A KEEN CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20880, 23 May 1931, Page 13

A KEEN CAMPAIGN.

WIDE PUBLIC INTEREST. ENTHUSIASTIC MEETINGS. POLLING NEXT WEDNESDAY. Tho renl fight in the Hatiraki electorate, where the by-election poll will be held next Wednesday, is now being waged by the four parties engaged in the contest, and during the next few days it can be expected to develop an intensity rarely experienced in these political struggles when confined to one area; Considerable importance is attached to the election by all participants. Leaders of parties, Ministers of the Crown and many members of Parliament have already given assistance to their respective candidates, and for the final rallies next Monday and Tuesday additional speakers will be in the field. Otahuhu, as the headquarters of the electorate, has been the gathering ground for politicians of all colours, and there has been such activity among speakers and campaign workers that the township has taken on an air of unusual bustle. One resident expressed it in a few words yesterday, when he said it would not be possible to throw a stone down the main street without hitting a Cabinet Minister or at least a member of Parliament. The Issue Defined. At this stage all parties are confidently predicting a win for their man, but the issue can be reduced to very plain terms — the real fight is between Reform and Labour. The United Party has made a claim that the electors have to choose between United and Labour, but this view is not held by officials of the Labour Party, one of whom stated yesterday that having been in touch with all parts of the electorate he felt that the contest was undoubtedly between Reform and Labour. He said a very large number of railway men in Otahuhu were working keenly for Mr. C. R. Petrie, the Labour candidate, and this with the added support the party expected to get iu other centres led him to predict that Labour would bo the only party to get an increased voto on the figures of tho last election. A visit to tho electorate indicates that support for Reform is steadily growing. There has been a marked swing over from the United Party and the conviction is growing that any considerable support given to the Country Party would merely have tho effect of helping Labour. It ha 6 been claimed that whole farming communities have gone over to the Country Party, but this is not borne out by the experience of Reform speakers and supporters. Interest of Women Electors. It has been found that Mr. Massey and his helpers have had enthusiastic meetings and have received the most reassuring promises of support in places where the reception to the Country Party representatives was little better than lukewarm. The members of the organisation controlling the Reform campaign are quietly confident that their candidate is going to win by a majority equal to that gained at the last general election. One pronounced feature of the campaign which has greatly heartened the Reform workers is the interest which the young women of the electorate are taking in tho election. This is considered particularly significant in view of the reduced spending power of the average household. Hitherto it has been difficult to get tho young women to tako any interest in politics, but on this occasion they are taking an active part in the campaign, attending meetings and keenly assisting Mr. Massey's committees. Li addition to this the ladies' committeo of the Reform Party lias been actively engaged in a canvass of the electorate. This work has been going on since the opening of the campaign, and at. Mangatawhiri Valley last week a meeting organised by this "committee was attended by over 60 farmers' wives and daughters, and this in a district where the famiis are scattered and it is necessary for many to travel miles to tho ineeting-place. Similar meetings at Papatoetoe were attended by 75 ladies, at Mangere by over 70, and "at Howick by fully 60. These are typical of the support forthcoming at many points in the area, and at each of these places strong committees were set up to ensure' Mr. Massey's return. THE GENERAL ELECTION. COUNTRY PARTY CANDIDATES. PROVINCIAL ELECTORATES. [from our own correspondent.] HAMILTON, Friday. The following Country Party candidates at the forthcoming general election have been announced: — Ray of Islands. —Mr. H. M. Rushworth. Rotorua.—Mr. D. R. F. Campbell. Tauranga.—Mr. F. Colbeck. Ilauraki. —Mr. A. A. Ross. Waikato. —Mr. S. N. Ziman. Franklin.—Mr. 11. 0. Mellsop.