THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 316, 1 October 1908, Page 8

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

MR. C. WINDER'S ADDRESS. REFERENCES TO Mil. M'LEAN. Mr. G. Winder, candidato for Wellington 1 East, gavo his inaugural political address in this Clyde Quay School last ovening. Mr. Allan Ward presided over ,an attendance of over 100 electors. Tho. chairman referred to tho municipal services of tho candidate, and. said that it was only in response to urgent representations of his friends that Sir. Winder was contesting the seat. Mr. M'Lean had said' that lie was the chosen candidate of the Ministry, but he asked by what right the Ministry could chooso tho people's candidates. Mr. Winder said that the eight years when ho served on the City Council were among tho most important in its history. He referred to his work on other public bodies, and stated that he had opposed tho abolition of the To Aro railway station. He did not want to refer, to his opponent, but on two occasions Mr. M'Lean, in referring to him, had . tried to injuro him all he could. Ho stated that at the last election ho (Mr. Winder) was "regarded by the leaders of tho Liberal party as 'an Oppositionist wearing tho garb •of Liberalism. If that was so, how was it that at tho last election some of tho leaders of' the Liberal and Labour Federation ha.d asked him to stand as a candidate? Since Mr. M'Lean had spoken of bis special rights'to stand, ho would like to know what -Mi*. M'Lean had done for the citizens of Wellington. Had ho ever taken part in anything for the benefit of the city as a- whole? ■ Was he known for any humanitarian''or social work which might give .him a special claim? - What had he done for-Liberalism, during the last three or four years ? The' .speaker had been , connected with' the Seddon Memorial Committee, and with various functions got up for Liberal leaders ;in the "last few years, but ho had not seen any sign', of: Mr. M'Lean at those meetings. He. (Mr,; M'Lean) generally cropped up at election times. He did" not wish to say any: moro'.about Mr. M'Lean, and ho would not 'reply'.'to any anonymous letters in the newspapers. He supported the Liberal Government bocauso lie beliovGfl that they wero progressive, and he :strongly endorsed their land policy. He thought, also,' that they were anxious to do their best'for the local industries. The cutting ■up.' of the large estates certainly tended to do him and other small traders a lot of good. He had a strong faith in the personnel'of the present Government, who could be relied "upon, ho thought, in. any occasion of " financial or industrial trouble. He believed in every man being his. own landlord, and- he' very' heartily approved-of the Advances to Settlers Act, which he thought had been a great boon. He thought that this would solve'the rent problem eventually. Every "thoughtful person -must admit that tho land laws of the. country had been very liberal. Ho approved of tho optional system, closer settlement, and- limitation of areas. He thought that the dosiro for the freehold was natural to -a i man, and believed that tenants should, be table-, to obtain the freehold. The ideas of the Socialists might be very good, but: they were not practicable. He was an.advocate of teaching temperance in the State schools. Temperance reform must come gradually, and' even excessive drinking, he thought, could best be dealt with in. this way. The liquor question, however, was .now in tho hands'of. tho- people,' and he -was against. any alteration of the present law. The declining birthrate should receive consideration from the new Parliament.' Already; it. - was' almost impossible to get boys and girls for labour in manufacturing industries.'..The, Government and local bodies'should inaugurate a, system by which they would advance their employees' salaries on the birth of each child. (Laughter.) This was already done by' certain religious bodies in respect of their ministers. To advocate a system of State medical aid might seem premature, but in regard, to infantile mortality, it would soon he necessary'. In ten years no lesfe than 20,000 children under five years of age had been laid in their littlo graves. ■ ' '•* : ;_The_ Government had been strongly criticised in regard to its industrial legislation, but he held that tho Arbitration Court had dono splendid service, and in its ameilded form would:bo still more usoful.-' He did not know how either employers or workers would do without the Act now. He was in favour of tho Town Belt Leasing Bill, provided that tho land was leased only for sports purposes. The - Government should assist workers to come to New Zealand, but clerks should be discouraged. Volunteering might bo a littlo more, encouraged by the Government than at- present. 'He favoured tho gradual introduction of ■a' -universal school book. . .The Government''and local bodies should not. borrow'moneyslocally. The tightness of money at'the- present time was certainly discauraging to enterprise. He had always taken an interest in the worker, and sought to benefit-him when lie could. Ho had no ' party behind him; he had come out purely as a "people's candidate." He' ditf not favour increasing the salaries of members of Parliament, but ho thought that the rank ,and file'of Civil.Servants were not over-well paid. If anything could be done to increase their salaries,' he would be glad to support it. ! In answer to questions, Mr. Winder stated that the gag clause in the Second Ballot Bill was now before the _House, and ho could not discuss it. Ho was in favour of reducing the duties on the bare necessaries of life. - Replying to Mr. R. Tingey, who asked a question about the tariff, the candidate said he would like to see the duty taken- off paint brushes and carpenters' baskets. (Laughter and applause.) He would bo in favour of subsidising local industries if the benefits would be sufficiently widespread. Tho Government already -protected industries by duties. ' > Mr. David Robertson moved.' a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate, who, lie said, was clearly not a professional politician, and had a stake in the country. The motion was seconded and carried without dissent.. THE HUTT SEAT. About 110 electors of the Hutt met Mr. Wilford last night for tho purpose of forming a committee. The proceedings we're enthusiastic. Mr. Wilford gave a short address, and at the conclusion a-working committee was formed of 88 of those present. Mr. C. W. .Brown, J.P., was elected chairman, and Messrs._ Macgaskill, Arnold, and Hendry vice-chairmen, and Mr. D. Swanson secretary.; ' A telegram was received from the . Prim'o Minister wishing the candidate success. .

Mr. Len M'Kenzie has decided that owing to pressure of business he will not be in a position to accept nomination for the Wellington East seat. . It is Mr. l M'Konzie's intention to become a candidate for the electors' suffrages three years hence. - Mr. J. W. Braithwaite delivered an address at O'Donnell's Hall, Kilbirnie, last evening, Mr. M'Kernan presiding over an attendance, of about 70 electors. The address waS'On similar linos to the candidate's first speech, and was rewarded by a vote of thanks. Ameeting of the friends and supporters of Mr. T. M. .Wilford at Upper Hutt, will be held in .the Town Hall on Saturday next, at 8 p.m., for. the purpose of forming a committee. • ■ A list of dates on which Mr. Byron Brown will address the Otaki electors is advertised elsewhere. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, candidate for the suburbs electorate, addressed meetings at Johnsonvillo .'and Ohariu yesterday. At Johnsonville Mr. Fitzgerald met tho ladies' committee in tho afternoon, going on to Ohariu in tho evening, where ho addressed a crowded meeting of tho electors. The candidate touched principally on agricultural questions, and emphasised tho growing importance of the district as an outlet for tho ever-increasing population of tho city, which, he contended, should bo connected up by a convenient route by tunnelling the Tinakori Hills. At the conclusion of tho meeting, all those present constituted themselves a committco, arid a 'vote of thanks arid confidence in . his candidature was, on the motion of Mr. .Haggorty, seconded by Mr. Best, passed to Mr. Fitzgerald. Tho candidate also visited the Newland portion of the district, along Paparangi Road. Mr. R. M. Short will speak at Lower Hutt to-day at 8 pan.