OAMARU BY-ELECTION

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 3041, 5 April 1923, Page 5

OAMARU BY-ELECTION

POLL WITHIN FIVE WEEKS.

A STRAIGHT-OUT CONTEST.

A Gazette notifying the vacancy of the Oamaru seat in the House of Representatives has been issued. In the ordinary course of procedure, therefore, the election should take place in from, four to live weeks’ time.

It is expected that some of the party leaders will be heard during the election. At present it does not appe; that the Labour Party will nominate a candidate, leaving a clear-cut contest between the Hon. E. P. Lee (Reform) and Mr J. A. Macpherson (Liberal). In Reform circles there is a quiet confidence that their candidate will win the seat, especially as the T:i uranga byelection has shown definitely that the much-talked-of ' ‘ rising wave of Liberalism” is non-existent. In addition, there is the known fact that quite a number of electors who voted against Mr Leo at the last election with a view of providing a strong Opposition' have since seen the error of their ways, and will not repeat the performance. A win .for Mr Lee would give Mr Massey a majority of five, instead of three as at present, arid should ensure the stability of his Government for the full course of the present Parliament, thus preventing the necessity for another general election.