THE TARANAKI BYEELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 15 May 1907, Page 3

THE TARANAKI BYEELECTION.

DEFEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT. MR. H. OKEY RETURNED. A LIBERAL SPLIT. The bye-eiectiou to till the Taranaki seat, rendered vacant by the death ol! the late Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., passed' off quietly on Tuesday. The want of excitement during the day was cspeci-' ally noticeable, seeing that the parties interested were straining every nerve ! to secure victory. | j Polling during the luornirg was very , flow, particularly at the principal booth,' but it livened up after one o'cb ek. Cahif and carriages were whirling about in ! all directions, bringing voters to the j poll. Men will pad and pencil were' busy ticking oil' the numbers j

of the voters and sending them to the headquarter'* oliices wherefj-- : confidential bulletins were i-sued from timlj to time. Enquiries made anion)?,' the supporters of ths rival candidates found hope springing eteru.il. anil supreme confidence in the chances of the rcs.peo.ivc contestants. Good-humored banter w.i, <)h order of the day, and there was no e\eitim; incident until evening. The winter chill had the effect of clearing the streets earlier tjnn

is usually the case at general elections.

| held usually in the summer months. I and the <■• jwd did not seem very anxious to wait for the closing of the'poll. The general tone of the conversation in the streets was to llid effect that the Liberal vote was being split to a very large extent by the IndcptEtticnt candidate, and that tins trortld be sure to wrest the seat from the Covenfm-ent. And the prognostication proved cornet. The arrangements for the polling at all the centres were excellently planned, and the Returning Officr, Mr

Banks, deserves commendation for the whole of this work.

By half-past six o'elook the public had commenced to congregate in the main street awaiting the announcement of the returns. The figures from the outer centres started to come in cariv. Puniho arrived first at 6.18 p.nr., and IMI Block next at 6.28 p.m. Then followed Hurford road and Okato at 6.2!). and Fltzroy at C.31 p.m. The centra", vote was counted and announced before seven o'clock, a smart piece of work, over 1800 voting papers being reckoned. The results were displayed on a screen affixed to the balcony of the Imperii! Hotel, and there the crowd congregated to the number of fully two thousand. The first figures shown here gave the, South road return, with a majority of CB for Mr Dockrill. Moturoa increased the lead to 107, and the supporters of the Government nominee began to feel pleased with themselves. The Carrington road poll was strongly in favor ot Mr Okey, and the Government lead was bv it reduced to 98, as far as the screen results showed. After a considerable interval, during which photographs and more or less faithful sketches of the candidates were shown on the screen, tie result of the polling at tie central booth went up, amidst loud cheering"Dockrill 689. Malone 554, Okey 531 " But in those figures was, to the initiated, the result of the election. With a lead of less than four or five hundred in the town it was recognised that the seat was lost t 0 Mr Dockrill. The Oppositionists roared themselves hoarse, and nearly everyone else seemed to be following suit. Then came the announcement of the selection of Mr Okey by the Okato people bv an overwhelming majority. The limelight now announced the results to date: Dockrill 1200, Malone 801, Okey 1412. And the seat was won. There was no doubt expressed concerning the value of the country vote, a strong majority for the Opposition heing shown in almost every instance. The East End (Crocker's corner) figures did not help very greatlv to equalise matters. Long before Mr Okey had notched a clear majority of 20.i, and there were only a few minor returns to come, it was recognised that the Opposition had won the day. and Mr Okey was congratulated on all hands, among the others who grasped his hand being the rejected candidates. It was at this stage that

MR OKEY essayed to address the crowd. His appearance on the .balcony, und his "I'Vllow electors'—with which words Je commenced his speech—were the signal for a great outburst of cheering and groans of disapproval. When the din had subsided he continued, "Ladies and gentlemen," and the hoots and cheers recommenced. Making another start, Mr Okey said ho wished to thank them (cheers and groans) for the vote" given him that day (cries of "Good old Okey''). They would admit th.it the battle had been fought fairly. There had been no "hitting below ihe belt." The "Daily News'' had stated flint te had hit below the belt at his meeting the previous night (more din) hut th<\v were not men enough to print the statements he had made. He would be quite satisfied if they would bring those statements—(in an outburst of roaring in the crowd Mr Masscy advised the speaker to drop the subject). He wanted to thank those who had supported him as well as those who had not. lie intended now that he was elected.?, to work for the benefit of the district,! They would have a policy of opening Crown lands and native lands, a policy that he was satisfied would be for the benefit of both town and district, if they didn't use him, then that i would be their own fault. It was of no jse to speak further, he said, for there wire a lot down there who did not intend to listen (just here a sample of Taranaki election eggs spun past the head 'f the speaker, but the author of the dastardly act did not have the satisfaction of striking anyone, the hen-fruit splashing over the wall). Mr Okey remarked that the losers ought to take their beating like men. AVhcn he had lost in the pa-t his side had taken the beating fairly (cries for "Malnn""). He thanked the committees of ladies ?nd gentlemen who had assisted him to victory, and tnist-rt he would have wisdom given him to enable him \o carry on', the requirement* of the electors Tint be must have the people r(t bis back. He concluded by thanking Messrs Dockrill and Malone for t'je gentlemanly way in which their campaigns hid been conducted ' (cheers).

'Sill IXJCKUILL Mr Dockrill followed, and when ho hail allowed his supporters, to cheer themselves hoarse and the groans had subsided, offered his hearty thanks to the who hud Mipporled him that day. lie felt his bet thanks were due to the friends who Iml stood by him iiuil done uhaieivr they could fA voice: "Go back to the paddock"). I Tiio Liberals might naturally f ( .,.l solv that the minority had triumphed, but they had to admit the victory was the result of the split ill the Liberal rank?. Up was «iad to be aM» to agree witli Mr Okey that tin- election had beo|n. ,oUght iu a fair and open manner. J aere v.'as one thing, however, 0 f wmen ut, was still more proud, and that was in the town vote having upheld the vote given him at the last mayoral content. He was proug of the repetition of a vot- ca-( In }\U favor oi, mam- previous Cc<-?sir,n.-. aiM felr STire 'm< would poll better in he country were he better known amongst the sold ts.

mt: maloxk j Mr Malone was greeted, li!:,, Hi ■ o h r' candidates. with mixed applause.' "Ladies and gentlemen" (cheers and hoots), "Ladies and gentlemen (cheer-) ; That's right. There were no hoo'.s tint time. T wint'd to be sure that yon j were ladies and gentlemen." (Laughter). In thanking his supporter* he pro-; pounded this question: If in twelvv days he had gained over 1000 votes', how ninny was he going to score in "3(1 weeks. Regarding ;he conduct of th■■ campaign, he «a!d th<it. Mr Dock-rill and Mr Oknv had been his friends before

fh» contest, and h™ was pleised to say 'hev iv»rp still his friends. Fe qn-noimr-ed that from the next morning ii ■ would commence hi' camnaig'i for (ho '■"ar ICOS. -nd when that dn-e arrived '\ vnic-; "Yr.,,'l! reoon the rool." the -■.v--,..!„. ~r t i, , 1, ~.„•„„ ~,..„..,,„,] in prolonged cheering for Mr Malone)' The crowd took up an attitude /{ obstinate antagonism to Mr Massey.

- Advancing to the rail of ihc balcony, he j commenced: "Electors of Taranaki,' mid desisted whilst cheers for Air Ma-1 I lone and a round of hoots were given" 1 , j j "Electors of Tarunaki,' and the dissjnt I I increased. "1 have to thank you,'' was j

what those alongside the elbow of the

j Leader of the Opposition heard, but the j chorus of hooting and groaning dowift below must have prevented his words

| from reaching the mass of electors. j Sandwiching hi* words, singly, in pairs, or in triplets, between the more serio is noises that still continuously emanated from the throats of the "free and Independent" electors in the street, who

seemed bout on drowning the' speech. Mr j Massey managed to convey his thanks j to the people (close alongside him) for returning as their Parliamentary r-- : presentative a member of the.Opnnsi--1 tion. (The fury of the crowd iuciei'I e-tl, and cheers for Mr Massey were i.i-'i I by howls of dissent, followed by '-fie':. | back t 0 the country." and "Fetch C;iV- j j mil out"). This election (hoots and cheers) had let the people (more hooting and cheering) show that thev did | not agree (dissent)l with the hud pro. j iwals ("It was not leasehold versus free- j hold."and furtherir.-o.ins) of the Govern - ment. lie congratulated them on the I good feeling shown during (he election, j which had been conducted in a f ;ir manner. Now that the fight wis over hj;. j hoped they would sink political <!'fiYr-! chops, work together for the common; |

good, and assist the new member for Taranaki. (Cheers). . THE NATIVE MINISTER.'

Hon. James Carroll, Native Minister, seemed no more popular with the crowd, who, by the way,. could not see the faces of the speakers on account of tiie street light having been extinguished to facilitate the limelight work earlier in the evening. "Now will you allow me a few words?" he said in all the din,

which increased in volume, cheers and groans being freely intermixed. He tried

again. "I'm going to ask you," but lie got no further, for the vocal exercises commenced afresh. ''l'm going to ask you," he started again, hut the crowd was fully wound up, and took sonic time to run down. "I want to congratulate you," and the yelling broke out in a fresh place. Mr. Sid. Smith called out the name of the speaker, but the crowd was no respecter of persons, and the new voice above seemed to add fuel to the fire. The Mayor (Mr. Dockrill) then came to the front, and succeeded in partially restoring order. Cheers were given for Mr. Carroll, followed at once by three for Mr. Massey. By this time the pressure of gas seemed to be weakening, and with but minor interruptions the Minister went on to congratulate the Opposition on having secured the seat, after a good fight. He also congratulated Mr. Malone on the efforts put forward bv him in his candidature—(cheers for Mr. Malone)— and Mr. Dockrill on the sturdy and honest fight lie had made. Between the Opposition and the Government certain distinct lines were drawn that affected

one and all. Though they were on different sides, the Government and Opposition were on a common footing when they came before the people. (A voice: Why didn't you tell us that last night!) Mut they eould take a heating. The result of the election was a proof that m election matters they must run on party lines. The Opposition had gained the seat by their loyalty to organisation, and they deserved every credit for their organisation and their" lovalty to their organisation. Though the'nmiicrical strength of the Government was stronger, they had not the cohesion that the Opposition had. But he knew lie shouldn't ."play the inquest game after the battle was over." They should join hands in congratulating Mr. Okey. But he could not help thinking of till- pariy. numerically strong, which had been divided by sentiment aud personal considerations, so that the fight lnvd gone against them in spite of their big majority. He hoped, now that the tight was over, that all divisions of the community would meet and be friends. This

was but a prelude to a big fight, lie hoped the result of this election would serve to harden the Liberal side, as well as the Opposition. If they would carry on the fight party against party. Liberals against Conservatives ('"We're all Liberals") or Government versus Opposition, and let it be understood in the party that it was a party struggle, they would see which was the better. "We hold the majority in the country (dissent), and the other side holds the minority; buttti e organisation <>f il ;i . minority is better than the organisation of the majority." Hut their organisation wouid prove its tale in t"ie near future. (Cheers). The Gove.'n- . ment would score big (cries of "With Malone"). But the individual must be made secondary to party. He congratulated Mr Massey and Mr Okey on the signal victory gained, and thanked the other candidates for their conduct, extending the same compliment to the electors for what he termed the most orderly contest he had seen. With regard to the statement that there had boon "thrusts below the Plnn'oll line." lie was prepared to f..rgive if.iv trespass in that direction (laughter), and he claimed reciprocal treatment. lie hoped, however, at the next election the people woiiW alter their verdict. "It's no use talking," h e said. "You're not in favor of Mr Okey, although you put him \n.'' They hail acted on impulse when ilr Malone came in as. a distracting eleiuen.'; (cheers for Mr Malone). The election had not been settled on the leasehold versus freehold question. With a square deal the Government wouhi make it "no trumps every time." He called for cheers for Mr .Massey. . Th<jse were given, then three for Jlr Okey, aud three for Mr Dockrill, Mr Canlil concluding with the words, "Ida ora koutou kaloa."

On the call of Mr Malone, cheers were given for Hon. Carroll.

Mr Massey again addres.-ed the gathering, which was now a little more inclined to be orderly, but not by any means peaceful. He accepted the Minister's challenge to a "square deal," and challenged the (iovernnieiit to put np a supporter of the leasehold (cri;s of -They can't get one") against the Opposition freehold candidate. That would be a square deal and a straight fight, and the opposi ion majority would ■>e larger than the present on-. In calling for cheers for the defeated candidates, he .aid they had fought a \>:>; fight, and were taking their licking weii. The cheers were lustily given, but there was not a very heartv response to the Minister's call for three cheers for the, people of Taranaki.

Thi. concluded th • speech-making. There were some lively street Scenes up to midnight, but no ill-natured rr offensive rowdyism and the election dav of 1007 passed quietly nwav.

THE POLL. Tlll> I'"""'.'in-are the detailed results: Theatre (iSil .Vit .Vil 5 Smith i:.iiid 12(> (iii ,17 ;| I'rorkors 270 13S I'.Hj Kiln or pi; 37 ]]o j .Molnroa ,->« K lis _ \Vcsl„wu ' .. Ml 11 21 ._ Omata 11l 211 40 iiakurn II) 10 4.5 Harford ]!d 0 (i ]:i _ 'Tatavaiuu-.k;, .-, ,j ;ili _ nl -'l» 111! 21 103 1 . I'mnho ]| ;j 2:1 IS 2 4!)l!d ] ■, U .. I I'liugarchii \r, h 24 'K:il'otu .I.") 14 07 f> M Block II (J fi;! ... Upland Itoad II 4 ;u _ . Iv.'inont lid. .. . «.-) ■' •(! : )lur-4h„u-e IW 4 "1 : 2n _ :f- ut \il. .. -. .. Ml It 7:1 _ U-'iaiiai II 4 2i) - j J-'ranklcy Hoad .... S 2 71 jUirriugton lioad .... 7 1 28 jYogoltown 1(1 ]:s 5,, _ I Lower Mnngorei .. .. 10 21 3(1 3 in.. Carringloii .... 0 \ 17 jlsoru IS 0 20 'rn. Mangorci 22 31 \ Albert IM li 1 13 „ l'|.per Kent 13 1 25 ; Lower Kent 2 H 33

1027 1010 1001 23 LAST ELECTJOX. '' At the. general election (he late Mr j Kmilh was returned by a majority of [2lO. The figures at'the 1!)02 election ■, were: Smith, 2410; Okey, 2105, Mr Smith's majority being 314."

| The figures of the 1905 election were :as under: I * I 60 I !5 ,3 » 5 .g ! "3 S .3 a .2 j k 3 o CO H

Theatre 290 (!4 459 !)21 214 Crocker's .. ..US 13 158 234 40

,South Road .. 74 17 57 133 37 jMotnroa .... n 7 in m) 7 '|Omata u 27 48 37 5 'jOinaia 0 27 4li 37 5 jJltirford Rd. .. 1 11 0 9 0 I Koni 7 5 24 17 1. jOkato 11 4 97 33 27 iJ'unilio 3 0 27 12 2 IWarea « 2 50 8 7 jl'iiiigurehu .. 22 1 211 20 10 W'area Rd 2 0 18 0 1 llhihotii .... !ii 3 79 lit! 10 ;

ItYcstown .... 25 4 19 21 8 i l'-'mnkley Road J 5 (I 73 14 (i jCarrington Rd 7 1 32 11 2 |l'p. Maneorei 4 2 29 21 15 Bel! Block 14 (i 54 20 2 Kgniont Road 7 5 28 II) 2 ! Fitzroy 48 10 S5 133 19 I

Vogeltown .... 51 9 24 20 8 lOiikiiv.l -1 2 38 14 5 JTatar.iiinalia ..13 2 38 4 7 | I!"],'. Carringion 8 0 5 5 I|, Kalaiui ,-) 7 19 1) 15 !, J'.gmoni Vil. .. 24 2 74 3-1 5

l"p. Kent lid. ..10 1 24 4 5 Albert Rd .... 5 3 11 7 2 , il.w. Albert Rd. 9 3 32 9 0 J M:ii>gor.d .... 4 2 29 21 13 " Kiiig-l'jil.uid Rd. 8 10 21 9 0 '1 lliirstliouse Rd. 4 2 25 4 3 I

815 220 1715 1934 470

-MR. If. J. 11. OKEY', M.11.R. Mr Henry ,). li. Okey is a native of New PlymuuJi, having been horn on the Fraiikley road, only about half-a-mile from his present homestead, in 1857. fie was educated at .Air Scholciicld's private

school, and grew up in the Taranaki district, then in its early stages of de-

velopment. During his whole lifetime he has lived on the land as a farmer and stock-dealer. He has for a great number of years displayed an active interest in local government. Twenty-three years ago he was elected to the Frankley Road Board, and has retained 103

seat ever since, filling the position of chairman for twenty years. For tfcn years he held the secretary's position as well. From good service on the road board, it was but natural that he should step into the Taranaki County Council. He first took his seat' at the Council table thirteen and n-half years ago, and was a niemiher for twelve

years, during nine of which he was chairman. When he entered the Council the roads and the finances were a puzzle and an embarrassment. By the dint of consistent application to his duties he managed to overcome those difficulties as tiie district advanced, and when he retired from office the roads were in excellent 'order and the finances far better than when he look office. Some months ago lie was presented with a purse of sovereigns subscribed by the public in acknowledgement of his sig-

nal service to local bodies, Mr Massoy, the Leader 'of the Opposition, and several other members of (hat party attending the demonstration. H 0 has for many years taken an active interest m the work of the Taranaki Agrlcultii.-il Society, and may safely be classed amongst iis most useful members. His zeal in matters governed by the Sosoeiety was acknowledged liv the members when they elected him'to the presidency for a term, and since them he lias been an active vice-president and committeeman. Mr Okev is at present chairman 0 f the Franklo'y road school committee, and is also a member of the Taranaki Licensing Committee, elected by the mutual consent of the trade and tne temperance party. He took a proimnent part in the establishment of the Frankley road dairy factorv, was the chairman of its first directorate, and his held that position to this day In 11)02 he first entered the lists for'Pa'liamentary honors, unsuccessfully contesting the New Plymouth seat ns an independent Liberal arainst the l a i c Mr R. M Smita. Tn 1005 he again sought th- suffrages of the electors, this time is 1 lir> accredited nominee of the Onnnsition, and was returned second on the list of five candidates