GENERAL ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16200, 9 October 1914, Page 3

GENERAL ELECTION

BITTER FIGHT PREDICTED. (Peb United Puess Association.) STRATFORD, October 7. Mr W H. Hawkins, tho selected Liberal, candidate for Stratford, addressed a largo audience m the Town HaU last night. Ho made a vigorous attack on the Government, and predicted that the present election campaign throughout the country would be the bitterest party fight New Zealand had yet seen. THE ELECTORAL ROLLS. FURTHER COMPLAINTS. (Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 8. Further complaints regarding the new system of enrolling electors were voiced m tho House to-day by Mr Russell. He read an extract from the Chrustchurch Press on the subject, and also quoted from a private letter in support of his complaint, ] Tho Hon. Mr Fisher (Minister in onargo of tho Electoral Department) said that alter obtaining a personal statement from the chief electoral officer he was quite sats-hed (that when the main rolls, which closed last night, were mado up it would be tound that they were larger than the main rolls in use at the last election. The experts of tho Electoral Department were perfectly satisfied with tho present system, and no registrar in the reported adversely upon Jt- VOTES FOR gQLunsRS. In the House this afternoon Mr M'Callum asked the Minister in charge of the Electoral Department whether any opportunity would bo offered to soldiers in the Expeditionary Force who had neglected hitierto to record their votes to do so before -the transports sailed. The Hon. Mr Fisher said that on the arrival of the troopships at Wellington arrangements were made to have an electoral officer placed on every troopship and to do everything possible to enable soldiers to record their votes. Ample opportunities were being afforded to members of the force to record their votes. . ■ In reply to a question by Mr Myers, Mr Fisher said that the same arrangements applied to the troopships now at Auckla-nd.

Al a meeting of the Liberal League, held at Port Chalmers last evening, Mr Dennehy (organiser for the party) stated that though no definite decision had as yet been come to the Liberal candidate for Chalmers would be announced within tho next rime or 10 days.

Mr W. G. Paul authorises the Waimate Advertiser to announce that, owing to partial blindness,. ho will not be a candidate for Parliament at the general election. It is understood that a well-known Liberal member from a neighbouring electorate is beinK asked to .stand for the Waitaki seat in Mr Paul's place. '