WELLINGTON EAST.

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

WELLINGTON EAST.

ADDRESS BY MP.. M'LAREN. Mr. D. M'Lareu addressed an opcu-air meeting of about 100 people at the. east end of Courtenay Place on Saturday evenin", and received an attentive hearing. Tlie meeting lasted from 7.30 to 9 p.m. Dealing with the cost of living tho candidate, stated that the plan suggested by himself for regulating l-hc distribution of commodities wo.s already being practically handled in olhor countries. Mr. Prank Poster had presented a resolution in the Commonwealth Parliament in favour of such a scheme. The idea was that the work undertaken by the co-operative societies in the Old Country could be advantageously carried out by the State in Xcw Zealand. Mr. poster had been manager of £omo-of tlicso co-operative societies in Great Britain and was now a I'meinber of the Commonwealth, Labour

parly.. In South Australia, a State Pro-' iluce Department had been working for some lime, handling various kinds of produce, such as wheat, butter, checc. l,;i((iti. honey, rabbits, and other commodities ami this with good results, bath Id the producers and (he consumers. The candidate held tint, instead of paltering with the question of the cost of living by setting up a Royal Commission, it would be more practical to hand the work over to a definite Department of the State, which would bring tho producer and the consumer into closer touch, and really eliminate the middleman's profits. One trouble, even under our Pure. Foods Act, was that the administration was not sumciently effective to make sure that the people got in all rases what thev paid for. lie looked to see good work done m the way. of land settlement bv means of irrigation, tie pointed to what was being done in New Suuth Wales, where I lie-Government was settling an area of l,:ttf,fl(HJ acres with a scheme of ini-a-lion on a.large scale and had established workshops and built houses and manufactured articles for the settlers. If wo would retain our population, in the face of the attractions of Australia, wo must push on both, with land settlement and the development of manufactures. Ho was confident that more direct representation of Labour would be secured in "tho coming Parliament. The meeting concluded with cheers for the candidate.

ADDRESS BY Mil. BOLTON. imY T / C V,. 8 ,?! t0n ' tl,p Government candidate for Wellington East, addressed two meetings in the open air on Saturday night, one at the comer of Adelaide Road and Dock Street, and later on at.Cordin»"s Coiner, Courtenay Place. The candidato dispenser! with a chairman as the meeting was in the open air. Before commencing his address bo alluded to a leaderette Appearing in Thf. Dominion- in which it wis suggested, that he, or his supporters, had sent people to disturb some of the Opposition candidate's meetings. He desired to give this statement an emphatic denial. The candidato then outlined his platform as previously reported, and dealt especially with the question of tho cost of r living and protection of local industries. He considered that reasonable protection of the local industries was necessary in the interests of our young people and out skilled tradesmen. Mr. -Bolton also referred in humorous terms to the "Evening Post's" leaderette which suggested that the second ballot in Wellington East would very likely be between Dr. Newman and Mr. M'Laren. He told his auditors that this was only the opinion of one man sitting in a "chair in a newspaper office and probably not even an elector of the district. Of course the estimable gentleman who wrote the article was entitled to his own opinion, but ho should move around a little among the electors, and lie would .find that he was considerably mistaken. If he wished to prove a reliable tipster he would have to alter his forecast before polling day. (Applause.)

In answer to questions the candidate stated.that he was not in favour of. a baro majority deciding the No-Licenso issue, as he desired above all. things a permanent settlement of this vexed question. He was in favour of maintaining our present system of education and against Bible-reading in State schools. Ho deprecated the introduction of sectarianism into any "education system. He was also against the attempts of a section of the community to control and interfere with the reasonable liberty of action and cn : joyment of the individual. A vote of thanks and confidence was earned, an amendment of thanks only not being seconded. Cheers were given for Mr. and Mrs. Bolton.