TARANAKI BY-ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1918, Page 6

TARANAKI BY-ELECTION.

GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE, 11 OHOSEN, I MR. J. S. OONiNJjffT ACCEPT? SiOMNAXIOiN;. A large and influential deputation of representative electors of the Xarauaki electorate v>. ted on Mr- J 61. Cuuuett, >f Bell UilucK, at the Soldiers' Club on Saturday afternoon, for the purpose of asking liim to accept nomination as a candidate for the Xaranaki neat in tlie : House of Representatives. Tlie first speaker was Mr. E. C'Hughes, president of the Taranaki Reform League, who said he was sure he voiced the wishes of the meeting in asking Mr. Connett to become a candidate at the forthcoming by-election. He stated also that he had authority for stating that the National Government had approved of the candidature of Mr. Connett if he would consent to nomination. He referred to the compact that had been made between the two main political parties for the period of tlie war, and thought it quite right that such an understanding had ibeen readied, and that until the fight for civilisation was concluded there was no place for party politics. Regarding Mr. Connett himself, he was widely and favorably known throughout the electorate. He had made his own way amongst the farming community, he was a man of substance, and he was sure he would make a fitting representative of 'a farming community such as Taranaki. He pointed out, incidentally, that all wealth came from the cultivation of the soil, and it was right that a farmer ; should represent a farming district. Being assured, therefore, of the support of both Reform and Liberal parties (many of the latter having intimated their willingness to work for the return of Mr Connett), he had every confidence in asking Mr. Connett to accept nomi- , nation as the Government candidate for ( the Taranaki seat. (Applause.) Mr. W Honeyfield (Tataraimaka) was | the next speaker, and said that as far as [ the electors down the coast were concern- I [ ed he could guarantee good support for j Mr. Connett. and he hoped he would a-e----j eept nomination. He recognised the I sacrifice a man had to make in entering I political life, but the people had seen ) the good work Mr. Connett had done ) on the local bodies with which he had 3 been connected, and they believed if he j was returned to Parliament he could do J otiil better work for the district. 5 Mr. S. Vickers (Omata), who said he • was a great admirer of the late member, had every confidence in Mr. Connett as a suitable representative of the people and the interests of the district. The people recognised his ability and his tenacity of purpose. That quality was one of "the most essential in a member of Parliament, and he was sure if Mr, Connett was elected he would make a very good member. Mr. H. Lepper said that, although he had no authority to speak for the Lepperton district, he was sure Mr. Connett's work was so well known, and all his public actions had practically met with unanimous approval, that he could be sure of support from that part of the electorate and he would help In securing his return. Mr. W. Stanley (Hillsborough) also spoke, stressing the point that in all Mr. Connett's work his object had been to do what be conceived to be his duty, and he was sure that if he was elected to Parliament that would continue to be his object. Mr. Connett, who was received with viogroiij applause, thanked the deputation for the compliment paid to him. It had come somewhat as a surprise, as hn did not think, in spite of what had been said, that he had much qualification for the position. He did not hold any exalted opinion of his abilities, and he could say truthfully that he bad never sought any of the positions he held. (Applause.! Hi had, however, always tried to make good. He had never aspired to polities, because he doubted if he had the necessary qualifications, and he had take® no active part in politics in the past. If the electors were prepared to accept him, they were taking a considerable risk, as he had never expressed anr political views. If. however, they wished him to stand, and were prepared to take him on the strength of his pant work, he was prepared to accept nomination. (Applause.) Tf elected, it would be his earnest aim--to be a worthy representative of Ta*v naki, whuth he believed was on the eve of great davelopments, and in a few years would be a district of much greater importance than at the present time. Regarding his political views, he did not feel failed upon to say much at that time. Had it Ibeen a general election, and he had contemplated standing, he might haye teen prepared to make a statement. He would, however, take an early opportunity of placing his opinions before the electors over as wide an area as possible within the limited aWe 'He thought it due to himself and the electors that he should say that as he had been a teetotaller all his life it could be taken for granted that his leanings would be in the direction of prohibition. (Applause.) His views on that question would be fully explained when he met the electws in public. Other than that he said only that he regarded it as the business of members of Parliament to do whatever they could to bring the wai to as speedy an end as possible, always providing the end was a satisfactory one- (Applause.) A number of those present remained behind for the purpose of forming committees to work in the interests of Mr. Connett. GOVERNMENT APPROVAL OF MR. CONNETT. (By Telegraph—To Daily News.) Wellington, Last Night. When the National Government was formed an honorable understanding was arrived at to effect that if during its term of office a member belonging to either party died, or for any reason retired from Parliament, the leader of the party to which such member belonged should approve a candidate for the byelection thus rendered necessary, and such nomination would be supported by the leader on the other side of politics. Under this arrangement Mr. .lohn S. Connett has been recommended for the coming by-election in Taranaki M a supporter of the National Government. TJb recommendation is approved, and in compliance with the understanding referred to we strongly recommend him for the support of the electors of Taranaki. 1 (Signed) J.ALLEN. t If, P. S. MACDONALD.

MR. S. G. SMITH A CANDIDATE. On Saturday a number of electors waited on Mr. S. G. Smith, of New Plymouth, and asked him to contest the ] forthcoming by-election for the Taranaki seat. Mr. Smith consented to accept nomination, and those present pledged themselves to work to secure his return. A meeting of those interested I in his candidature will be held at the 1 Good Templar Hall to-morrow (Tues- ; day) night at 7.30. Mr. Smith proclaims \ himself a democrat, in the interests of ] the people. He will give a fuller state- s ment of his views at a meeting of sup- ( porters to-morrow night. ; Mr. D. J. Hughes states definitely ( that he will not contest the by-election, j He will, in all probability, be a candidate j for the seat at the next general election, j It is commonly believed by most peopie that if, on going to vote at a Parliamentary election, it is found that their names have been struck off the roll, t'liey are therefore disfranchised. Provision ' has been made against disqualifying an ' elector through clerical error or any J other cause, and for the benefit of elec- . tors the Deputy-Registrar General has ■ advised the returning officer for the J Taranaki electorate to that effect and in > his communication he states: "It is provided by section IS, sub-section 1 of i the Legislature Amendment Act 1914, : that at any election from any certified : copy of the roll supplied to the return- i ing officer in pursuance of section 24 of the Legislature Amendment Act 1910, : or who voted at the last preceding general election in the district, butw hose name does not appear on the said roll, and who applies to vote, shall be given a ballot paper on his making a declaration in the form prescribed by schedule to the Act. Such a provision will enable those who voted at the last general election for the Taranaki district, and whose names have been removed through a clerical error, to exercise their vote, on making a statutory declaration. It also enables those who voted at the last general election on making a statutory declaration under the provision above mentioned, and who still retain their qualification as electors of the Taranaki district, to again vote on declaration, and further, those electors of Taranaki who joined the Expeditionary Force, and who voted at the several eainps under the Expeditionary Forces 'Voting Act, and have since returned to the Taranaki district to reside, are entitled to vote on declaration, if not already registered as electors. The only exceptions in the latter case are those soldiers who were under 21 when they joined the Expeditionary Force, pd who have not yet attained that age. Forms for such declarations will be available at each polling booth on the day of the election."