THE BAY OF DECISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18387, 1 May 1923, Page 6

THE BAY OF DECISION.

OAMARU BY-ELECTION.

VFINAL WOFDS BY LEADERS

BOTH SIDES REINFORCED.

CLOSE CONTEST . EXPECTED

TBZ TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] : OAMARU, Monday. On© of the most keenly-fought campaigns in the Oamaru electorate closed to-night. Two new speakers entered the fray, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Minister for J Internal Affairs, and Mr. T. M. Wilford, Leader of the Opposition. The former spoke in the Town Kail after the Prime Minister and the Hon. E. P. Lee, and the latter at the Drill Hail. When a fresh election was ordered by the Election Court, the campaigners commenced their work with a vigour unparalleled. Forces of willing workers on both sides were recruited, and everybody entitled to vote in the election was considered and their political leanings noted. Then the Prime Minister arrived in the electorate, and the receptions accorded him everywhere he has travelled in the district stirred great enthusiasm in the fighters. A lot of bitterness crept into the fight, and at times threatened to cloud the principal issue. Both sides have worked strenuously, and both are . confident as to the result. At the general, election about 94 per cent, of the electors exercised their privilege, and it is expected that ihe voting to-morrow will be quite as heavy, if the weather is fine, of which there is every promise. About 340 absent voters' permits have been issued, and, as these tes will be exercised as far north* as Dargaville and as far south as Invercargill, the result may not be known for some days unless there is a fair margin between the candidates to-morrow night.