REFORM REGAINS THE WAIKATO SEAT.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1682, 5 November 1925, Page 4

REFORM REGAINS THE WAIKATO SEAT.

MR REID WINS WITH A COMFORTABLE MAJORITY. coins TRY PARTY (NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY. HEAVY POLLING THROUGHOUT THE ELECTORATE. The result of yesterday’s polling in Waikato was to re-elect a candidate in the Reform interest. Three years ago, although the Reform vote predominated, a Liberal was elected through the Reformers bestowing their favours upon two candidates. The folly of such a procedure was not repeated this year. The election had been keenly contested between the Reform and Liberal groups. The advent of a supporter of the Country party was never seriously treated, and the polling result served only to strengthen earlier estimates of the mood and sentiment of the electors. It was generally believed, however, that the final result would have shown a much closer contest between the two principal contestants. The returns, as they stand this morning, with about 400 votes yet to be accounted for, show:-*— Mr D. Stewart Reid (Reform) 3683 Mr ,F. Lye (National) 2799 Mr E. C. S. Lawson (Country) 121

Early in the evening a large crowd began to assemble outside the Waipa Post buildings, where the results were screened. It was an undemonstrative crowd, and there was scarcely a cheer. Not until the candidates appeared was there any real sign of enthusiasm.

The first returns to come in were from Waikeria and Wharepapa. These gave Mr Lye a good start, 'with 19 votes to spare. A few minutes later Parawera registered the total votes polled there, reversing the majority in favour of Mr Reid by 6. From this stage the majority never changed over again—a steady increase being recorded as the successive figures came to hand.

At 7.40 p.m. Mr Reid’s recorded majority was just over 450 votes; by 8.20 it had increased to a little short of 700 votes.

■At Te Awamutu it was generally believed that the Cambridge figures would show more in Mr Lye’s .favour, and his supporters here received a rude shock when the actual returns came to hand. It was at this stage—when only seven comparatively small returns were awaited—that the candidates addressed the assemblage.Details of the polling at the various booths are as follow:

POLLING AT TE AWAMUTU. In Te Awamutu the utmost interest prevailed. 'From the moment the principal polling booth at the Town Hall was opened at 9 a.m. there was not an idle moment, and throughout the day there was a steady stream of traffic along Roche 'Street. Motor cars conveyed the majority of the electors—a tribute to the organisation of the various committees —and the traffic proceeded in a well-ordered manner without any sign of congestion. Within the polling booth there was scarcely a semblance of delay, and even in the hours of the greatest stress the facilities proved fully equal to the demand. Indeed, the returning officer, Mr A. A. Chittenden, and his staff deserve every credit for the thoroughness of the arrangements. And this, applying to Te Awamutu, was true also of the out-district polling places. In Te Awamutu there was a record poll in the history of the town. Three years ago the total number of votes recorded was 1051, compared with 1183 (including 10 informal votes) at, this election. CANDIDATES’ SPEECHES. At about a quarter to ten o’clock, when it was auundantly evident that mere coma oe no possible change in tne position of tne candidates, Messrs Reid and Lye addressed the electors in front of the Waipa Post oince. aacn was accorded a very enthusiastic and fair hearing. ivir Reid said he was extremely gratified at the confidence reposed in him by the electors of Waikato an returning nim at the head or tne poll, it was his nrst enort m the uealm of politics, and therefore the splendid vote for him and aiso for the Reform Government headed by the Hon. Gordon Coates was all the more gratnying. It had been said that a man could not go to Parliament and remain a straight man, 'but if he found that to be tne case ne would get out very quickly. it was not oiuy tne affairs of the Waikato electorate that he was returned to took atter, but his duty was also to 'take part in tne widetr affairs afrectmg tne whole Dominion. He could assure all the electors that lie would strive to do ms best and thus warrant tlie coniidence reposed in him that day. (Cheers.) Mr Lye said that though defeated that day he ,iiacl the knowledge that he had done his best in the past three years for every section of the community. Therefore he ~nacl little cause tor regret, but he would admit that he was a little disappointed at thei decision ot the electors that day. But Waikato had for years been a strong Reform seat, and three years ago he had got in owing to the Relorm vote 'being split. Perhaps a't some future time he would again be asked to contest the seat, and if circumstances warranted it he would be glad to offer his services. 'Mr Lye concluded by calling for “three cheers for my worthy opponent,” a call that was responded to wnole-heartedly. Mr Reid reurned the compliment by immediately leading rousing cheers for the retiring member.

121 2799 3683 There were 45 informal votes.

THREE YEARS AGO.

For purposes of comparison we publish below the number -of votes recorded at the various polling places three years ago. At that election 'Messrs A. G. Dent and J. T» Johnson were supporters of the Reform party, Mr F. Lye being the Liberal (Nationalist) candidate.

Mr Reid has lived in Waikato very many years, and for nearly a decade has been a member of the Waipa County-Council, an experience that has served to give him a close insight into the difficulties of the farmers. For about three years he has been chairman of that body, and has won the support of, we believe, every member of the Council for his administrative ability. Mr Reid is 57 years of age, and he is a very virile man, an incisive debater, and has a personality that appeals. He has been a keen supporter of the Massey administration for years, though at times he was not backward in criticising it when he thought the country dweller was not receiving full justice. Mr Reid had not previous to the present contest actively associated himself with electioneering, but when he was chosen by a caucus of Reform League delegates some eighteen months ago he entered into the contest with an energy and tenacity of purpose that speedily made him a power to be reckoned with. He confounded those critics who asserted that he would not get through the strenuous campaign necessary, for it is said that on Tuesday night at Ohaupo, when delivering “ the final shot of the campaign,” he spoke with vigour and conviction, and looked as fresh as when he started on his big undertaking.

Mr Lye is a farmer resident at Pukekura, near Cambridge, and he contested the Waikato seat three years ago in the interest of the Liberal party. •At that time he was not 90 welfknown on this side of the electorate as nearer Cambridge, but at the hustings he won support by his activity and logical statement of the cause of Liberalism. Aided greatly by the fact that the Reform vote was split between Messrs J. T. Johnson and A. 'G. Dent, Mr Lye secured the seat by a small majority. iSince he became entitled to add the letters “ M.!P.” after his name he has been a keen politician and a champion of the interests ot his constituents of all political persuasiohs. He is still a young man, having been elected in 1922 when 41 years of age. He is a family man—in fact, bis eight sons and two daughters constitute a very large family nowadays. As a director of the Cambridge Co-operative' Dairy Company Mr Lye has a firstclass knowledge of the difficulties of the farming community. On the latest occasion he stood as a Nationalist, consequent on the decision of the Liberal party about three months ago to change its title to National party. As a parliamentarian he has been indefatigable, and has visited every corner of his very scattered electorate to make himself better acquainted with the needs of the electors.

Mr Lawson is practically an unknown man in this electorate, though he has resided in Waikato for well over a quarter of a century. He is a farmer, his property being located at iPepepe, in the Raglan electorate. Mr Lawson espoused the cause of the Country party, but his prospects of election were never at any stage considered bright, and, in fact, the chief interest of electors in him was whether he would poll enough votes to save forfeiting his deposit. Mr Lawson, however, showed on the platform that he has a fair personality, and that he is abreast of his party’s cause. His dissertation on the need for farmers being united into one party instead of being split among Reform, National, and Labour, as at present, was convincing, but the plain truth is that the community is not ready for that particular unity.

Arohena .... Lawson. 6 >> ■ 13 £ Reid. Cambridge 12 713 635 Goodwood ... 14 23 56 Hairini 1 23 59 ■Hautapu .... 0 36 110 IJinuera .... 3 21 64 Honikiwi .... 1 7 24 ■Hora Hora .. 3 17 24 'Kaipaki 0 40 74 Karapiro .... 3 33 44 Kawliia 2 49 53 Kawa West .. 2 10 31 Kihikihi 2 121 101 Kinohaku ... 0 36 63 Kio Kio i2 •5 10 Korakonui ... 1 14 37 Leamington . 4 160 116 Maihiihi .... 1 13 34 Mangapiko .. 1 12 28 Matapara .... 0 4 3 Maungatautari No. 1 2 15 42 'Maungatautari No. 2 7 13 28 Moerangi 5 6 6 Monavale 1 27 51 Muku Quarry 0 0 1 Ngahinapouri 0 IS 99 Ngahape 0 11 19 Ngaroma 0 34 20 Ngutunui 0 2 15 Ohaupo 5 103 191 Oparau A? • 0 47 21 Oparau Valley 0 *5 8 Paewhenua .. 1 8 11 Parawera ... 0 16 41 iPaterangi 3 29 82 Pirongia 5 71 97 Pokuru 0 30 41 'Puahue 0 17 50 Pukeatua '2 38 59 'Puketotara 0 9 7 Roto-o-iRangi 4 48 52 Taotaoroa S 16 10 Te Awamutu s 495 670 Te Anga t> 7 30 Te Awaroa .. 0 19 12 Te Kawa 2 39 26 Te Koraha .. 0 1 11 Te Mata 0 2 13 Te Mawhai .. 1 74 46 Te Pahu 6 55 41 Te Rau-a-tWoa 1 31 5 Te Rore 2 13 41 Tirau 3 57 128 Tokanui 0 19 27 Tuhikaramea .. 0 5 24 Waikeria > 0 23 12 Waitetuna 2 0 7 Wharepapa .. 0 11 3 Wharepuhunga 0 19 25 Whitehall ... 0 16 31

Dent Johnson Lye Cambridge .. ... 376 343 583 Hautapu .. . 72 32 39 Hairini ... 16 36 29 Kaipaki ... 21 45 40 Karaka Rd. . ... 4 4 19 Karapiro ... 14 35 39 Goodwood ... ..., 30 39 22 Honikiwi 9 25 4 Hora Hora ... 13 6 - 24 Hinuera ... 20 40 16 Kawa West . ... 11 29 4 Kawhia ... 59 6 47 Kihikihi ... 37 71 122 Kinohaku ... ... 80 2 19

Kio Kio 4 16 5 Korakonui 2 30 13 Leamington .. . . 69 84 141 Maihiihi . • 43 7 Mangapiko ... . . 11 9 15 Matapara .... . . — — 3 Maungatautari No. 1 17 30 11 No. 2 26 16 12 Monaval e .... .. 24 20 24 Ngahinapouri .. IS 77 3 Ngahape 9 13 11 Ngaroma 4 25 19 Ngutunui .... ... IS — 3 Ohaupo . . 22 135 127 Oparau . . 35 13 31 Oparau Valley .. 11 4 6 Paewhenua .. 4 5 9 Parawera .... .. 12 23 11 Paterangi . . 24 38 22 Pirongia .. 14 ' 83 , 51 Pokuru . . 1 23' 22 Puahue 8 30 23" Pukeatua .... :. 28 36 , 48 Puketotara ... 8 8 6 .Roto-o-rangi . .. 37 27 22 Taotaoroa .... .. 4 5 15 Te Awamutu .. 141 528 382 Te Anga . . 34 — 6 Te Awaroa .. 24 1 16 Te Kawa .... .. 8 14 20 Te Koroha .. 14 — — Te Mata .. 11 1 4 Te Mawliai .. 17 27 52 Te Pahu 8 51 31 Te Rau-a-moa S 12 24 Te Rore .. 18 21 12 Tirau .. 33 79 70 Tokanui 5 13 9 Tuhikaramea 6 19 12 Waikeria .... _ 15 25 Waitetuna .... 4 7 3 Wharepapa .. 4 9 6 Wliarepuhunga . 16 5 9 Whitehall' .... .. 10 197 — — — 1522 232S 2355