Rival Candidate, The

DESCRIPTION: "Since the days when diggers thronged the bars of fifteen-score hotels... Things in dreamy Hokitaka haven't ever been so brisk. 'Tis awakened by the Rival Candidate." There is much excitement as someone runs for parliament against Richard Seddon
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1905 (Wellington "Evening Post," according to Bailey/Roth-ShantiesByTheWay-NZ)
KEYWORDS: political New Zealand humorous
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1893-1906 - Richard John Seddon (1845-1906) Prime Minister of New Zealand
1905 - the election described in the song. Harry Cowin runs against Prime Minister Seddon in the district of Westland. Cowin earns less than 10% of the vote as Seddon is overwhelmingly re-elected
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Bailey/Roth-ShantiesByTheWay-NZ, pp. 105-106, "The Rival Candidate" (1 text)
NOTES [47 words]: In his later years in office, Richard John Seddon ceased to be a reformer -- and ruled his party with a heavy hand. So it is perhaps little surprise that there was much enthusiasm for the candidate who ran against him. For background on Seddon, see the notes to "Sir Joseph Ward." - RBW
Last updated in version 5.2
File: BaRo105

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