THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 318, 3 October 1908, Page 7

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

"WELLINGTON SOUTH SEAT. Mr. W. Forbes, a candidate for the Wellington South seat at the forthcoming general elections, gave his first address last night at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown. Mr. Hunt presided over a good attendance. The candidate touched on a great variety of subjects, but ho was frequently interrupted by interjectors, friendly and otherwise. The speaker announced that he came forword as an Independent Liberal. If the electors of \Vcllington South, ho said, wanted a man to represent them who would always sail with the wind, then they had better not return him (ilr. Forbes) to Parliament. He characterised the Ward Administration as a very extravagant one, and ho upheld the necessity for independence in political matters, which was more worthy than doing whatever the Government desired. He spoke at length against the middlemen, who received the greater part of the profit resulting from our products. Ho complained that the present land laws were for the benefit of the strong, and not for tho uplifting of the weak. The land should bo cut up in small holdings, for which thero should he a purchasing clause. That was tho policy that would mako tho country. (A voice. Hot!) The land values would have to bo brought down, but instead of doing this, the Government kept large areas unoccupied and thus increased the values. Tho Ward Government came in for some severe criticism for failing to lighten the burden of the people in regard to necessaries of life. Ke took exception to the Government's immigration policy. The middlemen, the shipping people, gained by the transaction, but- the local residents did not. Immigrants, he said, should not bo decoyed to the country. Socialism, in his opinion, would rob people of their birthright and kill their individuality.. In further dealing with the Government s proposals, he said that Sir Joseph Ward was starting at tho wrong end of the stick, as he proposed to spend £400,000 for. Government House, Parliamentary Buildings and the Post Office, instead of utilising the money for roads and bridges and light lines, especially in the Wairarapa, Pongaroa, Pahiatua-, etc., the "garden of Wellington." Arbitration and conciliation had proved a failure in the speaker's opinion, as they were unnatural. Referring to the liquor traffic, Mr. Forbes said that on 0110 occasion he came into collision with a tramway pole, and ho was told that if his system had not been freo_ from liquor, he would have died. (Voices: Rot I Talk sense!) Mr. Forbes: "Right you are." The audience, however, appeared; to mistake his meaning, and renewed laughter was the result., The speaker remarked something about; woman being tho fairest creature God had made, and _ her calling ' was higher than pumping beer. (Laughter and applause.) Monopoly should be prevented, and if tho people wanted liquor, let there be Stato control. Mr. Forbes disagreed with the gambling legislation. ' At the conclusion, a number of questions wcro answered.

HXTRTJNUI SEAT. [BY TELEGKArU—ritESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, October 2. Mr. 0. F. Clothier, a candidate for tho Hurunui seat, addressed bis opening meeting at the Amberley Town Hall last evening. Mr. Clothier, who declared himself as a straight-out Oppositionist, dealt principally with land legislation. Ho praised the Land for Settlements Act and many other Government measures, but declared in favour of tho freehold. Ho said that much of tho borrowing done by the Government had been good; and tho money invested in reproductive works; but tho expenditure on luxuries, such as the bath house at Rotorua, was unwarranted, in reply to questions Mr. Clothier said that ho was opposed to an increase of members' honorariums; he did not objcct to the charge on banking accounts and exchange; ho did not seo how tho country could go on without borrowing; lie would give tho freehold to all Crown tenants, including those 011 land for settlements; he would limit the freehold area at tho. present limit, but in years to come the limit might have to ho reduced; he favoured an elective executive and tho abolition of the totalisator/ The candidato was accorded a vote of thanks. P'AIINELL. [81 TEi.EC.UArn—niEss assoc l atio.n - .) Auckland, October 2. Mr. E. G. B. Moss, formerly member for Ohinemuri, opened his campaign for Parnell to-night. He declared himself an independent, a freeholder, and a No-Licenso advocate. THE MANAWATTJ SEAT. ' . [BT TELEGRAm.—6I'ECIM. CORRESPONDENT.) Palmerston North, October 2, Mr. Nowman, Opposition candidate for Manawatu, addressed the electors at Bunnytliorpo to-night, and spoke for an hour and a'.half, receiving an appreciative hearing. Ho eulogised tho Advances to Settlors' Act, but said the margin security required "by tho Department was so .great that only a comparatively well-to-do man could take advantage of tho Act. Ho condemned the inactivity of tho Government in settling the country, also for its general nogleot of farming interests. The land tenure was not in the interests of the farming community. Mr. Nowman also considered that in view of the surplus claimed by Government that taxation should be reduced, especially in view of tho fall in tho price of wool and increased cost of living. He advocated thr subsidy to the Imperial Navy, universal bui; not compulsory military service, limited borrowing for the development'of the country, the extension of roads, and the limitation of estates. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks.

By special announcement elsewhere Mr. F. W. Frankland, who is contesting the Manawatu seat as a supporter of tho Government, gives reasons to his electors wily he should be supported as a representative of progressive legislation, embracing political scienco, and as one who has been closely identified with local politics and municipal enterprises connected with the electorate.