THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 121, 18 November 1902, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

« TO-NIGHT'S MEETINGS. Mr. Atkinson, Wesleyan Schoolroom, Molesworth-street, 8 p.m. Dr. Findluy, Sydney-street Schoolroom, 8 p.m. Dr. Chappie (committee meeting), Rid-diford-street, 8 p.m. Mr. Duthie, Choral Hall, 8 p.m. Mr. Aitken, Druids' Hall, 8 p.m. Mr. Godber (committee meeting), Melbourne House, 8 p.m. Mr. Hislop, Heginbotham's Hall, Kilbirnie, 8 p.m. Dr. Chappie, Roseneath Schoolroom, 8 p.m. Mr. Barber, Mitchelltown Schoolroom, 8 i 5 Mr. O'Regan, Victoria Hall, 8 p.m. Mr. Wilford, Belmont Churchroom, 7 p.m. Mr. Wilford's Committee, Oddfellows' Hall, Lower Hutt, 8 p.m. Mr. Barber's Committee, Central Com-mittee-room, at 7.30. Mr. Pirani, Dalton's Hall, Upper Hutt, 8 p.m. The Civil Service and the Public Revenues Act are the subjects on which Dr. Findlay will speak in the Sydney-street schoolroom this evening. Mr. Wilford's Kaiwarra supjiorters, 8 p.m. Mr. Collier, Khandallah, 8 p.m. Mr. Field, Schoolhouse, Rikiorangi, 8 p-m. Mr. Luke, Methodist Church Schoolroom, Ishmd Bay, 8 p.m. Mr. Atkinson addressed a large meeting of city electors at the Victoria, Hall last night. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh occupied the chair, and remarked Ikat Mr. Atkinson fulfilled his idea of a politician — he had knowledge, ability, and courage, and that was what we required in our politicians. (Applause). Mr. Atkinson gave several instances to show that no member of the House had attended more conscientiously to the details of Bills before the House than he had done, and that, more particularly on the Public Contracts Bill, he had been directly instrumental in conserving the rights oflabour, although on that Bill he and others had had to fight the Premier for over two hours. Replying to the claim that the Advances to Settlers Act, was responsible for the reduction in the rale of interest, he asked whether that legislation was so far-reaching as to lower the rate of interest in Australia, where a similar fall in the rale of interest took place slightly in advance of the fall in New Zealand. Besides the Government was now issuing its loan in New Zealand and Australia at 4 per cent., while the Australian States only pa-id 3£, and our own Post Office Savings Bank only paid 3 per cent. Nearly every* measure which Government candidates selected for praise dated back as far as 1894. What a policy "to put before the country—to call ijpon it to rally round these measures wk a are absolutely accepted by the country and' which no sane man now dreamed of attacking. He also urged the necessity of giving 1 Magistrates and District Court Judges a firmer tenure than^ at present. At the close of the meeting Mr. Atkinson was unanimously accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. The Secretary of the Wellington District Institute, New Zealand Educational Institute, has written to all Parliamentary candidates in the Wellington Education District with regard to their attitude towardls the Teachers' Superannuation Bill. Answers expressing their sympathy with the objects of the Bill have been received from Messrs. Duthie, Aitkin, Buchanan, Hislop, O'Regan, and Dr. Chappie. Mr. O'Regan had a packed meeting in the Exchange Hall last evening, Mr. Finlay M'Leod presiding. The candidate, who spoke for more than an hour, received a most attentive hearing, and as he proceeded was warmly applauded. Mr. O'Regan vigorously defended his contention that the sale of Crown lands should cease, that the necessaries of life should be untaxed, and that the revenue should be recouped by increasing the land tax. An Imperial Customs Union would destroy the fiscal policy of Britain which, ay it was, conduced to international peace. But we could and should modify our anti-British tariff without asking any greater concessions than Britain already gave us. The Civil Service should - be classified so that every person in the service of the State should receive his increments as a matter of law. Mr. O'Regan answered a sheaf of questions at the conclusion, most of his replies meeting with approval. A hearty vote of thanks and confidence was proposed by Mr. J. Bruton, seconded by Mr. M'Gill-va-ay, and earned with applause. A telling reply to Dr. Findlay's remarks on the Miramar scandal was made by Mr. Atkinson at the Victoria Hall last night. Dr. Findlay, he said, remarked that it was ridiculous to make such a parochial question a reason for voting against the Government. He would cite against Dr. Findlay the authority of a counsel about as eminent, and perhaps not 6o biassed— Mr. Napier,' a strong supporter of the Government, who, however did not agree with Mr. Seddon's line with regard to the Miramar purchase any more than 90 per cent, of the Government following did agree. Mr. Napier E s l V ft ,s? debate on the se cond reading oi the Bill .- 'It seems to me tiiat unless we want to deprive the citizens of Wellington of local self-government, we oucbt to pass this Bill." Would Dr. Findlay say that the question whether the city should be allowed to manage its own aftairs was a merely parochial question in which the citizens of Wellington had practically no interest? He ventured to say that the citizens of Wellington would not agree with him, and it was for them to say whether it was safe for them to trust a man who would not trust them to manage their own affairs. (Applause.) Dr ' lindlay said that the estate could have been acquired by the City Council under section 355 of the Municipal Corporations Act. lhat section permitted land to be acquired by a Council lor pleasure grounds, gardens, libraries, museums, and music halls. They could have had music halls on the hills of Miramar, but not a single working man's home; if the City Council had been foolish enough to take it. luu-lher, the City Council would not have had the power to lease one single toot of the land if it had been taken under that section, except for the purpose of grazing, and for not more than one year. Thitt section was within the knowledge of the Mayor and the City Solicitor; they had carefully considered it, and regarded it as quite inadequate for the purposes of the city. The only way in which that estate could have been added to the city so as to become a part of it, and subject to its control entirely w.is by pissing the Wellington City Recreation Ground Bill which Mr. Sedclon would not allow to pass. That, concluded Mr. Atkinson, was a fair answer to the Premier's advocate. (Applause.)

Seven thousand pounds per annum, s? id Mr. Piraui at the Hutt last night, is too much for the Governor of a colony like New Zealand, especially as £10,000 was considered sufficient for the L'oinmonwoailn of . Australia. Five thousand pounds was, in his opinion, quite enough. The colony could not afford more, and the Government had no right to squander the p_-upL'.s money. Yet this advance was pivlHr:\blts to the increase of the honorarium to members, and it was only by two votes Ihnt a motion of his to defer such advance until alter this election was lost,

At Brooklyn Mr. llislojt iiifciM-il It, Dr. Fimllay'.s opinion aliuiil lltu Ittivnut q Act, 1900. 110 stilled lluU |)r. Kmilloy',, juwtilication of suction 'J liy irfotiMnh It, the Act of 1872 won hhiimjwliul. jieculim, coming fiom a mcinhui of a ptnty v/l f f< dated all things hunt Ui',)\.' 'Kite justification, however, nlinwnt iuimii>wk« or ignoring of the coixl il inn ut'mnU-i^ 'ivi 1872. At that limit Iho y\ l l»,r »■* y--Gcner.il was a- nou-puliticul oUinn |, ( ,|,l ing office for life. Ho wan, lli«iof»rr # like, the Auditor-General, iudupcndiwil of the Ministry for the time bcinj{ mid jursumably as well versed in the law «■< iho Auditor-General. In 1878, after (he alteration in the Attorney-General's oHWu (ho havmg become a, political onieoi). a change was made in the law by tho Grey Ministry. He supported the argument already published of Messrs. Atkinson and Pirani, and ridiculed the idea that this new convert to New Zealand Liberalism bad discovered a leading of the Act which contradicted the speeches made by the Premier in tho House and Mr. Walker in the Council as to -the intention of the Act, as well as the interpretation which had been put upon it by all parties since it was passed. A moderately well attended meeting was addressed last evening in the Willisstreet Schoolroom by Mr. James Godber, Mr. G. Tiller presiding. Mr. Godber emphasised the principle that qualified New Zealanders should have preference for public offices. The candidate supported the Government policy, and stated that Mr. Duthie had opposed the Land for Settlements Bill and was never really in favour of the Old-age Pensions Bill. Mr. Duthie had proposed that tea, and sugar, necessaries of life, be taxed to provide for old-age- pensions. It would be better to tax those more able to pay, by charging pensions to the land-tax and the income-tax ; but Mr. Duthie would have a different opinion about that. Sjieaking on behalf of local industries, Mr. Godber said the Government intended to spend about a quarter of a million in machinery and workshop enlargements, so that all locomotives and railway wagons could be made in the* colony. A man who rose from being a worker to being an employer could be as good a representative of labour as one who still worked with his coat off. He strongly supported technical education. In reply to questions-, Mr. Godber said he had never tried to lower the wages of any of the working classes in connection with the City Council. The gaol should be removed from the city. The Mount View Asylum should also be shifted, and it was only a question of time. A vote of thanks and confidence moved by Mr. Thomas Carmichael, and seconded, was unanimously passed. The largest meeting held at Brooklyn during this contest was held at the invitation of Mr. Hislop in the schoolhouse. Mr. Hislop spoke for an hour and a half, and dealt with many "topics. His remarks were frequently^ applauded, and at the close of the meeting Mr. D. Hendricksen proposed, and Mr. G. Frost seconded, a vote of thanks and confidence, which was carried amjdst applause. In supporting the vote Mr. Bust stated that he had known Mr. Hislop for over twenty-six years and he had always known him as the champion of the right. In his early career he had fought for the rights of the people— then the weaker side — and he had continued to do so ever since. Questioned last night as to the correctness of his statement that none of the "£4O steal" went into his pocket, Mr. Pirani replied, "Well some little time back the Government discharged about 700 men at a moment's notice, about 200 of whom found their way to Palmerston, and £30 of my honorarium went in providing for some of them." The Returning Officer for Wellington notifies that the Victoria Hall has been added to the list of polling-places at the city election. This certainly seems a somewhat singular course to take, seeing that section 108 of the Electoral Act ■ says : — "After the issue of a writ for an election in any district and until such election is over no change shall be made in the polling-places appointed for that district, unless a polling-place becomes unavailable for 'the purpose for which it i was appointed, or unless such election, cannot be held without some such change being made. Such changes shall be duly notified in one or more papers circulating in the district, at least seven clear days prior to the day of polling." The list of polling-places was gazetted on Tuesday last, the day the writs were issued, and the words of the Act above quoted would certainly appear to prevent that list being added to unless some very urgent reason is shown. Addressing the residents of Trehtham. and Silverslream last night, Mr. Wilford said the issue in the election would be between the Government and the Opposition, as he felt sure Mr. Pirani would induce Mr. Collier to retire before the day of the poll. They would then have a straight-out fight between the Government and the Opposition. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried without dissent, on the motion of Mr. Arthur Chote, seconded by Mr. Gambrill. Mr. Thomas Wilkins presided. Mr. Pirani last svening said he was quite sure that the Hutt electorate had not been bribsd by the expenditure of public money. They had only to look at the Hutt Post Office and the Petone Railway Station. He believed that the Government would be far more liberal if he were elected, as they were only too anxious to placate any district that he represented. He did nofc look at the Hutt railway question as a local one. It was a colonial work of importance, and if the member for the district was not strong enough to bring the Government to a sense of its duty he was not fit to represent, them. Last evening Mr. Godber announced himself as being' against borrowing except for reproductive works; a strong hand should be placed on the exchequer for anything that was not going to pay the colony well. With regard to the charges against the Government of meeting out of capital what should be met out of railway revenue, he pointed out that the present Government spent out of revenue on railways and public works £3,405,000, which, if it were loan money, would have involved an annual interest burden on the colony of £102,000. He supported the Rimuta'ka deviation (Cross's Creek to Woodside) and Hutt line straightening, which works would easily pay for themselves ; also the pushing on of the North Island Main Trunk line, the cost of which would be met twice over by a royalty of 13 per hundred superficial feet on the timber of Wainiarino forest. In reply to a q-jestion as to whether he was in favour of taxing the owners of land through which the railway was to be built so that they .should pay something towards the cost of the wwk out of the increment it brought to them, Mr. Godber agreed that owners should pay a share of the expense of tho improving of their property through railway communication. Sir Joseph Ward addressed a crowxled and enthusiastic meeting of the electors of Awarua at Winton labt evening. In the course of his speech Sir Joseph Ward declared that the colony only paid 1 per cent, for floating the'lasl loan in London, which was the Louden Stock Exchange rate whenever a loan was underwritten. He now felt that in the near future it . mijiht not be necessary to go outside the

Mtliiri? til nil for our loans; in fact, he l"lieVffl Mini, wo could be absolutely in'lrpni'Jpnl of the London money market f'» ant )',i<uk. Hcfci-iing to 'the land f|'('-«h'iii. li« wu'l iho Government had iir-nf-r it! -hi? fun" fiuiwMod the nalionali*"t]nh i,! Hi* firthold liituls of the colony. I lif- i-'ii'if Hi. ipfcft* wiin whether the Crown sftm.M give th( light, of freehold tenure hi fc-n-M.rs *7lm ffii/k tip (lie wiisU 1 lands f.f th* ( unvn at th" tfUliH iic(}iiirod hy t'io Uf,v-Hm;-7ifr . Oub of Iho ennnnoiiH ♦ "Mr*, id tl.ft iuh,ny Hific veic only v.,i lt > i^.i uuWuih ."ics id (| tl . ]KimcM'inn at ll.p Curvn. New. <vlmi, ihnmr would tin- mini of >mi(l<nit<> fficuift, or lh<- mm|mH.livHy jinfrt- j.cnpK o, v,,. „„„„ J1I1(1 fliillulilefj of n.Miiy of (he Mrum/lma •Mcttlci'H in difffi'-tit nftrlji of tlii'i M.lonv, liavi; for (K.-qiiirijiK inmln for Hk-imhi-Ivvh if Ihe iiv< hold „y,,\c. lv | l(l( | ( . x i Kl( . ( | „]„.„ thubc liiiklh wejo j>ufc of, tl, 0 n,[,il ( ,.|// |„ nine ciisra out of ten they would hnvo been outbidden by the man of meaius or the company rcproKciitin^ wwilth. The very object of the colony punJm.siiiu Lii-tru estates was to prevent thu laud troublis that unhappily hud exiwted for «enturie« in the Old World, and which had done so • much to drive people out of the British Isles. Were those who pi-cuchcd the right of lessees to convert the leases of Crown land into freehold prepared to apply the same doctrine to private individuals? Were they prepared to hay that a private individual who, having worked his land and acquired a competency, or else gave up working it, on account of advancing years, leased his land to a tenant, should be forced to allow that tenant to acquire the freehold? The same principle applied to the comparatively small balance of Crown land. Was the owner to be compelled to part with the freehold whether he liked it or not? He had no hesitation in affirming that the policy of the Government in obtaining large estates and cutting them up into small farms and providing cheap money to enable those upon either freehold or leasehold — whether under the Crown or not — to develop their land and thus make* it a means of productiveness had greatly helped lo bring about the .general prosperity of the colony. Speaking at Nowtown on Saturday night Dr. Chappie declared that the Liberal sentiment of the colony that had placed on our statute-book its liberal laws had lost none of its force. It would continue to modify, improve, and supplement liberal legislation though Mr. Seddon ceased to rule, and in this event these laws would be more fairly administered. The crying need of our country was not oratory nor intelligence, nor political knowledge, but honesty, and unless more conscience was imparted into our public life we must sink to the level of a. South American Republic. The fruit of Liberalism was improved conditions of labour, higher wages, lower rents, cheaper food and clothing, and if our legislation and administration did not bear this fruit there must be something wrong. We had been told that the purchasing power of money had increased. This was not so. Wages had gone up a little, but food was dearer and rents higher. The official returns gave the average daily wage for artisans in tho Wellington Province for the years 1877, 1887, 1897, and 1901 as 11s, 10s 6d, 9s 9d, and 10s 3d respectively. The weekly rations (Parkes* standard for soldiers) purchased by these wages at the time were 11.1, 14.3, 16, and 12.4., i.e., the average weekly wage of the artisan in constant employment in 1877 would fill II mouths, in 1887 would fill 14 mouths', in 1897 would fill 16 mouths, and in 1901 would fill 12 mouths. Mr. D. M'Laren writes : "Finding that Mr. Atkinson's reference to my use of the word confiscation, with respect to the j taxation of land values, has led to a misapprehension of my views, allow me to say that I regard it as perfectly just for the State lo absorb all future unearned increment by way of taxation. It is only the extreme suggestion that we should take, by way of taxation, the land values which individuals have paid for that I speak of as a proposal for confiscation of private property. Let me say that I am in favour of doubling the present land tax, for even then, our revenue from that source would, based on last year's returns, only amount to £589,108, whereas our revenue Customs duties amounted to £2,180,862. Whilst I am opposed to the State robbing the individual, I am also opposed to individuals robbing the State, which latter is most often in evidence. A meeting of members of the Eighty Club was held last night at the Club's rooms, Willis-street. The President, Sir. T. Dwan, sen., in explaining the object of the meeting, among other uiings said that the main issue was the selection of candidates for the coming general election, and as the club slightly differed from other Liberal clubs, in so far as the members were men of large means and represented extensive properties in New Zealand, and therefore should command a "heavy vole," it behoved them to select the best men, independent of private sympathy. He was aware that the club of itself could not elect any one candidate, but it was strong enough to keep out any babbling charlatan. 'This perhaps would benefit the constituencies more than voting blindfolded for some idiotic faddist whose only virtues were ignorance, broken vows, and inconsistency. After considerable private business was got through a ballot was taken, and Mr. Barber was selected unanimously foi Newtown. The final selection for the three City members was adjourned until Friday night. Dr. Findlay addressed the electors at St. Mark's schoolroom last night, Mr. W. H. Westbrook, president of the Trades Council, occupied the chair, and the room was crowded. Dr. Findlay said he thought it "would be admitted that the Opposition now before the country had no policy, and did not pretend to have any. Indeed, it w r as &o long since any of these gentlemen had anything to do with formulating a policy that it was excusable if they had forgotten what a public policy meant. (Laughter and applause.) But, though divided as to policy, the Opposition had one great, lofty, unselfish purpose, which might be styled, "Put them out and put us in." (Laughter.) Mr. Duthie opposed the Land for Settlements Act, the Old-age Pensions Act ; he was opposed to prohibition ; he was opposed to much of their Labour legislation ; and he was opposed to many other proposed reforms in which tJie community was interested. To what extent were his present colleagues in agreement with him? No doubt they respected and admired each other as men, and as he honestly respected them, but he took it that, politically speaking, they thought very little of each other. In regard to the Public Revenues Act he hoped to show 1 before the end of the weak how utterly unfair, illogical, and — from a lawyer's point of view — how utterly wrong was the construction placed upon that Act, and the conduct of the Government in connection with it. (Applause.) As to Mr. M'Laren's allegation that tho present Government had unduly favoured the mercantile classes and neglected the labouring classes, he contrasted that charge with the accusation of Mr. Dutliib and his friends that this was a Labour Government, and that it« leanings and prejudices had been in favour of the Labour classes and unduly against the mercantile. He quoted the different position of labour in the Australian States through tho election of an Independent Labour parly, and pointed out thai if labour wanted a concession, or to advance reforms, it inusi

form a sympathetic alliance with the middle classes of Liberalism wherever it could find them. (Applause). At the clo.-.e of the meeting, Dr. Findlay was, on the motion of Mr. A. R. Hislop, seconded hy Mr. A. Fraser, accorded by acclamation a vote of thanks and confidence. The want of proper supervision of sic uncrs leaving port was referred 1 to by Mr. W. G. Tustin at his Mitchelltown meeting labt nij;ht, with special referonco to the Elingamite wreck and the lack of provisions and water on the r.iTK lie would, if elected, urge on the <j')vernnient the absolute necessity of inhisting that all steamers should bo inspected before leaving port to nee that tho lafts and boats were provided with water and provisions. Mr. W. G. Tustin addressed a large audience at Mitthelltcwn last night. Mr. Tiiiabauliia occupied the chair. Mr. Tustin ui^ed that the necessaries of life should be admitted to Iho colony free of duty, that lands should be opened Up for settlement on the best possible terms, and that, the Slate should acquire suburban lands, ho lhat the congestion of the cities might be relieved, and that the workers might have cheaper rents. He also expressed himself in favour of more encouragement being given to rifle clubs and volunteers, and in order that this should be done a saving could be effected in other le.-s necessary portions of our defence system. On the motion of Mr. Harefield, the candidate was occorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. The subject of the Civil Service was dealt with by Dr. Findlay at his meeting last night. To secure good civil .servants, he said, they should make the position attractive by providing security of position, security of promotion, and security of independence. Ho considered a Civil Service Board undesirable, but thought ono of the first duties of the Government should be to take steps to classify the whole Civil Service of the colony, and he did not think Ministers would offer any objection to that classification. (Applause.) He regarded the Civil servants as an underpaid body; they should be paid as much as they would receive in the same class of employment under a private employer. He would approve extending classification, improving it, and adding some better provision for the future. There was never a Government which had not employed temporary assistance when required, and it was discreditable that those who had done the same thing with a former Government, and in a worse degree, should be their severest critics to-day. He approved temporary clerks of long standing being made members of the Civil Service. . How far had the present Government done its duty by the Civil servants? He did not believe, if he were a Civil servant, he would be content with any Government or think ho was sufficiently paid for what he did— (laughter)— but he maintained that the present Government had aimed to relieve need before increasing comfort or luxury, and had gone in for raising the salaries of poorer officials before increasing those of the higher. Under the Atkinson Government the higher officials were often raised, while the poorer were left neglected. (Applause.) Mr. J. H. Collier addressed a wellattended meeting at the Taita last evening, Mr. Ryder in the chair. In answer to a question put at the close of tie address as to whether he would go to the poll or not, he replied in the affirmative, and said in addition that both of his opponents in this election had been given ample opportunities of making a name and a reputation for themselves in the political life of this country, and if they were beaten in this contest they would have many opportunities in the near future of regaining a seat in the councils of the country. But if he (the speaker) went down in the contest, he did not suppose that he would ever have another chance of coming forward, and if he had the pluck, the energy, and the determination to come forward and fight this battle to a finish, single-handed, and heavily handicapped as he was in various ways a«d without the active support of the powerful political or Labour organisations, or the Government that exercised such a vast influence over the Parliamentary elections in this country, then they might safely depend upon it that he had the pluck and the energy to successfully fight their battles in the House of Representatives and satisfactorily discharge the duties that will fall to the lot of their representative. A vote of thapks and confidence in the candidate was moved by Mr. James, and carried unanimously. Large as was Mr. Pirani's Petone meeting, that held at the Hutt last evening was if anything more largely attended. The audience, though occupying every possible portion, of the building, overflowed into the middle of the roadway. Mr. G. H. Scales presided. Mr. Pirani on commencing his speech was advised to get on to a chair, which brought out the retort, "Oh, you will find me big enough before 1 have done," a prediction which was amply verified. His speech, which was mainiy on the 'ines of his Petone speech, was received by many expressions of approval, his swift repartees turning the tables on his opponents in a way that quickly ensured him complete control of the meeting. At the close of a two-hours' address, a vote of thanks and confidence were carried by an unmistakable majority. Mr. W. H. Field addressed the electors of Ohariu Valley last night. There was a representative meeting, and Mr. L. C. Wackrow presided. Mr. Field dealt very fully with political questions of to-day, including finance, defence, Customs, revenue, and the general prosperity of the colony, and declared his unswerving allegiance to the Government as the best possible for the colony in general and the farmers in particular. He also touched on Bible in schools, railway concessions, freetrade and protection, and the burning question to farmers of markets for meat and other produce, which question he claimed to have largely assisted and stimulated in Parliament and out. Mr. Field appeared to please his audience in the replies he gave to the " Questions to Candidates/ formulated by the Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, of 'V.hich he is a member. , He was listened to with attention and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence, without a dissenting voice. An allusion to the strong language of a certain Cabinet Minister by a local critic was ruled " outside the order of reference," and not discussed. Mr. Hislop last night referred to Dr. Findlay's arguments based on the increase of amount paid in wages in manufactures between 1895 and 1901. He pointed out that in 1890 the wages paid to 30,000 hands, amounted to £2,210,000, or an average of £74 each. Now, if Dr. Findlay's argument was correct in attributing the increase between 1895 and 1901 to the Ministry, by parity of reasoning they were responsible fov the fall of £300,000 between 1890 and 1895. But Dr. Findlay also failed to point out that the £3,300,000 in 1901 had to be divided among 47,000, making for each say £71 per annum, a fall of £3 per. annum, with the cost of living very much more, and the cost of taxation about £1 per head of population more. What, said Mr. Hislop, have the workers under such cir- j

cumstances to be thankful for? Their blessing consisted in the supposition that they had a Liberal Ministry! Mr. Pirani was yesterday nominated for the Hutt seat. His nominators aro — Win. E. Welch, Taita; Emily Annie M'Ewen, Petone ; Richard White, Petone ; Samuel V. Burridge, Petone ; John Brassel, Nainai; Thomas P. Allen, Waiwetu. John George Findlay was yesterday nominated for the city by Nicholas Reid, merchant, Willis-street ; Charles Perrin Skerrett, barrister, Sydney-street ; John, Plimmer, settler, Plimmer's-terrace ; Edward Corrigan, carpenter, 79, Austinstreet; Horace William Lloyd, jeweller, Bolanical-road. Nominations must be in the hands of the Returning Officer by 5 o'clock this evening. The Victoria Hall, Adelaide-road, has been appointed as an additional polling booth for the purposes of the general election and local option poll for tho City. Mr. Barber speaks at Kilbirnie to-mor-row evening. Future meetings of a, number of can* didates are advertised to-night. Notices from the different returning officers, of interest to candidates and thosa concerned with the local option poll, will be found in this issue. Mr. M'Laren speaks at the Druids* Hall to-morrow evening, and at Mercer* street corner on Saturday night. Mr. E. G. Jellicoe has an address to the electors of Wellington in this issue. Dr. Findlay addresses a special ladies* meeting at the Opera House on Thursday afternoon instead of Wednesday, as previously announced. Mr. Atkinson will speak at the Clyda* • quay School , to-morrow evening. Mr. Aitken will speak at the Wesleyan: Schoolroom, Molesworth-street, on Wednesday evening. On Wednesday evening Mr. Godber will address the electors at St. Paul's Schoolroom, Tinakori-road. Mr. Pirani will address the ladies at the Oddfellows' Hall, Petoue, at 3 o'clock to-morrow afternoon. He will speak at Ngahaurauga at 8 p.m. On Wednesday evening Mr. O'Regan speaks at the Federal Hall, Mannersstreet. To-morrow at noon he will ad* dress electors at the wharf. Mr. Godber addresses electors at thel wharf at 12.30 to-morrow. Lady electors interested in Mr.! O'Regan's candidature are notified of el meeting on Thursday afternoon. Mr. Luke addresses Roseneath electors to-morrow evening. His Ladies' Committee meets on Thursday afternoon. Mr. Hislop will speak at Palm-grova Hall, Berhampore, at 8 o'clock to-moiN row evening. Dr. Chappie will speak at Kilbirnie to* morrow evening. Mr. Collier will speak at Wainui-o-matal at 7.30 p.m. to-morrow. Mr. Field will address the electors at the Parochial Hall, Karori, on Wednesday evening. fBT TELEGBAFH— - TBESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, 17th November. Messrs. .dan and Witheford havf been nominated for the City. AUCKLAND, This Day. Messrs. P. E. Cheal and Jno. BollaW have been nominated for Eden, and Messrs. K. M. Houston and A. G. Glasi. *for the Bay of Islands. HAMILTON, 17-th November. Mr. H. J. Greenslade and Mr. F. W, Lang have been nominated for Waikato. HOKITDXA, 17th November. The Rev. F. W. Isitt hns been nominated for the Westland constituency in opposition to the Premier. ASHBURTON, 17th November. Mr. John Studholme, jun., was nominated for the Ashburton seat to-day. CHRISTCHURCH, 17th November. Mr. W. Rollitt has been nominated for Lyttelton. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Messrs. T. H. Davey and A. H. Turnbull have been nominated for the City. DUNEDIN, 17th November. Mr. E. G. Allen has been nominated for Chalmers. DUNEDIN, This Day. Mr. Stevfdrt has been nominated for Clutha. Mr. D. Reid, jun., has been nominated for Taieri. , Messrs. Ross and Kelly were nominated for Wakatipu. CARTERTON, This Day. Mr. W. C. Buchanan was nominated last night for tlie Wairarapa seat by c Messrs. John Cundy, Thomas Benton n John Knowles, and George Stevens. DANNEVIRKE, This Day. The Premier has consented to deliver a political speech at Dannevirke on AVed* nesday night. MARTON, This Day. Mr. John Stevens has been nominated' for Manawatu. HAWERA, This Day. Mr. C. E. Major (Government) wa» nominated this morning for the Hawem seat. Mr. Felix M'Guire (Opposition) haa been nominated for the Hawercpseat. NELSON, This Day. Mr Harry Atmore,' Government and antiProhibition, has been nominated for Nelson, making three candidates. Mr. R. M'Kcnzie and the Rev. Mr.Isitt have been nominated -for Motueka. The publicans are running a strong campaign in Nelson for continuance till compensation is granted. WOODVILLE, This Day. Mr. Samuel Bolton, the remaining can* didate, has been nominated for the Pahia* tua electorate. [Br TELEGRAPH — OWN COBBEBPONDENT] DUNEDIN, This Day. Mr. Bedford, the Opposition candidate for Dunedin, had a great meeting in the Garrison Hall last night, remindful of the late Mr. Scobie Mackenzie's gatherings. For nearly two hours the audience, whicb taxed the holding capacity of the hall, sat out the address, and the candidate re ceived a unanimous vole of confidence His chances of election seem excellent^