THE RANGITIKEI ELECTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9598, 18 September 1909, Page 5

THE RANGITIKEI ELECTION.

CAMPAIGN OF RIVAL CANDIDATES.

By Telegraph—Press Association. TAIHAPE. September 17. Mr R. W. Smith, Liberal candidate, continued his campaign tonight, speaking to a large number of electors at Utiku. He welcomed the second ballot, and felt confident that he would be returned by a large majority. He said his chances had been decried bv the Opposition papers, but the polling on Thursday last gave "them their I'eply. The unsuccessful candidates promised to support him. He had been strongly advocating the purchase of the freehold of Native allotments, on which Utiku was built, and had been assured by the Native Minister that there was now nothing to prevent the attainment of this right. The Native owners were perfectly agreeable to sell. He wanted to see lands settlement applied to Native lands, as there were large! areas held to the detriment of closer settlement. He read a telegram from the Hon. J. Carroll, stating that the Awarua Block would be opened up for settlement at an early date. He was upposed to the Government assisting further immigration, a'n.d supported the Arbitration Act. ■ At Mangaweka to-night, Mr Hockly met a large attendance of electors. In his opening remarks he made reference to the Second Ballot Act. the principle of which he condemned. It was his opinion that if the bare majority system was generally disapproved a system should be devised {under which the absolute majority'could be ascertained without the need for a second ballot. He declared that unimpeachable testimony could be adduced to show that his opponent had effected a complete change of front since last election.