POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1922, Page 5

POLITICAL.

CAMPAIGN IN WELLINGTON. KBE.. CONTEST FOR HUTT SEAT. OPPOSITION LEADER’S PROSPECTS. (By Wire.—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. Wellington people certainly are not showing as much interest in politics as they displaced in 1919. One or two candidates have had rowdy meetings this week owing to the disinclination or a section of Labor voters to listen to the other side, but these incidents have not been numerous or impressive. The attendances at many of the election meetings has been small. Some vigorous campaigning is taking place in the Hutt electorate, where the supporters of the Reform candidate (Mr. H D. Bennett) seem disposed to take a hopeful view. The Labor candidate (Mr. Pritchard) is also being well supported. Mr. Wilford, as Leader of the Opposition, lia spending much of his time out of the electorate and trusting to his friends there to hold the fort for him. It is announced that the Prime Minister will speak at Petone, in Mr. Wilford’s territory, on the eve of the election. The Leader of the Opposition ought to be able to hold the seat, but there is a possibility of a surprise in the Hutt. The voting in 1910 was: Wilford (Liberal) 3281; Pritchard (Labor) 2333; Rishwork (Reform) 2213. In the Wellington provincial district the Government in the last Parliament held ten seats, the Liberals three, Independent one and Labor one. A survey of the position suggests that the Government has a good chance of boldin" its ten Wellington seats m the new Parliament, but apparently has little chance of increasing the number.

THE STRATFORD SEAT. MR. MASTERS. Mr Masters met the settlers of Makaiiu at 9 a.m- in the schoolroom, when quite a large number were present, including a fair number of .allies. Mr. A. Coyne occupied the chair, and expressed the wish that Mr. Masters would explain the provision of the Dairy Produce Control Bill, which had recently been before Parliament, as 't r Wa ,V ot vital interest to all present Mr. Masters dealt very fully with the matter and expressed the opinion that through the opposition the dairying industry has escaped what he thought to be one of the greatest disasters it was possibleto, imagine. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. After leaving Makahu, Mr. Maste . journeyed to Strathmore a “d addresswl his constituents at 2.30 pm. He had an enthusiastic meeting, especially in view of the fact that the hour was. an unsuitable one for the district. As m other centres, a feature of the meeting was the number of ladies who were present. A unanimous vote of thanks and en tire confidence was carried.