THE ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1919, Page 5

THE ELECTIONS.

PATEA SEAT. MR. PEARCE RETIRES FROM THE CONTEST. MR. POWDRELL RECEIVES GOVERNMENT NOMINATION. (From Our Own Correspondent) Hawera, Last Night. Word was received to-day that Mr. G. V. Pearee, M.P., had retired in favor of Mr. Powdrell, the other Government candidateThe intimation came in the form of the following wire from Mr. Mausey: "At my urgent request Mr. Pearee has consented to retire from the Patea election in order to prevent votesplitting and ensure that the seat will be represented, as in the'past, by members who will assist the present Government to give effect to those legislative measures and matters of administration which must be faced and fully dealt with during the period of reconstruction. In these circumstances you now become the official Government candidate, and I trust you will be returned at the head of the poll by a substantial majority next Wednesday." Needless to say, the news caused a

good deal of gratification in Hawera, for the dropping out of the sitting member practically ensures the return of Mr. Powdrell, whose supporters, however, were sanguine of the result even with Mr. Pearee in the field. The latter had a few vociferous supporters who were entirely blind to the extent of feeling against the sitting member and the support forthcoming for Mr. Powdrell, otherwise the retirement must have taken place earlier in the campaign. Mr. Pearee, misled by the inefficiency of ; his intelligence department, was obdur- [■ ate, but lately there was evidence put , before him of such a nature as to convince him that the game was up. ; Mr Pearee has been eleven years representing the district, and done as well ' as his conservative convictions would ! permit him. As chairman of important Parliamentary committees he_ has ' done work of considerable national value and importance, and it is understood that if the Reform Government goes back to power his services will still be available in a political capacity in another quarter. The contest is now a triangular one—- . Powdrell (Government), Morrison (Lib--1 eral),VFitzherbert (Labor). The latter's n irrational and irresponsible speeches B have put him right out of court with , men who think for themselves. He lj will, however, secure about 600 votes of the extremists and irreconciliablea. There will probably he about 7000 votes polled (there were 6358 in 1014). '.Morrison received 3270 votes in 1914. Fitzherbert will take the votes he gets from Morrison, leaving the weight of votes to Powdrell, who must do much better than ever Pearee did, for the season that he is a Hawera resident, is intimately connected with the town's interests, is a progressive and broad-minded man who can be depended upon to exercise good judgment and show independence. Last r>Wt.inn. Pearee secured 3388 votes. 1142

coming from Hawera, which is therefore the key of the position. Powdrell has shown himself to be a keen fighter in a campaign of misrepresentation and villification (which has not come from the Liberal side), and consequently has maie great headway. Morrison, a man of obvious sincerity but lacking in forcefulness, will poll well in the southern part of the electorate, and gain good support in the various main centres, but the entrance of the Labor man has, in vulgar parlance, "goosed" whatever chance he possesesd. MR. FITZHERBERT'S CANDIDATURE.

To the Editor. (Published by Arrangement.) Sir,—l have to thank you for your leader of the Sth inst. I have only just read it. I will be able to turn it to good account at Waverley on the loth, as I have a complete answer to your economics.—l am, etc., P. B. FITZHERBERT. New Plymouth, 14th December. Mr. Fitzhorbert addressed a meeting at Waitotara on Saturday night, which is claimed by local residents to be the largest political meeting ever held in Waitotara. The candidate was well received, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his interesting address. The chair was occupied by Mr. Hill, a returned soldier. (From a Correspondent.) Perhaps the largest political meeting ever held iu Hawera took place on Friday night, when Mr. P. B. Fitzherbert (Labor candidate for Patea) and Mr. Lewis Mcllvride (Labor candidate for Wanganul) addressed the electors. The speakers received a splendid hearing, the speeches concluding with cheers for Labor, together with a hearty vote of thanks to the speakers for their able and interesting addresses. MR. POWDRELL'S CANDIDATURE. Mr. Powdrell addressed about 150 men from the {railway grading works and Patea freezing wprte at mid-day on Friday, at the freezing works. The speaker had a most attentive hearing, without a single interruption, and afterwards answered several questions, to the evident satisfaction of the questioners.

Mr Powdrcll addressed a large meeting at Wharcma on Saturday evening, being given an attentive hearing and a vote of thanks and confidence.

THE TARANAKI SEAT. MR. SMITH AT TARURUTANGI. Mr. S. G. Smith addressed a splendid meeting at Tarurutangi on Saturday night. He received an enthusiastic reception, and at the conclusion of his speech, he received a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. BUSY DAY FOR MP.. BUCKERIDGE. Mr. G. H. Buekeridge spoke at Mangorei on Saturday morning, and received a Ainanimous vote of thanks. In the afternoon he addressed the electors in the Inglewood Town Hall, which was well filled. The Mayor (Mr. Sutherland) presided. A vote of thanks to the candidate and confidence in the Massey Government, was carried with one dissentient. In the evening Mr. Buekeridge addressed about fifty people at Westown. Mr. Reube presided. On the motion of Mr. Lovell he received a vote of thanks. Later in the evening he addressed a gathering of fifty to sixty people at the Frankley Road School. He received a vote of thanks on the motion of Mr. Hunter, and confidence was expressed in iht Ma««y Government,