WELLINGTON SOUTH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1294, 24 November 1911, Page 8

WELLINGTON SOUTH.

MR. "W. H. P. BARBER AT NEWTOWN. Mr. W. 11. P. Barber, Government candidate for Wellington South, nddressed a meeting of about 150 electors at St. Thomas's Hall last evening. Mr. Worth presided.. The candidate referred to his past municipal and Parliamentary sorvicos to the community, and claimed that ho had taken a progressive view, of civic and political matters. His political views were Liberal and progressive. Oil a noconfidence motion ho would support tho Liberal Administration; .on other .questions he intended to retain independence of action. Ue was llot, he asserted, a party hack. The speaker charged tli'o Reform party with being tho romnant of tho old Tory party, which existed in tho interests of tho few. If thoy desired any .ovidence as to this , contention, Mid Mr. Barber to his audielice, they would find it in the columns of tho Opposition press. It had been urged as nil argument against tho retention of the present Government that they had been 100 long ill office. If any chargo wero made, said tho speaker, it "should 1m in tho direction of a more advanced Administration rather than a reversion to. tho old Tory party; lie would prefer to support Labour.' After reviewing the main features of tho Government's legislation and administration, tho candidate devoted considerable time to a review of the Government's policy with regard to financial questions, and to an analysis of the public debt, claiming that so much of tho aggregato loan money was interest-bearing that it was not necessary to imposo taxation to meet the charges. Ho advocated a reciprocal arrangement with Australia in connection with tho import of farm produce. The Australian seasons wero two. months ahead of New Zealand, and such an arrangement would ensuro somo stability in market prices. He claimed that the responsibility for tho increased cost of living was not duo to increased taxation, for the Government had removed tho taxation on tho necessaries of life.

Tho proceedings at first wero marked by a little ' good-humoured interruption, but towards the close the meeting got out of hand, and finally terminated 111 foiiio disorder. After question'time, a member of the audience rose and proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the candidate for his address, and moved that tho meeting was of opinion that it was "time the Government was turned out of office." This was seconded. An amendment, proposing a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate was thou moved and seconded, anil the chairman, getting a little flustered by the growing babel of interruptions at the back of tho hall, put tho motion first and referred to it as the amendment. Under a fire of vigorous protest, however, ho began again, and put tho real amendment to the meeting. ■ -From the spectator's point of view, it was impossible to determine, on tho voices, what the decision Df tho majority was, but tho chairman, amid cries of dissent, declared the amendment carried.

DR. COUZENS AT NEWTOWN. • Dr. Couzeus addressed the electors at Newtown last night, _ Mr. Hornljlow presiding. Ho said that the press frequently stated that the liest class nf men kept out of political life, as it had an evil reputation. Ho, however, contended that truo and honourable iucu, men with ideas and culture, were never more needed than at the present moment. 'J'iio demand was uicent, and should not be resisted. He was glad to note that throe medical men had responded to tho call to arms in Wellington—a liberal response from a liberal profession—and he hoped that one at least of this- gallant band would be returned. If tho pre.it principals set forth in his new charter were supported and given effect, lo the business affairs of the nation would soon bo put on n sound financial basis, and patronage with its attendant sorvilitv would bo abolished for ever. lie then dealt with tile laud question, showing tho urgent ■ necessity for closer settlement, and said he did not agreo with Sir-J. Ward's Elate-

nient "That flic best thing tlio Government. -could do was to allow- tho Maoris to do as thoy liked with.tlio. land," as this meant jdle lands,- Surely souio effort should be wade to bring .these lands, un-. der cultivation. Tho Defcneo Act was then eiiticistd, reference was made (o fhe last speeeli by the' Prime Minister 011-this Act,-. He ridiculed tlio yellowware, ; alid ;j ■ .staled . (hat China" ■ and Japan were 'so occupied.' in Watching the Kurbpean I'owtrs 'and'each'other that New Zealand • might repose in security and peace iVji- 1 - s\( least a quarter- of it century,' prokfltd as hho was ' and, ever would be- by ian invincible Navy. With' regard to the 'appointment'.of an auditor (o scrutinise the 'public 'acpouiits, ho said ; 'that' lie .was pfopiimllb occept the present auditor and his staff, provided that they w-ere reappointed' by. the vote oi- the two'Housies of' Parliament, who, of course,-would have the power to suspend them, if desired. ■By this, lueaps, the auditor would be absolutely freo from political control, and an exact and literal statement' of tlio public moneys expended wouldithen bo shown.' If ti)6 above method Mere odopted,' confidence would tie' rostotud aiid great economy would lie speedily effcctcd; 1 The candid?to;i,wa6 accorded a unanimous vote of con/jdepco arid thanks.'

MR. I?. A. WRIGHT AT BROOKLYN. A- Vri'ht, Opposition member for Wellington South, addressed about 200 of the electors of Brooklyn in Fullford'g , ?! «- frost presided. Mr. Wright commenced bv defendih®. himself against certain criticisms made concerning him, ,'ffuccially the charge that had been made that ho had gone back on his pledge to support the lease, hold as opposed urt'he freehold. 110 further denied' that he was a Torv, a Iteactionary, or a Conservative, and showed that he had supported a number of mcjisuivs that were Radical rather than Tory. Ho stated in detail the articles of his political faith in much the same terms as he used at his Newtown address uf tho previous evening. Ho referred to tho lack of proper cousidcrlition shown by tho Government to the Teterans of the Maori Wars. These old veterans had been trying to get something like' an acknowledgment from the Government They stated that they -(tore promised 'ferants of land which they never received, and they had .petitioned Parliament time and again, and at last something was'!done. Magistrates were appointed to inquire into claims, but tho veterans received nothing. Last session a Hill was brought down by tlio Government, which,-ton the face of it, seemed to lie intended to do something for them, but all it' really meant was that veterans could get tho old-age pension without going through the ordinary forms. The Government was simply trifling with these old veterans. He criticised also the Government* action regarding the Cook Islands inqiiiry. Tho Government appointed a commissioner to take chargo of the Cook Islands Tlio gentleman who, in Wellington, was in. the Old Age Pensions Office', was sent to take cliargc of tho Cook Islands, to act as magistrate, and Judge,', and. central ruler in the community. YeLhe aid not know anything of tho Maoris or their language, ami nothing of the Europeans there. The result was that his administration caused such grave dissatisfaction that petitions were sent to the House on mora than one occasion asking tb,at au inqiiiry should bo held concerning the control of tho islands. Tho Government had to send a Judge down tLcrp to try a mail accused of murder, and this Judge, the Chief Justice, was instructed to mate an incjuirv. 3ut those who had a grievance Had trade it clear that ,'uuless tho evidence was taken on oath at au open lnquirv tlicv would not como forward Wl tn their evidence. Tho inactions to tho Chief Justice, however, were to hold tlio inquirr without taking evidence on oath, and as a result the inquiry was useless and the Chief Justice reported that there were no grievances. Mr. Wright answered a number of que?Hons. In reply to oiie. of them he Mid that he had Ix-en forced to tho conclusiou that no Government should ljaye power to issue Orders-in-Conncil. It put .too much !■ power in the hands of the Ministiy, and members were beginning to realise it. Jlr. : 1-owlds's Town Planning Bill had b«n ' defeated because there was too much Gor- ■ crnor-in-Council in it. Mr- Wright was accorded h unanimous ; vote of thanks' and confidence..