THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Evening Star, Issue 18142, 5 December 1922, Page 3

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

PRIME MINISTER’S ACTIVITY. It is stated in Wellington that there is considerable improvement in Mr Massey s cold. His temperature has decreased, and he hopes to be able to fulfil his engagements for to-day, and not have to forgo other meetings. LIBERAL LEADER'S OPTIMISM. Mr T. M. Wilford, leader of the Liberal Partv, relumed to yesterday after'a very active campaign in the dominion. He left Ohakunc at 4.30 on Saturday morning, having driven througr from Hastings by a car leaving at'l o clock in the morning, driving all night, t o spoke at Epuni on Saturday evening. Mr Wilford says he had a wonderful trip and splendid receptions. He addressed mg meetings at Christchurch and at Auckland, and was well received everywhere. *‘ I am not going to boast as to what the result will be,” said Mr Wilford. 1 No one can predict that with a certainty, but I never believed that there was such strength and support for my own side. Throughout the dominion many resolutions were passed that the time was_ ripe for a change of Government.” —Wellington telegram. VOTE SPLITTING APPEAL. '* With the amount of vote splitting threatened,” says Mr Massey _ in a statement issued yesterday, “it is almost a certainty that seats will be lost to the Government. While any elector has a perfect right to offer his services as a candidate, there are such things as loyalty to partv and country. I take the liberty of suggesting, therefore, that those electors, by whatever political names they call themselves, should not allow their votes to be jeopardised by candidates with little chance of election, but who, by taking voles from the stronger candidates, jeopardise the chances of the latter and weaken the Government’s position. Risks should not be taken by those who admit the Government has dono wonderfully well.” REFORM CANDIDATE'S CHARACTER ASSAILED. LADIES COMPELLED TO APOLOGISE. The usual placid and uninterrupted harmony of election campaigns in Invercargill has been violently upset by happenings in connection with the present contest for the seat, which for many years has been looked on as the special perquisite of the Hon. J. A. Hnnan, who for twenty years or thereabouts has completely vanquished the challengers of Ids right to represent the electors of his city. 'Tendencies in the direction of Reform nave been very marked recently, leading to the selection of a Massey candidate to contest the seat. This selection (says a Press Association telegram) was regarded as an intrusion, as Mr Armstead, a Reformer, would have the effect of endangering Dir Hamm’s chances by alienating a number of voters who on former occasions had no alternative but to support him in opposition to the Labor candidates. Tbo supporters of Mr Hanan, it is alleged, anticipating danger of bis defeat, infused a surplus amount of keenness into the contest that it is reported as likely to lead some of them into court for defamation of character. It Is said that lady supporters on Mr Hanan’s committee, not satisfied with attacking Mr Armstead’s political principles, went further, and made grave and serious charges against his moral character. Mr Armstead, in a statement to the newspapers, says: “A whispering campaign against my morals is being industriously circulated.” He has run a couple of rumors to earth, and supplies refuting evidence. He has now banded the names of the originators of the rumors to his solicitor, and says emphatically that he has traced these to members of Mr Hanan’s committee. At Mr Nosworthy’s meeting last night Mr Armstead delivered a speech and read two apologies from members of Mr Hanan’s ladies" committee, admitting unreservedly the unfounded nature of tho reports circulated, and apologising. It is further stated that one lady had supplied the names of those present at the meeting at (which Mr Armstead’s character had been ' discussed and the allegations made. Tho announcement was received with vociferous applause. THE REAL ISSUE. REFORM OR RED FLAGGERS? MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AT INVERCARGILL. The. Hon. W. N osworthy spoko before a large meeting at iiivercarcilj last night, a great part of his address being devoted to a criticism of the Liberal Party. Tho Minister quoted from the 1919 manifesto and from statements made by the party to-day to show that, in spite of criticism on the question of reduced borrowing, their programme would result in increases in the debt greater than under the Massey Government. Ho said that in 1919 the Liberals had urged a decrease in taxation. and yet Messrs Wilford and Eorhcs in the House a. year la ter told the Government to pile on taxation; the country could stand it. He said that at that time the Liberals had no vision, and were unable to see what was before tho country. In tho Libera! manifesto for this campaign reference was made to past leaders—Grey, Rallance, and Ecddon—but no mention was made of Sir Joseph Ward, who had done such fine service for the country during the war. The leader of the party later, in Auckland, suggested that Sir Joseph Ward would contest either the Invercargill or a Wellington seat, _Mr Wilford said to an in-terjector; “If he contests a seat we will not shriek.” It was not until Sir Joseph Ward had announced that he would not stand that Kir Wilford' began to eulogise his late leader. The Minister dealt at length with the Public Debt and soldier settlement, contending that the Government’s record was misrepresented by the Liberal critics, and that in spite of everything it waa sticking to the soldiers and 1 would see them through their troubles. He contended that the Government retrenchments were boldly carried out, and expressed the hope that with a return of prosperity no more retrenchment would be necessary after this financial vear. He explained the meat pool, and 'contended that this, _of legislation of tho complete organisation of the primary producers of this country was a movement which would reflect its achievement through the whole life of the dominion—town and country. In. conclusion, Mr Nosworthy argued that there was room for only two parties in New Zealand, and said that after tills election a line cf demarcation would be drawn, between Reform and the Red Flaggers. A vote of thanks and confidence in the Massey Government was carried. LIVELY POLITICS. [Special to the ‘ Star.'] CHRISTCHURCH, December 4. Interjections swelling in magnitude to an uproar were tho features of Mr L. M. Isitt’s meeting at St. Lake’s Hall to-night. In tho introductory portion of his speech the candidate referred to the difference which has occurred between himself and the candidate standing in tho Reform interests, Kir E. H. Andrews. Kir Isitt stated that had lie been a nervous man he should have been afraid to address them that night, because bis opponent (Mr Andrews) bad sent him a lawyer’s letter demanding that lie (Mr laitt) must publicly apologise for the statements he* (had made against Mr Andrews, and keep such apodogy advertised in the papers until the day of the elections. . 4 . T “Now,” said tbe candidate, # were 1 eight years of age instead of sixty-eight the bluff might go.” As it was, he was surprised that Mr Andrews should make such a futile request. ■ The only statement made in regard to Mr Andrews was in an address, when it had been alleged that the Rev. Mr Archer had expressed his opinion that Mr Andrews was his most formidable opponent. The speaker stated that he ■ had never consciously made a wrong statement about any inan, and he would be flrut ftp apologise flhonldho do. &3e “If

Mr Andrews said ho waa not receiving help from the P.P.A. as an organisation, or from any individual members, why should tho papers state definitely that tbo P.P.A. was endorsing his candidature 7” Then there was tho question of monetary help from that body. Tho speaker stated that ho should bo only too pleased if that night a committee of those present were set up and agreed to pay the expenses of his candidature; advertise it or not,_ as they pleased. Kir Andrews’s allegations were simply childish, he continued. "My next great offence,” said the speaker, “ is by saying that Mr Andrews is not in any sens© the Reform candidate.” Mr Andrews in a definite sense was not merely a candidate adopted by the P.P.A. ; he had been induced to a large extent to accept the candidature through tho persuasion of the P.P.A; This body had told Kir Andrews that it did not want a Socialist and a “Red Fed.” to stand in their interests.

RESENTS P.P.A. BACKING AND ATTACKS IT’S CHIEF. (Special to the ‘ Stae.’J CHRISTCHURCH, December 4. Mr Macartney, Reform candidate for the Lyttelton seat, is greatly annoyed at the announcement that his candidature has tbo endorsement of the P.P.A. Ho writes to the local papers as follows;—I notice that the Rev. Howard Elliott has seen fit to place my name among others whom the electors are recommended to support. I desire to let this individual know that if I had to rely upon the support that he could by his unscrupulous methods obtain for me I would not be a candidate for Parliament. I am sure that the electors of Lyttelton do not need any assurance as to my views on religious questions. I regard Howard Elliott as a danger to the community. CHRISTCHURCH NORTH CONTROVERSY. HOWARD ELLIOTT ATTACKS MR ISITT. LIVELY EXCHANGES. [Special to the ‘ Star.’J CHRISTCHURCH. December 5. The Rev. Howard Elliott had a very lively meeting last night, tho Christchurch North seat being the bone of contention, and Mr Isitt tho target for a fierce onslaught. Kir Elliott declared that Mr Isitt had recently placed himself in tho hands of tho Reform Committee, and offered to retire from the contest, but the Reform Committee decided that it could not go back on its compact to support Kir Isitt against Kir Andrews, the P.P.A. candidate. Mr C. S. Agar (ox-city councillor, who had refused nomination as the Reform candidate for Christchurch North) shouted out from the audience: That is not so, Mr Elliott. “ It is, Mr Agar.” “No, I was there, and I say it’s a ■ lie.” Kir Machin (another Reform supporter); “I was there also, and I say alk) it is a He.” Later on, Kir Agar rose to make a statement. Pandemonium reigned, and a constable bustled Mr Agar out of the ingMr Elliott said that Mr Isitt would realise that he had made a mistake, and if ever he came back to public life he would know ho had to give tho Protestants a square deal. When asked if he had anything to say regarding the endorsement of his candidature by the P.P.A., Mr E. H. Andrews, Independent Reform candidate for Christchurch North, said : I prefer to say nothing beyond the fact that anybody or body of persons lias tho right to endorse a candidate without reference to the candidate. Other societies and clubs have endorsed me as the candidate whom they prefer to support. I can only repeat, that, I am not in any sense of the word a sectarian candidate. I am standing straigH out as a Reformer, and advocating fair play to all parties, irrespective of creed. I shall be delighted to get—and I expect to receive—the votes of all who honestly desire tho present Government to bo returned to power at this election. Mr W. C. Dovereaux, Reform candidate for Christchurch East doctorate, staled that he did not object to that body's action in the least, and he would bo more than pleased if the Hibernian Society, too, saw fit to follow suit. Quite a. number of those interested in tho Labor movement had' assured him of their support, and ho would be glad if tho Labor unions themselves would endorse his candidature.