STAGE SET

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 165, 15 July 1941, Page 2

STAGE SET

WAITEMATA CONTEST

BY-ELECTION ON SATURDAY

Full preparation has been made for the Waitemata by-election which is to be held on Saturday. Thirtysix polling places will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.. and absent voters, including soldiers in camp, will be allowed to vote at any post ollice. Postal votes can be made by ill or infirm persons or those who would have to travel more than live miles and special forms may be obtained from the returning ollicer. Mr. \\". A. Wilson, who has established his headquarters in the Now Zealand Express Company's Building in Courthouse I.ano.

In preparation for tin* general election, all voters on thi> rolls of Auckland olei'torates are at present beinp circularised and where a voter has moved to a new electorate lie is instructed to enrol in it. In eases where electors cannot be located the names are struck oil the roll. Failure to vote at by-elections does not result in names being removed at cither by-elections or general elections, aeeordinp to the registrar of electors. Mr. J. 11. V. I'a it. At one time persons not. voting were circularised alter the election, but this had not been clone recently.

The National party has now called j for nominations, closing on August •">. for a candidate to contest the Waitemata seat at. tlie general election. In accordance with its previous decision the party is not contesting the seat at the by-election. ADDRESS BY AIK. If. T. HEAD Reduction of the number of Parliamentary constituencies, abolition of j the L'ppcr House, and the institution of preferential voting wore urged by Mr. H. T. Head, candidate for the] Pan-New Zealand Political Union, in i the Waitemata by-election, when he addressed a meeting at the Foresters' Hall, Birkenhead. last evening. The Mayor of Birkenhead, Mr. E. J. Osborne, presided. I Mr. Head dealt with a variety of subjects, and in criticising the agricultural policy of the Government. said that the method nsed in arriving at the guaranteed price was most unfair to producers. The candidate strongly advocated the complete mechanisation of the New Zealand forces overseas, and said that the New Zealand Division should not again be sent into action without being so equipped. Last week Mr. Head addressed > meetings on similar lines at Kumeu. ' Helensvillo, Waimauku, Albany and Glenfield. MRS. DREAVER'S CAMPAIGN Two excellently attended meetings were addressed at Greenhithe and Birkdale yesterday afternoon and evening by Mrs. Drcaver. In the evening Mr. C. \Y. Iloswell. M.l'., was the supporting speaker. In answer to questions assurances were given by Mrs. Dreaver that she would advocate better libraries for primary > schools. Support would also be ] given to the introduction of eyospecialist and optical facilities for primary and secondary schools which would be on the same scale a.s dental j supervision. MR. DARLOAY'S POLICY The need for a harbour bridge and also the necessity for sympathetic treatment for returned sol-1 diers were urged by Mr. W. B. Par-1 low. Independent candidate for Waitemata. in his addresses to meetings yesterday at Brown's Bay and Greenhithe. The meeting at ! Greenhithe in the evening was I largely attended and a vote of thanks I and confidence was passed. INCREASED PENSIONS The need for an increase in pensions for soldiers, widows and oldage pensioners was mentioned by Mr. N. V. Douglas. Democratic Labour party candidate at three well-attended meetings at Mairangi Bay, Brown's Bay and ai. Milford last night. The candidate also stated that conscription of manpower for overseas service should not He allowed when there was a shortage of men in New Zealand. Mr. Douglas was supported by Mr. .1. A. Leo, M.P., and was well received at all three meetings. DOMINION'S WAR EFFORT Meetings at Dairy Flat. Glenfield and Beach Haven were held yesterday by Mr. P. K. Gardner. Independent candidate. Among the points discussed were concentration on the war effort, allowances to soldiers' dependents and fair treatment in connection with the rehabilitation of soldiers. PATRIOTIC ART UNION Organised by group rive of the Fighters' Mother Campaign in aid of the Fighting Forces Fund, the art union for a ligt motor car and a power-driven dawn mower will be drawn late this afternoon. Group ti\v comprises transport and public bodies. By permission of the Min- ; ister of Internal Affairs the drawing ■ date of the art union, which was to 1 have been July 1, was extended to \ to-day. PUBLIC SPEAKING Exceptionally high standard was I displayed by the contestants in the annual public-speaking contest of tlie Auckland Junior Chamber of ComI I merce for the Doull Cup held last I night. The cup was won hy Mr. 'P. 1 ! H. H. Skeet. Mr. Bruce Mel,. Wallace [\ gained the Chairman's Challenge Cup ; ( for the most improved speaker.