PATEA SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1921, Page 5

PATEA SEAT.

MAJORITY FOR MR. DIXON. MARGIN OF 270 VOTES. LABOR’S HEAVY DEFEAT. (From Our Special Reporter.) Haw era, Last Night. The election of Mr. Edwin Dixon (Government nominee) for Patea is assured, Mr. Dixon having received a majority of 276 votes at the by-election to-day. Absent voters’ permits issued total 187, and there are about 100 votes on declaration, and as Mr. Dixon will doubtless secure a large share of these votes the final figures should confirm his election. The result does not alter the state of parties in Parliament. Considerable interest was taken in the poll, and of the 7842 voters on the roll 5510 recorded their votes. There were three candidates before the electors, and the number of votes obtained by each was: Mr. E. Dixon (Government) 2620 Mr. W. Morrison (Liberal) .. 2344 Mr. L. Mcllvride (Labor) .... 546 The details of the voting are:—

Majority for Dixon 276 Absent voters 187 Votes on declaration (about) 100 THE 1919 POLL.

Details of the voting in 4fhe Patea electorate at the general election in 1919 are:—

CANDIDATES’ SPEECHES. PREMIER CONGRATULATES MR. DIXON. MR. McILVRIDE’S MIXED RECEPTION.

A/large crowd gathered outside the Post Office, where the results were posted on the screen as they came to hand. The first returns were received shortly after six o’clock, and by eight o’clock all excepting a few small booths were in, and it was then clear that Mr. Dixon’s election was assured. With only one return still to come the candidates proceeded to address the crowd from the Post Office steps. Mr. Dixon was received with cheers. He prefaced his remarks by calling for cheers for the defeated candidates, the crowd responding with enthusiasm. He said he desired to thank the electors who had supported him that day. He stated he had taken it as a high compliment when he was chosen as the Reform candidate, and as a greater compliment on being elected to Parliament. As their member he intended to do his duty to everyone, no matter what class or creed they belonged to. (Cheers.) He hoped he would be as successful in Parliament as he had been as Mayor in pleasing his opponents. (Cheers.) Mr. Dixon paid a high tribute to the Liberal and Labor candidates for the clean manner in which they had fought the election. He said he was proud to be the representative of the Reform Party, which, he said, consisted of the cream of the country, and he trusted that he would prove to them that their confidence in him was not misplaced. He concluded by stating that he had just received a personal message from Mr. Massey congratulating him on his vic-

Mr. Morrison received a very cordial reception as he rose to speak. He said he desired to thank all who worked for him, especially the ladies, and he remarked that he really felt more sorry for them than he did for himself. He had been defeated because his Reform friends had been ably assisted by Labor, but he asked his supporters not to lose heart. Mr. Morrison then called for three cheers for the successful candidate.

Rain commenced to fall heavily as Mr. Mcllvride began to speak, and he was accorded a very mixed reception. He thanked the electors of Patea for the patient hearing they had given him, and said that notwithstanding the number of votes he had polled, Labor was steadily winning the fight. He justified Labor’s entrance into the contest by the large increase of the Labor vote at the 1919 elections, and the party had ho apology to offer, and was determined to contest every seat in the Dominion at the next general election. (Uproar and cries of “We don’t i.ant you, anyhow.”) Continuing amidst further uproar, Mr. Mcllvride said the Labor Party would march onward to victory under the flag of freedom. Cheers and groans drowned the rest of the speaker’s remarks. THE NEW MEMBER. 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 purchased 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 a member 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 ef-

g 2 o £ *3 3 Show Buildings, Hawera 587 699 196 Presbyterian Hall, Hawera 582 306 95 Racecourse, Hawera ... 65 61 2 Mokoia . 40 22 7 Whakamara ..... 33 15 2 Manutaht .............. 41 27 8 Alton 66 37 6 Hurley ville « 33 36 Kakaramea ...... 48 56 4 Patea 140 348 116 Opaku 2 22 2 Whenuakura 45 44 0 Waverley 251 216 39 Ngutuwera 28 Hi Mangawhio 6 6 0 Omahina ....... 5 9 0 Kohl 29 32 0 Waitotara 38 70 15 Ngamatapouri 17 6 0 Makomako 2 6 Maxwelltown 53 53 15 Kai Iwl 38 60 5 Paparangi 11 5 0 Westmere .............. 65 26 2 Brunswick ........ 84 23 0 Rapanui 24 16 4 Te Tuhi 6 1 0 Raorikia 10 1 0 Mosstown 64 50 16 St. John's Hill 71 15 Sandy Hook, Araunoho .. 48 10 1 Mere Mere 13 1 6 Orangimea 4 n 9 Nukuhau .............. 6 1 0 Totals 2620 2344 546

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