AT THE HUSTINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19446, 4 November 1925, Page 8

AT THE HUSTINGS

CANDIDATES ON TOUR WANGANUI DISTRICT ELECTORATES DAILY NOTES OF PROGRESS

THE LAST SHOTS PRE-ELECTION NIGHT ALL CANDIDATES ON THE STUMP. Last evening, the final words of th? J 925 election contest were spoken by the various candidates, and each party was firmly convinced,, when the applause had subsided at the respective meetings, that its candidate was certain to head the poll to-day. MR COULL. His Majesty’s Theatre was packed for Mr Coull’s meeting, and he was accorded an appreciative hearing. Mr F. K. Turnbull was in the chair. The candidate was in excellent form, and, in his usual entertaining style, he gave able exposition of the Reform Party’s platform, setting out clearly the reasons why people who desire the continuance of sound constitutional Government should vote for the return of the Reform Party and not waste their votes on the Nationalists, who would be a very weak party in the new House, and who would perpetuate the regrettable three-party system. He urged the electors to look at the political question from a New Zealand point of view, not from a local or personal viewpoint, and if they did that they would vote for the return of a Coates man. At the conclusion of Mr Coull’s address, which was punctuated with applause, a hearty vote of thanks and confidence was proposed by Dr. Porritt, seconded by Mr G. Holland, and carried amid applause, with very little opposition. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded a very successful meeting.

MR VEITCH. Mr W. A. Veitch concluded his campaign in the Opera House, where he expounded the National Party’s aims and aspirations before a large and sympathetic audience. The Mayor (Mr Hope Gibbons) occupied the chair. At the conclusion of his address, the candidate answered a number of questions, and, on the motion of Mr N. Meuli, renewed confidence was expressed in him. Cheers for Mr and Mrs Veitch concluded the meeting. MR ROGERS. The Labour Party held an open-air meeting, at which there were numerous speakers, and they all received good hearings. The local candidate, Mr V. J. Rogers, occupied pride of position, while Mr C. J. Duggan also spoke. On the licensing question, Rev. F. Harry, cf Wellington, addressed an open-air meeting at the Rutland corner. He delivered a strong address in favour of Prohibition.

MF. COULL’S WHARF MEETING. Yesterday at lunch time Mr John Coull addressed the waterside workers, having for his chairman Mr John Robertson, president of the Waterside Workers 7 Union. The chairman, in opening the meeting, expressed eulogy in respect of Mr Coull’s citizenship, and said that as a business man everyone had confidence in him. Although Mr Coull’s political views might differ from his own and probably those around him, nevertheless he was assured that the watersiders would give h.'m an attentive hearing. Mr Coull said that the next day when the numbers went up it would be found that there had been a parting of the ways, and it might be accepted as a foregone conclusion that throughout the Dominion the ’ Labour vote would bo considerably increased. The same thing, in some ratio, would accrue in respect of the Reform vote, and ‘.he intermediate party would be relegated to a negligible quantity and become impotent as a force in New Zealand politics. He said that he stood four square in support of the Reform Party’s policy and expected it would win the seat. He was prepared to bo judged on what ho might achieve during the ensuing three years, and if it were considered at the end of that time that the result was unsatisfactory the remedy would be in his constituents’ i hands. He upheld the Reform Government and said it was clean and free of graft. Many questions had been advanced to him during the campaign respecting the apparent delinquency of the Government in treating matters connected with returned men and others, but in most cases it had been found that dissatisfaction had accrued from discretional divergencies in Departmental administration, and he quoted that the Prime Minister, when recently speaking in the Opera House, emphatically stated that any subject of the Dominion who had not received just treatment from any of the Departments should communicate with him and he would see that every case received just and reasonable consideration. Mr Coull concluded by saying there were only two policy parties in the fight, Labour and Reform, and appealed to the watersiders to determine their choice. A number of questions were answered by the candidate, and a hearty vote of thanks for Mr Coull’s address was moved and seconded, respectively, by Messrs Gould and McDougall, wharf employees, and carried. A vote of thanks to the chairman was moved by Mr D. D. Mackie and carried.

WAIMARINO MR. LANGSTONE'S CAMPAIGN. (Special to “Chronicle.”) RAETIHI, Nov. 3. Mr F. Langstone concluded his political campaign at Raetihi last night. He spoke to a crowded audience at the Theatre Royal. The Mayor (Mr Sandford) was in the chair, and the meeting was very orderly throughout. Mr Langstone spoke for over two hours, and defended the party in the action they took regarding the deportation of Lyons. The speaker received a vote of thanks and confidence. RANGITIKEI MR. DUGGAN'S CAMPAIGN. Mr C. J. Duggan addressed a very enthusiastic meeting at Marton Druids’ Hall on Monday night. Mr J. T. Fisher presided and the hall was packed to the doors. The audience listened most attentively and vociferous applause punctuated the speech. ?dr Duggan dealt trenchantly with the propaganda of the Reform Party and exposed the methods of their attacks upon the Labour Party. At tho close of Mr Duggan’s address, Mr Barrett moved a hearty vote of thanks and the confidence of the meeting, and stated that Mr Duggan would be the representative of Rangitikci in the next Parliament. The motion was carried by acclamation without a dissentient voice.

At the lunch hour yesterday Mr Dug gan addressed a meeting of tho East Town ’Shops, and was given a rousing reception, and after replying to two or three friendly questions wss accorded an enthusiastic vot-3 of thanks and confidence,, hearty cheers being given Air Duggan and his fellow candidate, Mr Rogers. Mr Duggan concluded his campaign at the Wanganui East Town Hall last night. THE NATIONALIST CANDIDATE Mr A. Lyon addressed a large and attentive audience in the Marton Town Hall last evening. Mr F. Purnell presided. The speech was on lines similar to those already published. At the conclusion of his address the candidate answered a number of questions, and on the motion of the chairman he was accorded a vote of thunks.