RANGITIKEI ELECTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14018, 24 September 1909, Page 3

RANGITIKEI ELECTION.

MR. HOCKLY'S ELECTION I V&YA

THE SECOND BALLOT. GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE WINS. l'er I'r.'ss Asbuciution. HUNTEUVILLE, bept. 2a. The bccond h.illot lor the lian<;itiko! boat wat. taken to-day. With iv>o biimi! r» tin us to (oino the lulalb aie ab lullow.s: — Smith ((iovvruuivntj 21U1 llooki> (Opposition) 'MUo Nuuihci ol vote pollt-d -I-IU'J Majority ior Smith ISUU Mil. SMITH'S VIhWS. Thi' tollowinij; u> a buniiiiary ol tli«politual \iuv\i> oi Mr. Smith: — (1) Crown tciiantb bhould have the right ol purchase, but there bhould be limitation ot area. (12) Iteiorin ot Native land laws go as to secure individualisation ot til Its*, and Natives to bo allowed to dual wilh their lands at> they desire, and lie subject to the baiue taxation as Euroj leans. ('J) Fice education Jroin the jjiiniaiy .school to tho university. (J) Moro nionej bhould be spent on the Navy than on internal dotence. (0) Opposed to the pivsent- bybtem of immigration. (6) A tariff which would give protection to young industries. (7) More money to ashist the settlers ' and the workers. (8) The imposition of a duty on imported pine. (9) A dominion optiou poll, with a three-fifths majority.

Mr. Smith at the election in 1908 stood as an Independent Liberal. At the first ballot at this election he polled v 1056 votes, and Mr. Hockly, 1552. "Last election/ said Mr. Smith in tho course of an interview a day or two ago, "my only reason for standing as an Independent Liberal was because of the fact that I was in sympathy with the Liberal Government, excepting in regard to the system of land tenure. MV position on that occasion was clearly defined in the speeches ( which I delivered during the campaign. It will be found, for instance, in the report of my speech at Taihape on November 10, 11)08, as follows:— -'He deffried his position as a true Liberal, though not a slavish follower of the Ministry. His sympathies were with the Government, but the question of land tenure neces : eitated his holding a free hand, l quite recognise," Mr. Simth.proceeded, "that I got a number of Opposition votes last year, and I expect to set a good share 01. them this. time. It n totally untrue that (as is alleged ». some quarters) I led some Oppositionists to believe that my leanings were towards tho Opposition, and not towards the GoTUrtnent. AsanniUr of fact, a .mmber ot Oppontioauta did not vote at the 'last election, suniibr because Mr. KOTungton was a Wjeral candidate, and the accepted Govern' ment candidate, irhfst I wat. o« nosing .him as an Independent Liberal, W there was, Iheratwre, no Ouptiaitna wididate for them to support. Un v<*r the Oppositionists recognised that they had no chance of winning tho wat with any Opposition candidate, and as' my views were -carer to thei-s thai- t *te of the sitting member, I take it thni that was why they supoortoJ mo. As regards this occasi >n, th* fact? are that when the vaciu-w ocevrredtho (« \< Uiment approaihod mo with a }**•* to contesting the seat in i^s mterest but out of respect for the mnno of Mr. Remingt-yo. 1 drf«T«l going lo discuss the .aaaerwuh tlw ••^"•^ a " for some time. Vk T hoi I die .ufl «• ««- lington, I was iuf.>rm«a th«t m tho interim two ..ih^r svitaMn Literal ca*didates had approached the Government and expressed their iletermm «rian o. K qin K to the poU. In any event, the Government explained to nyth.^ the circumstaioes it mould »« ma^yuable on its part to make any selection, but wojlcl prefer 'o Hvc thStion to the Under the circumstances I concurred with its view but only oi. li»e distinct u.der•tanding that I was accepted as h Co vernraent eandl-Uie, despite my .swcni pledges on the l>md tenuio r,;n-v..on

WHY MINISTERS TOOK PART.

PALMRRSTON N Sept. 23 The acting-Premier, who left Hunterville during tho afternoon, stayed toniEbt at Palnicrston. Ho was interviewed by a Marawatu Times reporter C ?he result of the Rangitikei «\ e T f'°": fight is over," he said. ?It *w a true party struggle The real mfißhtff D g wiu* carries by the several .candidates in tho first ballot and in the second ballot stoftd 'wt"^/^.^ Liberal cause. The presence of Minwte» in the second •*«*«**]»«"" -test -was to impress it with the sigDificance of party and to pJf«» ««J case before the electors. Wo accept their verdict." ' ... ,-.» rr The Minister for Agriculture (Mr. T. Mackenzie), who had come to meet Mrs. Mackenzie at Palmerston early in the afternoon on her. return «om England, was also interviewed by the Ma^awatu Times, and wid: "1 cannot heln bu*- be pleased with the result. Although the fight has been a strenuous one, it ha* heen conducted on the most honourable lines on both sidev I attribute the victory largely to a recognition on the part of the electors that the Government is .honestly, striving to do its very best in the interests .of the country.. We are attacking- large and difficult problems, and tho encouragement we have received will stimulate us in our efforts. I am particularly pleaied with the .support we have received from the MTiners. because I take it as a recognition, among other things, that th© Agricultural Department is striving on practical line* to advance their interest*, not only in the dominion, but also in the lrnrketing of their produce in other lands.

HON. MR. CABROM, AND M,R. G H HUTCHISON.

PALIfERSTON N., Sept 23. The lilnnawatu Times' special corrpsnondrnt, in referrinc to the result of the election, say» that one of the featnres of the contest was the attacks made upon the actinsc-Premier by Mr, George Hutchi»6n, who retired in favour of Mr. Hockly in the first ballot and assisted Mr. Mmw'« campaign thronehout the second ballot. Mr. Hutchison from severwl platforms declared that Mr. Carroll's choice as aet-inc-Premier was n reflection on the white men in the Cabinet. Mr. Carroll and other Ministers on a visit to the electorate ignored these attacks, but wherever Mr. Carroll went to-d»v and wsterdav electors came to express their resentment of the tactics employed and charges made against him.