MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1902.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1902, Page 4

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1902.

MR. PIRANI AT PETONE. • Mr. Pirani's campaign in the Hutfc electorate opened well with his address at Petone on Saturday evening. Old, residents declare that it was one of the largest, if not the largest, political mee£ ing held in the borough for many a long I year. At one stage a small section, of the audience displayed an inclination to interrupt with a view to disconcerting the speaker. Mr. Pirani, however, has not lost " in nimbleness of thought or quickness of reply by his recent sickbed experiences. He was in first-class fighting form, and his forceful repartee soon turned the laugh against would-be disturbers. The majority of the crowded assembly was evidently ready to give him a fair heariDg, and as his speech progressed sympathy with him increased. The address itself was devoted partly to slashing criticism of Ministerial misdeedsand, in particular, of the iniquitous Public Revenues Acts Amendment Act and its latest apologist, Dr. J. G. Findlay, and partly to the preliminary exposition of an advanced pohoy including an Eight Hours Bill, reform of the "fossilised" and degenerate Legislative Council, emancipation of the Civil Service from sinister political influences, practical measures for improving education, substitution of elecI tive for nominative Land Boards, giving Magistrates, the judicial officers most closely in touch with the less well-to-do, the same independent position that is occupied by Judges of the Supreme Court, and the abolition, of the highly inexpedient system of gambling for sections of Crown land. No man in or out of Parliament can accuse Mr. Pirani of being behind the times or an enemy of progressive legislation. His views are even more radical than those of the Premier himself when that Right Honourable gentleman is in his most expansive oratorical mood, and his past careei proves that, unlike Mr. Seddon, he will not sacrifice his opinions to party or personal considerations. His address must ,have convinced the Petone electors, even those who do not see eye to eye with him on all questions, that he is bold, energetic, and reliable. When a Railway Superannuation Bill or any other measure directly affecting a large and important section of his constituents was before Parliament Mr. Pirani would make sure of understanding all the details. He would always be present in the House when it was under discussion, and he would never allow his private business or pleasures to prevent him from paying proper attention to his legislative duties. It is to the advantage of any constituency to be represented by a- man of such persistency and such public spirit. A point in Mr. Pirani's criticism of the Ministry which deserves special attention was his exposure of the fallacy that the Seddon Gpvernment has of late been the special friend of the- workers and the small settlers. As he indicated by telling references to the interest paid to depositors in the Post-office Savings Bank as compared with that paid to large commercial concerns by the Government,' and to the manner in which the benefits of railway and Post-office concessions have gone to the well-to-do, to the merchant and the wealthy tourists rather than to the working man and the small settler, the present Ministry has been of late catering for the classes rather than for the masses. When the Ballance Ministry came into office it was genuinely imbued with the spirit of democratic progress. Tho wisdom of some of its actions may have been questionable, but its intentions were good, and its professions sincere. Since 1893 when the present Premier seized the reins a subtle and gradual change has been takicg place The working classes have served their purpose for Mr. Seddon and his colleagues by fiving them power and patronage. That power and that patronage have during the last few years been employed with the deliberate purpose o4 gaining wealthier support for the Seddonian "throne." The process is a familiar one in the history of the evolution of the autocrat out '^f the demagogue. The Roman Empire illustrated it, Napoleon illustrated it, other usurpers of the peo pie's rights have also illustrated it, and to compare small with large, Mr. Seddon has been illustrating it hwe in New Zealand. Is it the struggling settler or the stalwart worker wlfo now plays the Seddon game, who subscribes to "purses," attends banquets, or appears as advocate for the Ministry? Xt is weft that the reality of the change which has come over the scene should be explained as Mr. Pifaril explained it on Saturday. He is especially suited to give such an explanation, since he has throughout his political career been the strenuous supporter of the democracy, of advanced legislation, and of the liberties of the people. Ministerialists cannot charge him with Toryism without making themselves a laughing-stock, and his indictment of the Government's "tuft-hunt-ing" propensities carries weight. Mr. Pirani's colonial reputation as a sound and skilful Parliamentarian is evidenced by the many requests he has received from different constituencies to come forward as a candidate. He has chosen to stand in an electorate where he will have a hard fight. The sitting member, for reasons other than Parliamentary qualifications and legislative diligence, has a strong hold on the constituency, 'But if the Hutt electors desire to be represented by a man who will take his part in discussing all great questions and will never be absent from his post when there is work to be who will place the good of bis constituency before his personal advantages and the welfare of the colony before party allegiance, they will record, their votes for Mr. Pirani.