MANY NEW VOTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26621, 18 November 1947, Page 5

MANY NEW VOTERS

GRAVESEND BY-ELECTION

STRAIGHT-OUT CONTEST

N.Z.P.A. Special CorrespondentCopyright. LONDON, Nov. 16,

Both Labour and Conservative candidates in the Gravesend by-election have issued their election manifestoes, and electioneering is proceeding busily. Mr Anthony Eden has already announced his intention of speaking in support of the Conservative candidate, Mr Frank Taylor, on November 24, two days before the poll, and a number of Labour junior. Ministers are expected to support Mr Acland, the Government candidate It is not now expected that any member of the Cabinet will participate in the campaign. Examination of the rolls has shown that there are now 6500 electors in Gravesend who did not vote there in 1945. Many of them are demobilised ex-sei vicemen whose political leanings are not known. In addition, there are 5000 residents who voted Liberal at the last ejection, but who on this occasion will have no Liberal candidate. One-fifth of the constituency is agricultural land and a considerable number of voters therefore, represent rural rather than trades union or industrial interests. • . Mr Acland this week pursued the unusual course of calling personally upon his opponent at his headquarters and challenging him to name in detail controls which the Conservatives would remove if returned to power. Mr Taylor declined to pursue the discussion and sa... he would deal with controls in his own time and place.