CONTEST IN BAGLAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17328, 27 November 1919, Page 8

CONTEST IN BAGLAN.

MR. BOLLARD AT HUNTLY. DEFENCE OF GOVERNMENT. MINORITY OF DISSENTIENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH"OWK CORRESPONDENT.] HUNTLY. Wednesday. Mr. R. F. Bollard, M.P. for Raglan, was welcomed by the largest gathering which bas attended a political meeting at Huntly this year, about 300 or 400 people being present in the Miners' Hall last night. Mr. R. L. Roberts, chairman of the Town Board, presided. Three or four noisy people had gathered in ono corner of the ball and kept up a running fire of more or less foolish interjections throughout the evening. The chairman continually called them to order and was supported by the bulk of the audience, but the interjectors were evidently determined to spoil the meeting. In this, however, they failed. Mr. Bollard's address took the form of a vigorous defence of the work <Tf the Reform Party when in power and of the National Government. He expressed regret that the National Government had split up and gave it as his opinion that it would have been much better for the country if the best brains of both parties had been able to work together to solve the great problems ahead. In speaking of future policy, he dwelt strongly on the help which was to be given to soldiers to enable them to regain the place in private life which would have been theirs had the war not occurred. He also made a strong point of the improvements to*the pension laws. The concl"sion of the candidate's address was followed by numerous questions. Mr Bollard met each question with a quick answer and was accorded a vote of thanks. THE MARSDEN SEAT. MR. CURTIS' POLITICS. EXTREME LABOUR CRITICISED. ' [by telegraph—own correspondent.l WHANGAREI. Wednesday. Speaking at Mangawai, Mr. A- H. Curtis, the Moderate Labour candidate for Marsden, referred fro the rumours that he had promised to vote with the official Labour Party in the next Parliament, and support Sir Joseph Ward. The report upon which the rumours were supposed to De based was, he stated, only a very brier summary of what he had "said, but it distinctly said he was " out for " a new party, a democratic party, uniting all sections of Labour against both the Reform and Liberal Parties. Also, said. Mr. Curtis, the report referred to a possible decision by the representatives of Labour in the next Parliament which he, the speaker, would be willing to support. But he would not bind himself to support the official Labour Party. That was the very reason he was out on a Moderate platform and the very reason he" had at Whangarei (when he adaressed a meeting of the Labour Party) relused to make any concession to secure the assurance of a solid Labour vote. He had. on every platform wherever he had spoken, right from his first meeting, declared that he could not, and would not pledge himself to the official Labour Party, and he had again and again stated that its present leaders with their advocacy of extreme measures were the greatest hurdle that real Labour interests and progress had to overcome. He believed that in the new House there 'would hi a very strong representation of Moderate Labour, and with these representatives of Labour he was prepared to throw in his lot, but he would never consent to become the " tied-house " of the present Labour Part}'. MANUKATT CANDIDATES. a MR. R. E. TAYLOR WITHDRAWS. Mr. Ralph E. Taylor announces that he has decided to retire from the Manukau contest. Mr. Taylor says that he became a candidate on non-party lines, but as it seems evident that the coming election will be purely a party contest he feels thai with so many candidates in' the field his going to 4.he poll will simply split the votes. r Mr. C. E. Major, Opposition candidate for Manukau, addressed meetings at Otahuhu on Monday evening, and at Uowick on Tuesday evening. Both meetings were well attended. Mr. Major was well received and was accorded unanimous votes of thanks for his addresses. BAY OF » ISLANDS. £Br TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] KAITAIA, Wednesday. Mr. Vernon Reed, M.P., addressed the electors on Monday night and had a remarkable reception. The Kaitaia Brass Band turned out and provided a programme outbide the hall, finishing up with " He's a Jolly Good Fellow," and cheers as Mr. Reed entered the building. The meeting was of a most enthusiastic nature, and continued applause greeted the various portions of the candidate's address. A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded Mr. Reed without a dissentient voice. Air. H. B. Matthews and! Mr. Bell praised the services rendered to the electorate by Mr. Reed. I TAURANGA. | [BY TELEGRAPH— CORRESPONDENT.) TATJRANGA, Wednesday. The Hon. W. H. Herries. Reform candidate for Tauranga, addressed , a meeting at Paengaroa Junction, the easternmost centre of his electorate, on Monday night. The Minister was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. B. C. Robbins, Opposition candidate, spoke at Te Puna on Mondav night, Mr. T. Lochhead presiding. The candidate received a vote of thanks and confidence. TO-NIGHT'S PUBLIC ADDRESSES. Mr. J. Jolley Thomas (Auckland Cen-tr;-i), St. James' Hall, Wellington Street. ° Mr. C. F. Bennett (Auckland West), Paget Street Hall, off Picton Street. ' Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P. (Eden), Avondale Town Hall. Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West), Leys Institute. Mrs. F. E. Baume (Parnell), Epsom Public Library. Mr. J. H. Dickson, M.P. (Parnell), Simpson's Tea-rooms, St. Heliere Bay. Mr. J. Rea (Franklin), Pukekohe. " Mr. Fred Bartram (Grey Lynn), Empress Theatre. " r Mr. G. Davis (Roskill). Epsom Public Hall. Mr. ("lutha. Mackenzie: (Auckland East), St. Andrew's Hall, Lower Svmonds Street. Mr. R. V. Way (Auckland East),' Grafton Library Hell. Mr. Ft. E." Hornblow (Eden), Public Hall, Henderson. Sir Frederick Lang (Manukau), No. 2 School, Maraetai. at one ' o'clockWhitford Public Hall to-night Mr. V W. Peddle (Roskill), Maungawhau Public School. " Mr. A. E. (ireenslade (Waitemata), Bel-. Mont schoolhouse. TONIGHTS COMMITTEE MEETINGS. Hon George Foxylds (Grey Lynn), Mount hden Committee, in St. Barnabas' schoolroom, Mount Eden. Show Week ! The A.B.C. Drapers. Newton, are holding a costume sale. Smart costumes, 25s 6d, 39s 6d, 59s 6d, 79s 6d. i