THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 321, 7 October 1908, Page 8

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

WELLINGTON SOUTH. Mr. G. H. Chapman, Labour candidate for Wellington. South, addressed about 40 electors at Fullford's Hall last evening. Having outlined the platform of tho Labour Representation Committee, the candidate . proceeded to criticise the policy of tho Government, with particular reference to labour legislation. Tho Liberal party of tho present day were,- he thought, entitled to credit for a certain amount of tho labour legislation, but, generally speaking, ho considered that the party was living upon its past reputation, and had of lato fallen under tho influence of the landed proprietors and employers of labour, with the result that very little beneficial legislation had been enacted. Turning to the naval subsidy of £100,000, the candidate thought that the money would be much better spent in New Zealand. He complained of the treatment' accorded to the deputation of unemployed which waited upon the Prime Minister some time ago, and contrasted the attention this serious question'received from him with that bestowed upon the visit of the American Fleet. Mr. Chapman then attacked the immigration -policy of the Government. £10,000 was, he said, ; spout annually in assisting the wrony class of men to' come to Now Zealand. II there was work to sparo in this country, those in the country should be told of it; if cheap land was'to bo procured, its whereabouts should be indicated to the citizens of New Zealand. The speaker also advocated State control'of the liquor traffic, and urged the return to Parliament of a true representative of-Labour, attached to Labour, aud nominated by Labour.

- MR. M'LEAN'S CANDIDATURE. Mr. W. M'Lean, candidato for Wellington East, addressed a moderate attendance at the Victoria Hall, Adelaide Road, last evening. Mr. G. Lockland presided. Referring to tho now Arbitration Bill, Mr. M'Lean said that most of the amendments which it mado related to machinery, or the collection of fines, and the general principal of the Act had not been altered. It was a mistake for ,the Labour party to object to tho Bill on the ground that provision was made in it for imprisonment. The Liberal Government had passed ■ sixty-nino Acts for tho .benefit of those engaged in labour, and tho Labour party were unable to single out ono of these as being opposed to their- interests. With regard to the unemployed difficulty, he suggested that the Government should proceed to develop somei of the country's mineral and,other resources. He referred to the Parapara, iron sands and other doposits, and stated his belief that there was almost enough; natural wealth of this kind in tho Dominion to pay off tho national debt if it was properly • developed. He thought that the commerpial expansion of tho Dominion had reached such a;stage that one or two more banking institutions were required to moet the growing demands of the commercial community. He . believed that the banks had' made, a considerable increase in their advances.' If that was so, it showed that they were not squeezing so much as'people thought. What was really happening was that there was an increasing demand for the coin of the realm, and tho coffers of tho banks wero limited. He believed that ono institution in the Dominjon, : at all events, was increasing its advances by nearly £300,000. Mr. M'Lean also "spoke in favour- of a State ndto --issue.''.' fie was not in favour of. tho. poll-tax on Chinese. If, as ho believed, they . were undesirable immigrants, they should not be -allowed to enter-the Dominion at any- price. The Government should have its own steamers for tho carriage of State coal, in order still further to reduce the price. Tho Government, apart from Parliament as a whole, should not be blamed so much-for the "gag" clause, though he thought the clause a mistake. Unless the Premier had used tho "heavy boots"; and the stock-whip to push through the Bill, it was not fair to blame the Government for this clause and leave Parliament 'alone _ • _ The meeting formed itself into a committee to support Mr. M'Lean's candidature'.' WELLINGTON SUBURBS. Mr. R. B. Williams (of the legal'firm of Williams and Meredith), who was Mayor of Onslow for four years, will be a candidato for the Wellington Suburbs seat at tho general elections. Mr. 'Williams, who has been on a trip to America and England, left London on the return journey on September 4, and' is expected back in Wellington within the next fortnight. '• •' Mr. J. P. Luke, a candidate for tho Suburbs seat at' the forthcoming elections, was to have; addressed a meeting of tho electors at, the Maranui Hall last night, but' as only a small'number toned up, owing to the inclement weather, the chairman, Cr, Morrah,. after consulting Mr. Luke, decided to postpone the meeting to a moro favourable. date. '. The meeting of' women electors from the Suburbs electorate, which was 'called by Mrs. J. P. Luke, and which met at her house in Hiropi Street yesterday' afternoon, was largely attended, in spite of tho storm which broke over tho city shortly before the meeting began. Every district in the electorate was represented, and the ladies present declared their intention of working to secure Mr. Luke's election. A number of letters were received from ladies unable to attend, who also offered their services. Mr. Luke briefly addressed tho meeting, dwelling on the importance,of the women's voto on all social' questions. MR. BUCHANAN AND THE FARMERS' UNION. In connection with the series of questions which are being submitted to candidates for Parliament by the New Zealand Farmers' Union,. Mr. W. C. Buchanan, candidato for the Wairarapa seat, stated at his Mikimiki meeting on Monday night (writes our Wairarapa" correspondent) < that he considered that Customs taxation should be for tho purpose of revenue only. He had always been a Freetrader. It- would be difficult, however, to revert immediately to I'rectrado, as many .industries had undoubtedly thrived under Protection. 11c was against any further attempt being made to nationalise the means of production, distribution, and exchange. In this matter he was a strong believer in the efficacy of individual effort. He was not in favour of the Parliamentary franchise being extended to local bodies, and favoured the discontinuance of Government co-operative works as. at present administered. Ho believed that the referendum was an impracticable scheme. He favoured the option of tho tenures with reference to tho opening up of Crown lands or lands for settlement. He was opposed to compulsory arbitration, but favoured conciliation on tho right lines.

MAORI MEMBERS. As far as can be ascertained, the candidates for the Maori electorates at the general elections will he as follow:— Northern Maori electorate: Hone Hcko (sitting momber). Western Maori: -To Heuhcu Tukino, of Taupo; Homa to Ao, of Otaki; Pepeno Eketone, of Te Kuiti; Eruera To Kahu, of Wanganui ; H. Kaihair (sitting member). Eastern Maori: -A. T.' Ngata (sitting member); Tiki Paaka (R. G. Park), of Wanganui; Mohi to Ataihikoia, (sitting memSouthern Maori: T. Parata (sitting member) ; W. H. Uru, of Kaiapoi. : HURUNUI. (BT rw.laluru—PßESS ASSOCIATION.) Chrlstchurch, October 6. Mr. G. D. Greenwood has definitely decided to contest the Hurunui seat as an Independent Liberal. WAIRAU. (BY TELEGRAPH—rRESS ASSOCIATION.) Blenheim, October 6. Tho election for Wairau has assumed somo peculiarities. Two Liberal candidates and an old-time Oppositionist (Mr. J. Duncan), who on this occasion has announced himself an Independent Liberal, are in the field. The two Liberals consented to the Prime Minister making-a choice between them, with the

result that Mr. R. M'Artnoy was chosen as Government candidate. It is stated definitely to-day that Mr. Duncan has retired from tho contest, and this would givo Mr. M'Artnoy a walk over and obviato a licensing poll, if Mr. G. Turner, an outside candidate with exceedingly slender chances, stood down, but in conscquenco of tho new development an Opposition candidate is certain—either Lieutenant-Colonel D'Arcy Chaytor or Mr. A. M'Kay, and arrangements about tho Opposition candidate will probably be known in a day or two. THE OROUA SEAT. (BT TELEGRAPH—PSESS ASSJCIATIOS.J Feilding, October 6. Mr. Hornblow, the Independent Liberal candidato for Oroua, held a meeting in the Halcombo Hall last night .and drew a crowded audience. Settlers attended t from all parts, and many were unable to get admittance. Within a few minutes the candidato secured tho sympathy of tho meeting, and was" accorded an enthusiastic hearing throughout the speech, which lasted fully two hours. No questions wero asked, and a unanimous vote of appreciation was carried by acclamation. GERALDINE. [BY TILEORAPH—rBESS ASSOCIATION.) Timaru, October 6. The political campaign opened in South Canterbury to-night when Mr. W. H. Williams, one of five candidates for the Geraldino electorate, addressed a largely-attended meeting in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka. Mr. Williams announced himself as a supporter of the Government in general, but considered there was room for economy in administration. The speech dealt chiefly with tho land and labour questions He advocated continuance of the present land settlement policy, strongly defending the leasehold. More amicable relations would require to bo established between capital and labour. The candidato was accorded a voto of thanks.

DUNEDIN. ' (BY TELEGRAPH—rRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, October G. Mr. W. Downie Stewart, who was expected to be a candidato for one of tho Dunedin seats at the general election, will not contest any seat. (BT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Dunedin, October G. There -is some talk of asking Mr. 11. D. Bedford to contest tho Dunedin North seat. Mr. Byron Brown's meetings in tho Otaki electorate are advertised in this issue. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald's meetings for tomorrow and Friday are advertised elsewhere. Mr. J. W. Braithwaitc's meetings at Wadcstown and Ohariu are advertised. Mr. John P. Luke's meetings for,to-night and Friday are advertised in another column.