POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1919, Page 4

POLITICAL.

THE PATEA SEAT. (From pur Own Correspondent.) Hawera, Nov. 4. The entrance of Mr. Walter Powdrell into the lists for the Patea scat invests the contest with considerable interest. Some time ago, it is known that the Government supporters in the electorate approached Mr. Pearce with a request tlmt he should stand down, he being frankly told that his popularity had waned to such a degree aa to preclude the possibility of his retaining the seat against even the weakest opponent. The sitting member, however, did not view the matter in this light, intimating indeed that his position was never stronger. Sipce then dissatisfaction among supporters of the Government party has been increasing, and overtures were repeatedly made to Mr. Powdrell (who, by the way, is a brotfier-in-law of Mr. Pearce), to allow himself to be nominated. On Monday he succumbed to the pressure. Mr. Powdrell is probably the strongest man that could be brought against th? sitting member. He is tie head of several large concerns, is closely in touch with the producing interests, besides being identified with the activities of both Hawera and Patea. Hawera is really the key of the electorate. Whoever gains a substtantial lead here will win the election. Hawera was 1 never very enamoured of the sitting member, and will be glad of the opportunity of transferring the support it has accorded him in the past to its own citizen, Mr. Powdrell. The contest will resolve itself into one between Mr, Morrison (the Liberal candidate), and Mr. Powdrell. Mr. Pearce will retain some support in the Waverley-Wai-totara districts, but he is a back number so far as Hawera and Patea ore concerned. Had not Mr. Powdrell entered the fray, Mr. Morrison, with all his limitations, would have scored an easy win, to which former Reformers wontd have largely contributed, but with a strong and dominant personality lik> Mr. Powdrell in the running the race bears an aspect that can be described as very .interesting. It is not unlike'y that when he sees evidence of the landslide, the sitting member will inevitably take his gruelling before, and not on election day.

Mr. Robert Masters addressed a wellatt™ded meeting of electors at Cardill on Monday evening. Mr. G. W. Hancock presided, and at the conclusion the following motion was carried without dissent: "That this meeting aecords Mr. Masters a vote of thanks for his instructive address, and has confidence in him as being a suitable person to represent this district in Parliament."