ON THE PLATFROM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1298, 29 November 1911, Page 8

ON THE PLATFROM.

WELLiNOTON LAST, DK. NKWMA.VS (\\ MH DAT! 1111, Dr. A. I\. New iiuiii, t Ippn ilimi cniiilidfil^ for \\Y!hii;;lm, I!n-i. nd.li Mi rlrrl mw ]ll Him VirlnilM llhll, ,\ 1 (.1 ■. i. I ■ • K'oml. 1 ii si ni|;lit, Mr. W. Mnlo pr.^iil.Mi, *iriii'inily Dr. Nnui.mi, Irnvri -.-.l I|mnUIHO Kloillid ||>. Ill* ItII<I rnvi'in] In hi) uddrrv;rs. llm llml N««w Xwiliutii had )»m'h Miibjfd I<* kmc mhih i iiJ«* I'nr lon loti|{ niiciiilv. nnd lu< objcrlrij lo tin' viciutis iim' ol' 'nrdrr i in ('omo il by I In* MinUlrv. !(»• sliohkl.\ Invouinl mi .•Irrlivr I ppi-r 11 iithc, lb* I I lim llnvoniim-nt.'s burrowing and Ibi'ir i*\Ivuvukmiil. «im* of iMun<\v ulii'ii Inn riiwci), Tlk' niyslory MirrniindinK Ibo liimnrinl lninsa«'lioir' »;i. lim oion» ob jcctionnlilo in llml il prrvwilnl wimln from b'-inj: di'lrrlnl. Thn liiim hud romn \vlu«n Hip pcopb' would iii'-i'l njioii ii i'luiU}j(* of (loviMiiiiirnt, lor n Inniloln|n lind tnUtMi pint o in publir. oniniou. All lbroii}jli hi* udifii'vi Dr, NVwimum was subjivti'd lo n runnini: Urn of inl*Tji'dions from u litlb» pnrlv in I lim immH> oiht. and wbi'U I ho t inin r»m« lor linns f*inno inon hod fi«nornl In n«d». Two of llinn won* union unrrWiiWi'-<, nrnl nun of Hip olhcrs openly nvoui-d liiinvpll' n privnlo enemy til' Dr. Newman'?', mid mm of iimn.v years' slnmliui:. _ They iiMuml several personal ijtr^lionn, in Mpile of howtile demoiiHinitioiiH from Hie voir bi r#;o sectiiMi of 1 I lie nudieneo friendly lo I lie eamlidnle, until at leiiKlb Dr. Newmnn made au indignant proteyt f-ueh quoslions biM»K " s kod, and wtid Hull he would answer no more of them. A voln of thanks ami confidence wiih moved, nml the motion was received with anplaune. Then a member of Hie nudienee, the nnmn who declared himself » iirivnle oiiemy, moved a vote of thnulvS nml uo*eoulldence. Ifn enlarged upon hi« motion at Kreal leuutlu ami would nol be f.ileneed by the chairman, who made two nol verv vnlianl attempts to persuade him In nit down and let his motion slnnd. The audience tried to end his speech by suslained and vigorous tramping. h"l wns licrsislcnt. 1"Inally the candidate decided that Hie harangue was too much to be liot'ti<\ and .ho snid ln> would nccopl Uic volu of UmnltH and close tho moi'tiiiK. ill?. BOLTON AT KIUHHNIK. Mr. F. U. linlton, the Governiiioiit enn(li(iato for Wcllinglon Kiist, nildressoil llio oloclors at llio Jlcthmlist Pclionlroom, Moxlinm Avenue, Kil'iiruie, lust ni:?lil. Notwithstanding the inclenuMit wratliol', the hall was well filled. Air. I'atil was in the chair. The candidate, bel'nre commencing his speech, saiil lui desired to clear up a rumour which was circulated with regard to himself, to the effect that he wax inlerosted in three licensed hotels. Ho desired to say that he liad 110 interest in nny licensed hotel in New Zealand or elsewhere. He strongly advocated compulsory military trainins "p to the use of twenty-two, hut emphasised tho necessity for it being sympathetically administered, and without such air expenditure as would caiisc Ihe country to look upon the system with alarm. Persons who' hud really' conscientious scruples against service oil tho score of religion should be employed in a noncombatant capacity. Referring to the existent depression in Wellington, tho candidate ■ emphasised tho necessity for the establishment of more industrial enterprises, and the .extension of . the existing ones, and stated that this could only be brought about by affordiug a reasonable amount of protection. He defended .the Government's action with respcct to the hydro-cloctric schemo in commencing operations at ■ Lake Coleridge, inasmuch as the Government were in duty bound to try the experiment in the place where the conditions were most favourable. He emphasised the desirability of,tho Government and the 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 at the present time. This proposition was not intended to affect in any way the existing tramway tunnel, ■ which would remain as before. On tho subject of education he favoured a uniform system of school books right through the Dominion. The present system was a severe tax upon parents and was without reason. He thought the curriculum should be restricted to such subjects as were of practical use, and that the children should be. thoroughly taught, those subjects. In answer to a question, the candidate stated that he was the Government candidate. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by • acclamation. ME. BRODli; AT KILBIRNIE. Jfr.'.lohn Brodie, Independent Liberal candidate for Wellington" East, addressed electors at the Seaview Private Hotel, Kilbirnie, last evening. Mr. Hugh Wings occupied tho e.hair. Dealing with the proposed development of the iron ore industry, Mr. Brodie st;ted that where State assistance was yivrn to promote this iudustry tho Government shouM be reimbursed wnja the venture became a profit-earning concern. At tho same time he favoured'tho titate controlling the industry in its entirety. He favoured tho breaking up of largo estates, and the taxing of Native lands, which were deriving the same benefits as European lands in consequence of general settlement, railway and road construction. Tho candidate went on to state that sir.ee 1891 our annual exports in butter, meat, cheese, wool, hides and skins had increased to the extent of ,t'8,000,000 annually. This wonderful increase should be a guide lor the future, it showed the main source of what will be our future prosperity under a vigorous land settlement policy. He also favrured the alx>lition of duty on all foodsti.fTs. This would he a check on monopoly, and would tend to control the cost of l'.ving. Mr. Krodio favoured a borrowing policy uir reproductive work, pointing out that in a young country like New Zealand development was necessary, and it ivas o ir duty to make the very l«.st of our natural resources. The candidate spoko at some length on the Load Bodies' Loans Act. He contended that local Government should be allowed the greatest of vreedom, and the les; restrictions placed on it by the legislator the greater, would be tho benefits derived. Mr. Brodie said that tho general unrest throughout tlo Dominion in labour circles pointed to the urgency of-constitutional reform, and 1.0 contended for a Ministry elected by '.ho whole House, and the Prime .Minister by the Ministry. This Would tend to bring our legislation on lo more democratic lines, because under this sjste'.ii there would 1)0 a r('-election of the Cabinet every threo years, thus nbv/ating the periodical want of confidence and depression that pass 'over the co.mtry in consequence of a Ministry being too long in office. The speaker favoured a system of light railways for opening up the back country. He also spoko at vome length of tho benefits that would, he thought, be ultimately derived fropi tho development of hydro-electric power, which must be an ''incentive to industrial progress. At. the conclusion of his mating the candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence on tho motion of Mr. Palmer. MR. M'LAREN AT NEWTOWN. Mr. D. M'Laren addressed a meeting of electors at the Newtown. Library last, evening. Mr. W. Wiivtc presided. Tho candidate was given a. very attentive hearin;:. He said that for a long period of time Labour had been contt-ut to rely upon tlhe Liberals, .but it had now abandoned a loan-to policy, and was asserting itself as a. distinct political party. This was for the good oi' the country, because the reliance' of the mass of tho people 011 tho party in 'power had led to neglect of administration, and left even the wageearners that they did not. know the value of legislation which might be used in their interests. In his judgment, the Government should bo subject to tho industrial and other laws just as much as the private employer. There, had been a. tendency for the Government lo exempt their own Departments from such laws, and whilst ho supported generally a policy of State enterprise, lie wanted it carried out under fair conditions of competition with the private citizen. He had supported the passing of tho Crown Suits Ant in order lo extend the rights of private persons to sue 011 account of injuries received. Ho upheld a policy of granting full political rights to the Slate employees, holding that' restrictions tipou Civil Servants in tho exercise of their rights as citizens were unnecessary, and in some cases led to favouritism being displayed. He considered it very absurd that such restrictions should apply fo those engaged in manual work 111 a.ii.v Government Department. By an amendment he had moved lo the Public Holidays Bill. Boxing Day had been included, and that secured the drivers of tho country in the benefits of their iu-

du-d.ijnl II»II 111, |hi,viiiciilii ii it'll' i' which |i nt In-' ii pii'Uiiii-.1.v ttllMiclil. Allw I 11111-- III! 1111 ll:l| 11 j l'l' I 1,1 Hill-Isl-l".' I 'ill 111'' II - '111 I'll, II 111-1111 ill IU 111-lit. 111 I'. II I'll 111.-, null ntliiT iiiciiil Ii ( i t inn v.litrli, fin t i---i-rtctl, li.nd In i n fii --.l i(\itl'-.lel liv III" I .it IH hi i jin 11 \, Ml, M' I ,-i I'• (i i'included 11 y ill'-l I tliilll' I lie l.llliiilll IHilfcy li- li'-lli;/ lli'i Ih-.il ill in ill lull tin Hie .vihiiii/, the nii'iiti -.1, pioti-i linn Ini' the old, III" i-liiiiiliiili'iii nf loiiiililiiiK in liiiiil ithd HiiiiiiHidili<- -. mill lilt' (I'-rillilll'tll! I;l-t t Icllll'll t lII' II li f llllld;, ii In I f-lif fillliijyciili'fll f,J' tilir I'lt-11l I lie -~ 'I'll Ilie ill lon 111 ci|, uii.--. ii. mi II lid li ml cum. nllllllhc p'llict, A vi • t l ' 'it llrmtn mill (vilifi'l'-lico wii.". iin i led uiinniiii'iui'ly. Wi;I.UN<!TON CENTRAL. Ml!, I'l;-!fli;i(. AT Kl'l NT TKIMUCi;, Mi, I'', M, 11, I'lflii't*. niiulidnli' fur Ihe W >'l II11|; 11 hi I'ciilnil h-iil, iiildic:i>.i-i| ii el m\ ileil ni'-i'l I njf nt' the elect ih'-i lit. the \en tVnliii-y Hull, Ki'iil Tenni-e, |ml I'H'llllll!. 11l liceiil (111 IIC" wit t, lli'i II Mill I iii'ilnm, Ihe Mpeii Iter wH h lli ii nei vlii"! al'n cliniimiin, mid controlled (Im lit l li-I'eil jII trtl ll i lilt i' 11, III! receivi'd II Illliil. ill lent iVP hciilllli!, ':pi>l;e tin- jutl. on livo bourn, iilnl 111 Ihe fiiiii-111 hi tin wini nccorded ii ii nit in tun iii vote i.l' Ihtiii I: >i mid cnullileiin', niri'leil mi III" niieen, Mr, I'i'dii'i', who wnt in excellent form, | prclnceil lib iiildron'! with n wind of runi:nifnlittinn (n Sir .Imiic.'i ''iinoll, on hi'i ii'lurn, uniippniied, fur Ihe ennuiil.uene.y of llMini'iio. I'mlimnenliiry life would be much luippii'i', "iiid Mr. I''i.-.lier, if I here were more 11 1; e him in I lie jiolil icnl iirwiii. I'ruoceiliiii;, Mr. I''isli cr mi id llml. «. i;mid drill liiul ln"'ii in id conceiniiiK Mr. Mn-i-Hi'.v"i i|Unlll'icnlloni fot leiiilfrnli11. Minuld lik party gel. into iiower. On (.lint point lie fell, convinced I (nil. in Mr. MnHse.y (lie. If rln mi piirly linil ii lender who was I'lipnbln of bringing about tho reforms which Ihe Liberal party was incapable of bringing iibonl. 'flu; present Guveriiinelit was going In bo turned out beennse it was not, progressive enough; Hie Kcforiu party would give a practical dcnionsl rnl inn of l.lieir progressiveness and their cnpiieily to accomplish reforms within Ihe first..l.hree years of its administration. (Applause.) Mr. fisher devoted a considerable portion of his lime lo Hie land question. lie reilernled his oppnsilion lo the alienation of Crown lands. He quoted statistics fo illustrate his contention that, men with small eapilal had ■ developed into .successful fnrniers 1 on their leaseholds, become Independent men, and were finally able to purchase a freehold elsewhere. liegarded in fhnl, light the Crown lands were as valuable an asset lo the State as wero the educational reserves lo education. Tho question had been asked of him: llow would lie vole on a motion having in view Ihe conversion to Ihe. freehold on the basis of Ihe original value. His reply was I hat he favoured u basis of equity. He objected both to conversion at the original value and conversion at Ihe present-day value. Personally, ho was not going under (ho whip to support tho alienation.- of the Crown lands. Mr. J'owlds had referred to the traffic in freehold as the balancing of a piece of God's land against a piece of money, yet Mr. I'owlds for five years remained in a Cabinet which threw away millions of acres.; Balher than vote against his principles he would decline a seat in the now Ministry. The candidate also dwelt at considerable length 011 tho Defence Act, which he entirely, supported, nnd his suggestion for a system ,of leasing of Ma,ori lauds, pending the developnient of the process of individualising the Nativo titles, mid'concluded with a strong appeal to the electors to turn out the present Administration. "If you 'return that party to power," lie saidl "you will, in effect, give it a blank cheque to do in the next three years what it-has done in the past three years." ADDRESS BY MR. W. T. YOUNG. Voung, Labour candidate for Wellington Central, addressed the electors at the corner of Aro and Devon Streets last night. In referring to the fvtato coal mines, he pointed out that the mines were not being operated to their full productive capacity. Tho two mines at Point Elizabeth were capable of an output of some 410,000 tons per annum, but owing to the,want of shipping facilities for transportation, and other circumstances, the output was limited to some 190,001) tons, consequently the men engaged in tho operation of tho mines -were . not being fully employed, and no attempt K"as being made by the Government to ; work the mines in such a way as to' bring them into practical competition with private-owned inhies. At present we wort* paying some *£54,000 per annum to a private company by way of freight for the transportation of State coal. Two colliers could be procured by the Government at a cost of .£'60,000 to carry the coal from tho mines to tho various ports in A T ew Zealand, and he ventured to say that if this were done the price of the article to the general public could be further reduced some three shillings. The only clear course open for the people was to elect men to Parliament belonging to a party whose platform included the carrying on of such undertakings from the business point of view. During the past few years there had been a most astounding increase in the public debt, equal to some .£ll per head of population. It was claimed that J his was largely reproductive, but in any ease Hie most of our borrowed money was being used to bolster up private monopoly that was charging tho people exorbitant prices for (he necessaries of life, whilst the interest payable oil every loan was a direct loss to the country. The financial policy of the Labour party was against borrowing except for redemption and the completion of public works already authorised by Parliament. The party held that the cost of carrying on such works should be paid out of revenue with the aid of a State Bank and State note issue. It was remarkable haw the Government of (he day squandered public moneys: £2.000,000 to this. .£150.000 to that, and £100,000 for something else, but when it became a question of using a few pounds for the undertaking of works that would give relief to tho general mass of the people, such as railway concessions for the sick, all kinds of brick walls were erected by members of ihe Government to nrevent any such proposal being given effect to. Mr. Young received an attentive and uninterrupted hearing, and at the conclusion of his address was accorded' a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.

WELLINGTON SOUTH.

MR. WEIGHT AT VOGELTOWN. llr. R. A. Wright, Reform eandidato for Wellington South, visited Vogeltown last' niglit, and addressed a meeting of electors at Mrs. Rogers's store. Mr. G. D. Hewitt was in the chair. Tho candidate stated that, though lie had not spoken at Vogeltown during the previous contest, he had nevertheless remembered that it was part of his district, and he had moved in the direction of keeping the suburb in telephonic communication with tho city. He also recognised the necessity of a school for the children in that part of the district, anil thought that further representations should be made to the EdueaHon Board on the question.. After replying to some criticism which his opponent (Mr. Barber) bad levelled at him, tli.o candidate informed his audience that, if re-electc-d, iio would bo just" as much against the Government us ever lie was, and would vote against them on every 'no-confidenee motion. The Government had outlived its usefulness, and was absolutely without a policy of any kind. But, on (lie eve of the election, it. was full of promises of roads and bridges, increase of pay to railway servants, reduction in railway fares and the like. This scattering about of public money to sweeten the electors in order that the parly might be kept in power was'not'his (Mr. Wright's) idea of statesmanship. On numerous occasions the Government had been proved to bo weak and incompetent.' It frequently started off on a definite course, but, when the least resistance was offered, it drew buck immediately, as was evidenced byits notion in regard to Government House nt Auckland, and in the h'nyvctt rase. Mr. Wright then touched on various other matters, illustrating the incompetency of tho present Administration. He gave a brief sketch of (If! Mokau land deal, and strongly condemned the action of the Government, in allowing this valuable block to . pass into the bauds of speculators instead of acquiring it at the very reasonable figure at which it hud been offered. Other subjects touched on were the electoral census, Hie "secret, c.-ise," extra payment to .Supreme Court Judges, tlio Dreadnought, and Ihe Hutt lioad. - After the candidate had answered questions, Mr. It,van moved u vole ul' confidence. This was jceonded and enrried unanimousli.

im. <:<>i7,i;ns at iuiooklyx. Smuii* fwo hundred people attende/J a iiiw-ltnj; addrr* .veil by Dr. o>iwu-. si 1. 1 li<j ''Jiutf li If<mjni, l'rwoklyn, Ijisl evening. <'<itutrillor <i, presided. In opening, tin* e\pre< f ed ph-asnre at. the J«'vjjfju/i iir-i'fii'fjcfJ the charter v/hich ho had i■ ii#m! /it. I hi- li"K»niiihs,' of lim c-'.m----(tuiKii, I mil ;/i inn the •i) form of /l/rllfjy inirl he tv;n p!e:i.-'-d Ihat, ;it leu il. om<- oilier eji iid idal e had I iied 1/i <11iiv. np ii |i!;iiVf)iiu on -imilar lim*. Dr. *'.us\w\w derived Mint, v. Ii;»f/'V«T eb/> v.as |||i|f|, \r- fohlered. Money .o i-hjii-ihlwl mhiM be rehired a Ii ii in) i<■ <I f old. Me enmmended I h<* fx »«t rri;< element.,iiy i-y.-li'io ;md Milojji'-ed the wark ol lejehcrhi I}ii/ounliy Ibe ki*J?jri'M Ol iMidjfp) ifld'lwjlUlUr fill'l nol. <:?llf'lll ill *•(! lo ftf til'* t;ilef ( l, In 1h" tnulh-r ',1 iinh-rrr.it V wJwaUfiM Mi'-ro w fiiiif/enl. iH'wj lor M'l'onn, ||c did not, Imvuij' Mf, Hfnliinin' ! i inofK»-.n| lo »et. iiii ii. iNyuf C.uiiwti-ssifii*, UMuv, Mint. fu'h a. foiiiini l '. ; :ioii would be inr-ffici'-lit. and eumbej :ome, What. v/;i». required w;> i i ;> M'l«t| eommillee, /uit-iI intf of I h'r pro-ff-.i.oit;, am J . J "ii;il''« mid rr-prwribiMvo «) r, ii Unm nnh-hlf. Ibe ntiivrztiy. The* men, a-.-ivbd by alr'-ady t'eejyed from lli" older nniver-atie-;, :-fiould Uieef. ffif t,(-rt*.*\l\cn of fhe vw. The jrr'i|<--,w»f:-. uliotijfl be y t iven more power in >" i I Ii»« v;iriou ; ; eourse.n of Mmly and the *♦ *;irnln;»fif»*» of nhidenta Uiould 1 '■Ofi'lurf'"(| in N'i-v/ Zealand arid nol. in I/ondon. Sf lidenbv <;howld l/» ♦;»uprh t. that. -I dej/jeo '///c; h'»f in il'flf very valuable "ii!<*min obtaining it, (Ik- mind ?md inJ i/;»J iv/-r" ;nnl Ir;iiii'-'i. I fifli-r th'- u fan* ilr-iify U) 'Vnnri" V/M.-; ;mfl u. ru'li* ml rM"oiiti v/rvi\\UT('<]. fir. Coughs flfjijl uiUi ll»f! bind rjwM.ion find ofhor lopifi. IN-pJ.yinK fo n. qij<':-.}.iori forwarded liv I.Im? Iron-rnjisi'T',' A«t«o';i»t.ioii ?>iid Uuil. In- f;ivoiirHl n I Mil. mj/trt duty on iron wbjr;)i )/f: m;jnufjicf.im.'d in N'nw /><;iland, Tho-c, that cifjiild no I. should bo 1 Having /inMwrwl a nurnV-r of T)r. (U>\r/.yv< w?»« accorded ; ft voln of th;inl(H and Ho' had ;ni axc/Mcnf. heurint,' tliroujfhonfc and I whh often heartily applandod. : Mir. BAftUKU'S CANDIDATLTiK. j Afr. W. If, I', Fiarl/or tho ! of Brooklyn in tho committed-rooms j on Ttmsday afternoon, fere Wnjj an atI tondanoo of over 70. Mrs. J>. J. Moorr; ; presided. I Mr. Ilarbof gavo a resume of fe ! measures by the Liberal Governj jnont in the interests of thn woraon of the | Dominion, especially referring to the i Advances to Worker?, Old Age Tensions, ! and Widows' Pension?, which, he said, | conferred benefits on the women of Now | Zealand not obtainable in any other I country in thu world.

Mr. Barber received a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.

WELLINGTON SUBURBS,

MR. W. H. D. BKIJj AT M.ARANCf. An audience of about Hj electors woaddressed by 11 r.'Bell at the Churchroom, Maranui, last night. Mr. W. Morrah was jh the chair. As an instance of the wasteful methods of the present Government, tho candidate referred to the railway duplication works mentioned in the Government Railways Bill of 190t. Parliament had been told br the Government that <£250,000 would b'e snfficient io complete those work?, and that sum was accordingly duly voted by Parliament. The actual cost of' the works Was .£700,000 or nearly .three times, as much as'the cost should have been. Was it to be wondered'at that we were not (jetting an adequate return l'or the monev borrowed when .£450,000 was wasted iii a single instance? llr. Bell also referred to the section in the. Public Revenu;s Act, 1910, giving the Government power to use "moneys for quite a different purpose from that for which Parliament has voted them. This was taking away from Parliament the right to control finance, and placing that control in the autocratic power of the Government-ill short, giving tho Government the power to emplov public moneys in the interests of the Government's friends instead of in the interests of the country as a whole. The candidate dealt with the constructive policy of the Reform partv, plankby plank j he explained that he did not deprecate borrowing, but he did deprecate the waste of the money when borrowed. On tho licensing question, Mr. Bell stated that hfe considered that tho requisite majority should be 55 per cent. . A vote of thanks and confidence wat accorded to Mr. Bell on tho motion of Mr. C. J. Ashton, seconded by Mr. J. E, Orr. MR, MOORE AT ISLAND BAY. Mr. I''. T. Moore, Labour candidate for the Suburbs seat, addressed tho electors of Island Bay last night, llr. Mills presided. The candidate said that the decision of the'No-Licenso party to leave no stone unturned in favour of the bare majority was a declaration in support of his candidature, because lie was the only bare majority candidate in tho Suburbs contcst. lie was'confident that tho bulk of tho No-License vole would follow tho directions of the League Council, even though some that ought to bo on the side of the bare majority wero supporting Mr. Bell, because this gentleman occupied a higher social standing than lie did. Howover, he was not dismayed at this, for the number of electors in Mr. Bell's elevated sociul sphere were far less than those in his own circle of life. He was out for tho good of the ncoplc as a whole, and not for the good of any select few, whereas Mr. Bell stood in the interests of capital in ali directions, including that invested in the liquor trade. The adoption of the bare majority by Labour was hailed with delight bv No-License people when announced last year, and tho members of this social reform party could riot consistently vote for other than candidates pledged to the bare majority. 111®. 'ate T H Taylor, who was the champion of No-License and Labour, sent dying messages to both parlies, which should firmlyYement both organisations in bonds of unity for the commonweal of the. peolc This illustrious dead man's words should ever be remembered and ever acted upom A vote of thanks and confidenee was carried, on the motion of Mr. Bodcli, seconded by Mr. Noje. HUTT. MK. SHORT AT PETONI2. Mr Ti IV. Short, Reform party candidate'for the Hntt seat; addressed a meeting of about 200 electors m ' the l alaco Theatre at Petonc last evening. Nh r lie was the Opposition; candidate. Ho (Mr. Short) denied this. previously he had stood as an Independent. Now lie stood as the selected candidate of the Reform party. Throe years ago Mr. M'Kwan had been invited to stand as an Opposition candidate and- haddeclined. In the present election he had offered his services to the Relonn p t iit? and they , had .been declined by . the P-U'O.-On the occasion of Ins previous address at Petonc, said Mr. Short, he had been accused -of flippancy. On this occasion he would bo very serious. J aking tho character of a parish priest lie proposed to lav to rest the remains of .the \Vam Administration. Of them it might be said that the good they had done would not live long after them and t the rest would be buried with their broken body and policy. They would leave the Miinslorial benches enriched with titles, but that was their own aftair. Mr. Short outlined the principal proposals of the Reform party and others winch had his porconal approval. Tic fidvocntcd tho establishment of a State ferry service, the repeal of the Second Hallot Act, the reduction of the pension age, in the case ol both men and women, to CO years, and a reduction of the duty upon tobacco, lie stated that when llr. Geo. London was Jfavor of Petone. ho wrote to Mr. Seddon ft hen Prim 4 Minister) offering him a block of land for workers' homes at a price of J.'-'O,DOO. The Government declined tho offer, but soon afterwards paid a M-ndicate ,C;) 0,000 for (lie same block of land, less a valuable street frontage. If the people had any sense at all I hey would turn out. the Government which did things of this kind. In Mr. Massev they had ■ a man who was thoroughly holiest and who earnestly desired to do good for the country and its people. The same spirit anim.-itod the whole of the members of the .Reform nartv. Mr. Short, criticised the present administration of the, railway service, and declared (hat even taking iiitu account the recent increases, our railway, men wcro poorly paid. 'i'ho Government was guilty of extravagant ox-

jiendiluro on opon linos. The proper course would be to remove the. railways from |*)litk'jil control, anil relegate their mrinriprfiin-nt to an efficient board. 11l New riout'fi Wales the railways paid, although mtf* vraro I'jwfir than in New '/iVitUiwl. Tlk- oi Hutt and (iv. h;«l sp'-nl. Ifirgf Minis in rivM* protaction work-. ;m<l otlur improvements. The. lioveniiiient. hud done nothing to ns-vi-;f, lull, now imposed hc.:i.vy taxation on (lie value, of these improvements. Mr. Short, advoi.-ited the suppr/'sdon of trusts ami loiiibiins, naming Ijutl/T and sugar ns arl.iil(» lor which tho consumer was compelled U, jmy through the no:-o. Ho nt-ntrd that an attempt, had Ixen made to wipe with t.ho Sugar Trii-t in this country by importing sugar from Java, The trust, however, succeeded in suppressing this oompetit.ion, and maLters were now ii« b'i'l us fiver. The Government miglit ea.-;ily rrinh tin- sugar monopoly by encouraging tho e.ulturfi of Ixt-.t in this (■//iiiilry. Tin- Hutt Valley would be an excellent. '.ite f,r such an industry. What fir-ruj.-jjiy had done in enouraging the Riiitar Ujet industry could Ix-done in this country if the Government did its duty. Mr. Short, eridorsfd the land policy of the Reform party. Nothing gave |xoplo better heart in "ttliri« the land than the hope of one ihy ac'|uirir:g the holding ihc.y were working. (Applouse.) In the latter part, of hi-i uddrtw, Mr. Short denounced the financial extravagance of the Ward Administration, quoting statistic to show that, taxation had )*■<■ n piled up at a most. unreal,r,:,bk> rate, arid that the tunning the various Deportments ol Slate ha/I increased at a rate ont of ail propott.ion to t.ho increase, in cither revenue „ r population. Clin earididate received a capital h caririg, not, a single interjection marking the course of the address .At. the conclusion the chairman mad* complimentary reference t,o the outspoken nature of the candidate's address. A unanimous rote of thanks and confidence terminated a successful meeting . Mlt. WILFORD'S CANDIDATURE, A representative deputation from Mr. Wilford's various committee; waited upon him last, night to ask him not to speak in oublic any more because of his illhealth, but to leave the conducting of the campaign entirely in the hands of the committees. In reply, Mr. Wilford said that_ h.': must address a meeting the night before the election at Petone, hnt •vould consider the matter, and give his answer in a few days. MR. M'EWAN AT PETONE. Mr. J. W. M't'wan addressed the electors at Pet/me la-t. night. There were about 250 present. Mr. •). Wakeham was in the chair. Mr. M'Kwan announced himself as an Independent Liberal, in strung opposition to the present Government. lie only recognised two clas-.cs of men who deserved re-pect: first the man who worked with his br.jin, second the man who worked with his hands. The others were thai! and rlu.-t which the wind could blow whither it lifted. He had no time for hereditary titles. Any man who acc-ptea them wa- an enemy to the democracy. He wa> strongly in .favour of the State deve!op:nz our natural resource.-: instead of handing over national sizH--, such as iron deposits, etc., for private exploitation, as was done in America. He thought tho Government should hold their hands'in reference to the hydro-electrical scheme until they had gained experience from Lake Coleridge. The Minister for Public Works had said that electricity could he carried from Lake Waikareinoana for .CG 10s. per horsepower per, year. If this was possible, he submitted that as a business proposal it would be better to adopt the Waikareinoana scheme than to get power from Akatarawa at a. cost of three-Eiths of a penny,.per unit. Legislation was required to prevent lucky optionists like those who had cleared out of the. Government by selling them-land; for workmen's homes iu I'etone, .from' getting the l'ull reward of their enterprise! He was in favour of a stiff graduated tax upon large owners who were not making the be>t use of their holdings. . If the Government got hack to power that pretty little Taupo deal which they heard of last session would be put through. His opinion was that, the Government should secure this laud, and build tho railway themselves. Jle would do his level best to opposo the Government's claim to .tw.OOO ' from'.'this .. district for making and stl-aightening the Hutt Road. (Applause.) Through the employment of an army of inspectors nnd overseers the rest of our railways had gone up by leaps aud hounds, and a thorough overhaul of the Public. Works Department was needed. The Compulsory Arbitration Act had failed to compel, but tho Conciliation Commissioners had dono pood work at a low cost. He had not "ratted" on tho No-License party, as had been alleged. For many years he had been closely identified with the movement, aud had not hid his colours in any shape or form. (Applause.) The peojile had not benefited by the decrease ill the sugar duty. The Government .should bo strongly condemned of moral cowardice for not tackling tho sugar monopolists till after the elections. (Applause.) He believed in tapering off our borrowing policy. They wanted to go back from tho "Phillip drunk" of tho Ward: Administration to tho "Phillip sober" of the Dallnnce policy. (Applause.) Ho had done everything except iiso dynamite to get the approaches made to the Hutt bridge. He had even insulted the City Solicitor to get it done, but the City Council was playing at dog in-the-manger, and would do nothing.

WELLINGTON NORTH.

MR. CAREY'S CANDIDATURE. A number of tlictee interested in the return ot' ill'. E. .T. Carev, Labour candidate for "Wellington North, met .it tlio Trades' Hall last evening lo discuss plans l'or future meetings' and canvasses. Encouraging. reports were received from supporters in different parts of the 'electorate, and all present expressed themselves as satisfied with . the prospects, there being a' feeling of'confidence that "Labour" would figure prominently in tho scc-ond ballot.

THE PRIME MINISTER.

: VISIT TO PALMEIiSTON NORTH. . (By Toleeraph.—Press Association,) Palmerston North, November 28. The Prime- Minister'spent 'two • hours here : eh route to Damiftvirko this afternoon. He was accorded u reception at tho : statbn. There was a gathering of the Lilieral party at the Empire Hall, where Mr. W-. Wood, ex-member; welcomed the Prime Minister and Lady Ward. Mr. Robert. M'Nab also welcomed the Prime Minister, referring to tho : intense' strain imposed 011 tho leader at election times in travelling nnd speaking. Referring to attacks 011 the Prime 'Minister, Sir. J!'Nab said the slnndors of the slanderers would be answered at the polls by the people, who had not time for slanderers. Sir Jospph Ward, iii reply, 'commented on . Jlr. 'Jl'NaVs. speech of tho previous evening, and referred to'the'excellent'reports from'constituencies "as 'to the Liberal prospects. Cheers for the Prime Minister .and Lady Ward concluded the function. ...