HERE AND THERE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1309, 12 December 1911, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

CAMPAIGN POINTS AND PRESS COMMENTS. Vote Again on Thursday. i' According to information brought . to Dr. Newman, a considerable number of doctors are of opinion that, having voted last Thursday, there is no necessity for them to do it next Thursday at tho second ballot.j The .'candidate explained that last' Thursday's votes wero finished with, and for votes to count jj; tho second ballot they must be recorded again on Thursday.

A Record-holder, Mr. Fisher claims to be tho holder of two Parliamentary records. He told his audience last night that ho had introduced at least one Bill each year that had become'law, and he did not think any other member in 'Wellington could say tho same. Hβ also claimed to have made more spcechos on moro subjects than any other private member in the same period. Leading in the Last Lap. "Tho last lap is .being run.- We are coming up the straight, and I njn in the lead. (Hear, hear.)— Dr. Newman, at Roscnealh. A Fight for Freedom,

Tho story of one of tho most interesting strumas lhat the New Zealand Parliament has seen for many vears was told by Mr. Fisher last nijlit. He said thai, in l!) 05, there \\-as introduced one of the most iniquitous Bills"ever rwled olf by a printing machine— tho Criminal Code Amendment Bill. It provided for tTeatins spoken slander in the same way a-) criminal lil>el, so that a couple' of scallywags could have sworn away the liberty of any man. It was fought by Mr. Moss (who had lteoii the Kcfdrtn candidate against Sir John Findlay), Mr. Harding.-member for Kainara, Mr. It. 1). Bedford, and liiiiiself. They fought the late Premier,' Mr. Seddon, on Hint Bill from 2.30 p.m. or..a Thursday to 7 a.m. on tho Satiirdav without a break. (Applause.)' The. highest praise ho received for that fight caiuo from tho "Evening Post." It was one of tho verj- few occasions on which the lalio Mr. Soddon had to surrender. Had he not done so. the fisht would have pono on all the next week. He remembered Sir William Kussell coming in on (hat fine Saturday morning and romarking that, it was i>h nuspitjiiis occasion, as it was Trafalgar Day and a light for freedom was going on.

Mr. Fisher' Gets the Town Hall. Mr. Fisher has at length 6uccceded in securing the Town Hall for tomorrow night. . Ho stated at his meeting, last night that his tender had been refused, and that if he liked to pay the ordinary rent ho could- have the hall. That was tho treatment ho received from the City Council with a. member of the Government party as Mayor. He had to double the amount of his cheque. Ho had thought that 1 he would lie the only candidate who would want the hall on Wednesday night, and had tendered cordingly, but now .ho had -to pay. as if .there-had been-.no tenders at. all. It seems that the ordinary rate is ,£lO 10s. for political.meetings.-. Mr. lusher tendered £5 55., and no other tender was received. No doubt Mr. Fishdr will fill the hall to-morrow night, and have a first-class meeting. ~; . .. ... Wantcd-Fair Play. ■ ■■■'■. "Every servant of the State should be treated? with one 'cast-iron rule—that:is fair play."—Dr. Newman, referring to tho Civil Service" and 'Railway; Service. Curiosities of Canvassing. Mr.. Fisher talked a little last night about tbo vagaries of some canvassers nml the' ignorance of some electors. Ho had been told of five people 'that day who had been asked how they wanted to vote, and whon they said • Opposition," they wero to|d that -the way to do that was to vote for Mr. Fletcher. Ho did- not suggest that -his -opponent was responsible for that. Ivo candidate could bo-responsible.for all tho.actions of his canvassers. For his own part, ho did not want to cetin by the aid of, misrepresentation, and if eny one was t; what was not true by anybody canvassing for him, he hoped they would let mm know, and he would stop it. Another elector had said he voted- for Mr. .Young last time, and when asked how-he meant to vote this time, he replied, I haven t been asked." (Laughter.) ■■• ■ . .. For the People. There are some-people who are swaggering about taking: credit for .various virtues'- and humanitarianism, -. said , - Dr. Newman last evening. Ho (Dr. jSejnnan) had not paraded what ho had done, but he thought he could say that during the years ho had •liyed"in , ' Wellington ho had ilone as much'for'.'the people of thoso who were bragging; (Applause.). Shops and Factories.

Tho special provisions which applied to the statutory weekly half-holiday on tho occasion of'the electoral first .ballot apply in their entirety to the second ballot in those 'districts in which a second ballot is being taken. Thus in Wellington Central, East, South, and Suburbs, those shopkeepers who would ordinarily close on Wednesday or Saturday afternoon must close, this week, on Thursday. Shop assistants entitled to a half-holi'day on any day of the week must be givon : it this week on Thursday. Owners of factories must qivo their employees reasonable time off, during working" hours, in order that they may record their votes. The time allowance need not exceed one hour. There seems •to bo some misapprehension on the part of factory owners in regard to this provision. Their duty is to see that their employees aro given a reasonable opportunity of voting. Tho law puts the onus on employers, of soeini; that, their employees get the opportunity.

Government Offices! , Though the big wooden building in Lambton Quay is in tho Wollington North district, and " therefore exempt from tho official half-holiday provisions which apply to electorates in which a second ballot is being taken, all the Government offices, except the Post and Telegraph" Offices, which are to observe ordinary hours, will close on Thursday afternoon. This is intended to meet tho convenience of civil. servants who reside in electorates in which a second ballot is being taken. A Challenge Declined.

At his meoting last evsning Mr. R. Fletcher referred .to tho statement- made, about his candidature, by Hie Imposition' organiser (Mr. Martin) nt St. Peter's Hall on Friday night last. Mr. Fletcher statod that Mr, Ma'r.tin had oontinually "asked him this question about standing for tho Opposition." Mr. Fletcher dcolarod that he had published and told the whole story. Mr. Martin had accused him ot being untruthful: All ho' could say was Unit when ho wanted to test his voracity ho would not go to/his political opponents. He was quite satisfied to leave it to tho judgment of tho people of Wellington Central.. Later in the evening. Mr. Fletcher, was asked: "Why do you not give Mr. Martin a chanco to expkin about your being asked to join tho Opposition- party?" Mr. Fletcher said' that Mr. Martiri'had had the opportunity. Hβ might tell his questioner that on tho first occasion when ho (Mr.-Fletcher) made his statement, it was ten or twelve davs before he got any statement or letter from Mr. Masscy. ■ Now that-the second ballot was on,' Mr. Martin wmilil not got a chanco to discuss the question oil hH (Mr. Fletcher's) ■ platform.