LYTTELTON SEAT.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17631, 7 December 1922, Page 8

LYTTELTON SEAT.

ME MACAETNEY AT WOOLSTON. "When I first started out on this stunt, I had the wind up more about going to Woclston than anywhere else,"' Mr R. Macartney, Reform candidate for Lyttclton, candidly admitted to hi.; audience at the Woolston School last night. "But we have got on well together, after all," he added. "We hare had our little interjections and repartee, but we are all good friends, and I'U bo. glad to come back at any time. I have always been a worker, and a. hard worker, and I have always got the greatest sympathy foi the sane, hoii-'st worker. So far, we have fought this tight in a friendly spirit, and if 1 am beaten to-morrow, I will take, my beating standing up, and be as happy as ever 1 was on Friday morning. All I hope is that, as was the case at the last contest, it will be possible for me to shake hands with all who voted against me, as well as those who supported me." Woolston has loner been known as a Labour stronghold, but -Ur .Macartney has had excellent meetings oach time he lias gone there, chiefly because of his pleasant manner, his unfailing good temper, and his straightforwardness. That is to say, though Labour supporters have been numerous at his meetings, he has met their critickm squarely, stuck to his own opinions, and aired them, about extreme Labour. At his meeting last night, Mr Macartney was subjected to a good deal of good-natured heckling, but he emerged with flying colours, and now and then turned the tables very decisively on the interjector or questioner. One of the audience wished to know Mr Macartney's views on the fact that the Sunday fare was 5d more one way than, it was the other. "X only discovered that a day or two ago," responded the candidate, "and I think it is absolutely wrong, but it just goes to prove all the more that you haven't had a decent member in this electorate for a long time." (Laughter and applause). "You all know what the Reform Government has done," said the speaker at another stage, and ironical laughter from a section of the audience greeted his remarks. "Well, if you're still able to laugh about it, that is not so bad," said Mr Macartney. "If you were in certain countries under Labour rule, you would find it no laughing matter, especially the chap who has the taxes to pay." "After leading the 'specials' in 1913, don't you think, jou Have a face of brass to come here and ask the waterside™ for a vote-?" asked another questioner. "Any man wno will put up for an electorate stretching from Akaroa to here, must have a face of brass," was the reply, which .Mr . Macartney followed-up by expressing his views on strikes and law and order.

"What about Isitt" queried a voice, apropos of nothing in particular at another stage. "I can say.this," was the reply, "that if ©Very electorate in New Zealand has as good a man as Mr Isitt the country would not be badly off."" "I've been an employer for 39 years," Mr Macartney remarked during his address, "and not a single man I have employed will say I have robbed him, and not a single man of them would not come back to me to-morrow if he could. That, I think, is the best thing I can say to back up my views on sane, honest labour."

In the course of an eulogy of the qualities of Mr Massey, Mr Macartney said that the Prime Minister was one of the greatest statesmen New Zealand had ever seen. "And you all know it," he added. "If you would only drop your confounded politics and your rotten party jealousy,*you would all admit it. Yon have only to take what people in other countries think of him to find out his true worth. Australia envies us him, 'Belgium and France have honoured him, Great Britain looks on him as one of her |rreat*>«t 'colonial statesmen; and I think "outside opinion is a hetter indication of a man's true worth than what his own country professes to think of him."

"One of the first duties of the representative of this electorate is to see that the tunnel is electrified," declared Mr Macartney. "It is a disgrace to New Zealand that the tunnel should be just the same as. it was 63 years ago. That is- a much more important matter to the district than, for instance, trying to get proportional.representation." An obviously eccentrio gentleman who has been to the fore at all Mr Macartney's Woolsfon meetings, and whose, loquacity has earned him the sobriquet of "The Foghorn," was again in evidence and made numerous endeavours to trip the candidate. At the conclusion of the address, "The Foghorn" moved "a 'earty vote of thanks to Mr Macartney for'the ant evening we've 'ad, : and that this meeting is of the opinion that he is a first-class comedian." "The FogKorn" was treated as a joke, and a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Macartney, the meeting; concluding with cheers, W Mr McConibs and louder ones for Mr Macartney. NOTES FROM WELLINGTON. (SPKCIAL TO " THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, December 8. In the Wellington district to-day the weather is gloriously fine, and there is every prospect that it will remain fin© to-morrow, not only here, but throughout the Dominion. Under the circumstances there should be a record poll. Very complete arrangements have been made for getting the results expeditiously, .and also for their display. So far as Wellington and suburbs are concerned, there is nothing to add to the forecasts already sent. Sir John Luke (Reform), Mr R. A. Wright (Reform), Mr G. S. Mitchell (Independent), and Mr P. Fraser (Labour), all of whom sat in the last Parliament, are likely to be re-elected. There is a doubt about the East seat, in which two Reform candidates are fighting each other, as well as a Labour and an Independent candidate, the latter of whom has Mr Wilford's blessing unsought. The 'candidate • (Colonel McDonald) says there is a possibility that the Labour candidate may slip in on a minority vote. Mr Wilford is expected to be r*elected for Hutt, but Mr Bennett's supporters are sanguine of making a good showing in.the interests of Reform against the Leader of the Opposition. Some think Mr Bennett may .win, but this is not the general opinion. Close contests may be expected in the Wairarapa, with the odds on the Reform candidates, and in Otaki Mr W. H. Field (Reform) would be a certainty but for the presence of another Reformer in the contest. At present it is impossible to say what will happen, but Mr Field expresses confidence that he will be returned by a comfortable majority. The "Post," an independent journal, points out this evening that if Mr Massev is beaten the result would be a LiWal administration composed mostly of untried men, conspicuously weak in finance and dependent upon the sup. port of Red Labour for its existence. The last stage of Mr Massey's tour through Otaki, Levin, and Dannevirke districts has been a remarkable sue* cess. He has addressed crowded and enthusiastic meetings. He will not re* turn to Wellington till the afternoon of election day. .