TAURANGA BY-ELECTION

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 3034, 17 March 1923, Page 5

TAURANGA BY-ELECTION

REFORM CANDIDATE. AT TE MIRO

A GOOD RECEPTION

Mr Chas. Macmillan, Reform candidate for the Tauranga by-election, addressed tho electors at the Te Hiro schoolhouse yesterday afternoon. The meeting,, was a large one, several electors having to stand. Mr Stevens was elected to the chair, and introduced the candidate in a neat speech ,emphasising the point that the fate of the Government of New Zealand was in the hands of the Tauranga electors.

Mr MacMillan spoke at length on his personal achievements and experience of local body work. The candidate claimed special knowledge of dairying, having an intimate knowledge of butter manufacture and marketing the finished article. He strongly advocated the Dairy Control Bill. Mr Macmillan praised the Minister for Public-Works, and defended the Highwayjs Bill. Thecandidate then briefly dealt with the principal planks of the Reform platform, and said he gave the party his sincere and thorough support. The matter of returned soldiers' rents was dealt with, the candidate stating that ho was in favour of abolishing and not capitalising, these. A hearty vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate, moved by Mr Keyte, was carried, by acclamation.

SIR JOSEPH'S SPEECH

A GREAT RECEPTION

The Tauranga fight has now begun in earnest. Sir Joseph Ward reached Tauranga on Thursday afternoon after receiving enthusiastic receptions along the road. There was a large crowd to greet Sir Joseph and Lady Ward at Tauranga. Sir Joseph is in good health and in gdod form. Long before the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting at Tauranga on Thursday night, the Town, Hall was packed. Sir Joseph's reecn-l tion was most enthusiastic and he took the platform amid cheering. In proceeding to explain why he had re-entered the field Sir Joseph asked the question, "Why am I in the field?" A voice answered, "Because* you are wanted." Sir Joseph said a better answer could not have been given. He then proceeded to state that he was not a stranger to the district as some claimed, for ho had started the Tauranga-Waihi railway, he had been responsible for the Rangitaiki Llains; and Hauraki Plains drainage sflhontcs..

Referring to a criticism in the New Zealand Herald he stated he had no de sire for a dissolution, and thought some working agreement between the parties was both sane and right. Sir Joseph said that if he were in office he would put penny postage into operation within 24 hours. He then dealt with War Finance, Tourist Departments, the Moratorium and the Railways.

At the conclusion of the speech there was a unanimous vote of confidence. When the cheering had subsided, ''For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" broke out.

NOT A WRECKER ■ i . "i (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TAURANGA, this day. Speaking at To Puke last night, Sir Joseph Ward time and again referred to the Necessity for stable Government, and "the bogey of dissolution." It was his fixed conviction no Government should be in power that had not "the requisite majority to do what was necessary in the interests of the country's stability." He was certain that the country did not want a dissolution. He ridiculed any suggestion that he was out to be a wrecker.