WELLINGTON SUBURBS

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

WELLINGTON SUBURBS

MK. BELT. AT ISLAND BAY. Mr. W.- H. D. Bell, Reform candidate for the Subnrbs seat, addres=*d a meeting of about 'WO electors at the Town Half Island Bay, last night. The meeting was declared by old residents to be the largest political meeting ever held at Island Bay. Mr. E. Keene occupied the chair. Mr Bell commenced by referring to the m-iss meeting at the Town Hall on Mondav niglit, and said that that meeting was an indication of tho feeling which prevailed in Wellington. Another indication was the fact that the Prime Minister of this Dominion had refused pressing invitations to speak in the capital of the Dominion. Yet a third indication was that Sir John Findlay refused to oiler himself as a candidate for a Wellington seal As to the cost of living, Mr. Bell argued that the solution of the difficulty lav in the reduction of taxation; and 'taxation could be reduced if economy wero'prac- ' n .. ou ? P ubl ''c service?. Onco assure the Civil Servants that their promotion would depend solely upon efficiency-cnco rid the service of political influence—and economy in the public services come. Tho candidate repeated that he was in favour of both local and Dominion option being decided on a 55 per cent majority. "I hear in Johnsouvillc," S ij ( j. Mr. Bell, "that I am out as thu representative of tho liquor interest and at, the same time I hear in Khaudallah that I am out as the representative of the Prohibition interest; neither of thoso statements is true; the question of liceu=o or No-License must l>o left for tho peop'lo to decide at tho licensing poll. I am out simply because I want to do my share towards the reform of the Administration." (Applause.) At the conclusion of his address the candidate answered several questions.

Ihe meeting was most enthusiastic, and Mr. Bell received an extremely attentive hearing, despite very occasional interruptions from a small section of the audience.

Mr. IT. G. Hill moved, and Mr. W F Nee.? seconded, a motion of thanks and confidence, which motion was carried amidst applause. .

Ah the meeting broke up, threo cliccrs were given for Mr. Boil, and the andionce sang "For lie's a Jolly Good Fellow." •

511?. MOORE. .IT JOIINSONVILU;. Mr. I'. T. Moore, Labour candidate for tile Suburbs y-al. addres.-cd « incotini; of' f'k'i!tor> in tho Johnsonville Parish flail Isc-t night. Mr..Diinbar Sloaiio occupied Hit: chair. The. cMilidfUi; said thai; l,:iUour was tho ouiy politic.il party which baldj}- stuod loi. tie leaEe.iwJU ttiurfl uu

the land question. The man on Iho land had the full right to all (hat he made the land produce, but- he had no riijhl to the unrarm-d increment. This belonged to (he pi-ophi as a whole. Crown lauds should not, therefore bn fold, but leased, and the rents revalued every '-'1 yiMirs to secure the unearned increment for (ill Iho people. Ono hundred millions of uniui-pr.-ivcd land values had been losl during tlu> present, iiuvi.-rinni'iil's term of ollice, nnd the failure of Liberalism to grapple with this problem would be that, party's downfall. This JJel'oriii party's proposal to Sri] all Crown nud Native lands and l.i.p. leases at. the original value would slop this iwrly from gaining power in this country, labour's Hound and honest p:ilicy on the hind question iiihl f-c|iially wiund priipiisals rcganlim; iniMranlili; and (inaiiiiial qui-slinns' would carry this parly's nominees into I'arliamvut aI. tho iirosi'iit. election, oud on Ihn next; appeal to Hie I'lcctnrs the polls would be compli'lely swept by Laljour. A vole of I luniks am) confidence was carried and chifi's , lustily given for the candidate.

Ml!. J. K. IMTZGKRAI/I) AT POMHV.V AND T.VWA I'l-AT. Mr. .1. I!, Fitzgerald, the Government cnudidale for Suburbs and Country Dis-Irii-ls addressed large meetings of the cli'i'liii'M nt I'nriruii mill Tawa Flat, last evening. was given ii""iilivo henri»Kn in boll, places and - '-*>,«f thanks nnd conlidenii' wrre earned unanimously. Tin. speaker brielly summed up his previous address in these places, and ilcI'luiril himM'lf ii|»fd(M..(l to tin. holding of large Inicls <if land. Me advocate! Iho bulling up' of large estates by Iho incri'ii.Mi lit thi! graduated .land tax. Mr. Fitzgerald demanded an up-to-date subiirlmii MTi'ice for thn Mniian-.itii railway line, and favoured the payment of a living wagu In the workers on the railways. Ilii urged the rapid completion of the I'iH.iii.Chrislchiii'ch railway. Jin was i.lioiigly ,in favour,of reducing taxalion on Iho necessaries of life, and placing more of Ihe burden on the shoulders of tho landholder. Tim candidate declared himM'lf npiMscd , to oven- kind of trust and combine which had for its object tho exploiting of the people in matters of food, lie supported the granting of military ppiisiUis to all Maori war veterans, the medical inspection of school children, and (he enlargement of accommodation at mental hospitals. Mr. Fitzgerald wanted strict economy in administration. Ho condemned tho tactics of the Opposition in claiming credit for passing the Old Ago Pensions and Advauces to Settlers Acls. Jle said (hat no rcasonablo worker should ever volo for tho Opposition, which had lost no opportunity of opposing every measure ever brought forward in tho interests of tho workers.

ADDRESSES BY MR. LUKE. Mr; J. P. Luke addressed a number of electors in tho open air at Goldio's Brae last night.. He dealt with the work of the past Parliament and the effect it had had on tho community. Speaking of land legislation, he declared that tho Dominion had, in the State Guaranteed Advances Act, provided for settlement on sound lines. This supplemented by tho acquisition of surplus Native lands was the policy the State should pursue in providing for the landless. Tho question of taxation and its application to several sides of the Dominion's undertakings was also dealt with by the candidate. Mr. Luke was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence, on tho motion of Mr. E. Bull, seconded by Mr. A. Bricc. Later in tho evening Mr. Luke spoke in the Parochial Hall. Karori, Mr. .1. Raine being voted to the ■ chair. Mr. Luko dealt, amousj other matters, with tho important work of afforestation and its effect on the climate. He advocated a vigorous pushing on of bydro-electric development. He also referred to the work of the Conciliation arid Arbitration Act, Defence and Licensing Acts, and several other matters of importance. Several questions were put to the candidate, and answered to tho satisfaction of,tho audience.

Mr. Luke was again unanimously accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.