THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1902, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

«• • MR. JELLICOE OUT FOR THE CITY. This morning Mr. E. G. Jellicoe was nominated as a candidate for a city seat. His nomination-paper is signed by Messrs. William Hame, John Henry Heaton, and William Fraser Shortt. TO-NIGHT'S MEETINGS. Mr. Atkinson, Victoria Hall, 8 p.m. Mr. O'Regan, Exchange Hall, 8 p.m. Mr. Godber, Willis-street Schoolroom, 8 p.m. Mr. M'Laren, Epuni and Aro streets, 7.30 p.m. Mr. Hislop, Brooklyn State School, 8 p.m. Dr. Chappie, Palm-grove Hall, Berhampore, 8 p.m. Mr. C. M. Luke, Heginbotham's Hall, Kilbirnie, 8 p.m. Mr. Luke's Brooklyn Committee, State School, 8 p.m. Mr. Pirani, Oddfellows' Hall, Lower Hutt, 8 p.m. Mr. J. H. Collier, Taita, 8 p.m. Mr. Field, Ohariu Valley Schoolhouse, 8 p.m. Mr. Pirani's Petone Committee, Oddfellows' Hall, 7.30 p.m. Mr. Tustin, Mitcnelltown Schoolroom, 8 p.m. Dr. Chappie will meet his committees at the Riddiford-street rooms to-night. A matter of considerable importance was referred to by Mr. Pirani on Saturday night. It had been asserted, he remarked* that the credit of the colony was liable to be injured by the AuditorGeneral, and he wanted to put the blame on the proper shoulders. The present system of meeting payments against the colony in the Old Country was to send Home by mail bank drafts to the amount of the debts that were incurred there. Of late years the Government had, instead of sending bank drafts Home, cabled them at great expense to the colony, and had risked emergencies that m» Government had a right to risk, as would be shown by a. letter from Mr. Palliser, -the Audit Officer in London, which was read, before the Public Accountg Committee last session. Mr. Palliser said:— "On the 9th instant a cabled bank order was received from the colony for £15,000 at the request of the AgentGeneral, and on the 10th instant it was found necessary to again cable for * further bank order for £15,000, which has duly come to. hand. Whilst on this subject of bank orders I would like to state that much inconvenience is caused >y the fact that bank orders are not forthcoming when the payments are requned to be made out of foreign imprest account, and I ha,ve been put \o the necessity of withholding several urgent payments on this account within the last few days in anticipation of the San Francisco mail furnishing a bank order for a large amount. Of course, if the credit of the colony was in question I would countersign' cheques on the foreign imprest account, which would have to stand overdrawn until again put in credit by a bank order, but I do not think I should be placed in a position such as that, seeing that every informauf *i 1 "^ t0 tlie Treasury to enable them to make proper provision for payment they know to be due." That letter, said Mr. Pirani, was forwarded to the Treasury by ,the "Auditor-General, who asked the Treasury to take such steps as would obviate the necessity of payment being withheld and secure the credit of the colony from the possibility of being dependent on the exercise of a discretion which the law did not allow him to exercise. ' The only notice the Treasury took was to write at the bottom of the letter, "Seen and returned." Government liberality at election time ! The Otago Daily Times reports that at the meeting of the Caversham Borough Council on Thursday evening a letter was read from Mr. T. K. Sidey, the Ministerial candidate for the district, enclosing a-i extract from a letter from Sir J. G. Ward regarding the widening of the railway bridge at which read : "Re Caversham bridge: The plans are being prepared now, and us soon as they are completed the work will be gone on «tfith. There will be no .avoidable delay." He (Mr. Sidey) had not forgotten the railwaj' siding, which was very necessary, but it would be understood that too' many things could not be urged at the same time. He also to mention that at his instance a telephone would be placed m the new post office. There was a good attendance at the Upper Hutt on Saturday evening when Mr. J. H. Collier addressed a meeting there. Mr. Wilkinson occupied the chair. In the course of his speech the candidate referred to the urgent need of additional accommodation at the local railway station in order to meet tho holiday traffic, and, referring to the large number of persons who had to be provided for on the King's Birthday, he stated that in tho near future in all piobability a serious and fatal accident would have to be recorded unless adequate station improvements were carried out in order to do away with the necessity of the large crowds of men, women, and children crossing and recrossing. the network of railway lines in going, to and from the picnic ground. On the motion of Mr. Cotter, /seconded by Mr. Davis, the candidate was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. "Three cheers for Tom Wilford" was called for while Mr. Pirani was explaining the iniquitous Public Revenues Act at his Petone meeting on Saturday night. The invitation was not, however, responded to." "I am awfully sorry there is such ominous silence when that gentleman makes his proposal," said Mr. Pirani. "I think he must be trying to quieten the meeting, and it seems to me a rather rough thing that in Petone the only way to quiet the meeting is to call foj- three cheers for Tom Wilford." (Applause.) Another misstatemont refuted. It' has been said that there are only two members of Parliament who refused to accept the "£4O steal," remarked Mr. Pirani on Saturday night. "I know nina members of the Opposition, at any rate, who would not touch the dirty money." "Did you take it?" said a, man at the back of the hall. "No, I did not," emphatically replied Mr. Pirani, amid applause. Mr. M'Laren addressed an open-air meeting at the corner of Mercer-street on Saturday night. He urged that most of the progressive measures passed by the present Government had first of all been mooted by the labour bodies, and then the Liberal politician stepped in and said "All my work." There should be more representatives of labour in Parliament than they had hitherto seen, aud tho lesson the workers hnd to learn was that by combination they could secure the return of men who had the interests of labour at .heart. The Government had kept its position largely by means of class concessions, such as the rebate of rent to Crown tenants, tho penny postage, which principally btnefited the mercarilile class, and subsidies to shipping companies. They could not get away from the fact that the "fat man" is waxing fatter under the rnle of Liberalism, and the toilers have the same interminable struggle. At the conclusion of his address he Mas accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. On Saturday night, from the eminence of an express pitched at the corner of Rintoul and Riddiford-streets, sundry of

Mr. Hislop's supporters held forth to a large crowd of Newtown electors, as to why in their opinion Mr. Hislop should receive the support of the workers. Mr. R. M'Kenzie, Mho presided, criticised unfavourably the claims of the other candidates, and Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh dealt at length with Mr. Hislop's political record, especially the labour measures he had initiated and advocated. He claimed that Mr. Hislop liad always enjoyed the confidence of the more thoughtful section of the workers, as shown by the fact that he had been asked by both sides to become Chairman of the local Conciliation Board. Mr. A. Mouro stated that a large majority of local socialists were supporting Mr. nislop, as they recog. nised tliat it was necessary to put into Parliament men who had not only sym» pathy with popular aspirations, but men who, having to grapple with intricate social problems, could bring trained in< tellects, wide knowledge, and ripe experi* ence to bear on their solution, and Mr. Hislop came nearest that ideal. Mr. Townsend followed, dealing with Mr. Hislop's claims on the electorate from a trades' unionist's standpoint. At this stage some of the other candidates were descried in the crowd, and loud calls were raised for them to take the platform. On the invitation of the Chairman, Dr. Chappie mounted the express and explained his attitude towards the Government. When he promised to follow Sir Joseph Ward he shared the com. mon belief that Mr. Seddon was to leave the colony for another sphere of usefulness, and that Sir Joseph would be the head of a reconstructed Cabinet of tha best men of the Liberal Party. He was an ardent Liberal, but Liberalism, and Seddonism were distinct things. He refused to be bound band and foot to Mr. Seddon, whose administration had proved extravagant, corrupt, and demoralising, : and whom it was necessary to remoye from the command if the ship of State was to escape disaster. Mr. C. M. Luke, who followed, twitted Dr. Chappie with his change of front, defended the Go.vernment, contrasting its performance with Mr. Hislop's promise. Mr. Hislop was a progressive man, but he was on the wrong side of politics to do any good, to the workers. Mr. A. J. Rand proposed a- vote of confidence in Mr. Hislop, whicn was declared carried amidst cheers and counter-cheers, and a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. Chappie to the promoters of the meeting for their courtesy to the other candidates, brought the largest and liveliest open-air meeting Newtown, •had ever seen in its political history- to. al close. A meeting of working men gathered to hear Mr. O'Regan at the head of the wharf to-day. He declared that he was not going to retire from the contest, and as to the suggestion that he should stand down m favour of Dr. Findlay, he said he would not retire in favour of a man who, whatever his ability, had no political record whatever. He expressed approval oi all the* planks in tie Wharf Labourers' Union platform, remarking that he had always been oa the side of the working man. Replying to a' question as to whether he was in favour of all rafts and boats carried on vessels being compelled to be provided with water and provisions, he said there could bs no two opinions ' about it. tJntll the wreck of the Elingamite, he was under the impression that every lifeboat and raft was permanently stored with provii sions, and if he was elected he would insist on that being done. At the conclusion of his address, Mr. O'Regan waa accorded, without dissent, a vote of thanks and confidence. William George Tustjn was nominated to-day for tke Newtown seat by Archibald Connall M'Phail Sinclair, builder, Brooklyn; Fred Mowlem, Seatoun, gentleman; Lily Jane" Cook, Seatoun, mar-i ried; Grace Plank, 176, Adelaide-road, domestic duties ; William Christian Smith, Park-street, architect. Thomas William Hislop has been nominated for the Newtown seat by William Wolland, Little Karaka Bay, Roseneath, butcher (President of the Butchers' Union of Workers); Arthur Raven, Mitcbelli town, baker ; Sophia Guymer, 23, Don- > aid M'Lean-sireet, married ; Robert M'Kenzie, Revanu-street, carpenter; Winifred Hindmarsh, 93, Owen-eteeet, married; Benjamin Archer, Brooklyn, bricklayer; Charles Balcombe, Brooklyn, printer. Mr. Charles Manley Luke, Coromandelst., ironfounder, was nominated to-day by — John O'Brien, Brooklyn, driver; Jas. Alfred. Short, Brooklyn, plumber;, Arthur Harry 1 Fullford, Brooklyn, plasterer ; Sabina Howlett, Rintoul-street, James Embury, ' Lawrence-street, boot , manufacturer ; Augustus Thompson, 52, Daniel-street, carpenter; Fredk, Wm. Sears, Herald-street, draughtsman ; Richard Ayres, Coromandel-Btreet, herbalist; Jas. Osborne, Gleucoe-street, expressman; Thos. Cooper, Rollestonstreet, builder ; Benjamin Lewis Thomas* 75, Owen-street, minister; Elizabeth A* Boxall, 23, Constable-street. Mr. Thomas Mason Wilford has been nominated for the Hutt seat by John Cudby, "Hutt; Mrs. Annie Maria Wakelin, Pc-tone ; Alfred Bailey, Petone ; Samuel Smart Masen, Waiwetu ; Maurice Pollock Cameron, Khandallah. At Makara on Saturday night Mr., Field addressed the electors. Mr. Robinson presided, and the candidate was given a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. On Saturday night Mr. Tustin addressed the electors at Seatoun, Mr. Goss presiding. On Mr. M. H. Cook's motion a unsunimous vote of thanks and confidence was given the candidate. Mr. Aitken will address the electors in the Druids' Hall, Taranakt-street, tomorrow evening. Mr. Duthie will speak at the Choral Hall at 8 o'clock to-morrow evening. To-morrow evening Mr. Atkinson will address the electors in the Wesleyau Schoolroom, Molesworth-street. A meeting of Mr. Godber's committee will be held at Mewourne House, Cubastreet, to-morrow evening. Mr. Hislop will speak at Kilbirnie (Heginbotham's Hall) to-morrow evenirig. On Tuesday evening Dr. Chappie, will spsak at the' Roseneath Schoolroom. Mr. Barber will speak at Mitchelltown State School at 8 p.m. Mr. Luke vrill address the electors at Island Bay to-morrow evening. Mr. Pir&ni will speak at Dalton's Hall, Upper Hutt, to-morrow night. Mr. Collier will speak at Khandallah to-morrow evening. On Tuesday evening Mr. Field will ad« dress the electors at the Schoolhouse, Rikiorangi, at 8 p.m. Mr. O'Regan speaks at Victoria Hall to-morrow night. [BY TKLKGBAFH— PHBSS ASSOCIATION.! CHRTSTCHURCH, 15th November. Mr. John Barrett has retired from the Courtenay election in favour of Mr. Rennie, another Liberal candidate, who is contesting the seat with Mr. Charles Lewis', formerly a member for Christchurch. 'This Day. The following candidates have been nominated: — Mr. Charles Taylor, for Christchurch; Mr. D. Bnddo for Kaiapoi; Messrs. A. W. Rutherford, R. Meredith, H. F. Recce, G. Pulley, and G. W. Forbes, for Hurunui. ASHBURTON, 15th November. Mr. William Brock and Mr. Albert Ager were nominated to-dny for Ashburton. MASTERTON, This Day. Mr. A. W. Hogg was nominated for the -Masterton seat win morning.

NAPIER, This Day. Messrs. A. L. D. Fraser and R. J. Eamsa have been nominated for the Napier seat. Mr. S. C'cirnell has declined a requisition to contest Hawkes Bay against Sir William Russell. WESTPORT, This Day. Mr. Colvin has been nominated for the Buller heat. The Rev. F. W. Isitt has been nominated for the Buller seat. MANGAWEKA, This Day. Five candidates have been nominated for the Rangitikei seat — Messrs. W. J. Birch (Conservative), R. E. Hornblow (Liberal and Farmers' Union), A. E. Remington (Government nominee), M. J. Reardon (Liberal and Labour), and J. Smith (Independent). Efforts to make a more open field have been unavailing, and all will go to the poll. FEILDING, This Day. Mr. F. Y. Lethbridge has been nominated for the Oroua electorate. DUNEDIN, This Day. The Rev. Mr. Isitt has been nominated for Waikouaiti, and Mr. Chisholm for Dunedin. NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. Nominations for Taranaki — Messrs. E. M. Smith and Harry Okey. For Egmont — Messrs. W. T. Jennings and Charles Leech. Possibly another candidate will be nominated for Egmont. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Mr. George Laurenson Avas nominated for Lyttelton to-day. Mr. A. H. Turnbull has decided to contest one of the city seats. INVERCARGILL, This Day. Sir Joseph Ward has been nominated for Awarua, and Mr. J. A. Hanan for j Invercargill. GISBORNE, This Day. The Hon. J. Carroll and the Rev. F. W. Isitt have been nominated for the Waiapu constituency. [B* TELEGBAPH — OWN COREESPONDENT.} CARTERTON, This Day. The number of names on the Wairarapa electoral roll totals 4821. PALMERSTON N., This Day. Messrs. Wood (Government) and Manson (Government) have been nominated for the Palmerston North seat. DUNEDIN, This Day. Mr. Gilkinson has been nominated for Tuapeka. Mr. Allan Orr has decided to withdraw from the Wellington contest. He called a, meeting of his committee, and after placing the position before its members and emphasising the danger of giving the Opposition a chance of benefiting by division amongst the Government supporters, he placed himself in their hands. The committee agreed Avith Mr. Orr that it Avas desirable on this ground that he should retire. Mr. Barber's Ladies' Committee is invited to attend a meeting on Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Barber speaks at Brooklyn on Thursday. Mr. Wilford speaks at Silverstream. tonight and at Belmont to-morrow night. His Hutt committee meets at the Oddfellows' Hall to-morrow evening. Mr. M'Laren speaks at the head of the Avharf at noon to-morrow.