GENERAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18235, 31 October 1922, Page 9

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THE STRENGTH OF PARTIES.

ABOUT 200 CANDIDATES.

FEATURES OF THE CAMPAIGN

The political field is now almost fully set for battle. With the immediate close of the Parliamentary session the campaign will begin with keen activity on all fronts. vSo far the skirmishing has been light, and practically confined to recruits. The intense fighting, to complete the picture, should start this week and gather increasing force until the decisive day. A review of changing political fortunes since the war election on December 10, 1914, provides an interesting outline of the relative strength of the main and minor parties. After that election the Massey Party consisted of 41 members, while there were 31 Liberals and six Labour men. There was supposed to be no party politics during the war, and the National Government was formed in 1915. After its formation 11 by-elections were held, with results that need not now be detailed. At the close of that protracted Parliamentary period, which was extended to the end of 1919, the state of tho parties was: Reform, 40; Liberals. 31: Labour, 8; Independent, 1. The Liberal Rout. The general election in 1919 was held on December 17. It resulted in the rout of the Liberal Party and the fall of its leader and a faithful chieftain. In tho long interregnum there had been a revision of electorates, three South Island seats being lost in favour of the North Island owing to tho latter's marked growth in population. These seats were Selwyn, Grey, and Otago Central, and tho new Northern seats were Roskill, Rot'crua, and Manawatu. The national distribution of seats was North Island 45, South Island 31, and the existing four Maori electorates.

There were 210 candidates at the polls, the geographical proportions being 130 in the North Island and 80 in the South Island. Both the Government and the Opposition had each 70 candidates in fully-pledged support, Labour had 54 candidates, and there were 13" advocates of Independent Labour. There were three women candidates, all being rejected rjy a chivalrous people. After the final count of the successful and the slain the strength of the parties was Reform Government 46, Opposition 20, Labour 8. Independent Labour 3, Independents 3. Two of the Independents were counted in the preceding Parliament as members of the Government and Opposition Parties respectively Apart from the disintegration of the Liberal Party as a whole with a solid platform, the outstanding features of last election was the decisive and rather sensational defeat of the Liberal leader, Sir Joseph Ward, and his henchman, Sir James Carroll. It put a- period to two notable records in the political history of New Zealand. But one need not open old wounds. Changes Since Last Election. There has been a very substantial alteration in the relative strength of parties since the 1919 election, though the change has not been as remarkable as that in the changed fortunes of tlie Liberal Party. Its strength has been less diminished ir\ number than in the character and cohesion of the party remnant. .There have been seven by-eteetioJ!s 'Jnce the general election in 1919. with this firoad result. The Government has increased its strength by three seats, and Labour by one seat, while the Opposition has lost three seats and Inc"*pendem Labour one scat, These were: Lruce, April 14, 1920 (vacated by Sir James Allen, on his appointment as High Commissioner); result, gain to the Opposition by 124 votes. Stratford, May 6, 1920 (vacated by decision of Election Court); result, re-election of Opposition candidate by 148 votes. Bay of Plentv, September 30, 1920 (vacated by the death of the Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald) j result, gain to the Government bv 652 votes. Patea, April 13, 1921 (vacated by the death of Mr. W, D. Powdrell); result, retention of seat for the Government by 329 votes. Auckland East, November 2, 1921 (vacated by the resignation of tho Hon. A. M. Myers) ; result, gain to tho Government by 401 votes. Dunedin North. June 21, 1922 (vacated by the Death of Mr. E. KeOett); result, gain to Labour from Independent Labour by 120 votes; and Southern Maori, January 25, 1922 (vacated by the death of Mr. H. W. Uru); result, pain to the Government by 114 votes. During the closing session, however, Mr. J. Vigor Brown, Opposition member for Napier, crossed the floor of the House as a camp-follower of the Government. Contestants in the Field. The relative Parliamentary strength of the different parties at the close of the last session of the latest Parliament is thus:—Government, 49; Opposition, 17; Labour, 9; Independent Labour, 2; and Independents, 3, one of whom, Mr. James Craigie, has'been reported as having, been very friendly to Reform measures, but is retiring from a position that has been more as a, field of battle than a bed of roses.

The remnant of the former great Liberal Party presents some curious features that call for more than cursory attention. Though united as an Opposition in glorying adoration of a glittering past, it is said to have many parties within a party. There are lone snipers and twin raiders in discontent, known as the " Weo Frees," but, better still, should be known as " We Freeze"; there is a trio that keeps the trend of its allegiance a mystery; and there is one that fights alone, who might be happier yet in the Reform camp. So far in the present campaign there are 195 candidates in the field, Reform supporters naturallv being predominant in respect of party "strength. There has only been one change as a result of the alteration of political boundaries, the North Island gaining another electorate, that of Hamilton, a new division of the Waikato. It has attracted three candidates, including the former Reform member for Waikr.to. The feat taken from the South Island was the historic electorate of Bruce. The member for that former seat, Mr. John Edie, wh\) wrested it from the Government when it was counted as a Reform stronghold, will stand for Clutha against Mr. A. S. Malcolm, the Government's Chairman of Committees. It should bo a noteworthy contest. The North Island has now 46 seats, for which 124 claimants are already entered; the South Island has 30 seats, with 71 candidates. Auckland Province has 23; scats, exactly half of the total number for the North Island, and there are 61 candidates, compared with 63 candidates For the rest of the North Island electorates. These figures refer only to European electorates. * Seventy-six Government Candidates. Altogether the Government is represented by 76 candidates, with' here and there the inevitable embarrassment ol riches in tho number of claimants. It has 50 in the North Island for 46 spats, and only 26 in the South Island for 30 seats. In the. Auckland Province the Government candidates number 25 for 23 seats, and is precisely similarly represented in the other electorates in the North Island. •\n analysis of the electorates already suggests a decisive success for the Government. . The Opposition has 54 candidates in the field 35 in the North Island and 19 in the South, there being 18 in the Auckland Provnce. 1 nbour has its red tag on 42 candidates, tier distribution being: North 25 South 17. the former including 11 in the Auckland Province. The minor parties are but feebly represented. Independent Labour has only two candidates in the North Island ; the Independents number 19, with 10 in tho North, and the balance in the South, It may be claimed that three of the number would, if elected, vote for Reform in a crucial The ■-•••' • " ■ ' "

new Country Party has two candidates in the Auckland Province, and there is some tdlt of their withdrawal.

Two sitting members only are so far unopposed, both Government members. They are the Hon. Sir It. Hcaton Rhodes, for Elieemere, and Mr. K. S. Williams, for the Bay of Plenty. There are 40 seats with two candidates each; 26 with three; nine with four; and two, Waikato and Napier, with five each. The members retiring are Messrs. F. Mander (Marsdev;), H. M. Campbell (Hawkc's Bay), E. Newman (Manawatu), J Craigie (Timam), and Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East). Six former members of Parliament are as )the old war chargers within the sound of tlhe guns of battle. They are prancing for action again. Their names are familiar : Messrs. A. E. Glover, G. V. Peavce, J. B. Hine, H. G. Ell, and the Hons. G. W. Russell and D. Buddo. There* are again threo women candidates. They a«o : Miss E. Independent Reform candidate for Roskill; Mrs. A. McVicar, .also a supporter of the Government, for Wellington East; and Mrs. H. F. Herbert, Independent, for Avon* There are no fewer than seven knights in "the democratic field of battle:—Sir Frederic Lang, Sir William Herries, Sir Andrew Russell. Sir George Hunter, Sir John Luke. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, and Sir Maui Poniare, There is rumour of another re-entering the lists for the 'great tournament. There is only one clergyman and one doctor in the campaign.

LABOUR'S CAMPAIGN.

OFFICIAL CANDIDATES. [by telegkaph>—press association.] WELLINGTON, Monday. .Following is an official list of candidates endorsed to contest seats at the general elections on behalf of the New Zealand Labour Party. Further names will bo announced this week : — Manawaiu.—Mr. F. B. Whibley.t Buller.— Mr. H. E. Holland. Timaru.—Mr- P- C.'Vinnall. Christchurcb, North—Mr. J. K. Archer. Christchurch East.—Mr. H. T. Aimstrong. Christ-church South.—Mr. E. J Howard. , Avon.—Mr. D. G. Sullivan^ Lvtteltom— Mr. J- McCombs. Riccarton.-Mr. J. A. McCullouv..:-. Auckland West.—Mr. M. J. Sasa-go. Auckland Central.—Mr. W. E. Parry. Auckland East.—Mir. John A. Lee. Waitenwta—Mr. R. F. Way. Eden.—Mr. H. G. R. Mason. Grev LVnn.—Mr. F. N. Bartram. Roskill.'—Mr. J. Purtell. Parnel!.—Mr. 0. Moßrina. Gisborne.—Mr. T. Brindfc. Napier.—Mr. L. Mcllvridei Wellington Central.—Mr. P. Fraser. Wellington North.—Mr. Hi E. Combs. Wellington East.—Mr: A. L. Monteith. Wellington South.—Mr. R. McKeen. Wellington Suburbs.—Mr. A. W. Croskerv. Hutt.—Mr. D. K. Pritchard. Rangitihei.—Mr. F. Brady. Hamilton.—Mr. A. S. Richards. Palmerston North.—Mr. J. Hodgens. Waimarino. —Mr. F. Langstone. _ Wanganui.—Mr.*J. Ross. » West land. —Mr. J. O'Brien. Dunedin Central. —Mr. J. Gilchrist. Dunedin West.—Mr. G. M. Moss. Dunedin South.—Mr. J. E. Ma'cManus. Dunedin North.—Mr. J. W. Munro. Chalmers.—Mr. J. Stephens. THE PARNELL SEAT. / GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE. [by telegraph.—special reporter.] WELLINGTON. Monday. The Prime Minister stated to-day that in order to remove any doubt in tho mine's of electors as" to the official Reform candidate for the Parnell seat at the forthcoming general election he desired to sav that tho sitting member, Mr. J. S. Dickton, who had continuously represented the constituency since ha entered Parliament in 1911, would again cany the Reform banner at the next election.. Mr. Massey added: " I hope all friends and supporters of the Reform Party in the electorate, and all those who rocognise. the necessity of a stable _ Government, especially at a time of crisis such as the Dominion is passing through at present, will unite in supporting Mr. Dickson, and by putting aside local and sectional differences avoid vote splitting. ADDRESSES BY CANDIDATES. FOUR TO BE GIVEN TO-NIGHT. Mr. Sidney M. Wren, Reform candidate for Parnell, will address the electors at St. Mary's Hall, Parnell. at eight o'clock this evening. The official Labour candidate for Auckland East, Mr. J. A. Lee, opens his campaign this evening with an address at the Grafton Library at eight o'clock. Mr. T. Carter will preside. , • Miss Ellen Melville, Independent Reform candidate for Roskill, will speak at the Methodist Hall, Gordon Road, Mount Eden, at eight o'clock this evening Mr. L. -Toll will be the chairman. Mr. R. E. Hornblow, Liberal candidate for Kaipara, will address a meeting at tho Parakai Public Hall this evening at eight o'clock He will speak at Woodhill tomorrow and at Helcnsville on Thursday. The frienas and supporters of Mr. J. Purtell official Labour candidate for Roskill, will meet at the Druids' Hall, Valley Road, this evening at 7.45 p.m. THE MANUKAU SEAT. AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE. Mr. W. D. Adnams, of Tauhoa, has intimated his intention of contesting tho Manukau seat as an Independent. TEE WALLACE SEAT. AN " INDEPENDENT LIBERAL." [:by telegraph.—press association.] INVERCARGILL. B/TonCay. Mr. J. C. Thomson is definitely announced tn contest the Wallace scat "as an Independent Liberal.