GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Otaki Mail, 22 November 1922, Page 2

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

MR FIELD AND ELECTIONEERING TACTICS. teHAHP CRITICISM OF OPPONENT. A'certain amount ot liveliness-is developing in the contest for the otaki seat as a result of the Independent candidate's challenge to the sitting member, in his address at the Otaki theatre on Monday, Mr Field, the official Helena candidate, dealt with some of .Mi- Harkness's re,. rentes to himself.

Phere had been charges made against him by Mr Hurkness at Lower Hult. said Mr Field. First it. was said he had not done iiis duty in getting assistance for toads and bridges in this portion of the electorate, and that in the last six years he had only got a grant of £3OO for one road. , in the last few years lie had actually got nearly £2OOO for the Horovvlienua county, of which only £3OO had been spent. As their representative, however, he did not ba?e his claim to their support on what, he got for them in the way ol roads and bridges. When his brother was returned to Parliament in ISS6 they had no roads except the beach. He conceived it would be a good tiling to have a main arterial ronii up this const, and the work was launched. I'nluippily he died, and the speaker was asked to take tip the duty of representing this dish in in 11k House, ihe scheme "I roads and

bridges went on and in course of time was completed, so that there was • really no necessity for large expendir tine in that connection now. Owing to the heavy and continuous - motor lorry traffic over the main highway, Hie oiiim and iitnki bridges had got into a very bad state of repair. Appeals had been made to the Government for assistance, and he had sue- - reeded in gelling a £2 subsidy from the Government for every £1 spent by . the county in putting these bridges . in order, lie also referred to what ! he had il"tie to assist (lie unemployed by getting the Government to go on with improvements to the Puokakarikl, Wnikamip-rpper Unit and liitnitti'ika roads, upon which a large number of men were employed. Through these works a good thing had been done for the districts concerned, whilst work had been found for considerable numbers of men. Another charge brought against him in the most acid sort of way by Mr Darkness in his speech at the Huti, was that he Air Field) was not attending to fhe educational interests as he should do. and further, that he had taken no interest in Levin since he had been cut out of the electorate. Ho hoped, whether I "vin -.vn= in his diirief or not. to always maintain his interest In it. and in the future would be very glad to co-operate with Mr T.inklater to that end. Mr Hnrkness also stated lie Mr Field' had never done anything for the Levin school. • “I leave that to the School Committee to =ay whether if is true or otherwise.’' said Mr Field. MR 11 ARK.\ I .ASS MODES'! V. Mr Field then referred to the political manifesto issued bv Mr Hurkness. "Modesty is not one of Mr Hark* itess's strong points," said Mr Field.

“and f wish he would learn the ethics of decency in electioneering'. I have had a good tunny years •.-! :t. but I have never g.,t anything "■ the hind that I got from Mr Harkite.-s at Lower * Hun Ido not want to refer n> it ant > further u‘ present.” M: HarKne-- had • got out an attractive programme. hu ! r rnuch oi it had been accomplished by ■ the Government in the form of k-gi r lature. On tin- question ~f public health Mr Marl-mess had -aid nothing - hut platitudes. What was new in this i manifesto wa- not trim, and what ’.mis true was not new. 'Laughter.j As regard- Mr Harkness's shipping proposals. everyone knew that freights . had been outrageous nut the Government had no money to put into a ship- . ping scheme. Mr Harkness put forwards some e.xcelient educational pro-;*"-al- provided there was unlimited funds to carry them out, but the Government had tin money. Mr Field said he could claim to have had a band in having something done for the henei fit of country children in having scholarships set aside for them. He had i long urged that that be done, and the Government had formed regulations jtba’ these scholarships go to the country children only. He had got what he wanted in that, direction, i Mr Harkness had next told the eiec- ■ tors they wanted a farmer to represent them and not a town matt. Mr Fieid said he wa- a farmer, arid had been so for years, and he also practiced the profession of law in the city ;of Wellington. From his central posi- ! fion in Wellington he v,*as able to attend in a few minutes to many matreii ftt.’cetfng' his electorate that other-

wise might take days. On -he land question. Mr Harkness advocated the freehold but he the speaker; had -upporfed the freehold for year- p.'t-t, and had assisted largei.' in .hi formation of the Country Party in the House reverai year- ago. which had been so large a factor in getting the freehold. ' Mr Harkness had referred to the nee- oi g national highways scheme, 'but they had this provided for in th; Bill Just passed, by which the public bodies would bear only a portion of the upkeep in future. Mr Harkness laid great stress on prohibition, but Mr Field said the present conditions obtaining in the country were the result of a bargain between the supporters of no-license and the Tade during the war years. As regards the liquor question. Mr Fieid raid he yielded to no one in his desire to see the people temperate. 'Applause.; MB HABKNESS AT WEBABOA. Mr C. I. Harkness, Independent Reform candidate for the Otaki electorate, .addressed a crowded meeting at Weraroa on Monday night- Mr B. V. Brown was voted to the chair, and in his opening remarks eulogised the geod yrojk which the gittdidgtg hs44®a to

the district as member for the Wellington Education Board and also as membor of the Horowltcnua County Council. Mr Harkncss delivered a vigorous policy speech, which was applauded throughout. As he proceeded with his address he replied to his’opponents' criticism. Questions, were invited, and many were asked, all of which were promptly and clearly answered by the candidate. A hearty vote of thanks and confidence was proposed and seconded, and carried unanimously, the candidate resuming his seat amidst applause.

MR 11AKKXLSS AT IHAKARA. , Mr C. 1. Hurkness, tlic 'lndependent Reform candidate for the Otaki seat, addressed a veil attended meeting of residents at lhakara on Tuesday night, live candidate gave iiis usual spirited address, explaining in detail his policy. He was listened to with, rapt attention. A great number of questions were asked, and answered to the entire satisfaction of the audience. Mr S. A. Broadbclt, Chairman of the Levin Coop. Dairy Co., occupied the chair, and in introducing the candidate, stated that lie had always found Mr Hurkness to be a keen, able co-worker, and one in whom he had great confidence. At the conclusion of the meeting a hearty vote of thanks was passed amidst applause. The chairman, in endorsing the resolution, stated that ho' considered the address to be the best given in that hall, and he wished tile candidate every success. MR FIELD AT JOHNSONVILLE. Air W. 11. Field, the Reform candidate for Otaki, addressed a meeting at Moore's Hall, Johtisonvilie, last evening, the hull being vrcll filled. Mr A. Moore presided. Air Field dealt with a number of matters of local importance, and went fully into the work accomplished by the Government during the past ten years, stressing the great advances made in the welfare of the community. He also explained the proposals of the Government for the future and strongly advised the electors to ixdy on the prescut. experienced Government, who had done so much, rather than on the ephemeral promises of the Government's opponents. On the motion of Mr Dunbar Sloane u vote of thanks and confidence was accorded Air Field. Oi l iCIAL CANDIDATE lURNLD DOWN. Cambridge, November 21 Mr J. 1. Johnson’* selection as the ullicial Deform candidate has caused dissatisfaction among cerium Relorm circles. At a meeting ot influential and representative supporters of Mr A. G Dent, held in Cambridge yesterday, b was unanimously resolved: “That, this meeting of Reform supporters ot Mr Dem lakes exception to Mr Johnson'-, attitude in refusing a conference te Hie (-election of u Reform candidate

We consider Mr Dent tiic most suitable man to represent the electorate, ami pledge ourselves to support his candidature as against Mr Johnson, a copy of this resolution to be forwarded m Mr Massey." Mr Dent, intends going to the poll, thus there will bq..two ! Get mu candidates and one Liberal Mr Fred Lycj MR McCLURL AT PLIMMJSKTON. Mr G. H. M. McClure addressed a good audience at I'iimmerton last nigh'. Mr \V. Head was in the chair. Mr McClure outlined the policy of the Liberal Labour party which was really the policy of the great Liberal party, with tile addition of -State Bank and electoral reform. He criticised the administration of the Massey Government, their tinanee, and how little they had done .for the small farmer. He emphasised the necessity of reduction in taxation as tar as the primary producer"ere concerned a- our primary products were paying the interest on the National debt. He considered the railway? were not being managed as they *hould he, and said it was impossible to expect any improvement from the Board recently appointed by the Minister of Railway?. He spoke of the necessity of fast passenger trains at suitable hours between Otaki and Wellington, end also the necessity of making pro vision at dangerous crossings for safeguarding the public. Mr McClure was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. Mr G. H. M. MeCluifc will address the electors at Otaki on Monday, 27th

Mr McClure speaks at Porirua tomorrow and Upper Hutt on Friday. Mr Harkness will speak at M&s&kgtt on Monday. Mr G. H. M. MeC'lure was to-day nominated by Sir Joseph Ward. K.C.M.0.. merchant, Heretaunga; Joseph Fitton, farmer, Paraparaurau; Timothy O'Bourko, farmer, Otaki; William -James Howell, farmer. Bara paraurnu; David Meifarchie, enginedriver, Paekskariki; Harold St. John Walton, storekeeper, Plimmertoc. Mr C. I. Harkness, Independent Reform candidate, visited Rikiorasgi on Saturday evening, and was accorded a warm welcome. Mr A. Monk, chair man of the Horowhenca County Coonoil, occupied the chair, and tsera w», a full attendance of local resident - M-• Harkness’= address was listened t» •- keen interest, and at the eoncl - ■ the chairman proposed a hearty ■ of thanks, remarking that the cor—deuce could be shown on election day. Ihi; was carried unanimously