WELLINGTON SOUTH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1304, 6 December 1911, Page 8

WELLINGTON SOUTH.

DR. COITZENS AT NEWTOWN. Dr. Coupons, the Independent Opposition candidate for Wollinjrlon South, addressed a meeting at the Neivlown I'iiblic liibrary last night, soino fifly electors being present. The candidate spoke on the linns of previous addresses, and received an ;i(fentivo hearing. Ifo suggested I hut the time had arrived when it was nOiCssary to rcplaco the present Administration by l'olk aisnmblfid and sang with might and jn»in ■- ."Poi Ee'S i J.Q% QoCtl rcliftl^"

a more progressive party. Ho condemned the altitude of the Government in attempting to centralise all p.-.wer in itself, mill suggested rather that the powers of local bodies all over the Dominion should be increased. Dr. Couzons also dealt extensively wilh the land question, ami urged the necessity of encouraging the population towards the country districts as a means of increasing Ihn 'prosperity ot the country and benetiling ("he health (it the community. Various other political subjects were also touched on by the candidate.

.After answering a number of questions he was accorded a vote of Iliauks ami confidence.

MR. WRIGHT AT VICTOIUA HAM,

.}}<■ l<. A. Wright, (Ih. Opposition candidate for Wellington Smith, addressed a well-atlended meeling of electors at Victoria Hall, Adelaide l!oa,|, last night.' After dealing wilh sumo of (1,,, defects of the present Administration, the candidate went, on to outline the measures he would support if favoured wilh el.clion. He urged Iho need of careful in!iiii.i.-i----trntion and moderate borrowing an against the present extra vnganco ami waste; reform in the ]'irlili<-. Works system so as to do away with Ihe present system of bribing certain seel ions of Ihn community with roads ami bridges and of penalising Ihoso who woi-i, -~g, „„* enough to express their opinion',; a men. rapid policy of land .settlement ; rem.°Xill',, 01 Politunt pnlronago fn.in the Civil Service so Ilial. prnmnliou might be ntlnined by merit. Sir, "Wright also announced -himself in favour of uii-nliim women the old age pensions when (hey reached the age of sixty, nud furUiei- declared that he would f.iijiporl. any mil progressive measure coming fron'i auv quarttr.

'In answer to a question the candidal., stated that ho was not in favour i>l , any measiiro to enforce llihln rending in I hi. schools, but. h<. would support, a im-mmm to have a referendum taken on tlm Mibject so that tho people could dicido the question themselves. Jn any rnso provision should he mado for exompting conscientious objectors. Asked if he favoured tho licensing poll being separated firm ho general election, tho candidate said no would l>o prepared to support n measuro in that direction. At tho conclusion of his address, a voto ot thanks and confidence was carried bv acclamation.. *

Earlier ,n- the evening Mr. Wright addressed a meeting in tho open nir nt Iho corner of Luxford Street nnd South E,- fl ,l lie spoke on the lines of his previous addresses, and- after ' receiving n cot dial hearing was accorded a voto of thanks and confidence,.followed by cheers

SPEECHES BY ME. M'LAREN. w M n'- B l M'Lai-en,' Labour candidate for Wellington East, addressed an open-air meeting in Post Office Square yesterday and three meetings, in the open air, at ll'-r/F' 9 nc afc Hataitai, another at North Julbiniß., and tho third at South Kilbirnie.

At tho midday meeting Mr. M'laren "call; Principally with the amendment of the Mining Act to protect miners from deductions being made from their compensation for accidents, which had previously obtained. Dealing with the matter ot local government reform, at his evening meetings, Mr. M'Laren submitted that his ten years' experience on local governing bodies would bo of service when the Bill, which was expected next session, made its appearance. Ho IHd that the system of plural voting which stilt stood in connection with the countr franchise, should bo abolished, and that tie principle of "one man, one , vote" should be made universal iu its application. Dealing with education, Mr. M Laren sanl that he approved of both medical and dental inspection of school children under the auspices of the State. Ihe disposal of Crown lands by way of sale v;as a form of Liberalism which he opposed, and he advocated that tho remainder of the ordinary Crown lauds should be added to the national endowments in order to provide larger revenue to meet the increased charges incidental to the social legislation which had been passed. In his judgment the duty rested upon each party to place before the people an official programme in order tiiat the electors might, in voting for party candidates, know what proposals they were endorsing. In electing candidates on personal grounds only the evil came in that the persons with the strongest pull financially, socially and otherwise, got control of tho whole situation, and politics were degraded to the standard of a mero stampede for office. As' a Labour man, ho presented a definite set of principles which he had already upheld in practice, and ho expected to bo able to carry on the work which ho had already commenced in Parliament. I

At all four meetings votes of thanks and confidence were carried unanimously.

MR, BARBER. IN THE OPEN AIR. Mr. W. H. P. Barber, the Government candidate for Wellington South, hold an open-air meeting at the corner of Luxford Street and Adelaide Koad List night. He devoted his remarks ohiefly to a criticism of the attitude of the Opposition in politics, and a defence of the Government policy. Ho repeated that he was not out to hght Sir Joseph Ward's battles, but to support Liberal measures, not individuals* Various charges had been brought against tho Government, but, when commissions of inquiry had been set up, not one of the charges had "been proved. If he (Mr. Barber) was not ahlo to convince tho amli'.-iico that * the Government were innocent of the charges levelled against them, it would be only necessary to refer to Mr. Gco. i'owlds Mr. L. M.lsitt, and the late Mr. T. E. Taylor, men whose reputations were well known and who had stated that the Government were" exonerated. Tho candidate enlarged upon the Mokau land deal, tho Dreadnought, the Opposition's version of the increase in the national debt, and the increase in taxation.

After answering .questions tho candidate ivas accorded a vqto of thanks and confidence, and cheers.were given for him. Later in the evening Mr. Barber addressed'a meeting in St. Thomas's Hall, Riddiford Street, when tho Hon. C. Jl. Luke presided. His speech was on the lines of previous addresses.