THE STRATFORD BY-ELECTION

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1920, Page 6

THE STRATFORD BY-ELECTION

r MR. MASTERS' CAMPAIGN. Tlie following has been supplied:—A large- number of electors me; Mr. Masters at the bridge at Marangae, when matters pertaining particularly to the wants of the back blocks were discussed. Settlers expressed their keen appreciation of what the candidate, as chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, bad done in the past for them, and felt sure that by the return of Mr. Masters to Parliament their interests generally would not be neglected as they had been in past years. The settlers at Tahuijoroa assembled at 7.30 p.m. in Mr. D. Murray's residence, to hear the first political speech given in that district, practically tbe whole of the settlers being present. Mr. Murray presided, and, in introducing Mi. Masters, stated that the time had certainly come for a change. He. himself, came from what he was pleased to call a Tory family, but, seeing the treatment that had been meted out to the back-blocks for the last twelve years, he had 110 hesitation in advocating a change, and he felt that in Mr. Masters they would have a young man with push and energy who would personally visit the settlers to find out their requirements. Mr. Masters dealt with the education system, and the necessity for meeting the disabilities under which those present were suffering. He expressed regret that the mothers should be forced out of the settlement to centres to have their children educated, and promised, if elected, he would u>e every endeavor to have the wrongs righted that had been going 011 for the last ten years. Mr. Masters also dealt wilh many other questions of interest. At tlie conclusion,' Mr. Murray moved, and Mr. lvawlinson seconded, that Mr. Masters be accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his instructive address, and that this meeting, representing the back-block settlers of Tarannki, will have every confidence in him as their representative

in Parliament, The resolution was car-! ried unanimously. TOKO. A splendid meeting .if Mr. Masters' local committee was held on Saturday night, there being over 100 residents of Toko present, a> noticeabe feature being the attendance of eleven returned soldiers, a true.indication that the "Digger'' has not lost his weakness for a clean light, and even more so when right, is calling for volunteers. After a lengthy meeting that was full of "go" from the start, all present were invited to a nice supper thoughtfully provided by the ladies' committee, which, by the way, is worthy of a large share of praise for tbe work they are doing. Over forty ladies are now enrolled on this committee, and the numbers promise to greatly exceed this from present indications. HTTP,OA. A fine working committee of twenty members is now working on Mr. Masters' behalf at.Huiroa, reports from this district being particularly rosy. MR. ffTNH\S CAMPAIGN. All enthusiastic audience, comprising forty electors, greeted Mr. Tline at Kaimirn. Mr. l'eters presided. Mr. Hine received a most attentive hearing throughout, and spoke on the ines of his recent address at Ing'e.vood. Mr. S. IT. William:, move;!: "That a hearty vote'of thanks be accorded to Mr. Hine for his address, and a vote of confidence in Jlr. Hine and Ihe Iksaey Government." The motion was seconded in several places, and was declared carried, only two dissenting.