THE ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1919, Page 5

THE ELECTIONS.

TARANAKI SEAT. MR. SMITH AT INGLEWOOD. Mr. S. G. Smith held a successful meeting at Inglewood last night. Though the weather was rough there was a large attendance, and Mr. Smith received a splendid hearing. JIR. BUOICERIDGE AT MOTUROA. Mr. Bnckeridge at mid-day yesterday addressed between 70 and SO electors at tlie Breakwater, and was given a most attentive hearing. Mr. Buckeridge dealt mainly with the differences existing between the workers and employers, the neecssity for bringing about a reconciliation, and the means that should be adopted to accomplish this desirable end. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Buckeridge answered a number of questions, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. In the evening, Mr. Buckeridge addressed the Bell Block electors, of whom there were 70 present. Mr. J. Connott presided. The candidate had a cordial reecption, and was listened to attentively throughout. He was asked a couple of questions at the conclusion of his remarks, and accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. THE STRATFORD SEAT. HON. J. B. HINE AT TARIKI; A packed house greeted Major Hine at Tariki on Monday evening, when he dealt with the usual political questions of the day. Mr, Hucker presided, and the speaker received a very attentive hearing throughout, his address being punctuated with cheers and applause. At the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was moved by Mr. Geo. Morrison and a motion of confidence in Major Hine as being the most suitable representative of the district in Parliament. Both motions were* carried with acclamation. PATEA SEAT. LABOR PARTY TO ENTER A CANDIDATE. A meeting was held in the" Foresters' Hall, Hawera, last evening, for the purpose of forming a branch of the New Zealand Labor Party. The small hall was crowded, and after addresses had been given by Messrs. P. B. Fitzlierbert and W. Nash, from the New Plymouth branch, it was unanimously decided to form a branch of the Party, and the following resolution was adopted:—''That this meeting of Hawera citizens decide to form a branch of the New Zealand Labor Party in this electorate, and pledge ourselves to do all in our power to bring into being the reforms set out in the Labor Party's platform." Forty members handed in their subscriptions. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. P. O'Dea; Vice-President, Mr. Maloney; secretary and treasurer, Mr. T. W. J. Howell; and Messrs. Clarke, John Maloney, Johnson-King, and A. Bassett, were appointed the Executive. At the conclusion of the ordinary business, Mr. P. B. Fitzherbert announced that the necessity for his withdrawal had been overcome, and if it was the wish of the branch, he was content to stand as the official Labor candidate. After discussion, it was unanimously decided to nominate Mr. Fitzherbert, and a strong committee of over 40 members was set up to work for the Labor candidate. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and cheers iox the Labor candidate. MR. POWDRELL'S MEETINGS, Mr. Powdrell addressed a meeting of about 18 at Opaku on Friday night. Mr. Hillyer was in the chair. Mr. Powdrell had a crowded meeting at Whenuaknra on Saturday night. Mr. Honeyfield occupied the chair. TARANAKI ELECTORATES. TO-DAY'S MEETINGS. Mr. S. G. Smith.—Oakura Hall, at S p.m. Mr. G. H. Buckeridge.—Egmont Village factory, 8.30 a.m.; railway goodshed, 12.30 p.m. The Hon. J. B. Hine,—Waitui,' at 8 p.m. Mr. R. Masters.—Te Wera Hall, at 8 p.m. Mr. 0. Hawken.—Rotokare School, 0.4;" p.m.; Mata Hall, 8.15 p.m. Mr. Astbiiry.—Rawiiitiroa Hall. Mr. W. D. Powdrell. —K&i Iwi, ' Mr. Morrison.—Kohi. A SCENE OF DISORDER. CANDIDATE PREVENTED FROM SPEAKING. Dunedin, Dec. I. The Town Hall in South Dunedin was crowded to overflowing to-night, Mr. W. P. Black, the Independent Labor candidate, being announced to speak. A rote of up confidence in the chairman (Councillor M. Bradley) was carried, the grounds being that he had "scabbed" on the Labor Party. The mover of the motion then attempted to take the chair, but Mr. Bradley held his ground and pushed his opponent from the platform. The scene of disorder amidst which this little comedy was enacted continued without intermission for about an hour. The chairman endeavored to make himself heard above the hooting and bawling, and eventually, stated that he had no alternative but to declare the meeting closed, and in doing so expressed the hope that'they would be British enough to sing the National Anthem, Whether in the uproar the chairman's request was heard or not may be (foubtfut; it is certain, however, that it was the signal for renewed hooting and general disorder, amidst which the meeting broke up. THE LYTTELTON SEAT. Christehurcb, Last Night. Mr. H. G. Ell, Liberal candidate for the Lyttelton seat, gave his first publicaddress in the campaign to-night. He said the reason why he wss standing for Lyttelton was that for 20 years he had boen working for the district, particularly in connection with scenic reserves and roads on the port hills. He «aid the question had been raised wh*

tlier lie was the Lfberal candidate iot the Lyttelton scat. As ho had been S hard working member of the libefll Party for 20 years he thought he VM entitled to bo called the Liberal candi* date. He favored a State steamihig service between Australia and New Ze»< land. He received a vote of thankfc THE WELLINGTON SEATS, (From Our Own Correspondent.)' Wellington, Dec. 1. J With two clear weeks of canwaignilijjff ahead of them, the candidates~for % Wellington seats may be said to be mil in their stride. The sitting member, '• generally speaking, appear to lb# taking the lead. Mr. Peter FraseE "(Labor) seems likely to have a fairly easy Witt in Wellington Central, where is is opposed by Mr. F. Pirani (Liberal). At the by-election a year ago Mr. Fraeer secured 2GBO votes, while Mr, Mack (&• dependent Labor) had 1016, and two Liberals divided 968 votes between thflfn, Tlie polling waa small on that occasion* but Mr. Pirani cannot be said to be arousing Liberal or Reform enthusiasm on this occasion. * The Wellington North contest is interesting. Mr. Luke got 2992 votes in 1918, while Mr. H. E. Holland- (Ijdbqjr), had 2578 votes, and 1545 Totes divided by a couple of Independents. *3&#' Labor candidate this time is Mr. ! J.- : Read, a much less forceful figure thin Mr. Holland, and there is a liberal jfa the field in the person of Mr. Oakley, Browne, who has made a surprisingly! good allowing at his meetings. Xfrj Luke is a poor platform performer, but he has a habit of winning in WeHiw* ton, and he is expected to hold the etfct for the Government. But liig maTgin may be narrow, and he is not likely tq get a majority of the votes polled. The fight in Wellington South is-tik«i tween Mr. E. Scmple (Labor) awl Colonel Mitchell (Independent). Mr. Semple beat a much weaker Indepeodtfil by 2411 votes to 1280 last December,! while a second Independent scored 8(18 votes. Only 4005 electors voted outlet a roll number of 8721« on that occasion Colonel Mitchell is making a plucky fight, but he lacks experience, auAwi hoisting the banner of Independence has made it difficult for either BefannJ ers or Liberals to help him muefaa The j Labor man lias shown already that'hej realises he lias to make his best effort if he is to hold the seat. Dr. A. K. Newman ought to hold \ffel« j lington East for the Government wfiU»« out great difficulty. He had a nantartf win in 1014 (4002 votes to 4014), fctW his opponent on that occasion was MrJ D. McLaren, who crot the Libera] as ns Labor vote. This time Dr. Newntan is meeting two opponents, Liberal td&d official Labor respectively, and neitheivof ] them looks particularly strong. ' - way they are going to divide the an til 4 Government vote. A keen contest is proceeding in Hott, where Mr. Wilford is hard pressed. Mr. Wilford has always won his victories in'i Petone borough, ami has been beaten in' the other parts of the Hutt electorate. The Labor candidate, Mr. D. K. PrJt-' chard, i« expected to score heavily in Petone on this ocenfiion. But there We two other candidates in the field, Mr. Rishworth (Reform) and Mr. Cotton (Moderate Labor), and the vote splitting •' may save Mr. Wilford. MODERATE LEAGUE MEETINjS. A LIVELY INTERLUDE. By Telegraph.—Press Association: Palmerston N., Dec. 1. On Sunday evening, Mr. R. A. Armstrong addressed a meeting at Palmernton North on the aims and objects ot 1 the Moderate League. At times lie was met with a good deal of interruption fftna ' members of the prohibition party present, and the result was that the proceedings were prolonged until a late hour, tod eventually the meeting terminated With! a vote of thanks. ! When Mr. Armstrong hazarded the, statement that New Zealand was tin! most temperate country in the world-1 some person interjected that this was duel o 0 o clock closing, to which he replied' that 6 oclock closing did not come into! force until December, 1917, and drunken-1 ness had decreased before that. Another. ' interjector remarked that at that timeJ the men were at the war. To this Mr.l Armstrong replied: "Here-we hare th» real prohibitionist who blames the soldiers for the drunkenness." This evoked' " the remark, "Get off that patriotic game;; ' you make a man sick." 1 Mr. Armstrong was endeavouring to if™* f that . the r e had bßen convict • tions for drunkenness in the Dominion. ; wheni lie was asked had he gone to th» war, to which he replied that he cwtfi not go; and he again asserted that there, were fewer convictions in New ' " when a voice interjected that the met! Were out of New Zealand, to which Mr Armstrong replied, "Blame. the soldiers.. ' do you? A voice: "You are tiyißg to' ?« k f 1 «P» tal . out of U " Mr ' Armstrong;' i ■ plies " What y ° Ur sttttcment im " < At question time, the Rev. A. Duneumbe, one of the organisers for the pro- * : ii \i o "f t3 in the I)respnt campaign, asked Mr. Armstrong if he had a spare night be ore the poil. He had thrown out a ! allenge in respect of revenue, <uod the T?^ er Ivaa P re P are d to accept the Duncumbe could take a haU any night and explain the question. rm ga me to face yM , prohibitionists alone without a stage full . of people to back me up. 1 inmLif 18 Staffe Mr ' Dun cumbe introduce! gamser bnMi accredUed Prohibition or- i hu , tlle u P roar was so great that < h l3 remarks could scarcely 1 r + A ir tron ß ! That is final; I de- ",! ilme to debate with him. He said th»t r (Howls of laughter ) j i 1 1 iere would be precious little personal to n n l[ th<s int , olerilnta w h<> were faying ! m n 00uutr y P ot control. ' Mr, Duncumbe: Rot! Mr. Armstrong: Rot! Yon have 4 lot " hearTTie> e expre93ions- la ® surprised to j lips. ° m C ° me from y our sanctified X" ud •>■<•«•*-«» J At this stage the controversy A rz h aVr ted ' the Ss i in, and after a rapid interchanM Ur Duncumbe wa S invited on to Sltto' J where he challenged the accural ofX contents of the letter. 1 replied that he stood by every TrertUa 'j the letter, and was proud oi it. • fs" 1