GENERAL ELECTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3017, 13 October 1908, Page 6

GENERAL ELECTION.

THE RANGITIKEI SEAT. Py Telegraph—Press Association. TAIHAPE, October 12. Mr R. W. Simth, the Independent Liberal candidate for the Rangitikei electorate, opened his campaign with. a speech at Moawhango on Saturday. He stated that while his tendency was Liberal, he would not submit to follow the dictates of the party leaders on questions where he held decided views. He avowed himself a freeholder. He was opposed to local option in any one district, but if it were made a Dominion vote, affecting at once issu3 every license in New Zealand, he would favour trying no-license, and vote in that direction. He did not favour a bare majority, as in all probability that would mean iiquor galore for three years, iollowed by three years' drought. He was accorded a vote of thanks. THE TIMARU SEAT. A petition in circulation, asking Mr James Craigie, Mayor for the past seven years, to allow himself to be nominated as a candidate for the Timaru seat, is being largely signed. Mr Craigie says he intended, at the expiration of his Mayoral term,, to take a holiday trip to England, and retire from public affairs, but if he is assured that it is the wish of, the people of Timaru he will consent to stand.