OAMARU CAMPAIGN CLOSES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18850, 1 May 1923, Page 8

OAMARU CAMPAIGN CLOSES.

THE FINAL SCENES YESTERDAY’S MEETINGS ENTHUSIASTIC. MR MASSEY AND MR LEE OPTIMISTIC. ■ . (From Ods Special Reporter.) OAMARU, April 30. ; : One of the most, if not the most, keenlyfought campaigns in the Oamaru electorate -closed to-night. Two new speakers entered the fray—the Hon. W. Downie Stewart vi (Minister of Internal Affairs) and Mr T. M. ■. Wilford, the former speaking in the Town k.Hall after the Prime Minister and Mr Leo, ' bnd the latter at the Drill Hall. FrruSk the start, when a fresh election was order* by the court, the campaigners com- . menced their work with a vigour that was ' unprecedented. Forces of willing workers * "oft" both sides got busy, and everybody entitled to a vote in the election was con’■'.lsidor'ed and their political leanings ticked ‘ ’off. Then came the Prime Minister into the electorate, and the receptions accorded^ ' him everywhere he has travelled in the dis- ' . trict stirred great enthusiasm in the .fighters- . A lot of bitterness crept into the fight and ”4t times threatened to cloud the principal ‘’issue. / When to-morrow’s polling is over, and if “.the result is decisive, the people of Oamaru Will gradually get back to .normal and the ' political barrier of emotional ill-feeling will " be lifted Both sides have worked strenuously, and , both are confident as to the result. The number of names on the roll is 10,073, as compared with 9186 at the elections in r . December. At the General Election abo,nt ' 84 per cent, ot the electors exercised their privilege, and it is expected that the voting . to-morrow will be quite as heavy, if the -weather is fine, which seems very probable About 340 absent voters’ permits have been issued, and as These votes will be exercised as far north as Dargavillo 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. The Prime Minister’s day opened to-day with a visit to the Woollen Company's factory, which he made with Mr E. P. Lee. Mr Massey, after going through many of "■ the departments of the large factory, ex- : pressed his delight at all ho had seen. AT AIREDALE. * * Later Mr Massey and Mr Lee motored to Airedale, where they were met in the local jchocl grounds by a representative gather- , Ing of the settlers and given" a very cordial welcome. In the sohoolhouse, after Mr Lee had spoken, Mr Massey gave a halfhour address. Speaking of the financial position to-day, he pointed out the difficulties the Government had had to meet during the slump in order to save the credit .of, the country. He hoped the -people . would see that the Government was given sufficient power to see that the affairs of the dominion were properly handled and not help to place them in inexperienced hands, which would bring only disruption. Ho wished to see Mr Leo win on politics and not on the tactics which his opponent had employed during the campaign.—(Applause.) The meeting, which was presided over by Mr T Stevens, passed on the motion of lur A, O Forrest, seconded by Mr H. E. . Buick, a vote of thanks to the Prime “'"Minister for his address and confidence in Mr Lee’s candidature. To mark the occasion of the Prime Minister’s visit the children of the school were ’ granted a half-holiday. The chairman of the committee (Mr T. ■ Stevens) and other interviewed Mr Massey uiging that additional accommodation, bo frovided at the school. The school had een built to accommodate 18 children, and lh6 position to-day was that 32 had to bo crammed into it. Mr Massey, with the committee, inspected the school, and agreed tha more space was necessary. Ho would re■ptosent to the Minister of Education the position, and hoped that it would bo possible to extend the building 10ft. After the meeting at Airedale the Prime Minister and Mr Leo and party lunched at the residence of Mr T. Stevens. At Ardgowan this afternoon a meeting was largely attended, and the’ addresses o£ the speakers drew from the audience much epplause. The remarks of the chairman (Mr D. Henderson) : n welcoming the Prime Minister and Mr Lee were very appreciative of their services to tho country. Mr • Massey and Mr Lee told the meeting <i what tho election meant for stable government, and of the responsibility placed in the hands of the electors. • Mr Massey went lully into the more important questions of the day and explained the benefits the country would derive from the change in the financial position. He fdt that the electors of Oamaru would do the right thing by the Government,to-morrow and sO enable it to carry on under better conditions._ A motion of thanks and confidence in the Massey Government and in Mr Lee was parried, with cheers, on tho motion of Mr • -R. 'Calder, seconded by Mr E. Douglas. THE DISSOLUTION QUESTION. The following message, _ which was sent out by the Press Association from Oamaru on - Saturday, was not sent" to tho Otago. Daily Times:— Regarding Mr Massey’s statement that if Mr Macpherson is returned he would have a majority of only three in the House and . his threat to secure a dissolution if Mr Le© is" not elected, Mr Macpherson has received the following telegram from Mr F. S. Morton, vice-president of the Auckland Liberal Association“l was at Mr Massey's side on the night of the Tauranga election when he told the people, now Mr MacMillan was elected, there was no necessity for another election. Mr Massey’s denial is another addition to the long list of his deliberate and insolent political prevarications.” PRIME MINISTER AT OAMARU. LAST-MINUTE SPEECHES. hon. w. Downie stewarts ADRRESS. (From Oue Special- Reporter.) OAMARU, April 3d One of the largest meetings ever held in Oamaru took place in tho Opera House to-night, when addresses were given by Mr Massey and Mr Lee. This spacious building proved far too small to accommodate all who wished to gain admission. It was found necessary to close tho doors at 7.30 p.ra., by which time all tho seats were taken up, and the stage was occupied to • its fullest capacity, while hundreds had to be turned away. atie chair was occupied by the Mayor (Mr J. M'Diarmid). When Mr Massey and Mr Leo took thenseats on tho stage they were greeted with enthusiastic applause, cheer after cheer being given for them. .In the course of a speech lasting a little more than an hour Mr Lee vigorously defended his action in connection with the election petition, and gave a brief account of his steward- ■" £hip as a Minister. About 9 o’clock several people left the hall, and the proceedings were delayed for a few minutes. On the whole Mr Lee received a very favourable healing. There were a tew interjections, ihostly of a good-natured character, and it was obvious that the sneaker had tho support of his audience. Mr Lee was accorded hearty "applause as he resumed his seat. Mr Massey, who received a splendid reception, spoke for a little more thin an hour, and covered practically the same grounds as he has traversed in the earlier Stages of the campaign. Ho vigorously defended tho administration of the Government, and again outlined various reforms ytbich he hoped to introduce as opportunity .^ff.cred —some of them during the next sessjpp of Parliament. • After Mr Lee had answered a few questions, apparently to the satisfaction of the audience, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the speakers, coupled with a vote of confidence in the Government. The motion was carried amidst applause, only two hands being held up against it. At thi© stage tho Hon. W. Downie Btewnrt put in an appearance, and though the hour was somewhat late those present were pleased to remain while he delivered i speech lasting for about half an hour. He replied to some criticism by Mr Wilford earlier in the evening, and presented several reasons why the electors should support the Reform candidate in the interests of ntnble government. Mr Stewart, who received an excellent hearing, was accorded three hearty cheers at the close pf hi* address

.While Mr Massey and Mr Lee were speaking in the Opera House, Mr Macpherson and Mr Wilford were holding a meeting in the Drill Hall. This large building was also filled to overflowing, and a very enthusiastic meeting took place. Both speakers, who had the support of the audience from the start, delivered vigorous speecheSj in which they criticised the administration of the Government, and put fonvard many reasons why the electors should record their votes in favour of the Liberal candidate. The speakers were heartily applauded at frequent intervals, and at the conclusion of the addresses cheers were given for them. A Hearty vote of thanks to Mr Macpherson and Mr Wilford, coupled with a vote of confidence in the former as the most fit person to represent the constituency in Parliament was carried enthusiastically. The meeting concluded with the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem. Although it was nearly 11 o’clock, those present seemed in no hurry to disperse, and about a quarter of an hour elapsed s before they left the hall. LIBERALS AT THE DRILL HALL. SPEECH BY MR WILFORD. A HUGE AUDIENCE. AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING. (Pee United Press Association.) OAMARU, April 30. Mr T. M. Wilford, Leader of the Opposition, and Mr J. A. Macpherson. Liberal candidate, addressed a huge audience at the Drill Hall to-night. The appearance of the speakers was a signal for loud and prolonged applause." Mr Macpherson; in the course of a speech, referred scathingly to the presence of the Prime Minister in the electorate “with his second strongest Minister in his pocket.” He spoke strongly concerning what ho termed an unfair press propaganda, and said the Reform newspapers had purposely'' retrained from publishing his speech at the Opera. House. He thought an honourab’e citizen was entitled to a fair hearing. Mr Macpherson dealt briefly with the election petition, and, in conclusion, appealed to his audience to' vote on the morrow for Liberty, Truth, and Justice, and themselves. His remarks were greeted with loud and prolonged applause. Mr Wilford said he had come to explain why his party stood out of the contest. •The Government, he said, was devoid of horse sense. Ho referred caustically to'thA Reform Party, and said it was once called the National Association,, or the “National Ass.” Mr Macpherson was not a lost sheep from the Liberal fold. He referred to the presence of the Prime Minister in the electorate as “William with his little lamb.” M.r -Wilford said that the Prime Minister had done nothing but electioneering since October, and had neglected his work in Wellington at the people’s expense. All that ho (Mr Massey) wanted was a majority to carry on, so that he could go for a five months’ trip to the Old Country to attend the Imperial Conference. The speaker deal/ at length - with the Reform Administration, and ridiculed the Prime Minister’s statement concerning the surplus as showing the country’s prosperity. He said that when he loft the National Cabinet there was a surplus of seven millions, but it was now only three and a-half millions. Liberalism was not dead ns some had said. Far from it. He referred to the fact that everywhere the Prime Minister went at the last election the Liberals gained a victory and stressed the point that Mr Macpherson could have had "all the sneakers he wanted if he had chosen, but he had preferred,to fight alone. In conclusion, ho appealed to them to return Mr Macpherson, whose knowledge would be a valuable aonuisition to the House, and would he greatly in the interests of the primary producer. The meeting concluded with a scene of great enthusiasm.