TAURANGA BY-ELECTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18345, 10 March 1923, Page 10

TAURANGA BY-ELECTION

A THIRD OANDIDATE. UNOFFICIAL LABOUR. SIR J. WARD'S CAMPAIGN. [BT TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] , TE AEOHA. Frfdsy. Mr. C. A. Blomfield, who has announced himself as the unofficial Labour candidate for Tauranga, is actively promoting his candidature, and assures the electors that he will definitely go to the poll against allcomers. The opinion here is that he will not poll at all heavily, and chief interest will centre in the fight between the Reform and Liberal candidates, Mr. C. E. Macmillan and Sir Joseph Ward respectively. A well-attended meeting of supporters of the candidature of Sir Joseph Ward was held at To Aroha last evening. The acting-secretary of the local committee, Mr. J. C. Carroll, spoke in eulogistic terms regarding the ability of Sir Joseph as a statesman. Throughout the meeting was enthusiastic, and it was ultimately unanimously decided to form all present into a committee to work in the interests of the candidate. An executive committee also was formed, and it was agreed to open a committee room in Te Aroha. Later in the evening a branch of the Liberal-Labour Federation was formed, Mr. Kennedy being elected chairman. THE COUNTRY PARTY. CRITICISM OF EXECUTIVE. MOTION OF PROTEST LOST. fBY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Friday. The action of members of the Auckland executive of the Farmers' Union in reviving the Country Party movement in connection with the Tauranga election was questioned at the meeting of the Waikato executive to-day. Mr. J. Mackay moved that "the executive protests against the action of the Country Party supporters." He said the movement was not in the interests of the Farmers' Union. It was stultifying the farmers and was dragging the principles of the union in the mire. Mr. R. D. Duxfield defended the action of the Auckland executive. He said the Tauranga itinerary was arranged long before Sir William Herries* death. The decision to contest the seat was come to by the Tauranga farmers, who asked the visiting delegates to speak on the subject. Mr. Duxfield said he strongly supported the Country Party movement. The farmers had no spokesman in Parliament. The country was in a state of stagnation and given over to "noxious weeds." The chairman. Mr. J. S. Fisher, agreed wiVi the, mover. He said that the Country Party's candidate was a Liberal three years ago. Many people were very annoyed at the action of the Auckland delegates. He considered the farmers should have been called together and consulted before anv action was taken. The molion was lost on the voices.