THE PATEA SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1921, Page 8

THE PATEA SEAT.

THE NOMINATIONS. ELECTION NEXT WEEK. Nominations for candidates for the Patea by-election closed at noon yesterday. Three candidates were nominated, and the poll will take place on Wednesday, April 13. Those nominated are: Edwin Dixon, Hawera; Lewis Mcllvride, Wanganui; William Morrison, farmer, Maxwelltown. Mr. Dixon was nominated by: Alexander Hunter, farmer, Hawera; Nelson Hughes, farmer, Maxwelltown; Alfred John Adlara, agent, Waverley; Albert Edward Symes, farmer, Waverley; Walter Valentine Patterson, clothier, Hawera; Albert Edward Gardener, butcher, Hawera; Edward Frederick Henry Hemingway, journalist, Patea; Minnie Liversedge, Hawera. Mr Lewis Mcllvride was nominated by: George Henry Schofield, builder, Hawera; Thomas William Jennings, carpenter, Hawera; Arthur Ernest Barrett, carpenter, Ramanui; Patrick O’Dea, solicitor, Hawera.

Mr William Morrison was nominated by James Gibbs, farmer, Alton; Ernest Arthur Pacey, builder, Hawera; Frederick Hooper, farmer, Waverley; Finlay John Ferguson McDonald, farmer, Waverley; Adolph Theodore Christensen, merchant, Patea; James Randall Corrigan, farmer, Hawera.

MR. DIXON’S CAMPAIGN. Mr. Dixon, the Reform candidate, held a most successful meeting at St. John’s. The building was well filled. Mr. McMillan was voted to the chair. At the conclusion pf the meeting of vote of thanks to Mr. Dixon and confidence in the Government was passed. A strong committee was' formed, with Mr. S. Powdrell as chairman. Mr. Dixon addressed an informal meeting of electors at Meremere yesterday. At the conclusion of the address a small committee, with Mr. G. Williams as chairman, was set up to further Mr. Dixon’s candidature. In the evening Mr. Dixon addressed a largely attended meeting at the Hawera racecourse. Mr. H. L. Spratt occupied the chair, and, before introducing the speaker, referred to the loss sustained by the district and by the Dominion in the death of the late Mr. W. D. Powdrell. A vote of condolence was passed to Mrs. Powdrell and family. Mr. Dixon, who was received with applause, addressed the meeting on the lines of his Mokoia speech, being listened to most attentively. At the conclusion Mr. Scott moved a vote of thanks to the speaker for his able address, and a motion of confidence in the Government, which were carried unanimously. A strong committee was set up to work in the interests of Mr. Dixon’s candidature. LABOR CAMPAIGN. (Contributed.) Mr. Mcllvride, Labor candidate, has received a wire from the conference of farmer members of the New Zealand Labor Party, now sitting in Wellington, wishing him success in his campaign, and urging all working farmers to vote Labor on election day.

An audience of about forty gathered in the public hall at Mokoia on Saturday night last to listen to political addresses by Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., and Mr. Lewis Mcllvride, Labor candidate. Mr. Fraser spoke from 8 o’clock to 9 o’clock, when Mr. Mcllvride arrived from ManutaTit. where he had already spokeh. Mr. A Main, storekeeper, was appointed chairman. Mr. Fraser explained in the simplest language what the objective, principles, platform and ideals of the Labor Party were, and made special reference to proportional representation, tUs initiative, the referendum and the rio-ht recall; to the land question, laving partltQilar emphasis on the fight of the Labor Party against parting with the national endowment, especially with respect to the granting of the freehold of the Rotorua and Te Aro'ha leases; and to taxation and the inequitable distribution of the national income. Mr Mcllvride dealt with State banking, State shipping, public health, State medical service, and education. Both speakers were given a good and attentive hearing, and at the close a considerable number of questions were put and answered. On Sunday afternoon Messrs. H. E. Holland and Mcllvride addressed a meeting of railway unionists at the Railway Social Hall, Hawera. Mr. Mcllvride^was given a most flattering reception, and spoke briefly on general lines. Both speakers answered a number of questions, and the meeting terminated with votes of thanks to the speaker and the chairman, and with cheers for Mr. Mcllvride and Labor.

On Saturday night Messrs. Holland and Mcllvride spoke at Manntahi, Mr. T. Pearson presiding. There was a good attendance. At the conclusion of the address a number of questions were asked and answered, and the meeting concluded with a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Holland, and the usual vote of thanks to the chairman.

On Sunday evening Mr. H. E. Holland i spoke in the Grand Theatre, Hawera, on '* , The Imperial Conference and The Menace of Secrecy”. Mr. Holland traced the evolution of* the Imperial Conference, outlined the Anglo-Japanese Treaty (to the renewal of which he objected on the ground that it would involve England/ in war in the event of America and Japan becoming entangled), and recounted in detail the ftecret treaties made before, during and since the wan He draw attention to the industrial and egOTiomic bankruptcy of the world as a result of the war, and pictured' the world’s losses in manhood and wealth. His concluding remarks were a plea for open diplomacy in national and international relationships. Mr. Holland was frequently applauded during the course of his address, which lasted for two hours, and was followed with the closest attention by the large audience: On the motion of Messrs. A. Clarke and Murray, a vote of thanks to the lecturer \vas carried by acclamation, and the meeting was 'brought to a close with a vote of thanks to the chairman DISLOYALTY AND THE LABOR \ PARTY. (Contributed.) Speaking at Patea on Sunday, April 3, Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., said that the stupid cry of disloyalty had again been raised against the Labor Party for the purpose of beclouding the real political issues before the electors of the Patea constituency. He would remind those present that the same slanderous charge had been made against such men as the late Mr. Percy Brookfield (Labor member of Parliament for Broken Hill), who had so nobly sacrificed his life the other day in an effort to save women and children from the murderous attacks of a madman; and the late Mr. AV. H. Boyes, of Lower Hutt, a prominent and earnest member of the New Zealand Labor Party, who lost his life a few weeks ago endeavo&px to save a little 1

girl from drowning in the Hutt River. He simply mentioned these facts to show how utterly worthless such charges were. He could assure them that the spirit in which their friends Boyes and Brookfield had so nobly acted was the spirit of social service and sacrifice which animated the membership of the Labor Party in its efforts to build up a new and better social system. The New Zealand Labor Party was absolutely loyal to the people of New Zealand, Great Britain, and the British Empire, and to the Constitutions adopted by the people; but it was not loyal to the Massey Government, or the Lloyd George Government, which both represented the very worst political and social forces in New Zealand and Great Britain.

Mr. Fraser’s subject was “The Crucifixion of Ireland.” There was an audience of about three hundred in the Town Hall. The speaker was listened to throughout with great interest and attention, and was accorded a most enthusiastic vote of thanks. Mr. McDonagh, secretary of the Freezing Workers’ Union, presided.