RANGITIKEI BYE-ELECTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 193, 18 September 1909, Page 5

RANGITIKEI BYE-ELECTION

im&L RETURNS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hunterville, Friday. The final returns of the Rangitikei election are:— Hockley (Opposition) .. .. 1548 Smith (Government) .* •• 1035 Meldrum (Government), .. .. 8W Georgetti (Independent) .. ..340 Hornblow (liberal and Labor) .. 333

THE CAMPAIGN RE-OPENED. Taihape, Last Night. K. W. Smith, Liberal candidate, continued the campaign to-night, speaking to a large number of electors at Utiku. He welcomed the second ballot, and fait confident he would be returned by a large majority. He said his chances had been decried by the Opposition papers, but the polling on Thursday last gavs them their reply. The unsuccessful candidates promised to support him. He bad been strongly advocating the purchase of the freehold of native allotments on which Utiku was built ami had been assured by the Native Minister that then.' was now nothing to prevent the attainment of this right. The native owners were perfectly agreeable to sell. Hv wanted to eee land settlement applied to native lands, as there were large areas held to the detriment of closer settlement. He read a telegram from Mr. Carroll stating that" tfie Awarua block would be opened for settlement at an early date. He was opposed to the Government assisting further immigration and supported the Arbitration Act.

At, Mangaweka to-night Mr. Hockley met a large attendance of electors. In his opening remarks he made reference to the Second Ballot Act, the prneiple of which he condemned. It was his opinion that if the bare majority system were generally disapproved, a system should be devised under which the-absolute majority could be ascertained without the need for a second ballot. He declared that unimpeachable testimony could be adduced to show that his opponent had effected a complete change of front since last election.