CANDIDATES' SPEECHES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2326, 7 December 1914, Page 6

CANDIDATES' SPEECHES

THE HUTT SEAT MR. SAMUEL DEALS WITH : CRITICS. The Alicetown Congregational Sunday School was packed to the-doors on Saturday evening, where Mr. Samuel addressed the electors in support of his candidature. Mr. Smith, was chairman. After dealing with matters in general Mr. Samuel called attention to a letter that appeared. in the local paper, in which a,. correspondent had stated that the candidate had "turned a somersault" and had evidently been "got at" by the Bible-in-Schools Party. The writer also stated that Mr. Samuel had declared himself, opposed -'to the Bible-in-Schools question, at Lower Hutt, yet a circular had been sent through the electorate from the Bible-in-Schools League, which stated that Mr. Samuel had given his assurance that he would, if elected,-vote for the Bible-in-Schools Referendum Bill, introduced .by the Hon.' James Allen last session, and the League urged all who had signed the cards requesting a referendum to 6upport Mr. Samuel at the poll. The writer claimed that this was a change of front, and added that hundreds of votes would-be- lost to the candidate through his alleged somersault. Mr. Samuel stated in reply. that he had not deviated one iota from his platform, nor had any' understanding been arrived at on the matter with any party. He had been asked at his Lower Hutt meeting if he was in favour of Bible-reading in schools, and he had replied emphatically .that ho was not; and that he upheld the present free, compulsory, and secular system of education. At Petone in the presence of 1500 people, a similar question had met with a similar answer. But whilst against the movement itself he claimed that if 100,000 electors : presented a petition to Parliament, asking for a referendum on this, question, providing there was no coercion, then he would vote for the referendum on democratic lines.' (Loud applause.) As for any secret alliance, he had made none whatever. (Cheers.) He had been asked to state his views and he had done-so, on this matter, from , the public platform, and still held to them. (Applause.) Tho first intimation he had of any. circular from the Bible-in-Schools League was the one referred to in the letter. Continuing, Mr. Samuel, stated that the reference to his being a raomber of the Moderate League was absolutely contrary to fact, and, as for the reference ill the letter to his -religion, Mr. Samuel said lie would leave the writer to be judged by the public. The candidate mentioned during the evening that a campaign of slander, suggestion, and inuendo had been started by someone, presumably because there was a fear that he mip-lit gain the seat; (A voice: "So you wilt"). Some of his opponents, unable to damage him .politically, had striven to harm him personally. A rowdy element was conspicuous at tho meetiag, but was promptly talked down by the candidate. A hearty vote of thanks was carried and cheers for Mr. Massey were given at the conclusion of tho meeting. Mr. Samuel addressed a meeting at Kaitoke on Friday night. Mr. L. Phillips was in the chair. At the conclusion of the speech a vote of ,thanks to tho candidate.for his address and of confidence :'n th<s Massey Government was proposed by Mr. J. Maher, : seconded by Mr. S. Moore, and carried unanimously.