THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 119, 15 November 1902, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

« Mr. Collier met the HuH electors at Wadestown last evening, and delivered a short address. After a few questions, mostly of a jocular nature, had been asked and answered, the audience gave the • j candidate a vote of thanks. "I stand shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Duthie and Mr. Atkinson in the hope that we will be able to win the three City, seats," said. Mr. Aitken last night, and tke« hope was re-echoed in hearty applause. Mr. Hislop addressed a meeting of the electors of Newtown in the Victoria Hall last night, Mr. G. Flux in the chair. The candidate dealt at length with the land policy of the present Government. He quoted figures to show that there were fewer people being put on the land now than was the case fifteen, years ago, and he strongly condemned the Government for parting with the freehold. He alluded to the large number of forfeitures by those who took up land as an inatance of the unworkable character of some of the provisions in the present land laws. During the whole of his public life his earnest desire had always been to promote closer settlement. During the time he was in the House he devoted a great deal of time and attention to land settlement. Mr. Seddon was also a member of Parliament at the same time, but he took no active part in matters relating to the settlement of our lands, and yet he now claimed the paternity of the measures which had really been introduced by the former Administration. H.e (Mr. Hislop) was not an opponent of the Land for Settlements Purchase Act, but he objected to some of its provisions. In reply to questions, Mr. Hislop said he favoured the perpetual lease system. He believed in borrowing money for reproductive works. He did not think it fair that any Civil Servant should be dismissed unless a full and fair enquiry had been held, and he should like to see a Board set up to deal with appeals by those in the Government employ. He thought we might well give the licensing laws a rest

for three years at least. In his opinion the present licensing districts Avere much to large. He was in favour of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, but should like to see it made more conciliatory. On the motion of Mr. A. J. Rand, seconded by Mr. A. Munro, a. vote of thanks and confidence was passed. "You can either write your questions or stand up and ask them just where you sit." . . "All those in favour of the vote being unanimously passed" — two gems from the chairman, of a recent local election meeting. In the Theatre Royal last night Mr. Aitken addressed his second meeting in the city campaign. Mr. D. Robertson presided. The candidate again urged the settlement of the waste lands of the Crown, and condemned the extravagance of the Government and its maladministration, dealing spe3ially with the railways. In regard to the question of the Bible-in-schools, Mr. Aitken said some people seemed to have a great dread that if the Bible was introduced into the schools it would mean the breaking up of the present system of education. • He thought those people dreaded too much. (Hear, hear.) However, in a change like that the people should be consulted, and while personally he would like to see the Bible read in every school in the land; he said the people must decide the question for themselves. (Applause.) Whatever was done he wished to have every protection afforded eveiy indlivid-ual conscience, and no one should be compelled to take part who had conscientious objections. (Renewed applausej As to local option he did not wish to alter the present law, and he thought it would be dangerous to touch the Act now in force. In this, too, he was prepared to trust the people, and leave it in their hands. (Applause.) Though he was a life-long teetotaller, and had never tasted alcoholic liquor in his life, he was not in favour of a bare majority, and thought if prohibition were carried by a Dare majority it would oe a vtry bad thing. The framers of the Act were wise in providing fora J considerable majority, but he thought that by and by it Tnight be necessary to see whether the three-fifths majority "now- demanded was not too great. The candidate replied to a number of questions, and to one asked by the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, answered that he would like to see the fathers of illegitimate r children properly dealt with and made to" feel their responsibility. On the motion of Mr. T. Dickson a vote of thanks and confidence was carried without dissent. The part which the Premier took in killing the Bill for the purchase oFMiramar was referred to by Mr. Hislop at the Victoria Hall. Mr. Hislop maintained that if Mr. Seddon had honestly desired to conserve the interests of the people he could have inserted provisions in the Bill which would hava -met his objections to the measure. Mr. Seddon said that he had had Miramar valued, and he was assured that, it was. not worth more than £35 an acre, but he had evidently forgotten that some years ago t'he Government had purchased a part of the estate for defence purposes at £100 an acre, although that land was not , so close to the city as the portion which had been offered to the city. Mr. Hislop pointed out that some of the estate had since been sold at the rate of between £700 and £800 per acre, and he contrasted the value of the property with the present value of the land which the Government has acquired at Petone for closer settlement at an advance of 80 per cent, above the land tax valuation. He

asserted that the Petone piii chase had been a most unprofitable one.

asserted that the Petone piu chase had been a mo&t unprofitable one. The views of Mr. Aitken in regard to the question of a minimum wage seem to .have been, misunderstood in some quarters, so he repeated them last night. He thought it Vas a great pity that more provision could not be made whereby men ■who were capable of doing better work than others should not bo encouraged to do that better work by receiving greater pay. He said emphatically that he believed in a minimum wage, and had never said he was m favour of doing away with it, though he sympathised with the better class of workman who did not receive more than the man who was less able to do the work. It would be a bad day for the colony if something was not done to remedy that state of affairs. In his speech at Newtown last night' Mr. Hiilc-p took strong exception to the great increase in the public expenditure during the past few years, and he asked whether the public considered they were getting full value for the enormous amount which was now being He had to admit that since the Opposition had become weaker the expenditure had increased at a greater rate than whea there was a curb on the Goveranieub | rein.

According to our London correspondent Mr. J. E. Davenport, of Christchurch, who has been visiting the most famous stock-breeders in the United Kingdom and all the chief sales and shows, which take out to Lyttelton in the s.s. Ruapehu on 6th November, probably the most valuable shipment of pedigree 6tock that has ever been sent to this colony. His purchases include some very fine" Shropshire, Southdown, Leicester, and Ryelands sheep. Several are the champions in their respective classes and many are prize-winners. Mr. Davenport also has bought a valuable young shorthorn bull, Sir Oswald, which as a yearling has already taken four prizes at important English shows, these prizes having been awarded since he was purchased by Mr. Davenport. His colour is a handsome roan. Mr. Davenport is' also taking out a fine young bull of the well-known High- , land breed. These purchases, or rather the choice of stock, necessarily involved a great deal of travelling in search of the best selections. The result will be amost valuable acquisitioin to the flocks 1 and herds of the colony, which no doubt will be duly appreciated. Mr. Davenport expects to arrive at Lyttelton somei where about Christmas. The Tourist Department's Inspector,^ Mr. F. Moorhouse, reports that the road from the Wairoa side to Onepoto on Waikaremoana has now been extended six miles along the shore of the ' lake to the accommodation house, and is now, open for light traffic. The Paradise ducks on the lake are thriving, and so are the trout, so much so that nine-pounders are plentiful, but Waikaremoana trout do nob seem to be susceptible to ordinary lures.. Mr Moorhouse, while exploring in tho bush, found a number of large caves, in, which were a quantity of moa bones,, including two large leg bones, and a complete toe with all the joints and claw; also, part of an egg. There was quite a large gathering of people on the wharf yesterday afternoon, to see the Wellington Fishing Syndicate's trawler Phantom arrive from the Sounds with her first cargo of fish. The trip was a successful one, the catch amounting to 15cwt the fish being well assorted., lne weather in the Sounds has not been favourable for fishing during the lasb day or two or the haul would have been larger.