THE HAWKE'S BAY SEAT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2356, 24 November 1908, Page 5

THE HAWKE'S BAY SEAT.

HASTINGS, Nov. 23

Sir William -Russell's committee persistently denies any knowledge of Mr. Massey’s visit to Hastings, and the first public intimation that ho-was to speak "here to-night was an advertisement in the paper this morning. The secretary maintains that he has prevented it. The' other side is arranging for aM sinialtirmfwWpM.e,al ranging for a Ministerial visit as a counter attraction. It is expected there will be a very close contest. Women- who are indifferent to politics will vote heavily in favor of Sir "William Russelll. An open-air meeting will he held to-night by Mr. Dillon supported by tlie defeated candidates., while Mr. Massey and Sir William Russell give addresses at the theatre.

MR. MASSEY’S TOUR

EXCELLENT RESULTS

[Special to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, Nov. 23

The Feilding “Star” says: “That Air. Massey’s flying trip through a portion of The Dominion just prior to the general elections gave a wonderful impetus to the Opposition party, and had a great influence upon the voting for his supporters, is generally acknowledged, as Avitness the effect it had in the Oroua electorate, Avhere the leader’s \dsit Avas of magnetic influence.”

REPLY TO THE PREMIER

[Press Association.]

HASTINGS, Nov. 23. • There Avas a very large attendance in the Princess Theatre, Hastings, to-night, Avhen political ’addresses Avere delivered by Sir Wm. Russell and Air. Alassey. In the courge of his criticism of the Government's policy and administration, Air. Alassey, Avho was well received, referred to 'an dntervieAv Avith Sir Joseph Ward published in Napier this morning, in reply to the*.Leader of the Opposition’s speech at Wanganui on Saturday night. With regard to the Premier’s statement that the Government had never attacked the freehold, Air. Massey referred to the Land Bill of 1906, iand the setting aside of CroAvn lands for ondoAvment purposes.

OTAKI ELECTION—A RUAIORED PETITION.

[Special to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, Nov. _23

There is some talk of a petition to upset the Ofcaki election' oil' the ground that some committeemen on the date of the election were openly soliciting votes in front of one of the polling booths. POSITION AT NELSON. NELSON, Nov. 23. Nelson election {a, few labsent voters yet to come): Atmore 2713, Graham 2909, Moffiatt 317, informal 53. A second ballot will take place tomorrow. TWO SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES. [Special to “Times.”] **' WELLINGTON, Nov. 23.. Mr Buchanan,' who defeated the ' Government candidate for Wairarapa, is over seventy years of age. The “Post” special correspondent says | that during the campaign Hr Buor

lianan delivered close on fifty addresses/in different -parts of the electorate and when he -arrived at Featherston on Tuesday night to thank the electors for having returned him at the head of the poll, he appeared as -fit as -a fiddle. -On arrival -an enthusiastic crowd carried him shoulder high into the Royal Hotel and stood him on a table. Then ho asked them if they expected- another'speech and tbe unanimous cry of “Yes” broke forth. After tlie speech cheers went up for Mr-Buchanan-and three, more for Mr Massey, Leader of the Opposition. This is the eighth time that Mr Buchanan has'.bee'n. returned to Parliament and when he has finished the term for which he has just been elected it will be thirty yoa-rs since he first entered Parliament. For an interval of six years of that period Mr Hornsby held the seat. It is nearly forty years since Mr Buchanan first c-une to the Wairarapa and ho is among the few -remaining of those who took off tlieir coats to conquer a wilderness. The return of Mr -Guthrie as the member for Oroua without a second ballot- is now assured by an absolute, majority. He lias received many congratulations from an -area within Wliangarei in tlie -north to Invercargill in the south. His farm where he resides is at Ruahino, forty miles from Feildng. This is one of tlie seals the Government hoped to win from the' Opposition. THE SECOND BALLOT IN WELLINGTON. KEEN INTEREST DISPLAYED. WOMEN CAMPAIGNERS. [Special to “Times.”] WELLINGTON,. Nov. 23. The interest in the second ballot contests has reached fever heat, and the friends of candidates are warking their hardest to poll every vote possible. Never before have tlie women taken so 'keen an interest- in an election. This-is particularly the case in Wellington North, where women, who have hitherto taken the most languid interest in politics, are now keenly aroused, and are working their very hardest. Mr. Herdman will poll the great majority of tlie women's vote,though in this respect his chances may be minimised by the bad weather which arrived this afternoon, and makes the outlook for to-morrow somewhat gloomy. Notwithstanding this, I cannot see how the Government, with all their influence, and it is very considerable, can keep Mr. Herdman out. I expect to sec him elected by a Substantial majority.

Mr. Barber’s chances have gone down considerably, and if one can judge by the general opinion, even of tho working men, tho Opposition candidate will also win here. Mr Wright will certainly get a very big vote.

Tlie contest between Messrs Atkinson anti [McLaren for Wellington East (in which tlie- Government candidate lias already gone down) is expected to be a very close one, as is also tho contest between Messrs Luke and Fitzgerald for tho Suburbs seat. Mr. Patrick J. O’Regan to-day endeavored to influence voters to support the two Government candidates and the Independent Labor candidate against Messrs Herdman, Wright, and Atkinson, but bis interference at the last moment is rather resented, and his advocacy is likely to do more harm than good. Judging from the comments in the crowd he was addressing at the Queen Victoria statue this morning, the great majority of tho workers present were not taking his proferred advice. At one time to-day there were four speakers at the Queen’s statue addressing sections of a crowd of a thousand people at the same time. There is the most perfect organisation for to-morrow’s poll. Tn some of the constituencies the electorates are parcelled out into small blocks and every house will bo visited by men and women with a view to reminding voters that it is their duty to go to the polling booth. The motor car is going to play a very important part in the election. One candidate has bad eighteen motor cars placed at his •service for the day. Mr. Barber has his own motor car, which lie told liis audience tlie other day he regards as part of his political stock-in-trade. In the Palmerston electorate motor cars will also be largely used. The Opposition candidate is said to have had the majority of tho ears placed at his disposal, and if the day is wfet this should help him greatly. Mr. Wood, however, will also have a number of cars' working for him.