EDEN BY-ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 156, 29 March 1926, Page 6

EDEN BY-ELECTION

JOYS OF CAMPAIGNING REFORM CANDIDATE’S SPADE WORK "Dominion” Special. Auckland, March 28. Good work with a long-handled shovel was done by Sir James Gunson at Gratia, when, with members of his party, he laboured with vigour to extricate his motor-car which had gone over the edge of the road on the detour. The Reform candidate was hastening to address a meeting of electors at Brigham’s Creek, and in passing along a narrow road at the back ot Gratia he was forced to the side of the road by another vehicle. Rains had rendered the road treacherous, and the heavy can partially overturned in a deep depression. Rain was falling, but the party, which included the Reform organiser (Mr. E. A. Davy), set to work to dig the car out. Another car came along, and the candidate reached Brigham’s Creek meeting, wet and muddy, but unperturbed. He delivered a vigorous address, and was complimented by several speakers . on not disappointing those who had joun neved through the rain to hear him. In the evening again Sir James Gunson went out from the city to Hobsonville, driving • through the heavy rain over some particularly bad pieces of road. Here, too, appreciation . was expressed at the candidate’s action in keeping his appointment under aidverse circumstances.

The Labour candidate, Mr. H. G. R. Mason, also had a motor accident. The car, which was travelling to his meeting at Henderson, collided with the back of a Chinaman’s cart in a dark country road, and suffered some damage to its radiator and lamps. Mr. Mason arrived ten minutes late at the meeting, and had to cut his address short in order to catch the last train back to town.

STRENGTH OF THE ROLL. “Dominion” Special. ’ Auckland, March 28. Since the roll'for the general election closed between 700 and 800 names have been added to the Eden roll, aiid nearly 550 have been removed for vari-' ous reasons, such as death and removal from' the district. The roll on Friday afternoon stood at 13,888. The' supplementary roll, which will consist of fewer than twenty pages, should be available about Thursday next. Seamen will have to obtain electoral rights as heretofore, but it is doubtful if any voters of this class are resident in Eden. CLOSING DATE FOR NOMINATIONS Nominations tor the Eden, by-election, which will be held on April 15, will close on April 6. The roll closed on March 26, the date of the issue of the writ.