HERE AND THERE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1296, 27 November 1911, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

CAMPAIGN POINTS AND PRESS COMMENTS. Mr. Homes Misrepresented. The "Now. Zealand Times" stated last Thursday, in tho course of comment on tho spee'eh of. Dr. llcrrics at Rotorua: "Mr. Hemes frankly admits Ihero is .a land policy in tbe Budget, and treats it as worthy of serious consideration'. This is a tremendous contrast to his chief and the. parly barkers who airily declare that tho Budget 'discloses no policy whatever'." . . The Press Association summary of the speech (the only report published in Wellington) did not contain any such "admission," and ..'.the Koroma "Chronjclo" shows tho exact contrary. Following is an. excerpt from Us report.—"At tho present time.they had a Govornmont in power who had absolutely no policy to put before the people! Continuing, Mr. Iferrics alluded at length to tho Budget. They might look through its pages,' and they would look in vain for a definite land policy, likewise for a Native land •policy. They might also look in vain for a policy with regard to the .Upper Hous-e. and. Hip much-needed reform of the Civil . Service, or ouo relative to a most important; question, namely, tho increased cost - ( of living. They would, moreover, look'in ■vain for one. affecting'the rural districts as applying to local government. Not] one of these paramount matters had been touched upon by any of tho Government candidates. _ not even Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Pindlay—lie was sorry; he intended to say 'Sir John'—(loud'laughter), but those titles were, confusing—(more laughter). The Opposition, however, had Kwicthing much nearer in the shape of a definite policy, and he proposed to submit the different planks in their platform that evening. ]f the Opposition were returned to power, they would be prepared to place all of these planks' on the Statutes, and thought Hie electors would admit when they heard tho platform of the Opposition that it was a clean, waight-otit one. Thev might not all : agreo with ■it-he hoped thev would—but it was a clean-ci't. oee, and the best for tho Dominion. (Loud applause.)"

Policy Speech. ■The Prime Minister is to deliver a policy speech at Dannevirke on Tuesday "-Press, Association;. Tho Great Breach. Mr. Spencer Claphnm, labour ea'ndidatc for llawke's Pay. stated at Hastings that the attitude of tho Labour party towards the Government would have to be decided by a majority of the party in caucus. A great breach between tho Labour party and Sir Joseph Ward hod come about. The present Government had ceased to represent the workers, although originally put in power by tho veal Labour party, the Knights of Labour, twenty years ago. Advice to Farmers, Tho "Fanners' Union Advocate," in writing of the general election, preserves its non-party attitude, but points out that "there are a few questions of outstanding importance, at the present time.' Tho first—and it is a basic principle—is tlin question of the freehold tenure. It is all very well for Sir John Findlay to tell us t'l.at 'the freehold tenure is a fetish, and what is more important is to get settlers on Oho land.' V, hat good is it to place men on tho land if they are not given leonrity of tenure, and if every incentive to meUi'o tho land productive is taken away? It is neither good for tho State nor for tho individual. "We desiro as much an auyano to seo the settlement of land going rapidly on, and though we fceosr that each nmv settler will make'

another addition to the freehold voters, wo believe it is more essential to speedy settlement that every would-bo settler should know lor certain that lie can obtain the freehold as soon ns lie is able to pay for it." f;i conclusion, the "Advocate" urges the fanners to sink party feelings, and vote solid for the candidato who'support l ; the freehold tenure; is opposed to increased land fax, or increased protective duties; is prepared to resist every attempt to nationalise the means of production, distribution, and exchange. We shall tlten have every confidence that the new Parliament will be composed of a, piajority of those 'Who covet not the sweets of power, but seek the power to rule their fellow men in righteousness, and for the good of all.'"

The Kinematonrnph for Reform. It was bound to come. The kineroafograpli- is being used for electioneering, and the innovator is Mr. 11. M. Campbell, the lie-form candidate for Hawke's Hay. Beforo beginning n speech at Wairoa (reports the "Herald") Mr. Campbell gavo a number of kinemnlograph views of the olectorate to illustrate the chief points in the laud policy of tho Reform party. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried without dissent. Tho ball was crowded, and tho meeting was most good-natured. The Pahiatua Contest. The Pahiatua electorate appears determined tn free itself from Government representation (says the Dannevirko "News"), and either Mr. Escott or Mr. Hawkins will light out tho second ballot with the sitting member. Mr. Escott is the straight-out Reform candidate, while Mr. Hawkins classes himself as an Independent. Each of these gentlemen is putting up a hard fight, while Mr. Ross is not improving his position since taking the platform. -Mr. Escott, ns a practical small farmer, is showing himself thoroughly alive to the best interests of the constituency, and his straightforward enunciation of the political faith that is in him appears to be making a splendid impression. Mr. Hawkins, by his virilo criticism of Government methods, is proving himself a hard fighter and a power to be reckoned with. The attitude of Mr. Ross in bolstering up a Government that is opposed to his own convictions on the lanel question should be sufficient to condemn him in tho eyes of tho constitu-1 ency. Enjoying It. "I have been riding for six weeks up to my neck in mud,.and have addressed CO meetings, and havo never enjoyed myself so-much before in my life,' said Mr. C I\. Wilson, at Taumaninui the other evening',' in describing his 'experiences of campaigning in the back blocks oi the King Country. .' "Poorly Disguised Chagrin." "Sir Joseph Ward talks with, an assumed confidence as to the result of tho polls" (says the Hawke's Bay "Tribuno"), "but his bravo words fit in ill with his poorly disguised chagrin at. Mr. Massey's victory in the South. The Prime Minister ha.s fallen back on the good old crutch of 'misrepor.ted'. He claims that the Press Association has exaggerated the Massey meeting for party purposes, but that is hardly likely to be the case, and southern journals who aro in a position to obtain first-hand information do not put this version on the gToat political event. How-ever,-it ■is not necessary to follow' Sir Joseph's different apologies to the country' for the occurrence. Tho people are well able' to judge of what has taken place and appreciato the significance of the demonstration."

Mr. Guthrie's Campainn. .MivD. 11. Guthrie has just completed a tour of the'northern part of the electorate (says the Feilding correspondent of tho "Manawatu Daily Times"), and reports having had a good reception and a very cordial assurance of support in the uew '"portion of the electorate. . Ho bad an especially good meeting at Taihape and received a most appreciative-hearing at Torero, Toaroa, and Mbawhango. Although tho weather Was''very; TCt-'-and the roads bad, he had good meetings and a cordial reception. At Rangiwahia he had a crowded house, and met with a most enthusiastic reception,, and at the conclusion of the meeting' received a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. Leave Nothing to Chance. The Dannevirke "Evening News," while noting the prevalent desire for a change of Government, warns-the friends of Reform against being lulled into a sense of false .security. "No stone must be left unturned_ if the constituencies of I'ahiatua and Waipawa are to be won for Reform. In the Waipawa electorate, Mr. George Hunter's high personal standing and his political consistency have commended him to the majority of the. electors, who have recognised that ho has not spared himself in his determined fight for the public, good. ■. . . Tho energy with which he is prosecuting his campaign has almost assured him of success, but his supporters want to leave nothing to chance. A determined effort is being made to bolster up the Government in the electorate, and the supporters of Reform want to see that voters aro not blinded by political illusions to the best interests of the conntry-" The Right Sort of Man. It. is obviously from personal knowledge that the Tikokino correspondent writes of Mr. George Hunter, Reform candidate for .Waipawa. "Mr. Hunter," he nays, "is a clear and convincing speaker, with a calm manner which never rises to impassioned oratory, but he can speak wi'.h telling effect and reply to a question with a quick readiness which shows that ';he subject lie has taken in hand has received Ms most careful and earnest attention. Mr. Hunter never. tells the people what he has done (though everybody knows that he has always been to the front in every useful movement for tho benefit of Hawke's Hay and the country as ?. whole), but without making extravagant and catchy promises he quiotly and honestly pledges his word to faithfully do his best in the interest of the electors. And Mr. Hunter's word is his boud; lie never breaks a promise. In the Bush Districts he is highly esteemed, as elsewhere, and especiully so for his sterling, integrity of character. Tho people in Hie Bush Districts found in him a firm friend years ago, and they do not forget that in the short period of time that Mr. Hunter represented their interests in Parliament the backblocks were his.special care, and for them he obtained many concessions in tho shape of telephones, bridges, land, etc. Therefore tho people in the back country will remain loyal to him, and will not hastily transfer their allegiance.''

"Every Mile of Railway." Sir Joseph Ward asserted at Waiuku that "every mile of railway was a groat asset to tiiD Dominion." This is quite inaccurate (.-ays- the Auckland "Herald"). Many inilns.of railways iu the Dominion arn only liabilities. Various Southern branches and certain Southern main lines are crushing burdens upon the railway earnings'of tho Dominion, h-jving been built solely for political mirposes and without the slightest regard for-commer-cial considerations. It is because the public funds havo been squandered in this manner that the railway rates of the country cannol be reduced by 25 per cent, as they would be if the. Southern railways were as profitable as the Xoriliorn. Labour and the Government, I Mr. Eustace Lane, Independent Labour I candidate for llawke's Day, in a speech lit Itnvolock North, made it clear that on a no-confidence motion, he would help to put the present Government out. tie said that opposition to tho present Government vras one of the few planks he had iu common with Mr. H. M. Campbell, tho Reform party's candidate for the seat. A Thin Excuse. Tho "Lytteiton Times," like tho morning Ministerialist organ iu this city, suppressed Mr. Massey's AVinton speech to the aegree of printing an obscuroly-ptoced twoinch paragraph. It gives this belated explanation: "The truth is that the report reached us at such a late hour that it was impossible to publish it in full without upsetting the routine that, has to bo observed in a newspaper office." But it, reached Tub Dominion far later, .and yet in time to print, at an earlier hour than tho Christchurch paper, a larger issue In any event, "The Press," in Christchurch, was easily ah!o to print the full ' re.po.rt on tha Saturday morium:,

Testimony From the Inner Circle, The fact dew not appear to be sufiicicutly slre.-sod by til her (he press or the Opposition candidates that two ex-Minis-ters of the Crown—-Messrs. Hogg and Fotv]ds—have declared by word and action that they have no eonlideiice in the Ward Administration (says the "Wairarapa Age"). These gentlemen arp in a better position than the average layman to know; what is going on behind the scenes. If they are profoundly disgusted—as they appear to be— with the Ministry as at present constituted, how can men and women with (he interests of their country at heart entrust their destinies further with such an Administration:'' Will (he electors, during the next_ few days, just ponder over this aspect of the question?

That Alleged Robbery. Few people realise the meaning of a 999 years' lease, but it may lie pointed, out 'thai if William the Conqueror had granted 999 years' lenses on his accession to the throne, of England they would still havo more than lot) years-to run. It is sometimes said that the people woule'i be robbed if tho freehold were grantc.i to holders of these, leases, but as the Stato cannot get, the land back'for more than nine centuries, the people have no i.vterest in it till that time.—' i'arnnaki Ikrald." "Certain Flowers of Speech." When a small boy (writes "Looker-on" to "The Press"), I used to delight in the old "Saturday Magazine," especially in the short anecdotes which *-ere frequently inserted to lill up a column. One of these was of a cobbler in an Italian city, who made a point of leaving bis work to attend the. frequent theological discussions which were held in public. To a friend who pointed out that as these were conducted in Latin,'ho could not properly understand them, he replied, "That is true enough, but I can always tell who is getting the worst of it, because I can see who loses his temper first." JudgL-.ig from "certain flowers of speech" quoted in your sub-leader of to-day (November 20th), it would almost appear that somebodv finds that ho is not getting tho best of it.

A Good Government Man. Mr. D. M'Laren was asked on Saturday nigUt at his open-air meeting: "Do you want the present Government to remain in office after tin election? Yes or No " Mr. M'Laren declined to answer "Yes" or "No," and made a lengthy reply to the effect that he would support the Government until he saw a better. "How would you vote on a no-eonfulence motion?" ho was asked next. He replied that it would depend on the principle involved. He was then asked: "How would you vote on a direct and explicit motion of want-of-confulence, in which nothing else was mentioned?" He answered that he would vote for the Government. Ho also said that though the Government • was bad in some things, the Opposition was just as bad, and was a great deal worse in otacrs. What Everybody Knows. "Everybody, whether he has. any. poli* tics or not, knows that it is wrong that Parliament should have to keep on asking for four years for tho particulars, of loan transactions, or that the Civil Service should be so managed that enormous increases of salary, refused at -other times, should be distributed amongst its members on the eve of an election,'or that tho Public Works Fund should-be used.for the degradation of members of Parliament and the 'sweetening' of constituencies. All these processes are perfectly satisfactory to the Government; it relies on'them for its continuance in power."—Tima'ru "Herald." ..... .- ■

A Curious Payment. Prohibitionists, like doctors, differ (says the "Press"). Mr. Isitt savs that the payment of to Mr. A. S. Adams for helping to draft the Licensing Bill was monev well, spent Mr. Bedford, in 'piekin" out instances of extravagance, to u<o his own words, oited this.payment as an example of the excessive cost of the Crown Law Office. If,'as Sir .Tclin iindhv contended, Dr. Sahnoud, Crown Law Draughtsman, was the ablest we ever had in New Zealand, "why, asked Mr. Bedford, "did the Government go outside =uch a. splendid officer to get a Licensing Bill drafted?" Continuing, ho said he objected to such a Bill being given to t anyone who had a partisan feeling w.ith respect to its subject. Mr. Bedford apnarentlv does not feel under any obligation to" whitewash the Government. Supplementary Roll. Tho supplementary roll for Wellington Suburbs and Country District is the first to make its appearauco in Wellington. It contains 743 names which bring the total up to 7927, but with the lemovals by transfer, death, etc., which amount to 468, the actual number on tho roll is thus 7439. Tho Registrar may bo congratulated upon tho prompt and apparently clean roll. The Reason Why. "Why does not the Opposition get into power?" sarcastically asked an interjector at the meeting addressed by Mr. C. K. "Wilson, the Opposition candidate, at Taumaninui, the other evening. "I will tell you why wo have not got there," said Mr. Wilson. "It is now a fortnight before tho election, and you can't get there before, the race starts." (Laughter and applause.)