THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Otaki Mail, Volume 27, 24 November 1919, Page 3

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

•, WILL GO TO THE POLL. Persistent reports have been, jirculated to the effect - that Mr A. J. R.-Isherwood will not go to the poll in the Otaki contest. Mr Isherwood informs us that theso reports are without foundation, and havo been circu-' lated with the intention of damaging liis" chances of election. Mr Isherwood declares that he will go to the poll, no matter what happens—electors may, be perfectly sure on that point. REPLY TO MR MACDONALD. In the course of his address at Manakau on Thursday night last, Mr W. H. Field touched upon a letter to tho press, in which Mr E. Macdonald had accused him (Mr Field) of misrepresentation. Mr Field said he had not ; uttered one word during the campaign, reflecting on the personal or political r ’ reputation of any candidate. He knew nothing against Mr Macdonald, therefore ho could not intentionally have said anything damaging to him. It had been freely rumoured that Mr Macdonald was an aspirant for Parliament, and on the 29th September last he had telegraphed to Mr Field inviting him to allow a farmers’ conference to select a candidate for Otaki. Mr j Field replied declining to agree, as ho t had long been announced as the sitting I member, that he had consistently supported farmers’ interests, had been at considerable pains to establish unity among farmers, and that ho hoped there would bo no vote-splitting to spoil results. He had read Mr Macdonald’s telegram on several platforms for the purpose of explaining tho posi- • tion, and had naturally assumed that that gentleman’s name was One of those proposed to bo submitted for selection. He knew of no other candidate in contemplation by Mr Macdonald, and did not even now know who it was. Whether Mr Macdonald had himself or anybody else in view ho was perfectly justified in wiring to Mr Field as he did, and, thereforoj nothing tho latter said could be taken as a reflection on him. Mr Field said his chief object in mentioning the Bubjeet was to justify his reply, Mr Macdonald having already dealt with the matter on the platform. Mr Field said he was sorry ho had hurt Mr Mac-, donald’s feelings, but he could not help • feeling that the whole thing was a. childish attempt to manufacture a ' grievance which had no existence iu ' fact, and to invoke sympathy. It was significant that very soon after the cor- ' respondenee in question Mr Macdonald ' had announced himself as a candidate. 1 ' * enrolment of electors. 1 '■ . ! < no time to waste. ! Now that the date has been fixed for 1 the elections an idea can be given of ' the time within which electors may enrol. The latest time for enrolment is 6 p.m. on the day on which the writs J are issued. Claims must be in the • hands of tho registrars of electors by that time. It is not sufficient for a J claim to be filled in or handed to a eauyasscr, or posted, i This latter point should be realised, especially by country electors, whose mails take two or thre* days to reach the centres. If they post a claim on the-day tFat-thc roll closes, and it does not roach the registrar till the following day, it will be too late. Similarly with claims sent in by canvassers. It is an offenco for any person to detain claims, but there is no remedy for an applicant whose form is delayed in this way.- The writs are returnable by law jn 28 days; and in previous elections it has been the custom to allow about seven days of -this period after polling day. This year it is practically certain that not more than seven days will be allowed, smee this woulcT make tho writs' returnable on 24th December. That means ‘hat tho writs must bo issued at latest on 25th or 27th November, but electors will be well advised not to leave their applications until that .time, for the writs may be issued earlier. NOTES. Mr W. H. Field will address the Leviu electors at tho Century Hall, Levin, on Thursday evening next. Mr Isherwood will address the electors of Waikanac district to-night (Monday). Questioned on the housing problem, Mr Evelyn Macdonald (Independent Liberal candidate for the Otaki seat) Said he could show soma of the people of "Wellington where they could find houses—empty farm houses. He could jtake them across a wide area; through the Forty Mile Bush, Hawke’s Bay. and to the coast, where there were empty houses once peopled by hopeful settlers. At election after election they, had been cajoled with promises. Was it a wonder if he was, as his opponent had said, of a pronounced radical tendency. The speaker, amidst laughter, said he rather liked the description. “Would you remove tho restrictions on Mr Webb to allow him to contest a seat in Parliament*’? wgs a question put to colonel Mitchell at Berhampore. “No ”ho replied. “N° 113611 as a right to help in the government of his country who is not prepared to help to defend it.??