MR. WILLIAMS AT BERHAMPORE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 111, 6 November 1908, Page 3

MR. WILLIAMS AT BERHAMPORE.

" There is one common similarity that you will find in all addresses that you near in circumstances like this," said Mr. R. B. Williams when addressing about frrty Suburbs electors at Berhampore last night. "And in that respect," Mr. Williams added, "I shall not break the harmony of it, f»r I shaJl do just what the other candidates are doing, viz. tell you something about myself." The candidate referred to the fact that he had for nineteen year 3 been practising iii Wellington as n lawyer; had occupied the mayoral chair of Onslow, been a member of the Hospital Trustees and several other local bodies. These experiences^ ks submitted, qualified him to serve *he peopl-j in the wider range of politics. He dealt fully with the question of finance on similar lines to those adopted at the opening of his campaign, and said " I believe we are a Tittle, sick; I therefore cannot support the Ward administration. Apart from finance, I oppose it in its general administration. This Government and its predecessors have been in power with such overwhelming numbers that they Have practically no check on their action, and have, in consequence, grown arrogant, autocratic, and extravagant." Dealing with the question of defence, ne said the position that we were face to face with was this : in the event of war we had the general protection of the British Navy, but we must be prepared to repel attacks of any small 'raiding .squadron that might chance to come down on us. Our volunteer system and armament were wholly inadequate for our purposes. Why, last Easter, out of s population of one million people only EOOO volunteers turned ont for training purposes. His remedy was to inwodai-e a system »f compulsory military training, but not on the Continental lines. The Civil Senrice, he maintained, should be under the management of a board independent of political control. If that were done justice would be meted out to ths deserving, and people would not see the " misfits ' in the service whick were caused by political influence. The present administration would not alter the present state of affairs, because the system made it pcssible to reward " the faithful followers '" (Applause.) He went on to refer to the questions of education and labour. Dealing with the latter subject, he said he was in sympathy with the reasonable aspirations oi labour. It was possible for master and man to prosper if let alone, but that state of prosperity was not to be obtained by an irritating legislation, nor would it be accomplished so long as each looked upon the other as his natural enemy. _ , In answering questions, the candidate said he believed in the three-fifths majority for a decision on the licensing question, and a poll tax on Asiatics. He was not a hide-bound Oppositionist nor a blind follower of Mr. Massey. He was for "progress" every time. Mr. J. W. Hanson occupied the chair. On the snotion of Mr. C. Roadley, the candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.