OAMARU BY-ELECTION.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17728, 3 April 1923, Page 6

OAMARU BY-ELECTION.

QUESTION OF A LABOUR CANDIDATE. Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party, who is in Christchureh at present attending the annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party, was asked yesterday by a representative of "The Press" if it was intended to run a Labour candidate for the Oamaru seat.

Mr Holland replied that the decision to run a Labour candidate for the seat rested with the Oamaru branch of the party. Beyond that he could say nothing. STATEMENT BY MR MACPHERSON. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAH.) DUNEDIN, April 2. % Mr J. A. Maepherson, whose election as M.P. for Oamaru has hoen nullified, made the following statement to an "Otago Daily Times" reporter toJiight:— I shall definitely contest the Oamaru seat, and I wish to give an emphatic denial to the rumour that I have been approached to stand down in favour of Sir Joseph Ward. Tho Labour Council of Oamaru will not put up a candidate. Any csdidate in the Labour interests would be instigated only through the auspices of the Reform party.

OAMARU COMMENT. ~~~~ f i (special to "the "rasas.") OAMABU, April 2. Considerable activity is already in evidence in the political camps in anticipation of 'a strenuous contest. Mr Lee returned to Oamaru' this evening, and will get into the campaign at once. Commenting on the prospect of a triangular contest, the "North Otago Times" said this morning:—Discussing the result of the by-election at Tauranga, Mr Holland said that the result indicated the failure of the Liberal Party to "come back." "What Tauranga has made clear,"Mr Holland claimed, "is that the fight in the future is between the Labour Party and the 1 present Government." Anticipating the counter-thrust that Labour showed lack of courage by its failure to join in the fight at Tauranga, Mr Holland mads the excuse that the party had no organisation in that electorate. Another election iB pending. What will Mr Holland have to say. about Oamaru? If the fight of tho f inure is between the Labour Party and the present Government, as Mr Holland claims, can the New Zealand Labour Party allow the impending elec-' tion in (famaru to go by default? Mr Holland's answer is awaited with no little interest, particularly in view of the organised activities of the United Labour Council of North Otago during the campaign in December last. In any case, Mr Lee is a candidate against all comers, and his supporters are confident of success.

As a counter-blast, the local Liberal journal, fearing tho activities of the New Zealand Labour Party, this evening published an inspired paragraph, in which it is alleged that the North Otago Labour Council repudiates Mr Holland as their political leader, and does not associate with the official Labour Party. All of which is so much, propaganda in the campaign to save the face of the Liberals. It will be interesting to observe the progress of negotiations during the next few days. Certainly Mr Holland cannot say there is no Labour orgnaisation in Oamaru. He has paid two visits here within recent times, while Mr J. Munro, M.P., was in Oamaru the other day, and met representatives of the unions on Labour organisation business.'