OAMARU BY-ELECTION

Southland Times, Issue 18929, 1 May 1923, Page 5

OAMARU BY-ELECTION

TO-DAY'S CONTEST MR WILFORD AIDS LIBERAL CANDIDATE (Per United Press Association). OAMARU, April 30. Mr Wilford, Leader of the Opposition, I and Mr Macphepon, Lib.-Lab. candidate, addressed a huge audience at the Drill Hall to-night. The appearance of the speaker was the signal for loud and prolonged applause. Mr Macpherson, in the course of his speech, referred scathingly to the presence of the Premier in the electorate, “with his second strongest Minister in his pocket.” He spoke strongly concerning what he termed was the unfair press propaganda, and said that the Reform press had purposely refrained from publishing his speech at the Opera house, though he, as an honourable 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 remark was greeted with loud and prolonged applause. Mr Wilford said that he. had come to explain why his party had stood out of the contest. The Government, he said, was devoid of horse sense. He referred caustically to the Reform party, and said that it was once called the National Association, or the “National Ass.” Mr Macpherson was not as a lost sheep from the Liberal fold. He referred to the presence of the Premier in the electorate, as “William with his little lamb.” Mr Wilford said that the Premier had done nothing but electioneering since October, and neglected his work in Wellington at the people’s expense. AH he (the Premier) wanted was a majority to carry on so that he could go for a five months’ trip to the Old Country to attend the Conference. He dealt at length with the Reform administration, and ridiculed the Premier’s statement concerning the surplus as showing the country’s prosperity. He said that when he left the National Cabinet there were £7,000,000 and now there were only £3,500,000. Liberalism was not dead, as some said, far from it. He referred to the fact that everywhere the Premier went at the last election, the Liberals gained a victory. He stressed the point that Mr Macpherson could have had all the speakers he wanted if he chose, but he preferred to fight alone. In conclusion, he appealed to them to return Mr Macpherson, whose knowledge would be a valuable acquisition to the House and would be greatly in the interest of the primary producers. The meeting concluded with scenes of great enthusiasm.