THE ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1919, Page 5

THE ELECTIONS.

THE PATEA SEAT. MR. PITZHERBERT WITHDRAWSMr. P. B. Fitzkerbert, who was selected as the official candidate for thj Labor Party to contest the Patea seat, announced last night that for purely personal reasons he had decided to withdraw from the contest. A further announcement concering the Labor Party's intentions will be mado later, MR. S, G. SMITH'S MEETINGS. Mr. Smith addressed a meeting at Waiongona on Tuesday night, and though, owing to an accident to the motor, he was over an hour late in arriving, there was an attendance of over 20. Mr. J. Tuck presided. Mr. Smith spoke for nearly an hour. No questions were asked. Mr. Henwood proposed and Mr. Moriarity seconded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence, which was carried unanimously. [ At Mr. Smith's' Bell Block meeting last night there was an attendance of 50. Mr. H. Sampson presided. : The candidate gave an outline of the work accomplished during the past session, and of the important matters of policy ■which he stood for. Referring to his opponent, he claimed that Mr. Buckeridge was not standing in the interest of Reform but in the interest solely of Mr. Massey's desire to continue in office as Prime Minister. It was totally against the interest of this portion of the district that Mr. Buckerfdge should be returned, the latter's interest being .entirely in the southern end, and it was unfortunate, but true, that that end had strenuously opposed the New Plymouth harbor proposals, and it was too dangerous just at the point when, in spite of all the opposition, we were embarking on a scheme to provide a deep sea harbor that would meet all the requirements of the province, to have a representative who came as a stranger and from a portion of the district that was unwilling to bear its share of a scheme that would undoubtedly add greatly when completed to the general prosperity of the whole province. Mr. Smith claimed that the clear call of the country te-day was for a departure from the old party political cry. Mr Smith's address was punctuated with marks of approval and hearty applause. No questions were forthcoming. On the motion of Mr. H. Sampson and Mr. E. Smith a resolution of hearty thanks and renewed confidence was carried unanimously. THE EGMONT SEAT. A meeting of those interested in Mr. Asthm-y's candidature will be held in the Kaponga Town Hall this (Thursday) evening at S o'clock. MR. POWDRELL AT WESTMERE, On Tuesday night Mr. Powdrell addressed a meeting at Westmere. The meeting was most enthusiastic, and there were between CO and 05 present. A vote of thanks and confidence, moved by Mr. Anderson and seconded by Mr. Ritchie, was carried unanimously with much applause. MR. R. MASTERS AT TARIKI. Mr. R. Masters, the Liberal candidate, has every reason to be pleased with his reception at Tariki on Monday night. Mr. W. V. Harkness presided over what was said to be the biggest political gathering ever k.ild in Tariki. Mr. Masters spoke on the leading questions. Referring to the 'defence policy of Sir James Allen, he said it was shown to be conscription such as the Empire had been fighting to conquer and had conquered. The evil of sending lads into camps was enough to condemn £he whole system. (Applause.) He advocated|an increased subsidy to the Imperial Navy. Mr W. G. Kendriek moved a motion expressing confidence in Mr. Masters as being fitted to represent this electorate in Parliament. This was seconded in several places through the hall and was declared ; carried.

HON. J, B. HINE AT MIDHIRST. The hall at Midhirst was crowded last night, and Major Hine met with a good reception and received an attentive hearing throughout. He dealt fully with the defence question, stating that lie thought the territorial *rstem waß a waste of money. He favored sending territorials to camp, say for one month the first year and for three weeks or a fortnight during each other year of their term. Referring to the extreme Labor, question, he said Mr. Wilford's statement at Eltham that the Liberal Party would not accept office if they had to depend on the support of extreme Labor members, did not bind Sir Joseph Ward, who had made no such declaration. At the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks, moved by Mr T. Vickera, was carried unanimously. . At Kaimata on Monday evening supporters of Major Hine held a very successful moating, a committee of 29 farmers being formed. THE TARANAKI SEATS. MR. WILFORD'S OBSERVATIONS. In his address at Hawera on Tuesday evening, Mr. Wilford said that the result of the elections was aboslutely free iroin doubt. In Dunedin, Messrs. Downie Stewart and Statham, who had been ReEoini, were standing as Independents, and as far as Dunedin was concerned Reform was' without a candidate. In Christchurch there was one Reform candidate, and the only Reform candidate in Wellington was Mr. Luke. In Wairnrapa, Messrs. Hornsby and MeLeod were having a stiff fight, and the old horse would win. In Masterton, Mr. Sykes was standing us an Independent. In Waikatipu he was quite satisfied as to tlie result. In Auckland, the banner of Reform was being carried by one able lady and two men- Reform had a great hold of Taranaki last election, but how was it this time? Mr. Okey, the late member for Taranaki, had died, and Mr. Smith won the seat, and if it was not for the export of Reform candidates from Hawera he did not know what the Reformers would do this time. The man sent to oppose Mr. Smith would have as much chance of winning as Buckley. Mr. Smith was one of the most level-headed men in the House, and tie could tell them that he would go far in politics. But it would not do for Reform to allow a man who had just won his spurs to have a walk over. Four years ago, Taranaki was a Reform seat. Now they could not get a man to stand for them. What was wrong with the Reform cause? Surely advocates could 4t ftyjjd jf'tha aauie was ft4|OoA^m*.

In Stratford they had -a Minister of i the Crown fighting for his seat against Mr. Masters, a new candidate, and be was having to fight too. ihe most Banguine Reformer in New Zealand did not expect a walk-over in Stratford. As for the Egmont seat, he did not know what Reform would have dose without Hawera. What was at the back of the party that they could not And a man in the electorate t Coming to Patea, he hoped that Mr. , Morrison, than whom there wag not a straigh'ter or whiter man, would get tn. ! Though he may not, be ithe greatest of . platform men, lie knew the requirements of the farmers, and he (Mr. Wilford) , would do his best to help Mr. Morrison in every way he could, should he be ' leturned. / BAY OP PLENTY SEAT, By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisborue, Last Night.. Mr. K. S. Williams, addressing the Bay of Plenty electors at Ruaiorea, said he was rcsponing with the back country settlers for direct representation. While having a greater leaning towards Roform than the Liberals, he wished to preserve his identity and not to blindly follow the lead of Mr. Misgey. He would therefore stand as an Independent. TO-DAY'S MEETINGS. Mr. S. 0. Smith.—Omata Hall, at -8 p.m. Mr. <i. H. Buckeridge.—Warea, at„B., p.m. , The Hon. J. B. Hine.—Kaimata, at*B; p.m. Mr R. Masters.-Rowan Hall, at 8 p.m. ;, Mr. 0. HaMcen.—Rahotu, at B'pjn. j Mr. Astbury.—Opua Road. Mr, W. I). Powdrell—Mosstown. Mr. Morrison—Waverley. ASHBURTON. Ashburton, Last Night. Mr. W. J. Dickie, M.P., addresesd a large audience this evening. Ha considered the extremist and the theorist were no good in Parliament. He favored a vigorous land policy and encouragement for new industries, also a Government subsidy for the upkeep of all arterial roads. He favored giving the Board of Trade wider powers and selecting men for their business ability on the board and paying them well. He advocated a Government consumptive sanatorium in the North and in the South Islands. The candidate Was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. CAMPAIGN IN WELLINGTON. . Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Fred Pirani states he was not approached by any deputation with a request to stand down, and Mr. Can's reasons for not standing were purely business ones. Mr. L. MeKoniie, candidate for Wellington East, opened his campaign tonight, receiving a good hearing. He said he stood as an Independent Liberal, but he was a supporter of Sir Joseph Ward. The Government should make available for settlement unusued Crown land, large estates should be burst up and allotted to soldiers and others in quest of land, but the Government ought not to buy at inflated values. Customs duties should be readjusted, especially the duties on food commodities. He favored taking the mines by the Government at their valuation, also Stateowned ships. He received a vote of confidence. GISBORNE. Gisborae, Last Night. Mr. W. B. Lysnar addressed a large gathering at the Opera House to-night, when he opened his campaign for the Gisborne seat. He said native lands should be opened up, and the agricultural and pastoral industry, which represented 87 per cent of the total export of the Dominion, would have to be properlyhandled. The finance of the country was in a most unsatisfactory state by the heavy taxation that had been levied. All good's of German origin should be specially taxed to meet the costs of the war. Questioned as to what would be his attitude on a no confidence motion, Mr. Lysnar said Sir Joseph Ward had not definitely stated he would be prepared to do without the extreme Labor help, and as Mr.'Massey made the position clear, provided Mr. Massey would deal with national problems in an efficient manner he would support him. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Lysnar.

WELLINGTON NORTH. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. H. 0- Browne, Liberal candidate for Wellington North, delivered his * opening address to-night, receiving a. good hearing. He considered the main arterial railways should be completed quickly. A great national policy of railway and road construction was necessary. He advocated nationalising the Wellington-Lyttelton ferry uerv'ce, and fostering local industries by fiscal reform. He stood for a white New Zealand. The firat steps towards reduced prices must be punishment of profiteering, a breakdown of monopolies, and the limiting of the note issue. He supported educational reform. He opposed military training for youths in camps. He received a vote of thanks and tonfldence. MR. ALBERT GLOVER HECKLED. Mr. Albert Glover, the Liberal candidate for Auckland Central, was heckled from start to finish at his opening meeting the other night. The bland smile which covered his face at the beginning soon changed to an expression of pained surprise, and later on he exclaimed with tears in his voice that "if an angel <*ma down from heaven he would not be able to satisfy the interrupters." He said lie had never before been subjected to such treatment by an Auckland audience. He threw n great pile of letters on the platform, exclaiming: "Hero are letters from soldiers and soldiers' mothers thanking me for what I did for, them," but the meeting only laughed. The chairman had to intervene more than once to secure >Mr. Gloter a hearing. A vote of thanks and. confidence was moved, also an amendment of noconfidence. The chairman called for a show of hands, but the meeting was confused, and the voting abeut even, only a few hands being held up. "Ayes" and "Noes" were then called for, and the preponderating volume of sound was in favor of Mr. Glover.