THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17337, 8 December 1919, Page 8

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

CONTEST FOR EDEN SEAT. MR. PARR'S CANDIDATURE. TOUR OF RURAL CENTRES. LIBERALS AND THE SOUTH. The Government candidate for the Eden peat, Mr. C. J. Parr, sitting member, addressed seven meetings in the rural portion of the electorate last week. Hifi tour commenced at Woodhill and finished at Wal " tivkere. Quite the .largest gatherings of farmers yet held in these centres attended the meetings, and thanked Mr. Parr for his services to the Dominion during the war, and unanimously passed resolutions of confidence in him as the representative of the district. The candidate said that, though it was hard work, ho would be able to address the electors in each of the 27 centres in the new decorate once before election day. His opponents had begun while he was in Wellington, and so were able to speak twice in each town. In every other Auckland electorate except jideji the opponent of the sitting member had done the latter the courtesy of refraining from campaigning while the sitting member was doing his duty in Parliament. Notwithstanding the advantage his competitors had of going over the ground twice lie had no doubt he would beat them handsomely on election day. Mr. Parr paid a tribute to the Hon. is. H. Guthrie, Minister for Lands, for parsing the new Land Act. Under this measure, which gave a settler the right to take up 400 acres of gum land and get the freehold for nothing, the North would be transformed. There were large areas ] vinjr idle there because no one would pay >r *-'■ ■ ' .... . Past Liberal Ministers nad neglected the -;orth, whicjl would soon enjoy a new era of prosperity under the favouring eye of the Massay Government. Expenditure on Railways. South Island Wardist newspapers were complaining of what they called the favouritism Mr. Massey had shown by giving the North Auckland railway each a fine vote on the recent Estimates. This showed what might be expected from a Liberal Government, whose support would come almost entirelv from the South Island. He had little doubt but that all Northern constituencies would stick to the Government that was the first to do justice to the North Auckland district. South Island railways, built largely by Liberal Minister®, paid a little over 4 per cent., while the North Island lines, with 400 less mile- . age, paid 7 per cent. No one could deny that the South Island- had been unduly favoured in railway matters by Liberal .Governments. The Liberal Party of to-day was lacking in cohesion and unity, said Mr. Parr, as nearly every candidate was- standing as an Independent, and shuffled on the no-confidence issue. The political salvation of New Zealand was not to be found there,, but in Mr. Massey, with a strong party behind him. Mr. Parr said .his policy was to assist the small, struggling farmers with better schools for their children, with cheap fertilisers for their lands, and with an experimental State farm for . the North. He favoured the Government importing tractors and or Tenting them to tjie farmers at cost price. The candidate said he would not bid for votes by making ridiculous promises of new post offices, railway stations, and schools for every centre, as soma candidates were doing, but no one would fight harder for them, if they had a reasonable request, than he would. During five years of war. all public expenditure tod ceased, - but now there was an excellent chance of ~ getting, conveniences which had to stand . over because of the war, and he would - use his best energies ,in that direction. , Mr, Korablow's Position. ' 11l his speech at Waitakere on Saturday Mr. Parr referred to statements made by Mr. Hprnblow about an alleged "confidential" circular. Mr. Parr said his opponent's version of this circular was the usual attempt to exploit a simple matter for election purposes. Hie facts were clear. Mr. Hornblow, at several of his meetings, had stated that he had bees defeated twice, and then by narrow margins. But the official Year Book showed a, different story. From its pages it seemed that Mr; Hornblow had, in 20 years, fought five elections for Parliament, name* ly, in 1-902, 1905, 1908, 1911, and 1914, and had been badly beaten every time, narrowly escaping losing his deposit on one occasion. Therefore it became necessary to correct the misapprehension which arose because of the Liberal candidate's statements, and the figures were taken out — of the Year Book accordingly. It was this statement of the case that Mr. Hornblow objected to, bat, as it was merely thfe truth, it was difficult to understand his objections. As to treating the circular as private or confidential, Mr. Parr said that he was prepared to get a copy of it for Mr. Hornblow to publish if he wished to do so. N

SPEECHES BY ME. HORNBLOW. Mr. R. E. Hornblow, Opposition candidate for Eden, addressed a large audience in -the Public Hall, Woodtiill, on Friday evening. Mr. Richard Hoe presided. The candidate was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, Mr. Hornblow addressed a meeting of the electors in the schoolroom, Te Atatu, on Saturday evening. Mr. J. McCormick presided. Mr. Hornblow received an attentive hearing, and was accorded a vote of banks. , WAIKATO. [BZ XELEGEAPH.— COEEESPONDENT.j HAMILTON. Saturday. The Government candidate for Waikato, Mr. J. A. Young, addressed a large meeting at the Kaipaki Public Hall yesterday afternoon. Mr. F. S. Retter presided. Mr. Young dealt with land settlement, taxation and the butter-fat levy. .Mr. A. E. McDonald, in moving a he-arty vote of thanks to Mr. Young and confidence in him as their representative, said that as a returned soldier settler he felt safe in saying that the majority realised that Mr. Young had their in terests at heart, and was well qualified to represent them. The motion was carried unanimously. At the Tarnahere schoolhouse last night, Mr. Young addressed a very largely attended meeting at which ladies of the district were well represented. Mr. H. Wallace occupied the chair. Mr. Young referred to the changes in the electoral boundaries, which removed 1 their district from Raglan into Waikato. He paid a tribute to the faithful services rendered to the district by the sitting member, Mr. R. F. Bollard, who in future would take over a large area of the old Waikato back blocks. Mr. T. R. Drumniond proposed a vote of thanks and confidence. His sincerest j wish was that Mr. Young should be returned to Parliament. Mr. W. P. Goosman seconded, and the I resolution was carried without dissent. NOMINATIONS RECEIVED. i CITY AND SUBURBAN' SEATS. 1" nrthpr nominations of candidates for Au< klnikl r-jtv and suburban seats were Judged with returning officers on Saturday. I he.se were a.< follows: — Auckland Central: Mr. ,T. .Tolley Thomas (Government), Mr. W, E. Parry, (Labour). Auckland West; Mr. M. J. Savage (Labour). Parnell; Mr. 1\ Bloo.luor tl, (Labour). V. .✓ k ' l: Mr ' *'• W. J'eddln (Opposition), V, M t- t; - bavls (Labour). ■y? M : lvillp ™ P v, W), Mr. F. 3. Bartram (Labour) .