RAGLAN SEAT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19115, 26 September 1927, Page 8

RAGLAN SEAT.

ELEVEN M.P.'S IN THE FIGHT. RISK OF VO^E-SPLITTING. [THE PRESS Special Service.] "WELLINGTON, September 25. On Monday there will be eleven members of the House of Representatives engaged in the political firing line in Raglan. On the Reform side there are, the Prime Minister, the Hon. Mr McLeod, Mr V. H. Potter, and Mr D. S. Reid. Helping Labour, are Mr H. E. Holland, Mr P. Fraser, Mr W. J. Jordan, and Mr M. J. Savage. Helping the Liberal candidate are Sir Joseph Ward, Mr \V. A. Veiteh, and Mr H. Atmore. The issue is still in doubt, but the general opinion is that Labour should win the scat 011 vote-splitting. SIR JOSEPH WARD WELCOMED. [THE PRESS Special Service.] HAMILTON, September 25. That the people of the Dominion still retain a warm regard for the late Libera] Leader was demonstrated by the enthusiastic welcome given Sir Joseph Ward on his arrival at Ngaruawahia. on Saturday, where he addressed about 700 electors in support of Mr T. Parker, the Liberal candidate. As Sir Joseph Ward entered the crowd rose and applauded him, renewing the outburst when lie began speaking. He criticised the land policy of tho present Government, and dealt at length with the financial position, which, he said, was rapidly getting from bad to worse. The national debt now stood at £283,000,000, having increased in the past two years by £18,000,000, the interest bill 011 the latter figure increasing by £900,000. The whole position called for a close review. In addition there had been a shrinkage of £9,000,000 in the value of exports, while the revenue had decreased, and taxation increased, now being greater per capita than for the whole of Australia. Sir Joseph Ward said he was prepared to support the present Government, in any measure likely to give the settlers tho benefit of cheaper money, or a better land tenure. CANDIDATES' MEETINGS. (PBES3 ASSOCIATION TBT,ECHIAU.) HAMILTON, September 24. The biggest audience so far in the Raglan election campaign assembled at Ngaruawahia last night to hear the Liberal canddiate, Mr T. Parker, and Mr W. Veiteh, M.P., for Wanganui. The latter criticised the Government, and said that tho country's greatest need was a return to the principles of Liberalism. The meeting was an enthusiastic one. Mr Lee Martin, the Labour candidate, spoko at Te Mata, and gave a forceful address on the question of finance to farmers, criticising the policy of Reform.