and the interest charges. The tarut also needed adjusting in order to develop trade with Canada. Relief ought, to be given in the country districts by debiting, especially on the roads, and the patrol tax should be used to ease taxation. OAMARU CONTEST. OAMALiU, November 16. Air John Kirkness, the Reform Party candidate, for Oamaru (in. opposition to the Coalitionist, Mr AlcPherso.ii) otx'tied his campaign at Alaheno tonight, before a large assembly of elecj tors. Mr Kirkness declared himself as a supporter ol tlie Coalition. He was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Air J. A. AlcPlierson, the Official Coalitionist candidate for Oamaru, (Spoke at Awamoka and Papakaio, and received an enthusiastic reception. GISBORNE SEAT. GISBORNE, November 16. The campaign for the Gisborne seat was opened in earnest this evening, when the first public meeting was held the candidate being Air H. S, de Lautour, the Coalitionist, who addressed a, very large audience. The speaker’s address was one on non-party linos. AIASTERTON SEAT. MASTEKTO>NL November 16 Mr A. H. Vile, the Independent Fusionist candidate for the Alasterton seat, addressed the electors here tonight. He declared himself in favour of a coalition of parties. AVELLINGTON SEAT. WELLINGTON, Nov. 16. Confidence in the Official Coalition candidate for Wellington East, Mr T. Forsyth, was expressed in a resolution carried, almost unanimously, bv a meeting at which he delivered a policy speech • this evening. MR R. A. WRIGHT. AVELLINGTON, November 16. A good deal of heckling enlivened tlie meeting held at Brooklyn to-night 1 by Air R.. A. AVright, Coalition candidate for AVcllington Suburbs. He advocated the reduction of the House of Representatives to. 60 members, and of the Legislative Council to 20. AVANGANUI SEAT. AVANGANUI, November 16. Air AV. A. Veitch, Coalition candidate for AVanganui, opened his campaign at the Opera House to-njglit. The speaker had to make several appeals for a fair hearing. The speaker next defended liis action, when as Alinister of Railways he ordered the Australian coal for the Railways. He said that lie ordered coal from Now Zealand, and from West Coast mines, and when men walked out, for apparently no reason, only three day’s supply came forward in five weeks, he was justified in going over the Tasman Sea and buying Australian coal, This was done at a saving of 15s per ton. He was not >n favour of further reduction in civil service pay, and he was not in favour of the Arbitration Act, but believed that certain amendments to it were necessary. These lie would explain at a later meeting. MR ATMORE’S* OPPONENT. 'NELSON, November 16. £ Air 11. E. Everett, the Coalition candidate for Nelson, opened his campaign at Stoke, declaring it was a time for a strong Government to take charge, backed by an overwhelming majority. NEAV PLYAIOUTH. NE.AV PLYMOUTH, Nov. 16.. AA r . Afiddleton, Reform nominee for the New Plymouth seat, has decided to withdraw, leaving a straight out contest betwen. Coalition (S. J. Smith) and Labour (AA r . A. Sheat). RICCARTON SEAT. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 16. Air Kyle, Coalition candidate for Riccartton, opened his campaign at Halswell to-night. He attacked the attitude of the Independents in the House, and defended the Coalition. AIR J. K. ARCHER. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 16. Mr J. K. Archer, the Labour candidate for Kaiapoi, opened his campaign, aadressing 200 elctors at Kaiapoi, this evening. Air Archer criticised the Coalition Alanifesto. He strongly advocated the establishment of a State bank. INDEPENDENT OPPONENT. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 16. Mr J. R. Connolly, the Independent Coalitionist candidate for the MidCanterbury seat, spoke at Rakaia tonight. The speaker advocated a policy of land settlement, whereby areas would be divided into small holdings for the farm labourers. AIR .TONES OPENS. ,CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 16. Hon. D. Jones opened his campaign at Leeston to-night. He examined national difficulties leading to the formation of the Coalition Government. He appealed for a full mandate to enable it to continue the essential, but diffi-_ cult, work in restoring prosperity. He pointed to the' 1 fact that the number of unemployed showed a slight reduction since the Coalition Government took office. A vote of thanks and confidenee was passed.