THE STRATFORD BY-ELECTION

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1920, Page 4

THE STRATFORD BY-ELECTION

OFFICIAL RECOUNT. NEARLY 300 ABSENT VOTES CAST.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Last Night. The Returning Officer (Mr. T. Purcell) has been advised of 295 absent votes having been cast and these wilt be opened and counted to-morrow when the official recount takes place. Of the 479 persons to whom voting permits were issued, a fair number happened to be in the electorate , yesterday, and others, doubtless, forgot to exercise tho'ur privilege. Informal votes number only 15, as compared with SO at the general election. Altogether 0520 of the 7040 eligible electors, or a trifle over 88 per cent,, recorded their votes yesterday, a phenomenally high number for a byeelection.. The scrutiny of the rolls vrae commenced to-day, and will not be concluded until to-morrow morning, after which the recount will be made.

CONGRATULATIONS FOR MR. MASTERS. A sheath of congratulatory telegrams from all portions of the Dominion was received bv Mr. Robert Masters to-day. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, the liberal leader, wired as follows, from Wellington: 'Sincere congratulations. Friends here realise that ,vou have put up the most strenuous and cleanest fight ever put up in New Zealand. I trust the absent votes will still further increase your majority. Kind regards and best wishes." Jlr. George Witty, M.P., telegraphed; "Glad to see you with such a good lead. Hoping you will still be. further ahead." Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., said: "You have had a hard fight and deservedly won as was expected by important people. Kia Ora ratau," while Mr. Harry, Atmore, M.P., wired: "Delighted at reaffirmation of December vo' e. r The staff of the Taranaki Education Board also forwarded their congratulations, and an ex-representative footballer who had played with Mr. Masters conveyed his congratulations by stating: "Hine mtide the opening and you scored the try. Good luck." i

DISGRACEFUL SCENE AT INGLEWOOD. A disgraceful scene occurred ftt Inglewood on Thursday night, when the candidates arrived to return thanks. Mr. Hine reached Aglewood before Mr. Masters and was met by an excited and hostile crowd, which surged round Mr. Hine's car and gave him a most unfriendly reception. In the excitement, a man named Anton Dodunski, of Waitui, who is stated to have made some remark to Mr. Hine, was struck on the face and had two teeth knocked out. Amid tremendous uproar, Mr. Hine made his way to the balcony of the Inglewood Hotel, but the din was so terrific that only a few sentences of his remarks were audible. When Mr. Masters arrived ftt Inglewood he wns accorded a rousing reception by his supporters, and was carried shoulder high to the hotel, but on attempting to speak, the din became so loud that his remarks could not be heard by anyone except the reporters. After Mr. Mastirs had endeavored unsuccessfully to make himself heard above the noifip, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., attempted to calm the mob, but it was only with great difficulty that his remarks could be heard. After a time, however, the noise subsided slightly and Mr. Masters was able to get in a few remarks, amidst a Btorm of interruptions from the hostile section. Mr. Masters was afterwards entertained at supper by his committee, ftiid wan the recipient of numerous congratulations from his supporters.