CHRISTCHURCH EAST SEAT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14223, 11 December 1911, Page 7

CHRISTCHURCH EAST SEAT.

MR DAVEY'S CANDIDATURE, Mr Tl H. Davcy addressed five'or f six i hundred eloctors opposite the Supply, Stores, Colombo street, on- Saturday i evening." Mr G. E. Good occupied the,] chair. Mr Davey explained that • aJ- j though he was justified, in assuming j that he was entitled to address them, it was just possible that a recount'or the votes cast, and an examinationvof ! absent voters' permits, might show that the gentleman placed third on the list should contest the position. However, Mr Davey continued, tho matter would be made clear on the following Monday, and in the meantime it was fair to hold that he would go to the poll again. The candidate, in criticising Dr. Thacker'e statements to tho electors, mentioned the fact that that gentleman had declared in a printed pamphlet-that he was in favour of the optional tenure, . and in tho came paragraph had also stated that there should be no further sales of Cro\)*n lands. He thought the electors had a , right ;to definitely know wliat his opponent's real opinion was. A, man could not logically assert that thero should bo no sales of Crown lands, and also favour tho tenure. 3lr Davey feaid that lie considered he" ha<L a right to criticise his opponent's etate- . ments, without being in tho ■ slightest degree personal, just as he in turn was subject to similar criticism. Hβ was a leaseholder, and objected to the eale of Crown lands. Mr Davcy declared that the Second Ballot Act should be repealed, and that some-scheme should ba evolved which would give electors an t opportunity of declaring their opinions , at one poll. Referring to tho education j question, Mr Davey said that he bo- ■ lieved in tho present system, and that the children of every denomination should be placed in exactly the same position regarding national scholarships. Ho also dealt with tho Old-Age Pensions question,, legislation affecting fnc-: tories and shops, advances to settlers and workers, and workers' homes. . On tho licensing question Mr Davey said that ho had frequently stated his disapproval of the local option pollj believing that a Dominion vote was tho only fair and practical test, and' repeated his previous statement that he was in favour of a three-fifths'.majority for local option,, and 55 per cent, for the national vote. He was in favour of giving a moderate protection to local inaustries, and declared that ho would strongly support legislation which would Rivo people cheap food and prevent the undue inflation of the value of the necessaries of Ijfe. After answering a largo number of questions, a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate was carried with only ono dissentient. ,

assembled to hoar that gentleman giro. a political address at Carlton bridge on *;- . Saturday night. Mr Speirs presided.' , '"- On tho whole, tho speaker received /a/'-, \ good hearing, although interjections 6i 'I>t disagreement, and queries «f various -' . kinds, were numerous.' , Mr Isitt opened by protesting against, and denying, the libellous statement, which ho said had been circulated by friends of Mr Hall, to the effect that he had said that "thft scum of church voted for Mr Pcthorick." • *-.- A Voice: So you did! Mr Isitt: Who's thatliar? Let him ■ oonso forward J When did I say itp" 1 Tho intorjector stepped forward, aud declared . emphatically: "When you *' ; wero speaking from that hcarding,-. ; when you were excited, you said tho - scum of tho world would Totei for any man." • Mr Isitt: It's a lie! You are an unmitigated liarl Somo uproar followed, and it looked - as if the interjector was going to 'i»». ", dealt wi.th. Ouo of the ardent sup- ' porters of Mr Isitt seised a stick from another, and pushed tho interjeotor oh. tho arm with it. Mr Isitt intervened, _„ and said, "Let him alonot Don't hurt ■ - him!" Mr Isitt demanded tho interrupter's name, and tho rnau gave * it. -The display of vio- r lenco subdued tho interrupter, and - Mr Isitt wont on to staio that tho only, reference ho hnd over mado to Mr Pethcrick was ruado at ouo of his public -■ meetings, when, iv answer to an inter- _ joetion, "What about Mr Petberick!'.' -;■ lio replied that Mr Pctherick'e candi- ' daturo wrs not to bo seriously reckoned •. with. Mr Isitt also affirmed that all L' ■- through tho contest he had been hourit*- > .• capped by libels circulated by Mr Hall*,. • supporters. Hp went on to explain, - in regard to 'tho Licensing Act-, thai - when tho first draft of tho now Act oamo before tho New Zealand Alliance Committee, and he found it did not contain the promised provision, for at- "'* lowing the importation aud uso of Trino for Sacramental purpose*, ho jumped to". • his feet at once, and protested against ■ the omission as a deep-laid plot to in.- ", jure the Prohibition Party. Refenrin£ . to tho big estates tliat were held Uy " big land-holders, ho said they lay be- \ - tween Christchuroh and Timaru, I*e~ .'" tween Timaru and Dunedin, they «<n- .v circled Napier liko a,sea, and wero to" , bo found around Giaborno and Wan- / - ganui. Hβ did not, however, specify ■ * any ono estate by name, although in-. , vited onco to do ao. • ' . • /. Dealing with borrowing and tho «c-, "• pendituro of money on railway construe- ■ tion, Mr Isitt related that on ono oc-. casion in tho House ho had hoard Sir Joseph Ward express surpariso that tlw ._ same Mr Massey that was reprimanding I the Government for borrowing t<>o ~ much, had ft fow hours,before formed\7_, ono of a deputation to ask for a new ".. railway in hie own district. , -: A Voice: But thoy wore willing to- ■ finance it themselves. That's ono up '. against youl" - ■' .. Tb.Q interjector who had tofcii .;, silenced earlier in the evening", began, to nsk a question ns to what Mr Isifct, •. ■would do if tho Government decided ip > \- alter tho Defence Act,- hut tho Candj-vV ,' date cut him short with the announce-" - - mont: "I will take no questions from' *. that man until ho apologises." There, was some .crowding < round ; the inter-7" '" jwtor at thia point, and 89m© cries of^ , . "Apologisel! , . Indications of possible violence to the offender were quelled byv,i tho intervention of the chairman, «tnd*.-'.• further trouble was averted, .•'.■* ' A written question was handed'.upj ..•-., enquiring if Mr Isitt, as the result' jßf '-'. '•* his '-hrco months' experience in Parlta-r; , ment, could say how " much • the' ,; £5,000,000 loan cost tofloatin London: V . 1 This question' was not answered, and, ■' after tho meeting closed/ the elector';.. ' that put tho question, asked the chair*., -.' man why he did not get Mr-Isiti'**&•>*'...' reply. .The chairman excuse, Uiat ho could not tho questioner pressing for'i>4-'anrnwrif several of Mr Isitt's supporters - urged VO that it was tod lato." Mr Isitt this question, along with, .apparently,-; ;■<"/ somo others, and annouuccxPfchat •would answer them at to-night's meetj-'v" ■ - ing. ' ' - -,' "" - The resolution proposed Tras.one* very hearty thanks and Jibsolute conn-K"; denoe. A, considerable >,■ number *> ; of £j \ "Noes" were given against itj mkL >, a show of hands being; called<for, •, number were held tip'in opposHion.-^lt; was, however, carried by :H good'<.v ; £ majority. _ "' t-. .V ~'pJ£Jc , . AVON. '" '; '• MR RUSSJSLjL'iToANDIDATTJB^:^^ /Mr Q. W. Russell, one of dates for Avon, addressed tliree „ air meetings in the electorate on day^'night.' -The candidate's wero practically- the same . at, eeoh.> i '~f ? place. "' "I ,;*'-■./->' -C\''.?&?'i*4i> Mr Ruesell r ri first address -was outside tho Salvation -Axtay in Fitzgerald avenue. *-. About, ■ thirty^ , T it> persons were present,- : Tho • candidewi^<v, ! dealt prirujipAlly .with 1 tho' land qu«i-H=jfi-tion. Ho had been tho leader ti leasehold party id the last ParliaraenX;M,f; ho eaid. If ever the chance .'catae^toß*,.^ I his lot to bo Minister of Xantb,'^;^^! I could put 6000 people a year land. Unfortunately, tho magnificent;-':) lands for settlement scheme, had bcenV.',;f 1 captured by the farmers, who looked. a&,Vvs it from the farmore' standpoint.. -Sir _.■=•'. John McKcnzie, Mr Duncan,, and- Mr V;|« McXab had "all been farmers.' Ho'(Mr *•-'.'* Russell) had always said that the port., •_;-V folio'of lands should; bo in tho hands of a man who was not a farmer,. '# Tlussell : explained his t 6cherae»''"irhlch<;;i f '. was to put landless city" men. land. The proposal "was for a certain-^;-' number of men, *ay twenty, to 'aend-'.&ig in a petition to tho Government.'and f^lV ■ask for a block of land" for- co-opera---">■'- , tive settlement. Thejr -vvould then, kay~:? ; given a block of hind, Vhich juight'be .^ ; *{ icut up into sections of. 50 or-100 acres^y I , each. A steward or eupervisor. ttould^C'V 1 have to be appointed to -£■£ Ito do their work, but the work, would « -i bo done on the co-operative w " system);. \\< tho plougM, tcpms, implements, etc.;,-,., fy being for all and'passed round,., would ease the labour market, and l bo "-1 J v a far better system than the present.'-£*--ono of putting the, unemployed oa'.io, "■ co-bnerative works. ' ; ■ •' ■ In reply to a question lie sald'itwa», ? -, ' absolutely untrue that he had caUcd;,-"- ,- another candidate a'mongrel.- vAVhat he liad eaid was that-there were , tbijeo, '*''" parties, - Liberal, Conservative/ ■ and" •'' Labour. Ho was tho Liberal candi-v" date, Mr Jameson was tho Conservative.; : 1 candidate, and Mr Smith-the'Laljottr':'"; candidate. After that he had said.•,;-." \ thero was also a mongrel party. =\ He -..-*. ' Ifad not s»:d thero was a mongrel can-J-, fV - didatc. •" ' ' - '■,-' -' ' The next place Mr Russell spoke bt Jwas oiitsido tho Ferry road Post office.'.,About twenty persona were '"present;.'; *-"i The last place Mr Russell snokeat >' was at .the corner of Harrow and- - . ,, I Bordesley streets. There wcro about^.•',.' [thirty persons present. He- was' the/-. -, only candidate aow resident in the Avon' ','- ---district, ho said. People wero' always':.". ■ coming to him for assistance, advfee', , ";; /■.' etc. Ho was' always at his:,' '; constituents' service. Ho;wanted ttW... ways to bo their bis brother.-, Ho was x tho Government candidate, he «aid.*«He,v .■ £- : had received a telegram of his uarty wishing him succsf&"fwlff;, ' .{i returned lie would loyally'eujj|»rt party, and would be. no 'turn--ing them out and putting a," Conserve^-'^,-' } tivtf Government m. . - .""''. . * '" A Voice: Bo you think the present 5 ~,:, Government will then bo in? •' -.' •; :*■ '-."'■ Mr Bussell: I think they irillbe m. ... by a majority of eight. • '-• '_ '.'*. Continuing, the candidate -> ad-1; ;. s \ mitted that at tho present" tjme. % , v ; there was a strong» feeling against -\ t the Liberal Administration, > but ri; ho -would onfy think of voting'against>>*< tho Liberal Party not for the purpose ~""* s of putting a Conservative GovernnJentr.'jJt;.,iin but for putting;,in.ft,-stul xflorg:pTgtf^^

grcesive and Liberal' Party than the present Govrenmeut. He was going to ' receive a largo pronortion. of the votc3 ease by his friend Mr Smith. Indications of such had been received by his ■ committee. # , , »i • , At the conclusion of each of his addresses tho candidate was accorded cheers.