AN ORGY OF POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 163, 28 March 1923, Page 7

AN ORGY OF POLITICS

TAURANGA’S EXPERIENCE MR. MASSEY AND SIR JOSEPH WARD HOLD RIVAL MEETINGS IN THE TOWN The Tauranga by-election will be held to-day. Excitement Tn the electorate is at fevor heat and heavy polling is anticipated. The campaign was brought to an end in the town of Tauranga last night, when both Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward addressed meetings. BY TELEGRAPH.— Special Correspondent. Tauranga, March 27. The extraordinary interest that has been maintained without flagging for the fifteen days’ active campaigning for the Tauranga seat in Parliament reached to-night the highest pitch of electioneering excitement ever experienced in tad district. This unique condition was the rule throughout the greater part of the electorate. All the centres of population resounded with impassioned • political argument.

Fighting in Five Towns. It would be a bold flight of imagination to suggest that the electors had a feast of oratory. The numerous disputants were much too anxious to win votes at the eleventh hour to afford leisure for thrilling eloquence. They just talked all they knew of ordinary party politics, and did their best everywhere and all the time. It is quite probable that never before in the political history of New Zealand have so many members of Parliament taken the platform simultaneously in eager demand for and defence of a seat in an emergency election. Over a dozen legislators fought to the last ditch in each of the five towns for victory, and in some places the fighting was carried forward in groups. • There had been some smart party manoeuvring a,s regards obtaining halls, and each of the parties that had. been outgeneralled in this respect had to be content with the ample out-.'ff-door accommodation. The heavens, fortunately, were very merciful, the weather being a delight. A part of each side had this experience, and. thus there was no occasion for complaint. Rival Meetings. The keenest interest was manifested in the town of. Tauranga, the headquarters of the electorate, where there was an interesting competition for favour between the giants of the campaign, Two meetings were held simultaneously, Sir Joseph Ward speaking in the Town Hall and Mr. C. E. MacMillan, the Reform candidate, supported by the Primo Minister, addressing electors from a balcony overlooking the triangle. The Opposition . candidate’s assembly appeared to be the more impressive, and prominently so in point of numbers; but it was patently more embellished in the matter of stage management, and some of the enthusiasm was somewhat artificial. "For All It Was Worth."

The political, game was played for all it was worth. A number of Natives who have not a Vote at the poll were wearing the ribbons of Liberalism, and anplauding vociferously at random. However, apart from these trimmings, the meeting was a great party success, and so much so as to urge the supporters of the candidate to claim a triumph. Some rather extraordinary . assertions were mado as to the service and experiences of the Liberal “flying squadron,” but as tho electors are to decide the issue on the morrow, it is not necessary to elaborate their purport. . The assembly in the Triangle was quite a good, muster, there being not fewer than 500 adults present. There were not many children, which fact in itself was a contrast.- The enthusiasm of the electors in attendance was solid and enduring, and both tho Reform candidate and the Prime Minister were heartily supported. Tho number of the audience was never a fixed quantity, there being many roamers -bptween the meeting-places. Each speech from the balcony was a plain statement. ■ Enthusiastic votes of confidence were recorded at each, mooting, and. cheers given without stint for the principals and the Primo Minister, whose popularity has indisputably been an outstanding feature of tho campaign. There were other speakers in the townships along the Bay of Plenty. The Hon., J. Gx> Coates addressed one meeting in To Puke end Mr. Atmore (one of Sir Joseph’s aides) another. Heavy Polling Anticipated. There is no necessity for further conjecture as to the result. It is now in tho hands of the electors, and very many of them are unusually excited about their responsibility. Exceptionally heavy polling is anticipated. The Prime Minister leaves Tauranga to-morrow afternoon for Te Aroha. where he may stop overnight before, proceeding south for Wellington, probably on Thursday night. Itriins been a severe campaign for the candidates, and it is certain that if tho result goes in a certain direction it will be .a long time before Tauranga is again given so much extravagant excitement and advertisement.