THE ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1266, 23 October 1911, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS.

A WELLINGTON SUBURBS. MR. W. H. D. BELL AT WORSER HAY. Mr. W. H. D. 801 l a<ldresfod the electors of Wellington Suburbs and Country district at Wyaifs Hall, Worser Day, on Saturday nisrlit. The meeting was v<:ry well u'ltciided, tho hall heinsr full. The iiudiciH'o listouod to the candidate's address with c.lose ationtioi'.i, and was inost cnthiisiiastic Mr. A. E. Mnbin was in the chair. ' The rondidiite explained that he came forward buoaujo he felt that if full a<lvaiidiKo waii to be taken of the youthful vigour of tho country there must be mi infusion of the energy of youth into the political life of the country. Mr. Bell went on to say that the condition of things under the present Administration was so intolerable that it behoved every citizen to do his utmost to bring about a better state of affair.*. (Applause.) The candidate dealt at length with the increased cost of running the country, and maintained that a huge amount of tho public's money was wasted through bungling in the Ministerial management of the public services. Mr. Hell went on to say that he would have instanced as • another channel through which the public's money wa.s wasted Sir John lind- ' lay's statement to tho Parnell electors ' that .£7.000,000 should be spent in Auckland. He did not, however, think that this money would be spent, since tho last thing that the Government kept was its election promise?. Dealing with tho rapidly increasing public dobt, the candidate s;ud that of course it was necessary to borrow, but what he complained ' of was that they were not , getting tho : country developed at a rate anything like tho rate of increase of tho debt. All this ■ bad nianagemeut was due to tho unbusinesslike methods of tho Government, and 1 to the Government's policy of "remain in office- at any cost." Tho candidate stilted that by far the most important ' point for the consideration of electors ; was tho purifying of public life. (Hear, hear, and applause.) "Thp ship of tho 'Liberal' party (said Mr. Bell) is sink- ' ing, having struck on the rocks of ex- ' travagance; it has long been kept afloat by tho use of oil bags of jobbery, but it ' is going I'ast, and not even the self-sac- ' riQcing heroism of Mr. Fowlds has served to light™ the ship; it. is water-logged now; let us sink it." (Loud applause.) ] On the motion of Mr. Bowie, seconded by ' Mr. Gariieh, the candidate was given a ■ unanimous vote of thanks and coufideuoe. I i SPEECHES BY MR. MOORE. ( Mr. i'. T. Moore, Labour candidate for the ' Suburbs scat, addressed a well-attended j mooting of electore at Ohariu on Friday evening. Mr. l< , . Uryant presided. Tlifc , candidate stated that the Labour plat- j form was in the best interests of farmers, ' because it proposed to prevent monopolists S from exploiting the products of the. land, ; and, at the same time, assured to producers the full value for. everything Brown. Under the Labour platform, as- j sistancfi would bn given to farming by preventing tht! glutting of markets, and depreciation of prices by regulating the output of commodities to suit tho demand in different parts of tho world. A vote of thanks ami confidence was carried unanimously, on the motion of Mr. H. Uryant, seconded by Mr. B. Uryant. Mr. F. T. Moore, Labour candidate for tho Suburbs seat, addressed a crowded meeting of electors in tho Ne\vla,nds r Schoolroom on Saturday night. Mr. Fred - Futter occupied the chair. The candi- t date said that the land speculator and I the trade monopolist had got such a hold ■ of tho country under tho Liberal Govern- « nient that Labour was forced into forni- < ins a ssparato party, with a definite 1 platform, the object of which was to j bring the whole of our primary indue- 1 trios and Ilio products of tho land under j public control, and establish a system of l commercial and financial cooperation c that would secure much greater returns ' for the man on the land. By pooling J our outputs of wool, meat, butter, and * other products we could easily double S the returns for the producers of this I country, and by co-operating with the Australian Labour Government we could practically dominate tho markets of tho wholo world. A groat ■ national "Trust" was wanted, that woidd supervise the output of nil industrial production, and which would enormously incrcaso the j wealth and earning power of tho comniunity. In his opinion New Zealand's industries required immediate roorg.inisa- 0 tion on national Knee, in tho interests of , (ho pcoplo as a whole. Mr. Moore said c men of mature years and long practical ] experience should bo elected to Parlia- \ inent. A vote of thanks and confidence c was carried unanimously on tho motion j of Mr. Mildenliall, seconded by Mr. Mur- , ray. Mr. Moore has, to date, delivered ] ton addresses, chiefly in the country c part of the electorate, receiving votes of c confidence in every case. ( ; t MR. FITZGERALD AT NORMANDALE. j Mi. J. E. Fitzgerald addressed a meeting of electors at Normnndalo on Satnr- ] day night, tho chair being occupied by ( Mr. 11. Farnau. The candidate, who was 1 well received, said he recognised aud ad- 1 mitted that the present Liberal party i was not by any means perfect, but ho r supported it ns against the Conservative i Opposition not because it was faultless, c but becauso it offered the best material for improvement. Tho present Govern- 1 ment had placed upon the Statute Book ) many measures humanitarian and other- f wise' which bear lasting testimony of tho 1 wisdom of tho Liberal party. Mr. Fitz- c gerald claimed that his policy was liberal, progressive, economical, clean, and honest, and always for the country's gcod. He said he hoped the day was not far distant when those large tracts of land owned by the wealthy squatters and l land monopolists would bear their fair " share of taxation, would support their c share of population, and would be broken c up into smaller farms. After answering many questions, a vote of thanks and confidence was proposed by Mr. T. Austin, seconded by Mr. A. Hartley, mid carried unanimously. A committee was set up to further tJie interests of the candidate. , HUTT. I MR. SHORTT AT ST. JAMES'S HALL, li Mr. R. W. Shortt, Opposition candi- j 1 date for the Ilutt electorate, addressed a J 1 largo meeting at St. James's Hall, Lower . iiutt, on Friday evening. Mr. H. Baldwin v occupied tho chair. In the course of his e address, Mr. Shortt stated that the Ward a Government had no real land policy, and were simply playing with tlu\ question. Ho favoured tW freehold. He thought that any farmer would sooner work 200 acres oi* freehold than work 100 acres of leasehold. (Applause.) The speaker then took the Hon. J. A. Millar to task for urging that, on the death of a holder of a 99!) years' lease, the land should revert ° to the Crown. The lime had now or- I , rived when the land question must lx> j. rcttlod. The present Government could not do it, and it was time thai , , another [r party was tried. Referring to the Cus- jj toms, tho speaker preceded to state that our country was the most highly- j". taxed in the world, ;uid the working |>eop!e wore called upon to pay the brunt of it. Even go-carts and perambulators wore taxed to the tune of 6s. (id. each, and he asked: "How can wo keep the cradles full? ,, (Laughter and appfause.) It surely was not too much to say that . nil vehicles for domestic use should l>o j c admitted at a low tariff rate, though J 1 ; motor-cars might be justly taxed. The 'J tobacco tax also was another impost that ''. should be induced. '.' At tho conclusion of tho address a . (l1 (lumber of questions were answered, and ''■ She candidate was accorded a vote of j" ;lnuiks and confidence. V; . OTAKI. j£ ADDRESS BY MH. A. S. MALCOLM, M-γ. or Mr. A. S. Malcolm, M.P. for Clutha, J' ind member of the Reform parly, gave df in address in Otuki on Thursday night. Ho ", ( idvocntpil a change of Government, hold- ci. ill* Hint that step would bo beneficial. :lo expressed himself as being nn advo- <'r :ate of clnser settlement, and condemned d' , he Government's action in delaying to cl ixppiul grants and thus failing to ad- 8 tiiiiisU'i' their own Acts. He also referred o Mr. Ell for misquoting Mr. Lang re- OI yarding tho Old Age Pensions, and to at Sir Joseph Ward for failing to givo reurns of tho finances of tho country when lii n-essod on tho point by Mr. Allen. Ho in ibjected to the present system of ballot- da ng for lands, echoing tho words of the . ate, Mr. Scddon in referring to it as a Ol 'gamble," Ho also spoko against tho ho

way in which Bills wore rushed to tin Upper Mouse, maintaining that the in™ bors of that Chamber had not propel opportunity of revising them; of the waj ill winch tile Government misquoted the Opposition in regard to the big and small man. Ho considered that the labourei should securo the whole of the product; of his work, and should be given an opportunity to set himself np as his own employer. * Small industries might well be established aiul the cost of living reduced. It was suggested that the Up' position were good iellows, but wore nilnappy, and had a man at their head wilt was not a leader. This, he maintained, was unfair and contemptible. .Mr. Mas, sey had led his party through years oi discouragement, and every member thereof was entirely loyal to him. He had ability, had kept tile whole party in accord, nno was one of tho greatest mcii in contemporary politics. The speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Otaki, October 21. Mr. J. Robertson, Liibour candidate, addressed a poor audience at tho Town Hall last night, but received ail attentive hearing. Ho set fortli argument te justify his position as a Labour candidate, and claimed to be tho nominee of tho largest organised body in the electorate, that of the Flaxmillers' Association. He stood merely in tho interests of workers—men and women—and had studied social and political questions. He dealt with the increased cost of living, regarding present luxation, costly and unjust, advocated a Stats bank, condemned the /rime Minister for borrowing money t: purchase a Droadnoujjht, and Mr. Massey for not raising his voice in protest at tin time. The candidate also spoke against compulsory military training, considering a referendum of the people should have been taken before tho Act was passed, nud expressed himself in favour of re--pealing the compulsory clauses. He considered tho Land for Settlement Act badly administered, and advised workers to take a political part in the affairs of tho country. Asked his views on Prohibition, ho thought tho (question unfair, but expressed himself in favour of tht> bare majority, said Civil Servants should enjoy the samo political rights as other employees, and was in favour of taxing on unearned increment. The speaker was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, a vote of thanks only being lost. Mr. Byron Brown was; all last week in that now part' of the Otaki electorate beyond i'oxton. Despite wind, rain and mud, the meetings at Ilimitangi, Oroua Bridge, and Glen Oroua were well attended, and Mr. Brown was accorded votes of thanks and confidence. In Glon Oroua his address was voted by t'ho audience as one of the best political addresses ever given there. Mr. Brown has been making sonic strong points against tho Government as to tiieir want of a land policy and, at tho samo time, urging the necessity of the final settlement of the Native land question by tho settlement of farmers' sons on those lands, thus preventing them from having to leavo tho Dominion to establish homes in Australia. Mr. Brown speaks at tho Whitaunui Flaxmill to-night. A LABOUR CANDIDATE. STRONG CONDEMNATION OF THE GOVERNMENT. (By Telegraph.—l'ress Association.) Timaru, October 21. Mr. Jesse Reader, Labour candidate for Timaru, gave his first address last nigl.t to a' largo meeting. Ho made a good impression, and was frequently applauded as he proceeded. He condemned tho prosent Government for inertia neglect of opportunities to ofl'ect reforms, refusing political rights to public servants, for inefficiency in dealing with the land problem, for insincerity regarding tho htato notes issue, for doing; nothing to reduce tho cost of living, which was at tho base of tho decrease in tho birth-rate. This matter was of more importance than defence. He advocated preferential voting, the abolition of tho Second Chamber, graduated land tax, and generally tho platform of tho Labour party. THE AUCKLAND SEATS. (By Tcleeraph — Special Correspondents Auckland, October 21. On Friday nigOit thre? of the candidates for tho city seats ad dressed tho electors. Mr. J. H. Bradney, in City West, had a splendid reception at Ponsonby. Ho declared himself an Oppositionist, bccauso ho could not support Uio spurious Liberalism of tho Ward Government, and ho went on to deliver a slashing attack on tho vote-catching methods and tho koep-in-offico principle.? of the Government. Ho "had his big audience with him from start to finish, and at the conclusion an overwhelming majority, not only carried a vofco of thanks and confidence on a show of hands, but also pledged itself to work for his return. General indications in City West seem to point to an Opposition victory. In Grey Lynn tho ex-Ministex, .Mr. Geo. Fowlds, has a stronger position than tho Government member for Auckland West, but tho contest is going to be a keen one. Mr. Murray, the Opposition candidate, is the Mayor of the Ijorougk and he opened his campaign at Mount Eden last night. "With but ono dissentient, ii vote of thanks nnd confidence was carried. In tho other districts electoral matters have scarcely livened up ycii. In City TJast Mr. Witihey (a Free-trader anil Single Taxer), who is opposing Mr. A. M. Myers, was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. TAUMARUNUI. Mr. Forbes, who was announced as an Opposition candidate for the Taumarunui electorate, has withdrawn from Hie contest in favour of the other Opposition candidate, Mr. C. K. Wilson. WAIMARINO. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Taihapo, October 20. Mr. F. F. Ilockly, Opposition candidate for Waimarino. opened his campaign last night. He intimated lliat ho was a thorough supporter of tho Reform party, and made freehold his chief plank. Referring t'o the Native land question, he characterised Sir James Carroll's "taihoa" policy as astute; tho object being, to delay parting with tho land until its value had been greatly enhanced. Ho contended that the timo had arrived for a change of Government. The usual vote of thanks was passed. BULLER. (By Tcleeraph.—Press Association.) Wcstport, October 22. The Bullor Council of the Federation of Labour decided on Saturday not to put a Labour candidate in tho field, Mr. Dowgray (previously chosen) being too . fully occupied with the Mines Commission to permit of his conducting a political campaign in tho district. It is understood that Mr. F. G. Munro, who at. the last election contested the roat with Mr. J. Colvin, the sitting member, will again bs a candidate. A GENERAL FORECAST. A keen student of politics, whose opinion is entitled to a great deal of respect, has been making a detailed calculation of the probabilities of the general election. Ho considers that 29 peats aro safe for tho Opposition, and on independent candidate for another constituency has pledged liimself to vote against tho Government m a no-confidence motion. In 27 electorates the return of the Government candidate is practically certain, nnd in tho ither 10 liuropc.Yi electorates the chances, iccording to the samo authority, are practically oven. Dr. Arnold Izard will address the eleel>rs of Wellington North at the Masonic Hall, Boulcolt .Street, at 8 p.m. on l'rilay, October 27. His subject will bo 'Compulsory Military Training, State Socialism. and Labour Laws." Mr. W. H.'D. Hell, Opposition candilate for Wellington Suburbs, will adIross the electors of Wadestown at tho dub room, l'itt Street', this evening at I p.m. Mr. Monckton, Reform candidate for tho )taki electorate, will deliver an address it Otaki to-night at 8 p.m. Mr. R. Fletcher, candidate for Welington Central, will address tho doctors n the Mission Hall, Aro Street, on Tueslay, at 8 p.m. Mr. Byron Brown will address tho Kaki electors at Munganni in the 6choollouso this evening at 8 p.m.