GENERAL ELECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12775, 20 October 1919, Page 3

GENERAL ELECTION.

COMMENCEMENT OF ELEC-

TION CAMPAIGN.

KATAPOI SEAT.

Mr G. Morgan AVillia ms, tlie Labour candidate for the Kaiapoi seat at the general election, addressed a moderate-ly-attended meetin" of electors in the Marshland Hall on Friday evening last. Mr A. B. L. Smith* was voted to the chair. The address was on similar lines to that delivered at Kaiapoi on the previous evening. In answer to a question. Air Williams said he took up an uncompromising a.ttitude of hostility towards the spirit of militarism, which was becoming more and more evident under the Defence Department. On the. motion of Air Abraham. seconded by Air Rush worth, the candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. The Hon D. Buddo was amongst his constituents on Saturday, consulting with them with a view to the opening of his election campaign as soon as the session closes. LABOUR PROSPECTS. WEAKENING OF EXTREME WING. [From Our CoßßHapoxtiENT. ] WELLINGTOIS', October 18. Developments among the Wellington seats and some indications from other parts of New Zealand show" that the “ official M or extreme Labour wing is not making the electoral progress which it expected as a consequence of very active platform campaigning. Air Semple had an easy win in Wellington South by-election, and his friends have been disposed to build great hopes for extreme Labour on the figures, forgetful of the fact that the Liberal Party adhered to the spirit of the National Government pact (though Labour would not recognise it) and left the seat to the Labour successor of the late Air Hindmarsfi, the Liberal candidate in the held securing no official backing or assistance. A i,~w factor is now to be faced by the Labour member, for Colonel Alitcheli. who is a Liberal by conviction, will he nominated for the constituency, and lie is a good campaigner in the electoral as well as the military sense. It is also probable time the Liberals will put up a strong candidate against Air Peter Fraser with the object of winning hack the uellington Contra! seat.

A LADY CANDIDATE. [Pan P*ras Association.} AUCKLAND, October 10, Mrs Baume, widen- of the late Mr F E. Baume, a former M.P.. is ;1 ‘candidate lor Parnell a* an Independent. AUCKLAND WEST. Mr C F. Bennett, a candidate for Auckland \\ esfc. defined his position the other day. Pi© sa.id he could not endorse ail the acts of the Massey party, or of the National Government, hut it certainly reflected credit on Mr Massey and his colleagues of both parties in the National Government that the posttionof Now Zealand at the end of the war was better than that of any other English-speaking country. If he were elected he would go to Parliament as a progressive Reformer, and in the event of a no-confidence motion lie would vote in favour of the present Government. On other questions lie would preserve a free hand, and the right to act as he thought best. ROTORUA. Mi- E. C. Banks, a candidate for the Rotorua seat, is standing as a. supporter of the present Government.

BAY OF ISLANDS. Air St Clair Jonneaux, the Independent Liberal candidate for the Bay of Islands electorate, has begun his political campaign. I n his published * platform. he states that the great need of the country at present is a strong and steady Government that wilt develop its resources, protect and encourage the producers, and do .justly by all the workers of the Dominion. WAIKATO. Air C. Lafferty. a member of the Hamilton Borough Council, has announced his intention of contesting the AYaikato seat against Mr J. A. A’oung, the sitting member. Air Lafferty will stand as an Independent.