ELECTION FIGHT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16114, 1 May 1923, Page 7

ELECTION FIGHT.

O.N THE EVE OF THE BATTLE

MR. WILFORD AND THE PREMIER

iPev i J ress Association.) 0 AMARU, last nig lit

the Oaraaru by-election campaign concluded to-night. Zest was added' to the tihal gatherings by the participation) of Mr. Wilford, leader of tho Opposition, who arrived, at mid-day and, with Mr. Macpherson, spoke in llio Drill Hall. The Prima Minister, with Mr. Lee, faced a very largo gathering in the Opera House. The Hon. Downie Stewart arrived! by tho lato express this evening and 1 participated in the meeting at the Opera House. Both sides profess confidence, and l a very largo poll is certain. Over three hundred! absent voters' permits htivfe been issued,

Mf; Wilford'} leader of the Opposition, and) Mr. Macpherson, Liberal candidate, addressed a huge audience- at thfe Drill Hall to-night. Tho appearance Of the speakers was the signal for ioud l and prolonged' applause. Mt\ Macpherson, in the course, of his speech, referred! scathingly to the presence of the Premier in the electorate "with his second strongest Minister in liis pocket." Hfe spoke strongly concerning what he termed was unfair press propaganda, and said the- Reform papers had purposely refrained from publishing his speech at the Opera; House. He thought an honorable citizen was entitled to a fair hearing. | Mr. Macpherson dealt briefly with the election petition, and in conclusion, appealed to his audience to vcrto on the morrow for liberty, truth and justice, and themselves. His lelnarks were - greeted with loud and prolunged' applause. Mr. Wilford said he had come to explain' why his party had stood out of 'the contest. The Government, ho said, was devoid of horse sense. He referred caustically to the Reform party, which, hd said, was once called the National Association or the "National Ass." Mr. Macpherson was not as a losti sheep from the Liberal fold. Mr. Wilford referred to the presence of the Premier in the electorate) as "William with his little lamb." He said the Premier had done nothing except electioneering since October, and had neglected his work in Wellington at the people's expense. All lie (the Premier) wanted was a majority to carry on, so that he could go for a live months' trip to the Old Country to attend a conference. He dealt at length with the Reform administration, and ridiculed tho Premier's statement concerning tho surplus as showing the country's prosperity. Ho said that, when ho left tho National Cabinet, there wore seven millions of Supply and now there was only three and a half. Liberalism was not dead, as some said, and was far from it. Ho referred to tho fact that everywhere the Premier went last election tho Liberals gained a victory. He Stressed! the point that Mr. Macpherson iiovld have had all the speakers ho wanted! if he had chosen, but he preferred to fight alone. In conclusion, he appealed to the electors to return Mr. Macpherson, whose knowledge would Iw a valuable! acquisition to the Housei and would he greatly in tho interests of the primary producers. The 'meeting concluded with scenes of great enthusiasm.

This was a whispering election, said Mr. Macpherson, in a speech in the (lamaru campaign last week (reports the Oaroaru Mail). It wis astonishing the depravity of a section of the community and the" depths to which they would stoop. Nothing was too bad. Every innuendo was hurled forth. He cautioned! those present to watch their milk cans for tho day or two before the election and look for tho slips that would be placed in them. 10 was a. dyinr spasm of a lost party. He had heard that he had joined', tho Roman Catholic Church and attended' twice daily. That was a deliberate lie. Ho had! nothing against tho Rojaan Catholics, bub he ww, a Presbyterian and attended church as often as he could. His children had come home from school and said that several pupils had been asked by their parents to find out whether it was trw that his Holiness the Pope had 1 cabled out wishing him success and inviting him to spend a holiday with him. Since hearing that, he had been drafting a cable to King George asking him U postpone his visit to the Pope until the election was over, when they would do tho trip together.