PARNELL SEAT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18545, 16 April 1930, Page 8

PARNELL SEAT.

ELECTION CAMPAIGN OPENED, By Telegraph—Presa Association. AUCKLAND, April 15. The Parnell by-election campaign was opened to-night, when meetings were addressed by Mr W. A. Donald (United) and Mr T. Bloodworth (Labour). There were good attendances, and each candidate received a cordial reception and votes of confidence. The Liberal Nominee. Mr Donald said the Parnell electors had a unique opportunity at the byelection to give a vote of confidence to the Government. He reviewed the Government’s achievements in eighteen months of office, and submitted that the United Party should be given a chance to bring its programme to completion. The Government had been under a big handicap through being without an independent majority in the House, and because of the fact that it had to begin administration faced with half a million pounds deficit. However, Mr Donald deduced from the fact that certain primage duties were to be removed at the end of March, that the Prime Minister would be able to announce a small surplus in the national accounts for the financial year just ended. Mr Donald said that if the verdict went against the Government at the by-election there was a risk of the country being plunged into the expense of a general election. He criticised the Reform Party, claiming that Ministers in the late Government had lost control of departments, and that their administration had been extravagant. He had every confidence that the United Government would, in a few years, be able completely to eradicate unemployment. The Minister of Labour (Hon. W. H. Veitch) also spoke briefly, contending that the call was for stability in Government, and the Parnell electors should not do anything to weaken the Government’s position. Labour’s Candidate. Mr Bloodworth based his appeal on what he described as the complete failure of the two other parties, which had governed New Zealand by catchwords. Labour, on the other hand, would introduce real measures. It offered men of experience in public affairs, and would give effect to measures calculated to restore prosperity—measures cf land settlement and industrial development providing employment for labour. Mr Bloodworth said that instead of seeking to bring about a general election, Labour considered it to the country’s advantage to support the party in power. He expressed the hope that Parnell would follow the lead of Britain and Australia, and vote Labour. Xfris election, he said, provided an opportunity for showing whether or not public opinion in other parts of the Empire was endorsed.

THE ROLLS. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 15. Returns made available by the Electoral Department indicate that the total number of electors on the general and supplementary rolls for Parnell is 14,086. which is 13 more than the number enrolled for the general election. On this occasion only 12,179 electors recorded their votes. The number of electors on the No. 2 supplementary roll, which has been compiled for the by-election, is 1895. Arrangements are now being mad® by the chief electoral officer for absentee voters to record their votes on May 7th, with postmasters. Ministers Entering Fray. The Deputy-Leader of the Government (Hon. G. W. Forbes) has arranged to address the Parnell electors during the by-election campaign on behalf of the United candidate (Mr W. A. Donald). Mr Forbes will leave Wellington on Tuesday next, and will address a public meeting in the northern electorate on the Wednesday night. The Minister of Mines (Hon. W. A. Veitch) is already in Auckland, and he will be joined on Friday by the Minister of Customs (Hon. J. B. Donald).