THE FIGHT AT RAGLAN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 September 1927, Page 8

THE FIGHT AT RAGLAN.

CONFIDENCE VOTE OK NO-CONFIDENCE

APPKAL BY PHI.MILK

HAMILTON, Last Night. “The real fight is between the Labour Socialist candidate and

the Government candidate. The Labour Party is not asking you to show confidence in It, but to give a vole of no-confidence in

the Government. One of our

number has fallen, and wc ask you to close up the ranks again. We are entitled to that, and I ask for it,” said the Prime Minister (the Right Hdn. J. G. Coates) on issue m the Kagian by-election, anil he made that statement the keynote of his speeches. j/

Mr Coates concluded a busy day by addressing 600 people at Ngaruawahia last evening. The lire of interjections at an early stage seemed to indicate that the meeting would develop and become very lively, but the remarks wore mainly good humoured. Mr Coates received an attentive hear-

The Prime Minister said that Labour had tossed overboard the usehold policy, and now wanted men to dispose of their land only to the Crown. Labour’s solution of the farmers’ difficulty would not stand live minutes’ examination, and its financial policy was barren.

Labour condemned overseas borrowing, and ui’gcd a scientific organisation of tire wealth within New Zealand to carry out these projects, but surely is was sound business to borrow money overseas for projects, which paid their own way and the burden of which fell not on taxpayers but on the users of facilities. To borrow £7,000.000 of £8,000,000 within the country would prevent the spending of that money on other works. “We are paying our way and reducing the heavy debt imposed on us by the war,” said Mr Coates. “New Zealand’s credit stands high. The Government’s policy is a sound one and a safe one. In adopting the Labour policy you are taking a shot in the dark.” A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by acclamation, an amendment of no-confidence being lost. GOVERNMENT REVERSE POSSIBLE ELECTORATE’S HISTORY AUCKLAND, Last Night. Wine Sir Joseph Ward's entry into the fight has greaty heartened Raglan Liberals, it is generally conceded that the contest is between Reform and Labour It is a difficult electorate to sum up, and there are all sorts of under-cur-rents. The logical thing to do seems to be to look at the past political history of Raglan. Since 1911 when the electorate first was constituted, the people have been staunch for Reform, and that record concludes with Mr Bollard’s- victory in 1925 by a majority of 2400. That vote was admittedly a phenomenal part of the Coates’ wave that swept the country at the General Election. At the same time it takes a considerable swing of the pendulum to convert a majority of 2400 into a minority. If a glance further back be taken, however, it will bo noted that Reform’s majority in 1919 was 9SS and in 1922, 738. There are many people who take the view that Mr. Lee Martin, the Labour candidate, is equal to winning the seat. They base their belief on the general dissatisfaction with the present Government, particularly among small farmers, the widespread opinion that a severe setback for the Government would have a salutary effect, and the weakness of the Reform candidate, Mr Waring.

Whether these considerations will be sufficient to swing Raglan remains to be seen, but the Opposition parties are leaving nothing to chance. The Labour candidate has the support of Messrs Holland, Fraser, Savage, and Jordan, M.P.’s, and Mr. Nash, while the Lilreral is backed by Sir Joseph Ward and Mr, Veitch, with a possible reinforcement in Mr. Atmore.

Tire Reformer has had the assistance of the Hon. A. 1). Mcßeod and Mr Potter. M.P., and now the Prime Minister is assisting. Between these three main Parties the issue lies, as the Country and Independent candidates are not “cutting much ice.” The only certainty seems a considerable reduction in the Reform majority, with a possibility of defeat at the hands of Labour.