STRATFORD BY-ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1920, Page 5

STRATFORD BY-ELECTION.

CAMPAIGN-OPENING THIS WEEK. (From Our Own Correspondent). , Stratford, March 20. The by-election is the chief topie of conversation in Stratford at present, and to-day, when there was a larger number of country .visitors to the town than is usually the case on a Saturday, little groups could be s'een in various parts of Broadway earnestly discussing the situation which has arisen. Mr. Hine and Mr. Masters have both been very busy meeting their friends and supporters, and the organisation pn both sides will in all probability as perfect as it can possibly be. Supporters of each of the two candidates are equally confident that their particular man has the best chance of winning, but it is generally believed that the successful candidate will not have very many votes to spare when the numbers go up One thing, which is quite certain, is that should a third man enter the field, he is bound to receive a very rough spin from the crowd, whichever party he may claim to belong to. With the election a clear-cut issue between Mr. Hine_ jnd Mr. Masters the contest should prove most interesting and exciting. Although nothing definite is yet known on the point, there is every probability that outsifje speakers will be invited to assist the two candidates. MR. MASTERS' CAMPAIGN/' The first shot in the campaign will be fired on Tuesday night, when Mr. Masters will address the electors at Toko (where Mr. Hines resides). At this meeting Mr. Master?: intends dealing with Mr. Hine's stal lent in Saturday's paper on the result of the petition, and with the editorial references in the Dominion of Friday to the effect that Mr. Hine's "re-eleetion for the seat would enable him to render useful service in a Ministerial capacity, possibly in th e role of Minister of Public Works." This. Mr. Masters claims, is simply offering a bribe to vote for Mr. Hine. Mr. Masters will also deal at some length with matters in connection with the petition. ME. HINE AT WORK. Mr. J. B. Hine stated this afternoon 'that he will probably be commencing his campaign on Thursday next, but it has not been decided at which place he will speak first. In the meantime he intends meeting his committees and getting his organisation strengthened From all parts of the electorate he had received very encouraging reports, and he and his supporters felt confident of victory, although they intended leaving nothing to chance.