THE GENERAL ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18687, 17 October 1922, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTION

THE NAPIER SEAT. MR J. VIGOR BROWN DESIERTSTHE LIBERALS. (Feom Ode Own Cohhespondent.) WELLINGTON, October 16. Th© announcement that Mr J. Vigo? Brown, the sitting member for Napier, had decided to leave the Liberal Party did not cause much -surprise in the House. Mr Brown was elected as a Liberal last election, but he never accepted Mr Wilford as a political leaden - , and during the last two sessions he has voted and paired quite consistently on the Government side. He has been adopted now as the official Reform candidate for the Napier seat at the coming election. It is reported that at least one other member now sitting on the Opposition side of the House will announce a. change of allegiance before the election campaign gets into full swing. MR G. W. RUSSELL. QTeom Udb Own ■ Cobbijsposi3Ent.l CHRISTCHURCH,. October 16. Mr G. W. Russell, speaking to a Star representative to-day, said ho had only consented to stand for Avon after receiving a large number of requests to do so, not only from old friends and members of the Liberal Party, but also from labour people and Reformers. “There is a widespread feeling,” he continued, “that at the present time the country is passing through a severe crisis, especially financially, and that men of experience and proved business capacity are urgently required, altogether independent of party. A strong and capable! Opposition is just as necessary in the interests of the country as a strong Government. The Opposition represents audit;” I have announced myself as a straighpout Liberal. I shall endeavour to define clearly the wide difference there is between the Liberal policy and tho policy of the party in power. The policy I will advocate will be practically a return to the great principles of Liberalism as placed on the Statute Book by the Ballance, Seddon, and Ward Governments.” Mr Russell pointed out that at the 1913 election ho polled 3520 votes, 122 less than in 1914, while Mr Sullivan’s total rose to 5168, but there was no Reform candidate on this occasion. “This time.” he said, “there is a Reform and also an Independent candidate. The lafter is certain to poll a large number of the votes of the official prohibition party, which has always been opposed to me, on account of my not being a. prohibitionist. I shall enter the contest with a .strong hope of once more bringing Avon under tho banner of the grand old Liberal Party.” DUNEDIN CENTRAL. ' Mr W. S. Maslin, who has had a long experience in local and general politics, and who represented Rangitata in a previous Parliament, will contest Dunedin Central as an Independent Liberal-Labour Candidate. The Rev. J. K. A roller, Labour candidate for Christchurch North, will speak in the Kingis Theatre to-night on the Labour Party’s policy. Mr Archer is. a member of the Christchurch City Council and of the Canterbury Hospital Board. Mr Ralph M'Donald, schoolmasterat Otautau, will bo the official Liberal and Labour candidate for Wallace at tho forthcoming general election against Mr -A. Hamilton, the sitting member. The Western Star announces that Mr J. 0. Thomson has decided not to be. a candidate for Wallace at the forthcoming election.