THE GREY ELECTION

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 20

THE GREY ELECTION

WRIT ISSUED. WELLINGTON, May _ 11. The writ for the Grey seat was issued yesterday. The election has been fixed for the 29th inst. GREYMOUTH. May 11. There was disappointment to-dav in both election camps in that the Registrar of Electors did not receive the official telegram notifying that the writ had been issued yesterday until after 6 o'clock last night. A number of claims for enrolment were thus shut out, as the organisers had relied on the custom of notification being received early in the day, and there being notice as to the final hour for closing the roll. The official telegram, put in at Wellington at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, did not reach Gerymouth till after 6 o'clock, and it was nearly 7 o'clock before it was in the hands of the Registrar. All doubts as to Mr Coates's candidature for the Grey sc it in the House of Representatives have now been removed (the Greymouth correspondent of the Press says), and ho has definitely indicated that he will stand as a Liberal, supporting the Government war policy. Ho is, however, opposed to the manner in which the Government has treated the Second Division and its failure to deal with the cost of living problem. The following telegram from its Greymouth correspondent appeared in the Press on Saturday morning:—"There is little excitement over the coming election. Mr Coatcs has secured rooms, and has set up a committee, but has made no other sign. He is very reticent as to his intentions, but it is freely rumoured that Mr Holland will have a walk-over. The actual trouble that has arisen in connection with Mr Coates's candidature has not been made known. The Reform Party recognises that the seat is a Liberal one. and is quite prepared to support Mr Coates, whether he comes out as an Independent or as a Liberal. The supporters of the latter party are very lukewarm at present, and Mr Coates has received very little encouragement from them. Should Mr Coates withdraw, there is little likelihood of anyone else filling the gap. Mr Holland has already covered a good portion of the electorate."