WELLINGTON SOUTH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1311, 14 December 1911, Page 6

WELLINGTON SOUTH.

MR. WRIGHT'S CAMPAIGN. A BUSY DAY. Mr. R, A. Wright, Reform candidate {or Wellington South, rounded off his campaign with a big day's'work, yesterday. Commencing in the forenoon, he addressed about ten meetings in : different- parts of Newtown and Berhampore,. and in addition, addressed three largo meetings in tho evening. Mr. Wright almost everywhere had a good reception. At one meeting, when he addressed- a' number of tratnwaymen, thrrn were numerous hostile interjections, but this was an isolated instance.

Mr. Wright began in the evening by addressing an open-air meeting at Wallnce Street. Tho proceedings' were lively) but. (lie candidate easily held his own, and was heartily cheered when he concluded. Later, lie addressed a - crowded meeting in the Newtown Public Library. Here lie had an enthusiastic'- reception, and- was accorded a vote- of thanks and confidence, and cheered.

At 9.30 p.m. Mr. Wright - addressed a meeting of electors at Wallace Street, and was given a good hearing. As at the previous meeting, a vote of thank's and confidence was pasted; and cheers ■were given for the candidate.

Speaking at Newtown Library, Mr. Wright dealt with some statements made by Professor Mills, who' has been engaged by the Labour party 1.0 support its candidates. ' M,r. WrWit said that Professor Mills had asserted that if the Opposition candidate were put in for Wellington South, it would strengthen, quicken, and intensifv tho evils of land monopoly in this country.- He had also accused Mr. Wright of standing with monopolists in the past, and of intending to do so in the future! All that was wrong with - Professor Mills's statement, said Mr. Wright, was that it was absolutely untrue, as he had never stood for land monopoly. Neither was he a champion of the largo landowners.

A voice: And he said that voii were a freeholder.

Mr. Wright said it was a pity that Professor Mills, who was a stranger to this country anil had -no knowledge of its political life, should make statements which were contrary to fart. So far frum being a freeholder he had supported Uib leasehold on every- occasion, and would continue" to do m>. Mr. Wright :iN> denied that he had any connection with Thk Dominion" newspaper. It was true that The Dominion had given him support, but' this was because he vas the ouly

candidate who came anywhere near its own platform. Jt was a sign of weakness on the part of the Labour party that.it should bring in special lecturers to assist its'cause. Thr> meeting concluded with a vote of thnnlts and confidence, and cheers for Mr. Wright. MR. HINDMARSH'S MEETINGS. ~ "GOING TO STEL'K A CAREFUL. COUESK."' Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh, the Labour candidate for Wellington South, addressed uti open-air meeting at the corner of Howard Street and Tasruan Street last evening, there being u good attendance. Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.l\ for Uutt, introduced the candidate. Mr. Iliwlmarsh spoke on (lie lines of his previous addresses. He contended that the contest in Wellington South was one between the Labour party and the Mlissey party, and that was the reason wny lie so often refenwl to Sir. Massey. In connection with the question of a noconHdenco motion, he would not be tricked into a promise to support either Wardism or Masseyism because he was pledged (o the Labour party. Ho had set out to found this new party, and was going to steer a careful course so as not to compromise Labour.- Trie Dominion, he claimed, had bTought all its power to bear on him to confuse the issue, and it had not placed the difficulty of the position before the people. . In answer to questions, Mr. Hindinarsh said he was in favour of full • political rights for Civil Servants; ho considered the minimum wage of railway employees should be fls.' a day, and that 48 hours should constitute a week's work. A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded the candidate and cheers were given for him and Mr. Wilford. Later in the evening Mr. Hindinarsh addressed a largo "meeting at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown. Mr. W. H. Y. Barber, who was defeated at the first ballot, presided and expressed the opinion that the community would be working against its own interests if it returned tho Opposition to power. The candidate detailed tho views of his party on the land question and on education and also expressed tho opinion that all reports of political meetings should bo signed by the writer. He criticised tho attitude of the Opposition in placing before everything else the question as to whether tho Ward Government should remain in office or be turned out. A.good deal of time was also'devoted by the candidate to an attack on Tue Dominion and the Opposition press. After answering a number of questions Mr. Hindmarsh was unanimously- accorded a vote of thanks and confidence on ■• the .motion' of Mr. H. Hanfcon, seconded by Mr. .Clark.. Cheers were then given for. the candidate.