THE PATEA SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1921, Page 4

THE PATEA SEAT.

THE GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE. MR. E. DIXON SELECTED. In the House of Representatives yesterday the Speaker was authorised to issue a new writ for the Patea seat (says a Press telegram), A meeting of members of the Reform League in the Patea electorate was held at Hawera yesterday, for the purpose of selecting a candidate to contest the vacancy in the Government interest. Mr. A. Hunter (president of the league) presided over the conference, which was representative of all parts of the electorate. , Four names were submitted —viz., those of Mr. E. Dixon (Mayor of Hawera), Mr. Clutha Mackenzie (Auckland), Mr. G. V. Pearce (who was member for the district for some years prior to the last election), and Colonel Macdonald (of Otago). The iirst ballot did not give any candidate an absolute majority. and a second ballot was necessary between Mr. Dixon.and Mr. Mackenzie, which resulted in Mr. Dixon obtaining nomination by a narrow majority. Mr. Dixon afterwards attended the meeting, and was introduced to many of the delegates from outlying parts of the electorate. THE REFORM CANDIDATE. MR. DIXON’S PUBLIC CAREER. Mr.' Edwin Dixon was born and educated in Wellington. For some years he was a resident of Palmerston North, being in the employ of Messrs. Grace, Clerk and Company. He was subsequently appointed to the management of their Hawera branch, and finally bought the Hawera business, taking Mr. C. A. Bates as partner. Mr. Dixon’s period of residence in Hawera extends over twenty-six years, and during that time he has been connected with many local affairs. He served for about fifteen years on the Wanganui. Education Board, and later became aAnember of the new Taranaki Board, in which he relinquished office during the war period owing to pressure of other duties. He is now in his third term as Mayor of Hawera, winning the last election by a big majority. For three consecutive years he was president of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Dixon has always taken a great interest in educational affairs, and the institution of the new Technical High School, which is in course of completion at Hawera, was largely due to his efforts.