THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 295, 7 September 1908, Page 6

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

MR, WILFORD AT PETONE. Mr. Wilford held a meeting on Saturday evening ill the "Chronicle" buildings at Petone. Councillor Southgate was in the chair, and after Mr. Wilford had given a short address, a committee was formed to work Petone in his interests. Councillor Southgato was elected chairman,' Councillor Coles and Messrs. Keir, sen., and W. Wakelin, vice-chairmen, and Mr. Richard Wylie secretary. The gathering was an enthusiasm tic one, 126 persons handing in their names' for the working committee. THE MASTERTON SEAT. (BI TEI.EattAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDEXT.) Elietahuna; September 5. Sir. J. Hunter, a candidate for the Masterton scat, addressed a crowded meeting of electors at Nireha on Thursday evening, and received an excellent hearing, his speech being punctuated with applause. The candidate traversed tho subjects dealt with by him at Eketahuna, and touched on tho question of the duty on imported timber. Ho said he was conversant . with the subject, as three years ago he visited California, where he made investigations as to how pine was exported to New Zealand so cheaply. He found that the chief labour employed was Japanese, Chinese, and Hindoo, and tho rate of wages per day was from 3s. 6d.<t« 4s. The timber could be produced at 2s. per l'OOft. He con'-, tonded that it was not fair that sawmillers should bo asked to compete against yellow labour, and thoso favourable to timber coming in duty free were practically suggesting that tho workers of the Dominion should labour'for a yellow wage. He advocated tho Government fixing a prico for local timber that would pay a comfortable wage and fair percentage on tho money invested in the industry, and that the duty on imported timber be so arranged that timber could not be landed cheaper than the local product. He also suggested that the duty be on a sliding scale, so that any attempt, by the local producers to increaso tho price would bo frustrated by lowering the duty by a proportionate amount. The strange part of it, concluded tho speaker, was that thoso employed in the timber industry were contributing their quota towards subsidising steamers to compete against themselves.

HAWKE'S BAY SEAT. (by telegeaph—press association.) Napier, September 5. Mr. A. E. Jull addressed a meeting of the I-lawke's Bay electors at Hastings last night, and declared himself a Government supporter. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks for his address. THE BRUCE SEAT. (BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL COKKESPONDENT.J Dunedin, September 5. A movement is afoot, says tho Milton correspondent of the "Star," to ask Mr. J. Loudon to contest the Bruce seat. Up to now it has been gcnorally supposed that the laicri was tho seat he proposed to stand for. WAITEJIATA SEAT. (BT TEI.y.OIIAI'II-riIF.SS ASSOCIATION.} Auckland, September 5. Mr. L. R. Philipps, a candidate for Waitemata, addressed a meeting at Devonport. He expressed himself as a straight-out Opposition supporter, opposed to socialism, which aimed at Stato control of all means of production, distribution, and exchango. Ho was opposed to compulsory arbitration, and favoured tho optional tenure of all Crown lands. I A motion of thanks and conlidcnco wa3 carried, though there were a number of dissontiento. ' ' < .