BY-ELECTION ISSUES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9373, 31 October 1921, Page 5

BY-ELECTION ISSUES.

AUCKLAND EAST SEAT. PROGRESS OF THE CAMPAIGN. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 30. . The Auckland East by-election campaign has been proceeding without much incident for the past fortnight, but matters are beginning to become rather more interesting, aa polling day (next Wednesday) draws near. Tie four candidates have been busily engaged addressing meetings nightly, and m the case of the Hon. G. W. Russell and Mr Lee; two meetings have been held on several evenings. Mr Foster, the Independent candidate, may be "counted out" from the beginning, and the .contest thus really lies between the Reform, Liberal, and Labour candidates. Mr Clutha Mackenzie has been having well-attended and enthusiastic meetings, and hie chances of success are regarded by his supporters as most favourable. It had been generally understood from the beginning of the campaign that Mr Mackenzie would be given the support of the Protestant Political Associatioin, but no definite declaration was made until yesterday, when the fact that he i 8 the official (candidate of this) organisation was publicly announced. Mr Russell is conducting a very active campaign, and he neglects no opportunity of employing all those fine arts* of electioneering finesse of which he is a postmaster. It is doubtful whether he advanced his cause much by taking part m the Labour Day procession, practically under the banner of the official Labour candidate, but he thereby enhanced his reputation for coolness and self-assurance. The exmember for Avon still continues to style himself the "Liberal-Labour" candidate, and, m his leaflets, to throw many flattering bouquets at himself. Thus the electors are not mereiy reminded of the "great acts of Mr Russell's Ministerial term" (m the National Ministry), but are informed that he is "one of the ablest speakers, and one of the greatest authorities on State finance m the Dominion." This candidate is not by any means hiding his lights, of whatever .value they may be, behind a bushel. Mr Lee's candidature, also, is being pushed for all it is worth by the labour Party. Labour members of Parliament, who evidently do not find that their duties to their constituents require their constant attendance at Wellington, have been coming up m relays of ones and twos to assist Mr Lee. This week-end finds Messrs Holland and Fraser on the scene, both speaking here this evening. Of Mr Foster it is unnecessary to cay much, beyond that he may be expected to be at the bottom of the list on Wednesday. The indications still are that Mr Mackenzie will win, with Mr Lee probably second. One of the few incidents m the election campaign occurred on Friday evening, while Mr Russell was addressing an open-air gathering m Symonds Street, at which about 1000 p_eople were present. There were some interruptions from the opposition element, and a man at the rear of the crowd threw an egg at the candidate. Mr Russell promptly stepped into the ring formed by the crowd, and said: "If the miscreant that threw that egg will step into the ring with me, old and grey-headed as I am, I'll treat him m just the way a man would deal with such a cowardly cur." At a subsequent meeting m St. Andrew's Hall, Mr Russell jokingly remarked that he was glad that the hen that laid the egg was m perfect health, as the missile had struck his clothing.