THE ELECTIONS

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 20 May 1915, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS

There was such an awful mess made over the last general elections—never anything like it before—that neither party (Government nor Opposition), up till now, know where they are, which goes to show conclusively that our Legislative from time to time have only been tinkering with the electoral laws, and the tactics used by the knowing ones are simply disgraceful and culpable.

The last Bay of Islands election having been declared void, on account of the Judges declaring Mr Vernon Reed hors-de-combat for the next 12 months, has now in hand two candidates for a straight-out fight, and it is to be hoped Messrs Stewart (Government) and G. G. Menzies (Opposition), will fight fair. We can vouch for G.G.M. at any rate, without throwing any asperations upon the other candidate, but we have seen so many naughty tactics used at elections by the friends of candidates and officials with a leaning towards a particular party that we are convinced it will take some smart men to watch old hands at the game. Mr Geo. Wilkinson will not contest the election. The ECHO was almost convinced he would not, as stated in last issue, and we should not be surprised to learn that after the shabby treatment received by him at the hands of the fictitious " fair deal " party, he turned right-about and played into the hands of Menzies and the Opposition.

In respect to the coming Taumaranui election, caused by the Court unseating Mr Jennings, there is no doubt that he will win again in the Opposition interests.