THE PATEA SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1922, Page 4

THE PATEA SEAT.

MR. PEARCE TO STAND. A requistion signed by over 1000 ReForm electors of the Patea electorate was presented to Mr. G. V. Pearce at Patea on Thursday. Mrs. Honeyfield, senr., handed the petitions to Mr Pearce, and expressed the hope that he would accede to the request of the petitioners. Needless to say he could rely on their wholehearted support and they trusted he would be returned at the head of the poll. (Applause). In reply, Mr. Pearce ?aid he was pleased and honored to receive *such a largely signed requisition to again contest the Patea seat. It was signed by over 1000 Reform electors of the Patea electorate, whilst the total Reform vote at the last poll was only 2620 votes. He continued: “In reply to such a strong requisition I pledge myself, if alive and well, to go to the poll. It may be said I should not contest the seat against the sitting member, but I would 'remind those who hold this view that the sitting member was selected at a meeting held in Hawera about IS months ago at which many parts of the Patea electorate were not represented. For instance, Patea town called a meeting 'of the Reform Party and elected two delegates to attend the meeting at Hawera. These gentlemen represented a total voting power in Patea of about 700 votes. Hawera, with a total voting power of about 2800, should, aS a fair proportion have had eight delegates, instead of which the meeting was held with open doors and with about 80 local voters present. I understand the chairman ruled that this was a fair meeting to select a candidate, and the candidate so selected now holds the seat on a minority vote of the electors. For these reasons and others I think I am perfectly justified in contesting the seat. I might add that I am the only can*\ didate during the last twenty-five years who has won the seat on a majority vote for the Reform Party. The last two candidates have won on ft minority vote, and previous to my winning th® seat jn 1908, it had been held by the Liberal Party for at least 12 years.”