RANGAITIKEI ELECTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 52

RANGAITIKEI ELECTION.

| OPPOSITION LIKELY TO WIN". (From Our Own Corbespondent.) WELLINGTON, August 26. i Though there are quite a number of cand:dates oul for the Rangitikei eeat in the House of Representatives, rendered vacant by the death of Mr Reminglon, the contest is likely to lie between Messrs Hockley, Mcldrum, and Smith. Mr Meldrum is an out-and-out Government supporter, and will get the Government vote. He is a lawyer and farmer residing at Hunterviile, and is extremely popular in the district where he resides. Be will secure a good deal of the town support throughout the constituency, and he should get a large vote in Hunterville. Mr Smith s also a very popular man. He is a sawmilleT in the Taihaj>e district. Last year he stood as an Independent Liberal, and polled very well in the contest with Mr Remington, but it must not be forgotten thait at the last election there was a wave of public feeling against Mr Remington on account of the charges made against him, and the circumstances will be different on this occasion. Moreover, Mr Smith Ira? in the meantime changed his politics, from " Independent Liberal "' to " Government," and though he announces himself now as a Government supporter he is an out-and-out freeholder. Mr Hockley ip a farmer in the Sandon Block*, near Hunterville. He is a man on the right side of 40. is married, and has a young family. He is a cousin to Mr Robert Bruce, .vho was the orator of the House of Representatives in the days of Sir H. Atkinson and Mr Ballance. Mr Hockley is at present chairman of the County Council, and has represented the , farmers of t'liin district at several con- j ference-s. Needier to say, he is a sup- • porter of the freehold. He also favours non-political control of the public service, and would like to see Freetrade in so far ( as it is possible in this country. He is a fluent, easy speaker, with a particu- i Inrlv pleading* presence and a good deal of personal mnL-notism — indeed, he has only , to meet the electors to gain support, even in parts of the district where he is not ■\\eli known. | Mr George Hutc'.uson, the well-known barrister of Wanganui. is undoubtedly the : ablest of all the candidates in the field, and there are many who would like to see him back \n Parlia-ment. His 'engthy absence from the Dominion, however, has got him out of touch with the constituency, nnd be is therefore not likely t<> receive sufficient support to win the heat. He has decided to te?it tlie matter for his own and if he finds that Ih.<- chances of election are not good he will stand down. Considering all the circumstances and the fact that the Government ha? continued to 10.-c ground in the country since the last election, I should say that the ihar.ces are that Mr Hockley, the Opposition can-lid He. will win the seat: indeed, I should not be at all surprised to *«c him retire an absolute majority at the fn-^t ba'lot Should he win. he will be a docideJ acmii-ition to Parliament, a.- he ls pci.-rt.-eJ of more than ordinary ability. The Libour candidate will have no chance ■ v. hat>2wr. CKpeciilly as nearly .-ill the pub he woik- In the district havo ocev stopped foi- "-ori'o time, and tho co-operative Hb.v.ll . i roi .-pinion-- only "»y his t absence. ', : MR HUTCHISONS CANDIDATURE. . WANGANLU. Aug-.ipJ; 27. ' Mr G. Hutchison, an Opposition can- . didate foi the Rancitikfi vpcancy, opened , his campaign hist night with an address i

at Wanganui East. He explained thai. the time being too short to allow an arrangement for a compromise between himself and Mr Hockly, they had decided to go on, and whoever was left in at the second ballot the other would assist. He made a vigorous attack on the Government. Mr Carroll's appointment as Acting Prime Minister was a reflection on the white men in the Cabinet. The , Prime Minister was severely criticised in connection with the retrenchment in the Civil Service, the Dreadnought offer, and closing Parliament while he proceeded Home. Jn answer to questions, Mr Hutchison declared in favour of the State reserving the right to issue bank" 1 notes, Dominion option, and the referendum on large constitutional questions. A vole of thanks was accorded the candidate.