THE ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1270, 27 October 1911, Page 7

THE ELECTIONS.

$ WELLINGTON SUBURBS. MR. W. H. D. BELL AT KAIWARRA. Mr. W. H. D. Hell addressed a wellattended meeting of tht> Suburbs electors at tho church-room. Kaiwarra, hist evening. Mr. V. llolilswortli presided. Mr. Bell took the opportunity of thanking Mr. Fitzgerald for having expressed ploflsuro at his (Mr. Bell's) candidature, and added that so far as Mr. Fitzgerald and himself wero concerned they differed , only in political opinions, and the election would bo fought in perfect goodfellowship. Tho candidate dealt with tho political situation from t'ho working man's point of view and contended that while the Government had in its early days been the friend of labour, it had long ceased to stilly the interests of labour—had in fact', ceased to study anything except tho science of remaining in oificc. Tho cost of living was increasing more rapidly than wero wages, lie instanced three factors making for the high cost of living—namely, the Customs duties, tho cost of railway travelling, and the fact that tho Government's failure to encourage, tho small farmer tended to keep up the cost of primary products. How could the Government pose as the friend of labour when its own employees wero tho most dissatisfied in the Dominion? The Government was not: able, nor did it attempt, to deal with tho great labour problems of to-day. Mr. Bell pointed out that tho best interests of tho working man wero the best interests of tho country as a whole, since, if tho country wero flourishing tho burden of taxation—which always eventually rested on the working man—would be reduced, a.nd down would come the cost of living; there would on tho other hand be more work and better wages. (Applause.) The candidate contended that t'ho Reform party would cheapen the cost of living by reducing tho Customs duties on articles used by the poor man, would encourage industries and thereby reduce tho cost of production, and would encourage t'ho small farmer and thereby reduce the cost of primary products. . If the public services were managed in a businesslike way waste of the public's money would bo avoided, and taxation consequently reduced. A vigorous land settlement policy would increase tho general prosperity of tho country and the result would be more employment'. He again advocated the profit-sharing principle as a solution of tho labour question. Tho aims which the Government professed might be the same as the aims of the Reform party, but the Government had been years in office and had failed to accomplish those aims. Ho repeated that tho most important step for t'ho people to take was the abolition of political jobbery. Ho had given ono the c.ifo of Government advertisements—and no one had so far attempted to explain that instance away. The Reform party stood for honest administration; (he Government, on the other hand, had expressly declared itself as opposed to the abolition of political favouritism. In reply to a 'question with referenco to the abolition of the office of Crown Solicitor at Wellington, and tho transfer of the work t'o the Crown Law Office, Mr. Bell stated Hint if the work was as efficiently anil as cheaply done by the Crown Law" Office, --and he had no reason to suggest that it was not—then he unhesitatingly declared that the change was a proper one. (AnpUuss.) Mr. Bell also declared himself in favour of a vigorous immigration policy on the ground that it would so tend to develop the country that employment would increase faster than labour could arrive. At the conclusion Mr. Bell received a vote of thanks and confidence on the motion of Mr. W. Cable, jun., seconded by Mr. Smythe. MR. J. E. FITZGERALD AT NGAIO. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, one of tho candidates, for tho Wellington Suburbs seat, addressed a meeting of the electors at Ngaio last evening. Mr. B. Lynneberg occupied the chair. The candidate spoke. on the lines of his previous addresses. Ho supported the present Liberal party because it offered in his opinion tho best material for improvement. Tho present Government had placed'upon the Statute Book many measures humanitarian and otherwise which btar lasting testimony of the wisdom of the Liberal party. Mr. Fitzgerald claimed that his policy was liberal, . progressive, economical, clean, and honest, and always for the country's 'l»ood. He said lie hoped the day was not tar distant when those, large tracts of land owned by tho wealthy squatters and land monopolists would bear their fair share of taxation, would support their share of population, and would bo broken up into smaller farms. At the close of tho proceedings the candidate was accorded a. vote of thanks and confidence, on the motion of Mr. L. Leonard, seconded by Mr. J. Holmes. A strong committee was formed to further the interests of the candidate in tho district. WELLINGTON EAST. MR. BOLTON AT KILBIRNIE. Mr. F. G. Bolton, one of tho candidates for Wellington East, addressed n largo meeting of Kilbirnie electors at the Wesleynn Schoolroom, Maxham Avenue, last night. Mr. W. H. Stewart was in tho chair. The candidate outlined fully his views on party politics and the high cost of living and advocated with the object of cheapening tho cost' of building, tho admission of Oregon pine and other timbers duty free provided they wero cut by white labour. As regards Dr. Newman's statement that there wero 1,000,000 acres of Native land awaiting settlement in the Wellington district he read information which he had obtained from the Native Department stating that thsro wero in all only SSS.-U1 acres of unoccupied Native land in Wellington and Tarauaki districts and that of this area only ■IS.SO'J acres were suitable for close settlement. This was shortly going 011 tho market and tho balance, viz., 512,002 acres, consisted of laud either poor in quality or pumice or tussock country or mountain tops, and it was most unsuitable for settlement except in very large areas, i.e., 50,000 acres or thereabouts at nominal rentals. He disapproved tho Opposition candidate's suggestion that there should bo an elective Exeetttivo or an elective Upper House. As to the Upper House he favoured a system whereby two-thirds of. tho Legislative Council were elected, and" one-third nominated. He emphasised tho advisability of tho Government and City Council co-operating in the construction of a tunnel through Mount Victoria at joint cost available for railway traffic in the future, and vehicular and pedestrian traffic in tho present. On the motion of Mr. R. ICells, seconded by Mrs. Kay[irowne, a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate was carried by acclamation ami a strong committee was set up to further t'ho interests of the candidate. OTAKI. Mr. C. A. W. Monckton, Reform candidate for Otaki, spoke at Tokomnru on Wednesday night. Ills .speech was on the tame lines as his Otaki address and the majority of tho eighty odd people present evidently sympathised with the views he expounded and was frequently applauded. He was asked many questions which ho answered to the satisfaction of his audience. The meeting closed with the usual votes-which were carried unanimously. AVON. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, October 20. Mr. W. J. Walter has decided to stand for Avon in the Opposition interest. THE ROLLS. Tho doctoral roll for Wellington Central was published yesterday. Copies may b" seen at the following places within the electorate:— CarmodyV. store, llolloway Road, Mitchelllmvii; Isaac's Morn, Aro .Street; Arthur Hob-son, chcmisl, 28(i Willis Strce! ; Thor.ley tiros., grocer.-, 210 Cuba Street; R. W. Green, chcniisl, l>s Vivian Street; l'ritchard and Mitchell, grocers. !i Dixon Slrcpf; (icorgu Webb, grocer. II!I Tory Street; MTiil'liind's store, 111 Tar.inak'i Street; To Aro Post Ollice, Ghuznee Street; Post Ollice, Cmirt l .|iny I'liicu; Police Station. Mount Cook; GcgL'.- Bros., grocers, 9:: Ciliii/.nce Street; licggs Uros.. grocers, Tory Street; General Po>t Ollice. # Wellington. Mr. Byron Brown will address the Otaki electors'in thr flaxmill iliniiigrcom, Maraniii to-night at S o'clock. Mr. W. T. Yotinij. the Labour candidate, will address the electors in the Mission Hall, Aro Street, to-night at S o'clock-