GENERAL ELECTION.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLI, Issue 41, 4 December 1914, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION.

Mr G. W. Russell was to speak invarious centres of the Clutha yesterday and in the Oddfellows' Hall at night, but, like the Germans, he received an urgent call for action "further north," so local electors h'ave missed the opportunity of being entertained by the "Wizard of Finance." The Balclutha branch of the Liberal League liad engaged the Oddfellows' Hall for the occasion, and as a salve to the dis--1 appointment, of friends —and also vVith 1 the sensible idea of getting something out ot the expense of hiring the hall— Mr E. Gallichan, secretary of the Liberal League, Wellington, was brought up aud he stepped into the breach last night. On account of insufficient advertising the meeting was poorly attenrieri, but the speaker was given a fair and very cordial hearing. MB SMITH'S MEETINGS. Mr C. R. Smith addressed the electors at Awamangu and Pukeawa on Saturday evening aud received a splendid hearing in both places, also a vote of thanks and confidence being accorded him at the conclusion of both meetings. He spoke at Waitahuna West at 3 p.m. on Monday to a fair audience Greenfield at 6.30 I p.m. when there were 40 electors present, and at Clydevale at 8 p.m. there being 38 present. A vote of thanks was i accorded him at each place.—Contributed. GREENFIELD HAS NO CONFIDENCE THE WARD PARTY. There were about 25 electors present at Mr C. R. Smith's Greenfield meeting, Mr > idtor Wilson occupying I the chair. The speaker had no platform or policy, and led the meeting to believe he was aft independent. lie . was questioned juf tg Sir Josegk Wat&'f

policy, but said that as he had only been going three weeks he could not answer. At the collusion a vote of thanks and confidence was proposed by Mr McLachlan, but this was defeated by an amendment of thanks to Mr Smith but 110 confidence in the Liberal party as led by Sir Joseph Ward. The amendment was carried by a live to one majority.—Greenfield correspondent.