POLITICAL PROSPECTS.
MR. R. MASTERS INTERVIEWED. Mr. R. Masters, the Liberal candidate who beat the Hon. J. B. Hine, at the general election, and increased his lead at the by-election following the upsetting of the first poll, is on a short visit to Christ Church (says the Lyttelton Times). He has had a hard fight to gain the seat and his return may be regarded as one of the inost significant political events since the general election. Mr. J. B. Hine had held the seat for twelve years, and was a Minister ot the time of the general election. He was also a returned soldier. Mr. Masters, a new political aspirant,, beat him the first time by 81. The election was upset, but at the byelection Mr. Masters increased his lead to 148, in spite of the fact that Mr. Hine's party was in power, and there was the certainty of a portfolio for the Ministerial representative in the event of his return.
Liberal prospects in the North Island country districts are bright, according to Mr. Masters. He haij reason for his belief. Waitomo is a strong Liberal feeat. New Plymouth, while returning lin Independent Labor candidate, is Liberal at heart, while in Stratford a Literal has captured a Ministerial seat. HaWera is represented by a Reform candidate, merely because an extreme Labor candidate split the majority LiberalLabor vote.
"The farmers are Liberal," said Mr Masters yesterday, "and one notable thing in connection with my election is that the farming community, as well as the workers, were prepared to support progressive ffnd democratic legislation. One of the matters I was most keen in advocating was that the State should take an active part as far as the shipping of the farmers' produce to the Old Country was concerned. In addition, I advocated an alteration in the system of representation, doing away with the first-past-the-post system. lam also interested in the development of the industries of the Dominion, and also hydro-electricitv, and education is a matter to which I have given close attention.
"Some people have said that they cannot understand my stanrttng as a Liberal-Labor man," said >«r. Masters, "but my object is to combine Liberalism With Labor as much as possible. I want, if we can, to cut adrift from the two extremes, because I am firmly of the belief that New Zealand as a whole is progressive and Liberal (I speak of the great middle class), and by the association of what is commonly termed sane Labor and Liberalism, with a proper and fair system of representation in Parliament. lam convinced that New Zealand will return the Liberal Party to power. I believe the people to be Liberal at heart."
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Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1920, Page 5
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452POLITICAL PROSPECTS. Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1920, Page 5
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