GENERAL ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 288, 29 August 1908, Page 6

GENERAL ELECTION.

WELLINGTON EAST SEAT. MR. A. R. ATKINSON'S CANDIDATURE. Mr. A. R. Atldnson, candidate for Wellington East, mo't his .political supporters in tho Druids' Hall last evening, with , a view to discussing their organisation and plan of campaign. Mr. J. W. Fletchcr presided over a fairly largo attendance. Mr. Atkinson, in a short address, said that in view of the narrow oscapo from defeat which so strong a candidato for tho seat as Mr.. Aitken had had at the last election, his chances might not. seem too promising. It must bo remembered, howover, that the seat was nearly lost in 1905 merely as tho result of an extravagant confidence on the part of Mr. Aitken's supporters. Also, owing to the Independent Labour candidato obtaining ovor 800 votes, Mr. Aitken had secured the seat though polling less than half of the totalt votes recorded. It was possiblo that the Labour party would again bring out a candidate, and in that event tho same thing might occur, unless the Second Ballot Bill went through, He was himself strongly opposed to tho second ballot as cumbrous and costly,. and likely to be a nuisance to candidates, but so far as the coming election was concerned, ho would be very glad to see the measure passed in order to try the experiment of holding a second election in the same constituency within a week or two of tho general election, and without the embarrassment of the local option poll: Referring to the forthcoming campaign for the Wellington East seat, Mr. Atkinson said that though, very properly, the Government no longer canvassed to put men on the roll, the brewers' party had filled tho gap, and their canvass had been vigorously conducted. It was deplorable that a party which had some honourable men at its head should employ canvassers who habitually refused to disclose their-object, and adopted, instead, some misleading alias. Since, however, the enemy had gained this start, it seemed to him that his friends could probably do far more for him ■ by organising and enrolling than he himself could do by the most vigorous platform campaign. His genera] position in regard to politics was pretty well known. When he first entered Parliament about 12 years ago it was as an opponent of maladministration, and not of Liberal measures. He gladly recognised that in the present Government there had been some improvement on their predecessors, and the conventions were a little more regarded, but it seemed to him a preposterous absurdity' to speak of it as a reform Government when it left the root of tho trouble absolutely untouched. Roads,' bridges, and billets had been .the mainspring of Now Zealand politics for nearly twenty years, and were the main-powers to-day. The best Government in the world could never provido lasting' reform without a radical reconstruction of tho machinery of administration. Tho detachment of tho Civil Servico from political control would destroy tho political distribution of billets, and roads and bridges would cease to be a political factor if the contral administration of tho public works was abolished. It was impossible for him to supnort a Government which, even though it might be with tho best intentions, could maintain, these two main systems of political debauchery. At tho samo time ho would not oppose deserving measures because they were brought'forward by the Government. A strong committee was appointed to assist Mr. Atkinson in his candidature.

MR. J. E. FITZGERALD AT WADESTOWN. Mr. J. E. Fitzgorald, a candidate for the Wellington Suburbs seat at tho forthcoming general elections, addressed a crowded meeting of the electors at Wadestown last evening. . Mr. F. W. Larkins presided, and tho candidate, who received, an attentive hearing, delivered a policy speech on similar lines to that recently delivered before tho electors of Kaiwarra. At the conclusion of tho address several questions wcro asked. In reply to a question as to whether ho that tho Wellington-Lyttelton ferry service should not bs under the control of the Government, Mr. Fitzgerald said that in his opinion that service should certainly form a link in tho 'snail services controlled by the Govormaent. • He would, ho stated,' go further; the Government should own the collieries. Referring to the Bible-in-Schools question, tho candidate said that he was convinced that religious teaching was an essential to good citizenship, but the proper place for religious instruction was tho home and the religious institutions. Replying to. a'question as to his opinion with regard to paid secretaries of labour unions who had been styled "agitators," the candidate expressed tho opinion that in tho ranks of , the unions there would always bo found' men able and willing to assist the cause of these unions. On the motion of Mr. G. Nash a heartv vote of thanks and confidence, was passed to the candidate, and a committee of 32 members (including several ; ladies) was formed.' Mr. ,G. Nash was appointed chairman, and Mr. J. Hanratty secretary of tho committee. Mr. Fitzgerald will speak at O'Donnell's Hall, Kilbirnie, on Tuesday evening nest. MANAKAU. (BY TELEGBArH—PBESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, August 28. 1 The Onehunga branch of tho Liberal and Labour Federation has received intimation from Mr. Charles Bagley (who some months ago was announced by Sir Joseph Ward to be tho Government candidate for the Manakau seat at next general election) that his advisers have practically forbidden him undertaking the worry of a political fight. Mr. G- F. E, Hindmarsb is now spoken of as a likely candidate in tho Liberal interest. Ho is a farmer. ■ -

/THE OROUA SEAT. IBT TELEG BATH.—SPECIAL CORBESPONDENT.) Feildlng, August 28. A meeting of Mr. D. H. Guthrie's supporters was held at Ashhurst last night, and was largely attended. The candidate gave a short address, and a strong and influential committee was formed, with Mr. Sanders chairman and Mr. Bundle secretary. The committee met afterwards and arranged for a systematic canvass of tho wholo district in the Opposition interests. DTJNEDIN SEATS. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunodin, August 28. Mr. R. Breen and Mr. J. Haymes (candidates selected by the Political Labour League to contest the coming Parliamentary elections) intimate that they hare no intention of standing. Mi. Breen was selected for Dunediu Central, and Mr. Havmes fnr Dunedin South. . J