The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1919. THE RANGITIKEI ELECTORATE.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 October 1919, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1919. THE RANGITIKEI ELECTORATE.

With which its incorporated “The Taihape Post: and Waimarino News.” _

Last night» ofiicial information reached this journal which again changes the appearance and -nature. of the electoral campaign for the Rangitikei seat in ‘Parliament. It was General M~eldrum’s wish not to enter the contest for political honours at the forthcoming elec- ’ tions, but his intimations to that effect ,have ‘brought such widespread repre'l sentations, appealszfrom every part of ithe electorate, "tTl'a.‘t. General Meldrum jwias constrained to place his personal =vvishes on one side, and give his consent to accept nomination for the fight. General Meldrum will carry the Liberal lParty’s oificial acceptance, and he is‘ I -definitely in the -field uagainst all-comers. , ‘There are at present five candidates‘ lwho have annourfced themselves, two ' Liberals, one La‘b-o‘-ur, one Reform, andl ione that has not definitely stated] ‘which way his support will go. _ Massey ’s follower's' are evidently satis- ; fled with ‘the selection their party has‘ made, and we do not -believe that it is possible’ even to have selected a more popular candidate than Mr B. P, Lethbridge, one more likely to carry the } Reform Banner -to victory, had the ‘ Rangitikei electorate been scoured fl'om end to end. At the seat of Governinieiitthe name of Lethbridge is still ‘an Ihtmoured -one in politics, a legacy ‘left to the present: candidate by his ‘brother, who vservedhis coun'try Well 3 and honourably as a Member of Parliall ment for some years before health failed him. In Mr Lethbridge the Liberal, igladiator will find a Worthy protagon-l list, but ‘General Meldrum has pre-I ; viously conducted similar campaigns to i that upon which he has just launched; i he is a man specially eqgipped by * inaturen educated and experienced forj E the WQl‘k he has put his hand to, and} 1 he came within an ace of gaining a seat \ - in Parliament at an election: some years i ago.‘ His fitness to lead is dem~o«n.—i strated in the honourable part he wasi called upon to play in ‘the great war‘ i for the British Empire and civilisation. I 5 He went to fight for his country as Mr ’ Nleldrum, and returned, after doing” his duty to the full, wearing a General ’s uniform, a. General in the invincible British army. He :as9.islte=d in carryingi the-British colours» to victory after vic- i tory on the field of ‘battle, and it isi “safe to predict that only a veritablei 1 multitude of, adverse circumstances icould prevent him from carrying the Liberal flag from Rangitikeito glorious victory in the political campaign upon I which he has entered. General MelI drum is known from end 7to end of the Enew electorate of Rangitikei; his pre- | vious political utte-rances‘prove that: he [ lis -a strong, sturdy, determined cham—l ipion of the people’s ‘cause, and the‘ i large body of Liberals in the electorate I will be gratified upon learning that so i able, honest, and persistent a confirmed I §Liberal has once more placed his ser- ‘ vices at their bidding. The other three , candidates must, at present, be includ"ed in the cate_e;ory of “dark, horses,” ‘ now only taking preliminary exercise as I lmaidens in preparation for their first! race. If all who now seek nomination , accept, the nature of the field will make I the training season most interesting, if not particulafly lively. \ »