WESTLAND ELECTION.

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1911, Page 2

WESTLAND ELECTION.

LARGE AND ENTHUSIASTIC

MEETING AT KUMARA.

(Published by Arrangement)

There was a large and -enthusiastic gathering at tho Adelphi Theatre Kumara, last evening' for the purpose of forming- a committee to funther the interests of Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., at the coming ©lection.

The chair was occupied by Mr J. A. Murdoch- (Mayor), and. tho following had seats on the platform: — Miessus J. Mand'l, T. W. Duff (County Chairman), T. T. Jones, J. Palmer, D McGonaion, T. J. McGuigan and D. J. Evans. The hall was crowded, aijout 250 being present and the proceeding's were very, enthusiastic.

Mr J. A. Murdoch (Mayor) in opening the meeting said they were all aware of the purpose for which they had been gathered togetherr. He was very pleased- to see such a large attendance present. It was an exceptionally large gathering far such an •occasion, and it bid fair fo:' a pleasant and exciting 1 time next November. H-8 was not afraid to show on which side hie was and what candidate he was supporting. As they- started in the open, h e hoped that they would put up a clean fight lake they had dons in the past two elections. It did not speak well of a cause when it was necessary to (resort to anonymous letters lilie those th°y had seen in one or two papers on ' the . West Coast lately. There had b.een a letter in a West Coast papec signed by "VV'orkeT,"' Waiuta, but it was impossible for .that • letter to have come from Waiuta in the time, and he was certain that tfro letter ox the writer had never seen Waiuta. The:v? were some, People who wer-i always prepared to find- sinister motives fo-'---anything that war- dene. If one came out on behalf of a candidate who was opposed to them then they insinuated ,/bhat they were out far something, that they wore afi?r a se;at in the -Upper House o-J 'something else. In. Hokitika it was the work cf Mir Evans., i-n Kumara Mr Murdoch, but reaver any credit for! their member M,r Seddon. He >rsferne d to the trans-T-sremakau water race, a work of g.reat national importance, and said that the credit of -getting- that work in hand was not due to him but to the work and influence of Mr T. Y. Ssddon. They were thare that night in support of Mr Seddon. He was there because of •fclie virtues of Mr Seddon. He was again suppor.tm& Mr Seddon because of his own conspicuous ability in (representing Wqstland in tba Pa:{liament ■of New . Zealand. Ho thanked the largo crowd present for their attendance that .'■ 'leven'i'ng. .(Applause). Mr Muirdocli. th,?n read the following te.lsga-am frdm Mr Seddon: — "My compliments to my committee. I appreciate thoroughly their effoiits, and fee! confident that with ouc continued dteterminatitoh the rctsu.lt of next election will be saisfactory to them and m?..., Mind tho rolls. Best wishes (signed) — Thomas Seddon."

He concluded by stating .he. was glacl tho committee had selected the Theatre in which to meet, as the Town Hall could not have held tlw large assemblage.

Mr T. T. Jones moved that all present farm a committee to further tho interests of Mr Serf don and sccvr.te his re-election. In doing so he expressed his pleasure -at the manner in which M>r Seddon had represented th.l district in 'Westland, and he felt that he -fully deserved the continued support of tlie-pcople of the district.

Mr G. Game:' said he had vary much pleasuco in seconding the motion. Ho had followed him *n. his political career and he considered him a fit and proper person to represent them' hi Pari'lament

Mr E. Mulyihill had much. pleasure in supporting the motion. Ho did not know of anything he had don,^ but that had been done for the good of the. place. 1 He was glad indeed, ! to have the opportunity of exp:ies-s- ! ing his appreciaton of Mr Seddon's past services.

Mr P. T. Todd said Tom Seddon came to, stand for Westland he said he would at least opt one vote, that of P. T. Todd. He felt that the manner in which he had :tgpresented them was -a credit to h'-'m and them. They had got good men in on the Coast and they should see that they kept them theire. 'It was to their interest to put in Mr Seddon. They wei'o carping against the Ward Government, but that was the Government for the West Coast and one and alb- should heartily support it and their pnesent member Tom Seddon.

Mr J. Mandl had pleasure -in supporting the motion. He had watched Mr Seddon and .knew what he had dons for Westland .and his wo,rk in Pa:jli'ament and they could not find a better man . to -represent them. Th«rc was. not the slightest doubt that the, Bres-ent Government would go back stronger.; than ever and it was their' duty to ' send Mr Seddon back to continue to represent them who wa stlie best man for the district. He-had, grieat pleasure in supporting- tho' motion and in supporting Mr S«<ldon they would have nothing to a-eg-reit. (Laud Applause).

The motion was then put and. carField with applause.

Mr E. Mulvihill- moved that the following f orrri an executive committee to further tlis interests of Mr Sedd'on at the coming 1 elc.ction : — Messrs j. A. Murdoch, G. Garner, G. Witty, F. O'Flaherty. J. Murdoch, J. MuTchic, S. Benyon, \V» Blackman, J. Holmes jnr., W. McMahoji, L. Leech, T. T. Jomes. F. Roberts, and E. Mulvihiill

Mr D. Palmer seconded the motion and urged all friends to do their utmost to- •■ further the interests of th^ir present member. He had never scratched' but the name, of Seddon and he never would' till a better .man camo along-. He felt that fox the last threo years : young 1 Tom had: got moro iox the distinct than his 'father

would have got. He was .pleased with his work and would heartily support the motion. ■•-—

Mr T. W. Duff (County Chairman) expressed his pleasure at beincr present and seeing" such a larg-« gathering present for the occasion. This was the second lairge meeting of supporters he had been present at during the past few days and he thought that they should bs well satisfied of the sptendid work that he \>as carrying" out i-n representing them in Pai> liam°nt. Much had been said of the petty votes that Mr Seddon had secured, and all he could say was that a great amount of public moneys had been secured for expenditure in Westland by their member Mr Seddon. for [which he deserved- then hearty 'support. They had also found Mr Sed-' don an earnest and p-amstakinsr man who took a very keen interest in the welfare of New Zealand as a whole. "When in Wellington a feAV days ago M:' Seddon, i though, busily engaged with his parliamentary duties, had found plenty of tim-q to attend and secure the interests of Westland that lie desired to bring before the Ministers. He was g-lad to find such a. large assemblage present prepared to push tho interests of Mr Seddon until they gave a better vtesuH tlvan that of last election and in.* meeting that night augured well for such a result. Mr Seddon deserved -every efforts being made on his behalf and he was glad to see such ?. laxg-e assemblage pressnt. (Applause).

Mir T. J. McGuigan "supported the motion, expressing his hear'y support of the crmdidateure of Mr Tom Seddon. He thought- they would be on>e and all with him. if they were true Liberals, in supporting tho candidature of Mr Seddon.

Mr D. J. Evans said ho was pleased of the opportunity of saying a few \vor.ds. They we.ro appointing an executive that evening and one of their duties, their chief one, was to watch tho rolls. They knew how the 3olls had been stuffed at last election. At Hokitika they had on the roll 59 bricklayers, whereas it would be 'veary hard to find five there. Mr Tom Seddon was a native of Kumara and dt should be with a feeling pride that the; people of Kumara should give him their hearty support. They had made a good start that even- ; ing and should not miss any opportunity of pushing- on the interests of I their candidate. They had heard the" message sent by Mi Seddon to watch the rolls. He hoped the people, would take to heart his few words and would ask one and all to do theiir utmost to further his interests/. Mr Se'ddon.in his telegram, had asked them to watch the rolls and that was a viery important part of the work. They did not want to have similar happenings to those that took place at last election. Mr Murdoch had referred to an anonymous letter •sig-neid "Worker," Waiuta, which he had good reason to know was written in an office in Greymouth. He would also .refer them to another anonymous letter in the Grey u Sta^ n signed "Seddonite," Hokitika. He said it without the slightest fear of denial that no Sed'donite, signed that letter. In Hokitika the' supporters of Mr Seddon were fighting fair, and five yiears ago decided against the publishing of anonymous letters. The letter signed Seddonite came from the same squ'-Icc as "Worker/ 5 and was written in an attempt to injure M.r Seddon in the eyes of Waiuta neisidents. However, that was a procedure- the other side had followed in very many instances at last election but. without achieving success. H,e would ask the executive and all friendis to sec that at this election there were no dead men on. tho roll, that those on tho noli were persons who could vote without fear or Favor and without any coercion from the fltber side. (Loud „ and continued applause).

The motion was then put and carried by acclamation. '

The Mayor thiin invited tho ladies present to fo:/m a ladies' committee and those present, (some, twenty in number) signified their willingness, to do so.

J The. Ch'aiiinVa n . notified that the 'members of the executive would ' be notified of their meeting's in due course, and a highly satisfactory and enthusiastic meeting concluded with cheers for M:: Tom Seddon and Sir J. G. Ward.

A largely attended maeting" in the interests, of Mr T. Y. Seddon was held at Kanieni on Tuesday night, 68 being 1 present. Mr A. . Cummin g occupied the chair. Mr PL H. BaucKe moved that those present." with power to add to theiit number, be appointed a committee for tte Kanieri district to work for Mr Seddon's lie- election to Parliament, where he has 'done such splendid 'Service fo:i tho district, promoting all interests for the bene-' fit of the community, ttr T. Hutchison seconded. A spirited speech by Mr Baucke was 'received with applause, and the motion carried with great enthusiasm.

The following 1 executive was appointed :— Chairman. Mr John >McFadgein senr., deputy chairman. Mr T. (Hutchison: ; hon secretary, Mr T.. J. McGuigan : chairwoman of ;, larV.es' committee. Mrs 35. McGuio-an ; hon. secretary, Mifys Gumming. . ■'

Mr T. J. McGuisan moved tli-at the meeting heartily thank Sir ' Joseph Ward for his appreciation of Mr T. Y. Seddon,. tlr? Liberal candidate for Westland. and that the supportens of Mr Seddon reciprocate the good wishes of tho Premdea and w-is.li the Liberal Party all isiiccess at the polls. Mr D. J. Hutchison seconded tho motion, which was 'supported by. Msssts.; Staineis 5 and-McFadgcri and -carried! -'■

The meeting was a very ; : hearty opj?, and from tho enthusiasm displayed it would a.ppear that, the Kanieri district will s;ivo M: 1 , Seddon very. .■strong! support .<.-,--; >y ;