THE OAMARU ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18827, 3 April 1923, Page 7

THE OAMARU ELECTION

QUESTION OF A LABOUR CANDIDATE. RESTS WITH OAMARU ALONE. {Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 2. Mr H. E. Holland, M.P. (Leader of the Official .Labour Party), who is in Christchurch attending the Labour Conference, was asked to-day if'it was intended to run a, Laboiir candidate for Oamaru. Mr Holland replied that the decision rested with the Oamaru branch of the party. Beyond that he could say nothing. WHERE IS LABOUR? ' (Special to Times.) OAMARU, April 2. Considerable activity is already in evidence in the political camps in anticipation of a strenuous contest. Mr E. P. Loo returned to Oamaru this evening, and will get into the campaign at once. Commenting on the prospect of a. triangular contest, the North Otago Times said this morning: “Discussing the result of the by-olection at Tauranga, Mr Holland said that the result indivated the failure of the Liberal Party to ‘come back.’ ‘What Tauranga has made clear,’ Mr Holland Calmed, ‘is that the fight in the future is between the Labour Party and the present Government.’ Anticipating the coun-' terthrust that Labour showed lack of courage- by its failure to join the fight at Tauranga, Mr Holland made the excuse that the party, had no organisation in. that electorate. Another election is pending. What will Mr Holland have to say about Oamaru? If the fight, of the future is between the Labour Party and the present Government, as Mr Holland claims, can the New Zealand Labour Party allow the impending election in Oamaru to go, by default? Mr Holland’s answer is-awaited with no little interest, particularly in view of the organised activities of the United Labour Council of North Otago during the campaign in December last. In any case Mr Lee is a candidate against all-comers, arid his supporters are confident of his success.” , .

As a counter-blast the local Liberal journal, fearing the activities of the New Zealand Labour Party, this evening published an inspired paragraph in which it is alleged that the North Otago Labour Council repudiates Mr Holland as its political leader, and does not associate with the Official Labour Party, all of which is so much propaganda in the campaign to save the face of the Liberals. It will be interesting to observe the progress of negotiations durimr the nest \ few days. Certainly Mr Holland cannot say there is no Labour organisation in Oamaru. He has paid two visits here within recent- times, while Mr J. W. Munro. M.P., was in Oamaru the ether day and mot representatives of the unions on Labour organisation business.