GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 68, 3 November 1911, Page 6

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

SIR JOSEPH WARD

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, November 3. Sir Joseph Ward addresses his constituents at Winton next Tuesday, instead of to-night, as previously arranged.

THE DATE FIXED.

From reliable private advices wo learn that the general elections will be held on the itli December.

MR. McCLUGGAGE AT DURHAM ROAD.

(From a Correspondent.) Mr. McCluggage addressed the electors at the Durham Road in the local school-house last night. A very good audience turned up to hear the candidate, and Mr. d. B. Simpson was voted to the chair, and introduced Mr McCluggage to the meeting. The candidate’s address was well received. At the conclusion, Mr. Hedges moved, and Mr. Rickard seconded, “That! a hearty vote of thanks and confidence be accorded to Mr. McCluggage, and a vote of confidence in the present Administration.” An amendment that a vote of thanks only he given was lost by a large majority, and the original motion carried.

A vote of thanks to the chair terminated a most encouraging meeting. THE EG MONT SEAT. According to the “Star,” at flic Hon. TJios. Mackenzie’s Manaia meeting an elector asked if in the event of two alternative routes being proposed, one the Manaia side of Kapuni, and one close to Kaponga, which one would the candidate favour. Mr Mackenzie replied that lie did know enough about the question to express an opinion, hut the Government Intended that it should bo settled by a Commission, which would be sot up to investigate what was best to be done in the interests of the district.

He was quite sure ■if the proper men were appointed to the Commission the people would not oojoct to the report. Mr Mackenzie thought it necessary on Wednesday night to briefly refer to a slander that, it is stated, had ijecn freely circulated that he had been unable to conduct a meeting at Piuama on his last visit to the district on account of being under the inlluence of liquor. Mr Lambic, or fiiiama, at whoso homo he had spent several hours before proceeding to the nail, had replied to his telegram as follows: “Know, nothing of slanderous report. Was not at your Pihaina mooting, but can vouch for your sober condition previous to same. Ton iiacl no spirits while hero with me.” Mr Mackenzie added that subsequently to announcing his candidature lie had made two week-end trips to the electorate. During that time lie had visited half a dozen different hotels, but had not taken a drop'of liquor during the whole trip. He gave the statement an unqualified denial, and concluded by expressing the opinion that if ho "thought the contest was going on on the same lines he would prefer to retire from it. The audience was evidently in sympathy with the speaker, as it warmly applauded him at the conclusion of his remarks.