STRATFORD BY-ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1920, Page 3

STRATFORD BY-ELECTION.

CAMPAIGN NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent). Stratford, March 31. : For tlie moment, interest in the byelection campaign has switched on to the forthcoming debate between Mr. W. H. H. Young and Mr Robert Masters, and tljp electors are eagerly awaiting the opportunity of hearing the two speakers thrash out tlieir political differences on the same platform. Mr Masters was absent from Stratford to-day, and tlie details of the debate could not be arranged, but Mr- Young intends going on With it, although he wishes to make alterations in the conditions suggested by Mr. Masters. In all probability the debate will take place at the Town Hall next Thursday night, and there is sure to be a large attendance of electors. When asked how the enrolments were coming in to-day, Mr. T. Purcell, Registrar of Electors, said it was amazing where they all were coining from, and he expected that when the roll closed fully 750 new names would have been added. Another fifty enrolments were received by him to-day. Absent voters' permits issued to date number slightly over 00, but many more are likely to be issued before "polling day. Supporters of both candidates are becoming tired of the suspense regarding the date of the election, and some hard things are being said against tlie Government for the delay. Some electors argue that the Government are holding the election back in the liopo that a Labor candidate will come out, and others merely Bay that the delay 1 is in order to enable the cand.dates to go right through the electorate before polling day. The number of polling places will bo in the viciiity of 50, the electorate covering a very wide area. At this stage of the campaign it is safe to state that however much the election is delayed the possibility of a third candidate announcing himself is too remote to be regarded seriously.

MR. MASTERS AT WHANGAMOMONA

The following report has been -j.ited:—The ball at Whaugamomona was well filled with electors on Tuesday evening, and nu evinced a keen interest iii the speaker's vigorous reply to Mr. lline at Stratford. Mr. Masteis referred to the apathy of the Government in pushing ahead the Tahora end of the line as contrasted with progress of the Uiiakuhira en l; increased taxation during the last five years, the obvious remedy; development of industries 10 secure a greater population to bear the increased taxation. He was accorded an enthusiastic hearing, but the climax was reached by the speaker in his appeal 011 behalf of the backblocka' parent and child for better treatment from the Education Department, a round of enthusiastic applause being accorded for an effort that thrilled with earnest hope for the remedy of this wrong. At tlie conclusion of [lie address, Mr. F. Anderson moved, and Mr. T{. Smith seconded, "That this meeting accord a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Masters for his able address, and expressed entire confidence in him as representative, of bneKblock districts ;n Parliament, and will use its best endeavor to secure his return.''

Sir. Clceson presided. With the object of still furthering the speaker's return thirty" .residents remained in the hall to form a committee. STAJOT! HTNE AT DOUGLAS. The following report lias been contributed:—An enthusiastic audience of 75 electors greeted Major Ilinc at Douglas on Tuesday evening. Kev. Aker was voted to the chair The speaker was in excellent fighting form and continued his speech mainly on the lines of his recejit efforts at the Stratford meeting. He also dealt witn the 'need for a vigorous prosecution of the public works throughout the district and the Dominion as a whole. The Massey Government, he said, intends to make a great feature of the railway works, betterment of workers' wages, increased shipping facilities for the produce to the Homeland, and improved prospects for the citizens of the Dominion to cope with the high cost of living. At the close the following motion was carried unanimously, moved by Sir. R. Sfoir, and seconded by Sir. Ncedliam:—"That this meeting of Douglas electors thanks Sir. Hine for his address, expresses confidence in him as their member at the coming poll, and renewed confidence in the Massev Government," At the close of the meeting 25 electors remained to establish a strong working committee to make every post a winning post and secure Major, Hine's return.

A Cardiff correspondent writes: —A most enthusiastic Tueeting of the friends and supporters of Major"Hino was held at Cardiff on TVesday evening. A strong Indies' committee was formed to ensure Major Hine's return. Sirs. Green well was elected chairwoman of the ladies' committee, and Sir. W. Richards chairman of the general committee, with Sir. A. J. Smith secretary.

MA-TOR HINE'S LADIES' COSIMITTEE. At a meeting of Slajor Hine's ladies' commit tec held on Tuesday afternoon, over 50 being present, including Sirs. Hine, enthusiastic reports were received. The members of the committee were addressed by Slajor Hine and Mr. Buclceridge. Slajor Hine will address the electors at Tariki to-night and at Norfolk Road on Saturday, both meetings commencing at 8 o'ejjek. Sir. Robert Masters will address the electors at Te Wera to-night at 8 o'clock. THE "CHALLENGE." Sir. W. H. K. Young writes:—Sir. Masters has accepted mv challengeThe conditions of dispute, however, have not been agreed to by me. The conditions published in your paper of to-day were inserted without my authority. Sir. Slasters is at present out of town, but when the conditions of the debate are agreed .upon' by Sir. Masters and myself no doubt you will be advised of them.

"FC.F." writes: —At Slajor Hine's meeting at Stafford he said that Sir. Masters was guilty of corrupt practices. I would like to point, out that SirMasters was not found guilty of corrupt practices, and in support of my statement I quote a paragraph from the judgment:—"Counsel was asked if he could cite anv precedent from decisions given in Parliament or in Election Courts were something similar to what has happened here, was pronounced to be a corrupt practice, hut he was unable to do so. The great distinction between a corrupt and an illegal pactice is that there must be in the person guilty of the act .complained of. a corrupt. action. As was said by Field J. in Barrow-in-Furness 4 O'SI, and 11. 77

a corrupt practice is a tiling tlie mind goes along with. An illegal practice is ft thing' the Legislature has determined to prevent, whether it is done honestly or dishonestly. In our opinion, there is 110 proof of a corrupt practice (I wish to emphasise the point) so far as the two allegations referred to are concerned.' I wish Major I line would jitiek to facts and tell the truth and not endeavor. to sway electors into thinking that Mr. Masters has been found guilty of corrupt practice.