GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Otaki Mail, 4 December 1922, Page 2

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

—<l MR MASSEY TO VISIT OTAKI. Mr Massey (Prime Minister) will give an address at Otaki theatre at 3 p.m. to-morrow, when he will reply to Messrs Yeiteh and Masters, M’s.P., and deal with politics generally. It is fully considered that, despite the short notice, there will be a large attendance of the genera! public. OTAKI SEAT. Mr G. H. M. McClure (Liberal-La-bour candidate for the Otaki electorate) addressed a crowded and enthusiastic meeting at Moore’s Hall, Joluisonville, on Friday night, it being the largest political meeting held there during the present campaign. Air F. T. O’Neill was chairman, and Mr McClure spoke on the lines of his Otaki speech. At the close a unanimous vote of thanks was carried, and the meeting terminated with cheers for the candidate.

The Liberals in the electorate, said Air Field in his speech, were hugely delighted to have another Reform candidate, and were laughing up their sleeves and ..keeping him .going by filling up his meetings and passing flattering resolutions, which become -'till more rose-coloured by the time they were supplied by this opponent to the newspapers. This candidate, too, had been generous enough to offer to settle the question of the Reform candidate for Otaki by the toss of a coin, a method of settling the representation of the district which would hardly commend itself to tile electors. He said he was confident that the good sense of the people would prevail, and that they would not run the risk of electing the Liberal-Labour candidate. Mr Field mentioned the fact that among his nominators were members oi the Labour Party, who were supporting him because they considered lie would do more for the district than his opponents, and because the Labour Party recognised, as did the Reformers, that, as in Fn.gland. there were to be two parties in New Zealand, Reform and Labour, and it was necessary to reduce the last remnants of the so-called Liberals so that Labour may become the official Opposition.

Air C. 1. Ilarkness, the Independent Reform candidate, addressed an enthusiastic meeting at Johnson ville on Thursday night. In the absence of Air Moore, chairman of the Town Board, who is seriously indisposed, the chair was taken by Air Dunbar Sloatie. The chairman, in introducing the candidate. said “that from what lie had heard of Air Harkness he was a worthy son of a most worthy sire.” Few men, said the chairman, had run a cleaner, straigliter public life than Air -T. G. Harkness. and now his son promised to follow in his father’s footsteps. The candidate, on rising to speak, received a very hearty reception. He traversed his usual policy speech. Frequent interjections and opposition from the extreme element of the audience at the roar of the hall were talked down by tbe candidate, who held his audience throughout a long and interesting address. In dealing with the Labour question. Mr Harkness said: “What

ive must engender uud inculcate in the heart? of the people to-day is a better «j«irit of fellow-hip and brotherhood as between Capital and Labour. Then, and then only, will «e promote the industrial rest and harmony so essential to the welfare of this Dominion.” (Applause). Dealing with the Hu-s of men needed in Parliament to-day. Air Harkness said: “What we want are less paroehiel opportunists in public life, and more men of earnest, rough, rugged honesty of -purpose, men with convictions, who will stand up for those convictions through thick and thin. (Applause). Many questions of varied character were asked from all quarters of the audience, and were answered in ;i clear and prompt manner. At the conclusion of the meeting a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Harkness was carried, with some dissent from the extremists at the rear of the hall.

Mr Harkness will address the elector.- at the Otaki theatre .on Wednesday afternoon, when it is hoped that ladies who cannot be present in the evenings, and others living at. a distance, will be present. Mr G. H. McClure, the official Liberal Labour candidate for the Otaki seat, addressed a gathering of settlers at Newlands School on Saturday afternoon. Mr -Tones was iri the chair, and presided over a large attendance. At the conclusion of the meeting the candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.

Mr tV. H. Field, in conjunction with Mr R. A. Wright, addressed a large meeting at Ohariu on Saturday evening. The chair was occupied by Mr Stephen Bryant, who eulogised both Candidates for the services they had rendered their respective districts. Mr Field spoke first and discussed at some the poiicie- of the Liberal and Reform panie= and the charges made against the Government which, he said, if true (which they were not) w?t? as nothing compared with the splendid record of the Befurm Per tv.

1 Speaking at Ohariu on Saturday * night, Mr R. A. Wright reminded the electors that in the Otaki electorate, of j of which they formed part, two Beform *■ candidates wars fighting for on? seat. - Unfortunately, this was not the only j case in the North Island. In addition to Otaki, there were Wellington East, Napier. Hawera, Parnell, and Mount Boskill electorates, in each of which ; two Reform candidates were going to the- poll. Thi* might result is ell 1 these seats being lost to the Government. Whet. then, would be the position in the new Parliament? Meet

likely a state of chaos. The only Wat to prevent this was for all Ref ora voters to vote for the official caudidait in each electorate.

The present election campaign termi. nates next Thursday, when the results of the exertions put forth will be shown by the figures of the poll. Interest is fairly equally divided between the political contest and the prohibition issue, and probably more acute feeling j s being worked up in most districts j c connection with the latter than the former. In the political contest the personality of the candidates as well j, their views and principles counts for much. In the prohibition issue there is no question of special personality, because everyone is personally involved. Both sides of the subject are being «. haustively and ably placed before tinpeople and if all are not educated tip to every aspect of it by polling day it will not be the fault of the organisers of the opposing parties. As well as the extensive propaganda being so widely circulated, everyone has some experience of the matter to help in comir to a decision. What that decision w® be it is impossible to forecast, but both sides are very confident that it will go their way. In the political battle there is a very general conviction that the Massey Party will win. Personality i* the dominant factor, for while (hero are here and there Liberal candidate* who will probably beat Reformers, and Labour candidates who will win -eat*, there is still a good margin of confidence in the personnel of the Massey Party and a doubt if, at the present time, the existing Government could ht advantageously replaced by any other untried combination.

ATr Harkness will address the electors at Puraparaumu on Wednesday. Air W. H. Field, ALP., will speak at Otaki to-morrow night at 8 o'clock. MR McCLURE QUESTIONED. AT 1118 WI'.KAROA MELTING. The following questions were asked Mr McClure at Weraroa on Tuesday evening:— Mr F. Swanvvick aSked if llic cun didate thought it right for a Civil servant to he retrenched to the extent *!. having to go back to tTie wages lie was getting three years previously. Mr McClure said lie did not think if right, li was not done in liis department. Mr Swan wick said Hie man lie "as referring to hart been reduced to 2? per week. He left the service and ws? now earning £6 a week. A Indy elector said Mr McClure had referred to high shipping freights. This the speaker contended, was caused by a large amount of shipping being lahen up with the transport of troops during the war. Mr McClure: i referred to freights m iffill. The war was over then, and no ships were required to carry troops Mr Raskin inquired if the l ihersd Party was affiliated with Labour Mr McClure: No. Mr Raskin: I don't, believe yon The chairman: tf you are not satis fled with Mr McClure’s answer get ont You jtsked a question arid he has answered to tin- best of his knowledge Your action is not British. Mr W. G. Adkiri rose arid said It had been stated by the candidate tint nothing was done bv the Masscv Goreminent for the email -man. He considered ihe exemption of the smff man up to £5009 was a good thin? and Hie Massey Government MiotiM he given credit for what it, had done To a further questioner, Mr Mo Clure said he had to admit he was n* conversant with the provisions of fla Marriage Act passed last year. would look up the Act and s i’-'e s written reply on his attitude in r -' card to it. Mr Logan inquired. Hiing the candidate was a retired Cbb servant, why he did not contest a Wellington seat where large numbers '■ Civil servants were located, so as fully represent their interests Mr McClure said he was thank!/ to say he was not contesting tinfor the honorarium attached to i'was not out to represent any particular class, and t-fiere was no rea«* why he should riot contest Otaki « any other seat. Mr Richards: Will you support tri

Labour Party II the Massey Govern: merit is beaten on a vote of no confidence? Mr McClure said if the Labour Par tv moved a vote of no-confidence h* could not say who the Liberal Pari; would vote for. On Mr Richards repeating his 'fue*lion, Mr McClure said he would vo« as he thought fit on any measure, bribe would vote for neither Massey o' Holland. Mr Richards: If the Labour P»ri) moved a no-confidence motion in Massey Government, bow will y<>3 vote ? The candidate-said tie would t vote at all. The chairman satd'he would ' the privilege of moving a vote thanks to Mr McClure for his strain- ' forward and manly address r fldence could be cvj ressed at flip iot box He referred to Mr ML. N speech, which left all persona.. -' out. and he had answered the tions to the best of his ability. t ; _ was the class of man he admired(Applause.) The motion was seconded by Mr ‘ Walker and carrie-j