“GAINING GROUND”

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 273, 23 November 1935, Page 7

“GAINING GROUND”

Support for Mr. Ormond VIEWS AT COMBINED MEETING CONFIDENCE EXPRESSED “We are gaining ground every day and I feel certain that in Takapau, anyway, we will place Air Ormond at the top.” This statement by Mrs Bayliss, of Takapau, echoed tho opinion of .speakers from all parts of the Waipawa electorate 'who attended a gathering of almost 200 persons held in Havelock North recently. Tactics adopted by supporters of the official G'oveiktoent National candidate were cnticiiised dufing the meeting and at the conclusion a motion of confidence in Mn Ormond was enthusiastically carried. It expressed full approval of Mi] Ormond’s refusal to withdraw from the contest and added the view that had hel decided to do so the votps which would have been his would have been diverted to the Dafbour candidate. ‘ ‘We do mot like the methods of the official candidate, which have been demonstrated during the past week,'” said Mr Perry Wilder after the meeting had been opened by itlhe ehairman, Mr H. F. von Dadelszen. “I have been asked what I know of the position in the .electorate. I have bceini on the work for five weeks and I state definitely that the feeling in this electorate iis that itlhe people are going to have John Ormond as their 'representative, in spite of what anyone saysf’

Statement Challenged Mr Wilder referred to tho meeting at Maraekakaho on Saturday night lasiti called by the supporters of the official ca/n|di>date. ‘‘The .report which appeared in the morning paper regarding that meeting was supplied by the conveners of. that meeting and was in no way the fault of the paper,” said Mr Wilder. “Following .the second meeting at Maraekakaho, at which Mr Ormond addressed the electors, a man told a reporter present that 80 per cent of the laiudience had come out from Hastings,” he continued. “As a matter of fact, I was within hearing of the remarks at the time and I immediately tackled the man concerned. He denied having made the statement, but when I called the reporter over he confirmed my accusation. I then demanded that the man should point' out all the people who had come from Hastings. He was only able to indicate three, one of whom, was the reporter himself.

“A. man 'has been going round •jthe district stating that Mr Ormond was jp'ulling out of the contest,” said Mr Wilder. "We 'did 'not send that man round. I leave fE to your imagination who did. “John Ormond is not contesting the seat from any thought of personal gain, but because he considers it his duty,” continued Mr Wilder. "His qualifications have been challenged. I would like Ho ask* what Mt .lull’s • qualifications are. The only qualification he possesses as far as I have hea/rd is that he was nominatled by the "National Party. “The question of his age has also

been repeatedly brought up, ’ ’ said Mr Wilder. “As a matter of fact Mr Ormond is 30. Mr Anthony Eden, one of the greatest men in British politics, is 37. Mr Jul'l is tho third oldest 1 man in the House of Representatives. Mr Ormond is young and keen. Why not put him in and let him have the benefit of the experience?” (Applause), Mr R. E. Talbot stated that ho had been told Ify some that they would not vote for Mr Ormond so long as there was an official candidate in the field. “I don’t know what the feeling must be to be an official candidate,” he added. “All I replied was that we could only bring along the host man for the district.” Conscience of Dictation

Mr Talbot stated that the .meeting addressed at Takapau by Mr Ormond was crowded. There were several present who were undecided whether to vote as their consciences dictated, or to do as they were told. He stressed the need for continued efforts and stated that in tho Waipawa. elecI toratlo the contest would not be won until the final moment.

The view that good support for Mr Ormond would be forthcoming from tho Elsithorpe district was expressed by Mr M. Ryan.

“We are gaining ground every day, and I feel certain that in Takapau, anyway, we will place Mr Ormond at tho top,” said Mrs Bayliss to the accompaniment of applause. “One thing of which I am proud is that our campaigning has been clean, as it should be,” said Mr W. H. Edwards. “We t have a straightforward, honest young fellow to support. All honour to .the young fellows of this country who are able to stand for Parliament and play the game.”

Not Too Young Then “It was the young men who went to the front during the war. They ■were not too young to serve their country,” said Miss Buchanan. “Why then, should Mr Ormond be too young to serve his country now?” Strong support for Mr Ormond in the Norsewood district was indicated by Mr A. W. Montgomery. “If the other districts are as good as Norscwood we will have no trouble,” he stalled.

Strong support from Te Awanga, Haumoana, Waimarama and Maraetotara was also indicated by Mrs Neilsen and Mir Frank Field. The motion of confidence, moved by Mr Crawford, was seconded by Captain Forde. “Up till five weeks ago I was definitely .al supporter of Mr dull, dtscijpttined by the brain trust in Maraekakaho, ” said Captain Forde. “They have been talking in a large way at Maraekakaho about thinking nationally . and of disciplining themselves. Thank heaven I was broad-minded enough not to be disciplined by their narrow-minded outlook. ’ ’

“There has been a lot of talk about the ‘disaster’ which would result if Labour did gain the Wai.pawa seat,” said Captain Forde. “If Waipawa is tho key position tlo the Government of this country, then heaven help the Government. ”*