FRANKLIN CONTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 134, 9 June 1925, Page 5

FRANKLIN CONTEST.

PREMIER LENDS A HAND. TO ADDRESS THREE MEETINGS. I MR. IT. E. HOLLAND'S CAMPAIGN". il'.j Telej-Tapa.-Special to ''Star.' , ) PUKEKOHE, this day. As reported in yesterday's "Star" the Prime Minister, the Hon. J. O. Coates, ( has decided to take part in the Frank- F lin by-election, and will arrive in the a electorate on Monday. The visit will a he his first to the Auckland province in * his rapacity as Premier, a fact which * has suggested to the people of Franklin t the desirability of giving him the «varm?st welcome possible under the. circtim- c stances. The supporters of the Reform ' party, however, are in something of a £ difficulty as the object of the visit is ' idmittedly to assist the candidature of ' Mr. E. 1). McLennan, and the possibilities are that if a public banquet were a arranged in honour of the Prime Mm- s ister the necessary limitation in invita- * tions might cause petty jealoueies that ' would prejudice the chances of the Re- | c form candidate. r r It has been decided to meet the Prime s Minister on his arrival at Pukekohe ' with a brass band, which will conduct j him and the Reform supporters to the j local Government building, the Post j Officp. from the steps of which, it is hoped, Mr. Coates will address the pupils of the local schools who will be given a holiday for the occasion. The Prime Minister will meet a number; of prominent Reformers at an informal and semi-private luncheon on Monday, and it is anticipated that part of his time will be occupied by one or two short! ( deputations dealing with local matters.! - Tn the evening a Reform rally will be 1 held in the Premier Hall, Pukekohe.' l when it is expected Mr. Coates will , < address about 800 of the electors. The i < Mayor of Pukekohe, Mr. John Routly, I • will preside, and there will be a« prominent platform party. The same hall ' will be used the following evening by J Mr. Harry Holland, the Leader of the ' Labour party, when the Mayor will again ■ < preside. j On Tuesday Mr. Coates will probably! address an* afternoon meeting at | ' Papakura, at which the chairman of the ' Road Board will preside. In the evening it is expected that the j' Premier will speak at Otahuhu, when I the Mayor of the borough will preside.' . The poll will be taken on Wednesday. l| •Tune IT, between the hours of ft a.m. and ■ 6 p.m. Mr. J. Patterson. the : Returning Officer, will have his head- ' quarters and principal polling booth at ■ the Pukekohe Courthouse. A list of 42 \

polling booths is published in the ■ advertising columns of this issue. ! ' Facilities For Absent Voters. . The Returning Officer points out that absent voters may vote in any post j office outside the district at any time,: within the hours of ordinary post office business on polling day. The method i of voting is by declaration. The elector has merely to make the declaration before j j the postmaster that he is entitled to vote, | ! whereupon a voting paper will be,: supplied, which document, after being i filled up and sealed, will be forwarded to | ' the Returning Officer. The seamen' 3 ■ votes Tif there arc any) will be recorded! in the usual way. namely, by first apply-1 j ing to the Registrar of Electors, Franklin, 1 for a Seaman's Elector's Right, and ■ thereafter on polling day recording their votes at a post office. FUSION DEVELOPMENT. LIBERAL EXECUTIVE CONSULTED. ' (By Telegraph.—Special to " Siar.") WELLINGTON, this day. No further information was obtain-

able from Mr. T. M. Wilford last night following the receipt of a suggestion from the Prime Minister of a committee of four members from each party to consider a union of forces. Probably the Opposition leader is submitting the whole matter to the Liberal executive, which, with himself, comprises Messrs. Sidey, Xgata, Forbes, Veitch, Masters. Biiddo. Horn and Murdoch. And from these, if the proposals are accepted, the Liberal four would undoubtedly be picked. Any committee could hardly go far without consultations with the respective leaders, as most important agreements would need to be made on policy points and future taxation. A conference is sug- : nested for the day following the Franklin by-election and a week prior to the opening of Parliament. It is recognised that if any agreement is made it must be promptl) - effected, as the session"s arrangements will naturally be contingent on the result. THE TATJRANGA SEAT. LIBERAL PARTY DELEGATES. (By Telegraph.-Oivn Correspondent.) TE AROHA, this da; A meeting of the Te Aroha branch of the Liberal party was held in the Theatre Royal last evening. There was a fair attendance. Mr. \V. C. Kennedy, president, occupied the chair. A strong executive was formed, Messrs. J. Wild, r>. MeMnhon. H. Hancock, V. Edwards, IJ. Carroll. G. Jenkinson, and S. Vernon, ! \a\r.<r elected. I Mr. McMahon moved: "That this meetI ing of the Liberal party pledges itself to support Mr. Robert Coulter's candidature." The chairman said that until such time as it was known who were to be candidates, it would be unfair to pledge themselves to any particular candidate, hoping that the delegates to be appointed would meet with open, unbiased minds. and support the candidate best able to carry the Liberal banner. Mr. Woodroofe stated that in his opinion it was the delegate*' intention to stand by the candidate selected from "thi? side of the hill." The motion was carried unanimously, and the following were appointed delegates : Messr--. McMahon, Woodroofe, and Fitzgerald. In answer to a question Mr. Kennedy stated that at present he was not prepared to say definitely whether lit would be a candidate, but in that event he would submit his name to the confer ence at Matamata shortly. If rejected he would stand by "the selected candidate, and would give him whole hearted support. LIBERAL PARTY EXECUTIVE. TO MEET ON' WEDNESDAY. (By Telcgrnph.—Special to "Star") WELLIXGTOX. this day. The Liberal party executive meets a' Wellington on Wednesday.