TO-NIHT'S MEETINGS. TO-NIHT'S MEETINGS.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 117, 13 November 1902, Page 5

TO-NIHT'S MEETINGS. TO-NIHT'S MEETINGS.

Mr. Tustin will uneuk at Brooklyn at 8 p.m. Mr. Luke's Brooklyn committee will meet at 8 p.m., and his goncrul committee will meet at tho rooniH, Hiddifordstieet, at the same hour. Sir. Barbei- will speak at Berhamporo at 8 p.m. Mr. Hislop will speak at Mitchelltown at 8 p.m. Dr. Chappie will speak at St. Thomas's schoolroom this evening. An open-air mass meeting in connection with the Newtown election is announced' for Saturday evening. Mr. Collier will address the electors at Kaiwarra at 8 p.m. A meebing of Mr. Field's Karori committee will be held in the Parochial Hall at 8 p.m. Mr. Field will speak at the State school, Tawa Flat, at 8 p.m. • Mr. Duthie will address the electors ab the Theatre Royal ab 8 p.m. Dr. Findlay will deliver his opening address ab the Choral Hall ab 8 o'clock to-nighb. Mr. O'Regan will speak at the Willisstreeb schoolroom ab 8 p.m. Mr. M'Laren will address the electors in the New Century Hall, Kent-terrace, ab 8 p.m. Mr. Wilford speaks at Khandallah. Mr. Tustin told the electors at the Victoria Hall last night that there had be,en persistent rumours that Mr. Barber would go to the poll with the Government's support, and Mr. Luke to tho Upper House. He accepted Mr.- Luke's denial of this. He had been asked by Mrs. Barber, who was a friend of his wife, to state that Mr. Seddon had sent a telegram to Mr. Barber stating that Mr. Luke had not been appointed Government candidate for Newtown. "We were led to believe," added Mr. Tustin, "that Mr. Luke ha*d the Government support. Now it is supposed Mr. Barber has; let us hope they both have it. Mr. Barber denies this statement by Mr. Tuslin that Mr. Barber has received a telegram from Mr. Seddon with regard to who is or is not the Government candidate for Newtown. The Hon. T. W. Hislop denies another statement made by Mr. Tustin that it was mutually understood that Mr. Hislop would nob oppose Mr. Tustin for Newtown. Mr. Hislop denies that he ever made any statement to Mr. Tustin calculated to induce such a belief, and considers it is not ingenuous on Mr. Tustin's part to have made^ the statement he did without having read a letter Mr. Hislop wrote him on the subject. With reference to Mr. Barber's denial, Mr. Tustin explains that prior 'to his meeting last night Mrs. Barber asked him as a personal favour to mention that a telegram had been sent from 'the Premier to Mr. Barber that Mr. Luke had not been selected by the Government. Mr. Tuslin says lie is amazed at the denial, and cannot understand it. Speaking at Otaki on Tuesday night, Mr. W. H. Field admitted that the defence vote last year (£300,000) was very large. .But it must be borne in mind, he added, that £176,000 went to the volunteer forces, and £25,000 was spent on account of South African contingents. The defence expenditure, he thought, must, and would be, reduced. But at the beginning of the war it became necessary, owing to European complications, thab the colony should be placed in a safe stats of defence. Our defence force was 20,000 strong to-day, as against 5000 in 1597-S. The vote for this year was £100,000 less than last year's. Mr. Field favoured teaching the young to shoot, and the encouragement of volunteer rifle corps. The colony should have a plentiful supply of up-to-date arms and ammunition,' and volunteers should have capable instructors.

Our Hutt and Petone correspondent writes : — The announcement that Air. F. Pirani has consented to contest the Hutt election has been received with the liveliest satisfaction in *all parts of the electorate, and Mr. Pirani'a friends have already received most encouraging promises of support from nearly the whole length of the Hutfc Valley. Asked last evening if he approved Mr. Pirani's candidature, Mr. Collier said that Mr. Pirani had just as much right to contest the seat as he had. Mr. Collier addressed the Hutt electors last night ab the Lower Hutt, about 200 being present, Mr. H. W. Box presiding. The candidate dealt principally with railway matters and the Hutt-road, on the lines of his Petone speech. He favoured the setting up of a committee to carry out all public works costing more than £10,000, which, he contended, would do away with the maladminisj tratiou and log-rolling now carried on. i The Civil Service should be removed from political control. He had had ten years' experience in municipal and political affairs, and " thought he could 1 represent them in Wellington. He was not in favour, of hotels opening on Sundays, and thought that clubs should be under the same regulations as hotels. There was quite enough protection in the country at present, and while in favour of a free breakfast table, he was not in favour of disturbing the present Customs to any great extent. Mr. Collier,' in answer to questions, said that he thought the Huttroad was as far off settlement as ever, unless they put a man in who would force the Government to undertake the work. (A voice: "Wait until Pirani gets in.") Asked if he would support the Seddou Government, Mr. Collier said he was standing as an Independent Liberal, and would only vote for what ho thought was right. With respect to his action on a no-confideucc motion, he did not think it was a fair question to put to any candidate. For a'uy one to commit himself before he heard the discussion on such a motioH was quite wrong. He would support a motion to suppress combines seeking to control foodstuffs. On the motion of Mr. C. Cudby the candidate was accorded a vote of thanks. Mr. A. R. Atkinson dealt on Tuesday night with the question of the preferential t-iriff. He was in favour of the proposal so long as the preference was by way of rebate on British, goods instead of "an increased duty on foreign goods. It was time that the Premier's tall talk upon the subject was followed by soinethin" practical. His eloquent denunciations of John Bull's "suicidal policy" in relying, upon foreign goods would have been seriously discounted if it had been generally known that his own Government -was in this respect as "suicidal" as any. Mr. Seddon's Government had in the last two years imported more than £100,000 worth of American railway engines and carriages of which much couid Save been better made in the colony ; and it had renewed the 'Frisco mail contract with a foreign company under conditions which rendeied the employment of British ships in the service an impossibility. Mr. Atkinson added that a, local business man had drawn his attention to the •te.ul pencils in use in Government departments, which had a Gel-man maker's name on one side and the New Zealand Government on the other. The speaker did not urge that it was treason to buy foreign goods, but it Mas a faice for the Premier to denounce iho Old Country while his own Government behaved a-s stated. A reminder about the actual cotb of the South African contingents was given

last night by Mr. Tustin, who strongly condemned the extravagance shown. He said that at a recent meeting he referred to the enormous co.st the Contingents had been to New Zealand, and some one had stood up and said that the colony had paid no more for these contingents than had virtually been given to the More Men Fund. It really seemed that there was an idea abroad among the electors that the Imperial Government had paid tue whole expenses of our ten Contingents, lie supported Imperialism and the Bending of Contingents, but we had gone altogether too lar. Seven would have been ample. The other three were never asked for, never wanted, and never u.-ed except when Imperial soldiers wero kept idle. That was the opinion of ofiicers and men who had heard what Imperial officers had said in South Africa. And even assuming it was right to send ten Contingents, he objected to the cnormoua extravagance shown in sending them. These Contingents had actually cost the colony £75,066 in 1900 • £113,954 in 1901 ; and £72,219 in 1902 • or a total of £265,259. Of this it was possible that £43,980 advanced to Contingents would be refunded by the Imperial Government, leaving a cost to New Zealand of £220,000. He did not know how the cost could have come to this honestly and! fairly. There were some men in the place who knew a lot, and they Were mostly supporters of the Seddon Government. It was a gross scandal that while Government could not spare another £2000 to rebuild the Telrace school in brick instead of wood, they could spare £200,000 for the glorification of Mr. Seddon. Mr. Field, the only candidate so far out for the Otaki seat, addressed meetings at Levin and Wereroa last night Mr. Fosella presiding at Levin and Mr! Cameron at Wereroa. At both places unanimous votes of thanks and confidence were passed. The selection, of a candidate at the coming election was brought up at last night's meeting of the Australasian Federated Seamen's Union. After the whole list had been fully considered, it was decided that Mr. P. J. O'Rogan was the only man the organisation could conscientiously support, and the union will do all in its power to secure his return to Parliament. To settle, if possible, the question as to whether Mr. Luke is or is not the Government candidate for Newtown, a resident (who is not connected with Mr. Barber's candidature) telegraphed to the Premier in.forming him of what had been stated on the subject, and asking him what had been done in the matter. The Premier sent the following reply from Waikouaiti yesterday afternoon : — "Cannot be held responsible for reports. Nothing definite has yet been decided." Mr. Tustin. favourably commented last evening on the announcement of the candidature for the Hutt of Mr. Pirani, mention of whose name was received with applause. The capacity of Godber's Rooms was severely taxed last evening ■when Dr. Findlay met some of his supporters to evolve a plan of campaign. Great enthusiasm was displayed, and complete arrangements made for the carrying on of the contest, including the formation of strong committees of each sex. « Dr. Chappie addressed the electors at the Primitive Methodist Schoolroom, Island Bay, last night, Mr. James 1 Eeid in the chair. The candidate dwelt at some length upon the necessity of free technical and University education. He expressed himself in favour of a graduated tax on land, income, and probate duties, asserting that the taxation of recent years had been pressing far too heavily upon the bone and muscle of the country, and that while the land tax brought in only some £39,000 a year the tax on the necessaries of life produced no less than £24,000 per annum, or at the rate of £20 per annum for a family of five persons, an increase since 1895 of £3 a year. On the motion of Mr. Houghton, seconded by Mrs. Beckett, the candidate received a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. D. M'Laren writes: — Learning that some persons are circulating a report throughout the city that I have been put up by the Opposition to split the votes in this election, and also that my expenses are being, or will be, paid by some one on behalf of the Opposition, I wish to state that these reports are absolutely false. I am running myself and paying my own expenses. Mr. Godber addressed a meeting of the electors at the Sydney-street Schoolroom last evening. Mr. M. Murdoch presided, and there was a large attendance. Mr. Godber said that though the Opposition candidates stated that the Government had no policy, the only policy that they (the Opposition) had was to try and turn the Government out. Ho considered that the Government should provide land close to the city for workmen's homes, and believed in borrowing for reproductive works only. He would like to see the Main Trunk Railway pushed on, and the Hutt line straightened as soon as possible. He thought that jurors should fee paid 10s per day in civil cases, instead of 10s per case. In reply to questions, Mr. Godber stated that he was in favour of abolishing the exemption on the ]andtax, but would give the Commissioner discretion to remit the tax: where he thought it would press too heavily. He was not in favour of State control of the liquor traffic. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried on Mrs. Player's motion. Mr. Atkinson addressed a meeting at the late Jubilee Hotel, Tinakori-road, last night, with Mr. T. Poynter in the' chair. The candidate expressed himself in favour of the acquisition of the Manawatu line by the State, but strongly condemned the tactics recently pursued by the Government, and urged that nothing shall be done unfairly to make an easier bargain for the State. With regard to the Hutt line, 'its straightening was imperatively necessary. Private enterprise would undertake the work as a speculation as readily as it had tackled Miramar. A number of questions were put to the candidate relating mostly to Miramar and the single tax. In reply, lie said that to secure the future unearned increment was a legitimate object of public policy, but to appropriate it retrospectively did not seem to him just; Tho original Crown grantee had paid' value for the land, and in return the State had given him an absolute title to (he property, the grantee taking the chance of an unearned increment or decrement as the case may be. Owing to the growth of Wellington there had been a big increment, but this would not justify the State in trying to go back on its bargain, especially as subsequent purchasers had since come in who had not got the increment for nothing, but had paid for it. On the motion of Mr. W. R. Russell, seconded by Mr. Dorkin, a unanimous vole of thitn&s and confidence was passed. "I stand at this election in the interests of pure administration. The craving of the Government for money, to be expended, not in public works," but in demoralising the constituencies, should be stopped." — Dr. vuapple, at Island Bay. At a meeting of the Saddlers' Union

held last night, it was resolved to support the candidature of Messrs. O'Regan, M'Laren, and Allan Urr. Mr. T. Lynch, who was described as a member of Mr. O'Regan's Committee, speaking at the head of the wharf today, made an attack on Mr. D. M'Laren, and stated in effect that as Mr. M'Laren was spending 2>retty freely on this election some persons must be paying his expenses. Mr. M'Laren, in reply, said it was absolutely false that any one was paying his expenses, and further, if the wharf men would set up an independent committee, he would give them positive proof that he was paying his own expenses.

At Mr. Hislop's meeting, at Roseneath a speaker, in supporting tbe motion of confidence in Mr. Hislop, stated that Mr. Hislop's speech showed that he ought to be in the House, and although he (the speaker) had sympathy with the present Government he felt that it would be well to have Mr. Hislop there. His criticism would have a tendency to purify Seddonism and improve the trend of politics. Even supporters of the Government should vote for Mr. Hislop. Tho first Domination which the Returning Officer for Newtown (Sir. H. M. Lyon) has received, is that of Dr. William Allan Chappie. The nominationpaper is signed by Isaac Hunt, storekeeper, Berhampore; Arthur Wilton, butcher, Adelaide-road ; John Booth, accountant, Adelaide-road; David N. Adams, manufacturer's agent, Meinstreet; Abraham Mudge, carter, Ade-laide-road;. Albert Francis Turner, evangelist, Constable-street; Mary Jane Williams, domestic duties, Brooklyn. At Roseneath last evening Mr. Hislop received a vote of thanks and confidence on the motion of Mr. Ward, seconded by Mr. Highet. . £ J Mr. Atkinson will speak at the Mount Cook Boys' school to-morrow evening.Mr. Tustin will meet the electors at Seatoun to-morrow evening. Mr. Luke will address the ■electors at Berhampore (Palm Grove room), at 8 o'clock to-morrow evening.- # Mr. Hislop will address a miass meeting at Victoria Hall -to-morrow evening. Dr. Chappie will speak at Mitchelltown to-morrow evening. Mr. Pirani delivers his first .-iddress in the contest for the Hutt seat at the Oddfellows' Hall, Pclone, on Saturday evening. Mr. Collier will speak at Wadestown to-morrow evening. His postponed meeting at the Upper Hutt will take place on Saturday night. Mr. Field will address the electors at Kilminster's Hall on Friday evening, and at Makara on. Saturday. Mr. Aitken will deliver aa address at the Theatre Royal at 8 o'clock to-mor-row evening. / A • meeting of Mr. O'Regan's general committee (ladies and gentlemen) will be held at the coinmitbee rooms, 61, Lambton-quay, to-morrow evening. Mr. Godber's Thorndon committee meets to-morrow afternoon. Mr. Wilford's Petone committee meets to-morrow evening. Mr. M'Laren speaks at St. Paul's schoolroom, Sydney-street, to-morrow night.