RANGIITIKEI ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2615, 24 September 1909, Page 5

RANGIITIKEI ELECTION.

MR, SMITH RETURNED ON SECOND BALLOT. rPER Press Association.! HUNTERVILLE, Sept. 23. The second ballot in connection with the Rangitikei election took place today. With two small returns to come the totals are: R. W. Smith (Government and freeholder]! ... 2404 F. F. Hockly (Opposition) ... 2005 At the first ballot Mr. Hockly obtained 1548 votes and Mr. Smith 1055. The votes for other candidates were: W. Meldrum (Government) 903, J. Georgetti (Independent) 340, R. E. Hornblow (Government and Labor) ‘333. The results, of previous elections in the Rangitikei electorate w r ere as follows : 1908. Remington (Government) ... 2238 Smith (Independent Liberal) ... 2083 1905. Remington (Government) ... 3416 Sommerville (Opposition)• ... 1706 1902. Remington (Government) ... 1399 Birch (Opposition) 1152 Reardon (Lalior) 537 Horpblow (Independent) ... ... 358 J. Smith (Government) 69 STATEMENTS BY MINISTERS. [Per Press Association.! PALMERSTON NG, Sept. 23. The Acting-Premier, who left Hunter ville during the afternoon, stayed to-night at Palmerston, where lie was interviewed by a “Manawatu Times” reporter on the results of the Rangitikei election. “The light is over,” he said. “It was a true party struggle. The real fighting was carried out by the several candidates in the first ballot, who in the second ballot stood faithfully to the Liberal cause. The presence of Ministers in the second stage of the contest was to impress it with the significance of party, and to place their case the electors. accept their verdict.” • The Minister for Agriculture, Mr. T. Mackenzie, who had come to meet Mrs. Mackenzie at Palmerston earlier in the afternoon on her return from England, was also interviewed by the “Manawatu Times,” and said:—“l cannot help but he pleased with the result. Although the fight has been a strenuous one, it has been conducted on the most honorable lines on both sides. I attribute, the victory largely to a recognition on the part of the electors that the Government is honestly striving to do its very best in the interest of the country. We are attacking large and , difficult problems, and the encouragement we have received will stimulate us in our efforts. I am particularly pleased with the support we have received from the farmers because I take it as recognit.on, among other things, of the work the Agricultural Department is striving on practical lines to advance. From a Parliamentary point of view,” Mr. Mackenzie added, “it is also gratifying to know that the candidates who stood were all men of high character, capacity, and ability.” the “Manawatu Times,” in referring te the result of the election, says that one of the features of the contest was the attacks made upon the Acting-Pre-mier by Mr. G. Hutchison, who retired in favor of Mr. Hockly in the first ballot and assisted Mr. Massey’s campaign throughout the second ballot. Mr. Hutchison from several platforms declared that Mr. Carroll’s choice as Acting-Premier was a reflection on the white men in the Cabinet. The Hon. Mr. Carroll and tlic other Ministers on a visit to the electorate ignore these attacks, but wherever the Hon. J. Carroll went to-day and yesterday the electors came forward to express their resentment of the tactics employed and the charges made against him.