AFTER THE POLL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1306, 8 December 1911, Page 6

AFTER THE POLL.

SPEECHES BY CANDIDATES. WELLINGTON NORTH. ME. A. : L. EEIiDMAN. The first candidaCe to uiiurttsi tho people from J."HJS IIIUUNIDN JUMl'Ulllg lUot tlV«liiii;; was jiir. A. ±i. Heruiuaii, who arrival ai.&ve minutes to nine, ilo wus received yma a tsturm ot i^uers. "i uuiiiioc tfcn yi>u how gratified and thanilui 1 ieel," said Mr. Hordnian, "tnat you have dono me the honour to return luo oiico more at ■ tlio head ot tho Wellington JSiortli poll, and, in addition 'to tnat, that you have renueral a tecoud ballot unnecessary. (Cheers.) 1 tliinU that I may candidly say that this is one of tho proudest days of my life, for I little thought, ivlueu I started this contest a few weeks ago, that I would be returned with a majority in tho first ballot of between six ,and seven hundred votes. I Slave Tiad tho honour to represent this city in Parliament for a period of three years. Many people may havo differed with mo in tho views that I have given ■utteranco to, but tho result of the poll shows that a majority, at anyrate, of the people in Wellington North believe that I have discharged my duties faithfully, (Loud cheers.) "Ladies and gentlemen, I shallcontinne to fight as I have fought in the past, and I to, struggle for what I • believo to bo right in public life, and I shall never forget tho distinction that you havo conferred npon mo in this election." A voice: "You deserve it." (Cheers.) •• "Allow ino," Mr. Herdman continued, "to express my deep gratitude to tho many electors who havo voted-for'me to-day, and not only to them, but to the ladies who havo so zealously, energetically, and courageously dono battlo on my behalf. Thoy have spent days and days wandering about tho' electorate advocating my cause, nnd I feel deeply grateful to them.. I 'thank all those who have supported' me." (Cheers.) Mr. Herdman's auditors at this 6tago Rtruck up "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." This wa9 f&llowed by further chVwing. "There is just ono word that I have omitted," Mr. Herdman resumed. "1 think that I should state that this contest , in Wellington North has been fought on ■perfectly fair lines. There has been no bitterness. I think that all the candidates have been on perfectly friendly • terms throughout the whole of the contest, nnd that is one of the best features of thn splendid contest in Wellington North." (lend applause.) DE. IZAED. Dr. Arnold Izard was received with applause and noise. Ho had been defeated, nut he was by no means down-hearted. The knock-out blow had como in the first round, but in three years' time ho wonld be on tho satno balcony again, perhaps to return thanks for having been elected. Ho asked the crowd to givo three cheers for Mr. Herdman, and tho cheers were jiven heartily. ME. B. J. CAEET. Mr. E. J. Carey also received a cordial ■welcome from the crowd. 110 thanked tho thousand voters who had voted for Labourjn..\Velling(:on North. It showed' that tho" vote of 'Labodr was "a vote to be reckonod in this country. In three years ho hoped ho would bo thanking them for success instead of defeat. (Applause.) WELLINGTON CENTRAL.

'."ME.. FISHER. . ■ As Mr. Herdman concluded, thero was & roar,, "Wβ want Fisher,", and * Mr. stopped forward, accompanied by Mrs. Pisb.er, Mrs. Fisher, sen., several ladies of his committee, and Mr. W. Thompson. Oheera wero given as tho pavty appealed. "Ladies and gentlemen," Mr. Fisher commenced, "I want to say first of all that I congratulate Mr. Herdman at the magnificent win which he has secured. (Loud cheers.) In the second place, I am in iw another week's fighting, and I liko. the prospect. (Cheers.) I want to-say that, so far as the Central seat is concerned, we have had a very big fight, ana T,am hoping that, during the next week, tlio Reform party will gain. another seat in the House. (Cheers.) Yes (in reply to r.u intcrjsctor), we shall have another meeting in the Town Hall." (Cheers.) Mr. Fisher thanked all those who had worked so-hard for him, and particularly .his wife and his mother—(hear, hear)—for tho bard work that they had done. A voice: Strike out the top line! Mr. Fisher: "Tho top lino is all right, and yon "will sco my name on tho top lino this da.v wefk!" (Cheers.) He continued that lie wanted to thank all those v.-ho had voted for him, and.to say that .when next week came —' A voice: You will want a racEet then! Mr. Fisher: "Yes, and I will make a racket in tho meantime. I want the support of all 'those who havo supported my ■worthy opponent, Mr. Young. Now. having made my little speech,-1 will ask Mr. 3Toung to address you." (Lond applause.) ME. R.. FLETCHER. Mr. E. Fletcher was greeted with mixed cheering and hooting, and cries t of "We want Fisher." Ho thanked the electors for tho very genorous support accorded him at tho poll. He thought he had put up an oxcellcnt fight against an old Parliamentarian, and he was certain that next Thursday his performance would be a better one. All through the fight had been an absolutely clean ono so far as ho was concerned, and' so far as he was concerned it would bo a clean ono to tho finish. (Applause.) ME. YOUNG. . Mr. Young was received with cheers and dissent. Hβ said that ho desired, on behalf of tho Labour party, to sincerely thank tho 1217 electors of ' Wellington Central who had recorded their votes foT LaboiiT that day. (Choers.) Tho vote put up for Lalxmr was-n very material increase on tho voto in 1908. Ho wanted also to thank those worthy workers who had rendered valuable assistance to him and to tha cause of Labour during this election. Ho ventured to say that when next election camo round tho Labour movement w.ould have become sufficiently strong to return its representative for Wellington Central. He had endeavoured to put up a very strenuous fight in the course of the election, and ho had fought straight, clean, and above-board. (Chcors.) Thai day ho had seen and witnessed the .power of money m far as Liberalism was concerned, and he was going to demonstrate the fact before the second ballot. He had witnessed the engagement of every motor-caT in this city, and every cab, on behalf of tho Liberal party, and he registered a most emphatic protest against (ho manner in which money had been utilised to defeat the ends of democracy. Them would bo a meeting of supporters of the Labour party no the following evening, and at that meeting it would bo decided which , party on tho following evening, and at visml (o vote for in the second ballot. TTe ventured' to Kiy that theyo votes would n"t be cast for the candidate who had «ecnred every motor-car and cab in tho nity to bring electors tn the poll tha day. He liked straight fighting, and ho couW tako a boating with any man, but he liked fair-play. (Cheers and "uproar.) Onco more ho thanked tho electors who had voted for Labour. (Applause.) FOR WELLINGTON SOUTH; ME. WEIGHT. Mr. E. A. Wright had a Boraerrhat noisy reception when, accompanied by Mrs. Wright,, ho faced tho crowd noBRinblod in front of Tub Doimnou hoarding. Ho thanked those- who had votod for him that day, and was going on

to remark tbnt bo found himself nt Hie top in tho first ballot, when ho was interrupted by cheers, uproar, and i«i attempt to count him out. „ "1 am iiot [joins to bo counted out, declared Mr. Wright, "and I am not cnit yet. On Thursday next I will bo put in! 110 still found it difficult to obtain a. hearing. A section of his hearers continued, to raiso ft deafening din. mm to count him out. For a timo the hostile interruptions wero drowned in tho s"'Sing of "For He's a Jolly tlood Fellow, but uproar, continued, nnd Mr. \\ riant eventually mado his speech to the press. 110 thanked tho doctors for giving him a majority of 202 in tho lirst ballot, nnd stated that ho recognised that tho next poll would bo a strenuous nnd vigorous one. 110 would put up a record fight, ho asked his friends to ngain_ record their votes as they had dono tnat day, and declared himself confident that he would win. He would open Ins second ballot campaign on Hid following day, and would address tho electors again m every part of tho district. Ho recognised that tho electors of Wellington South had a rjo-ht to vote for whomsoever they liked, and, whea ttio official decision was announced, whatever it was, ho would accept it gracefully. Having thanked his supporters for tho good work which they had dono, Mr. Wright called for cheers for his opponents, which wero duly given. ME. HINDMAESH. Mr. Hindmarsh, when he appeared at The Dominion hoarding, was received with cheers. Ho thanked tho electors of Wellington South for putting him into tho second ballot. It was a position ho shared with thrco other Labour men in tho local district, and possibly a fourth. After all the difficulties the Labour men had had to contend against, ho thought that this was a inugnificent result. (Cheers nnd uproar.) "Wo had to fight this contest without a single motor-car at anyrate," said Jlr. Hindmarsh. (Cheers.) At this stage Mr. Hindmarsh announced (the news having just arrived) that Sir John Findlay had been beaten. Cheers loud and long wero tho rosponse. Mr. Hindmarsh concluded with a prophecy that the Labour men , who had got into the Eecond ballot wero going to win. • * > ME. BAEBEB. Mr. W. H. P. Barber, 6peaking to a large crowd at Newtown, said ho had evidently been on a bad wicket. He had realised for some time that the task before him was a difficult ono. ne had tried' his best to win the seat, but tho load he had had to carry was too heavy. He thanked those who had voted for him and his committee, especially the ladies, who had worked so hard for him in the absence of Mrs. Barber. Though defeated he was not downhearted, and the result would cause him no worry. (Applause.) Ho regarded the verdict as against the Government rather than against himself. Ho congratulated tho Labour party on the position they had secured, and ho asked tho crowd to give threo cheers for tho winning candidates. (Cheers.) DE. COUZENS. Dr. Conzcns, epeaking from The Dominion hoarding, said he had fought a clean fight, he had maligned no man, he had done his best, and no man could do more. Another time he would try to do bettor.' He heartily thanked those who had helped him. (Applause. ) WELLINGTON SUBURBS. ME. W. H. D. BELL. No candidate had a heartier reception from tho concourse gathered in front of Tiik Dominion hoarding than Mr. W. H. D. Bell. When tho cheers which greeted his appearance had 'subsided, he stated that he had come to return thanks for the position in which he had been placed in the Suburbs election. He was thero partly to tmy this, and. partly to say that the fight had been a perfectly straightforward one. (Applause.) He had had tho pleasure of hearing Jlr. Luke address tho electors at Berhampore that evening, and he had said that it was as straight an election as ho had ever fought. Mr. Bell congratulated the gentlemen who were not in the. second ballot on the fight they had"put"u"p," and called for" "cheers for Messrs. Luke and Fitzgerald. The cheers wero given. Thero was still ono of his opponents to be mentioned, Mr. Bell resumed—Mr. Moore. Ho Hoped to finish the contest at the top of tho poll, but if ho were beaten he would bo proud to bo beaten by ■Mγ. Moore. Ho called for cheers-for Mr. Moore, and they were heartily given." Still louder cheers were given for Mr. Bell himself.

HE. J. E. FITZGERALD. 1 Mr. j. E. Fitzgerald appeared before the crowd,smiling good-naturedly, and the crowd applauded him. Once . again, ho said, he stood before them a defeated but by no means a discouraged aspirant for political honours. He thanked those who had worked hard for him, and his only regret was that their generous, enthusiastic, and spontaneous efforts had not been rewarded with success. He was glad to Sea that the two candidates who had boateu him were- both Now Zenlauders, and both young men. Hβ recognised that the time had arrived when, young men should take a prominent part in carving out tho destinies ' of tho country. Mr. Fitzgerald concluded by calling for three cheers for his opponents, and the cheers were forthcoming. ME. F. T. MOOEE. Mr.F. T. Moore was cheered as ho faced the crowd. "Three years ago," he said, "I was next to tho bottom of the poll; to-day I am next to the top, thanks to the strong arm of Labour. (Applause.) Tho position now is that tho flag of Masseyism is on top, the flag of Liberalism is down below, and the bluo and white flag of Labour, which stands for political purity and political progress, stands midway between. If the 2000 .Liberals who have voted for the two defeated candidates vote for me —(applause)—the flag of Labour will fly above the flag of Masseyisin on next Thursday night." Ho thanked all who had supported him, especially tho workers who had done such splendid work for him at lliramar. (Applause.) Mr. Moore also spoke to a noisy crowd from the "Times" balcony. He attributed his position on thft poll to tho "strong arm of Labour." "If the Liberals will join with Labour against the Opposition," ho added, "Mr. Bell will go down. Liberalism and Labour standing shoulder to shoulder can top the poll. I feel sure that that is what is going to happen this night week." (Applause and uproar.) - WELLINGTON EAST SPEECHES. DE. NEWMAN. Dr. Newman spoko from Tub Dominion hoarding. He was received with loud cheers. In opening ho stated that he was very pleased with the position in which he found himself, but regretted that ho must again call upon his friends to aid ihim next week. lie believed that tho victory would ultimately rest with him. (Cheers.) "Ladies and gentlemen," said Dr. Newman, "I am in this fight to the . bitter end, and I believe that Wellington a 9 a whole means to go against the Government." (Cheers.) Tie was very much obliged to tho electors who had. voted for him, and asked them to remain staunch and true". He asked the electors of Wellinfjton East to rally round him on that day week. This granted, he thought he would still bo, as he then was, at the head of the poll. (Cheers.) MB. D. M'LAREN. Mr. D. M'Laren thanked tho electors for extended confidence as shown by tho poll. He wished to point out that in 1905, standing in the name of Labour, ho polled 7-16 votes; in 1908, in the first ballot no polled 1716, and this year on the first ballot, still standing in the namo of I/al>our, tho same cause he had always been fighting for, he had polled 2910. Ho was ready for tho second round, and he hoped to win on Thursday noxt. Mr. M'Laren was welcomed with cheers, and was cheered frequently as ho spoke. MH. F. G. BOLTON. Mr. F. G. Rolton tendered his sincere thanks to thow who had helped him so readily in the campaign, and also ho thanked thoso who had voted for him. Ho thanked his opponents also for tho fair way in which they had fought their fight. (Applause.) Ho had tried to do his best to enunciate a constructive policy, and ho conld not help it if tho electors did not agree- with him. On sonio fntnro occasion he might again offer himself as a candidate. ME. BEODIB. "I have leen badly Wffod," raid Mi. John Brodio, epedois torn ti» "Her*

Zealand Times" Office; "hut I o.in assiirn yon that my spirit is not broken, ami tlwt I will have another contest later on. "» congratulated tho electors of Wrlliiijjton East on tho choico they hail iihmlh. lli> recognised'that ho was himself n stranßor in the political field, but hn lolt It «:im bettor to havo tried and failed than tint" to him) tried at all. Ho called for i'lkw.i for tho winners. Thesn woto Riven, nml Mr. Brodio also was oheenxl.