PAHIATUA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1303, 5 December 1911, Page 8

PAHIATUA.

PROBABLE REFORM WIN. One of tho seats which the Govern.' incnt is likely to lose is I'ahiatua. Two candidates are out aaaiust M.r. llosa (sitting member). The Independent candidal (Mr. W. H. Hawkins) has a showy platform manmr, and attracts large audiences, but ho is not a farmer, aud has avoided -stating how ho would vote on a no-confidencs motion. Mr. Hawkins has practicallj adopted tho Re--form platform, and has given some very trenchant criticism of the Government':) administration. Mr, J 11. Escott, tho Reform candidate, is j. smj" near Woodville, and haj been prominent in Farmers' Unioa mitters for yean, lie is New Zealand, borj, aud saw a';tiv« service in .South Atrica. ~e uua u >...y sound knowledge of politics, and though , hp indulges in no oratorical effects, ho ■ gives a very clear exposition of his. views. Ho gains from the fact that tho : news he now advocates are identical with those Ue expressed at Farmers' Union conferences and in debating contests long before ho contemplated standing for Parliament Tho Ministerial candidate has offered no criticism of Mr. Escott beyond calling him a "Conservative," but the Reform candidate's, liberal and progressive platform is an ample renly fo tnis. Mr. Escott has a largo following amongst tho No-License party, and in tho second ballot with Mr. Ross will probably command practically all the votes cast for Mr. Hawkins in the first ballot.