STRATFORD BY-ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1920, Page 4

STRATFORD BY-ELECTION .

(BOTH PARTIES ORGANISING. "* KEEN CONTEST ANTICIPATED. ' (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, March 10. The by-election for Stratford, rendered necessary owing to Mr. Robert Master! 'having been unseated by the Election Court, promises to be an even Iceenei contest than the election last December, Both parties are organising their full strength, and already intense interest is being taken in the campaign by the public. This morning the "Daily News" repre< sentative saw Mr. J. B. Hine and Mr, Robert Masters, both of whom de. finitely that they would be c&nifjfctes. Last night, meetings of Mr. Masters' Stratford and Inglewood committee! were held, and it is reported that the utmost enthusiasm was displayed, and act* ive preparations for the coming cam-i paign were made. ELECTORS ACTIVE. This afternoon, Mr. Hine held a meeting of his friends and supporter*, and it was decided to leave no stolle mrtuniedl to secure Mr. Hine's election. In soma, quarters the view is held that a third candidate, representing the Labor inter* ests, will be announoed, but as Mr. Mas* _ tern ia the nominee of the League, it is unlikely that such a candU date will enter the campaign, unless ex* pressly for the purpose of vote-sjpiltting. The popular opinion is that Mr. Hine anil Mr. Masters should ibe allowed to fight; the election between them. Already there has been a great rush' for enrolment forms, and supporters of both candidates have been very active today securing enrolments. At the general election last year, the main and supplementary rolls contained 7797 names, and 893 names were removed, leaving 0904 electors eligible to vote. The supplementary roil No. 2, issued prior to the licensing Committee election, contained 15 additional names, but for the by-election it may be estimated that at least 500 more names will be added. In addition to a fairly large number of youjig people l who have recently become of age, thera have been a great many new arrivals in. the district, and it is wit"h a view of adding -these names to the roll that the committees are commencing their canvas immediately. No absent voters' permit* can be issued for the by-election. THE PROBABLE DATE. There has been some speculation as to the date of the by-election, also as to the date of the closing of the rolls. According to section 9'J of the Electoral Act, "where a vacancy arises from any oausa other than death or resignation, then, as soon as conveniently may be after the expiration of ten days after such notice has appeared in the Gazette, the Speaker, upon it being established to his satisfaction that a vacancy does exist, shall issue his warrant to the Clerk of the Writs, directing him to issue a writ to supply the vacancy." Therefore, assuming that the Gazette notice appears on March 20, the writ cannot be issued until March 30, and as the writ is returnable within 21 days, the probability is that the by-election will be held on April 10 or 20. The closing of the electoral roll will take effect from the date the writ is issued, and, in the present instance, there will be at least another ten days in which electors can be enrolled. Enrolment forms can be obtained from all post offices. A number of people who voted in other electorates at the general election, and who have since removed into the Stratford electorate, are under the impression that they cannot vote at the by-election. This, however, is not the case. Any person eligible to vote at Parliamentary elections can vote at the by-election, provided he or she has been residing continuously in the Stratford electorate for at least one month prior to the time of making application for enrolment. MR. MASTERS' POSITION. Mr. H. Gardner, secretary of Mr. Matters' election committee, made the following statement this morning: "It has been officially decided that Mr. Masters will contest the by-election in the interests of the Liberal-Labor Party. At Inglewood and Stratford last night, large and enthusiastic meetings of Mr. Masters' supporters were held, and although at last election the enthusiasm on our side ran high, we feel confident that this time it will reach an even greater pitch. Mr. Musters' supporters are all taking the Court's decision in a sporting manner, and feel confident that on polling day the electors will confirm their last decision." STATEMENT BY MR. HINE. The following statement upon the result of the petition was made by Mr. Hine to the Daily News representative: "The privileges of self-government have been Strenuously fought for and guarded jealously for many years British Empire. In our own Dominion these privileges have been extended to the full. The principle underlying democratic government is that the voice of the people shall have full effect, and it has always been recognised that inducements to vote for a particular candidate were prohibited. Tc ensure this, our electoral law has wisely provided that certain actions on the part of candidates shall be illegal. It is, therefore, quite clear that a candidate indulging ia practices which the law has declared to b» illegal, secures an unfair advantage over an opponent who strictly observes the law."