ELECTION NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 112, 7 November 1908, Page 4

ELECTION NOTES.

♦ POINTS FROM CANDIDATES' SPEECHES. Hon. T. W. Hislop addressed the electors of Wellington Central at Rt. Peter's Schoolroom last evening. Mr. Chas. Onyon occupied the chair. There was an attendance of about 250 persons. In the course of his address, the candidate referred to the much-extended functions of Government now compared with those considered proper only a few years ago. There should not be a too hasty condemnation of State services as Socialism ; they should consider what was good for the community independent of traditional names. He advocated municipalities carrying out tha workers' dwellings scheme. In reply to questions, he 'itud he favoured tha school cadet system, and perhaps training for a little time after boys left school. Theoretically he was in favour of a Stats Bank, but it was a very hard question to work out. Banks did not make such large profits as some people seemed to imagine. He favoured the licensing question being decided by tha people at the local option poll. Mr. Hislop was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence, and the meeting concluded with cheers for the candii date. "Sitting on tho fence," was a chared levelled by Mr. F. G. Bolton, at Tina, Jtori-road, last night, against hih opponi ent, Mr. A. L. Herdman. Dealing with the question of Bible in Schools, the, speaker said that The Post had reported Mr. Herdman as saying that he ' thought tho time had come when some sort of power should be given to ministers of religion to give some sort of instruction in public schools. The Dominion subsequently explained that Mr* Herdman added the words "after hours." s Those words were never uttered. (Hear m . hear!) A voice: "I asked him tha question, and he did not say that," Continuing, the candidate said "and that is the kind of advocacy that ona has to fight." The Dominion said he (Mr. Bolton) should have known thab the law allowed teaching after houra* The speaker replied "if the power ia already there why did Mr, Herdman cay that ho thought the time had com* when some power should be given? Did he know the law, or was he on tha fence?" The candidate declared that his opponent, by such a proposal, \ra| tampering with the present system. Mr. A, L. Herdman, in addressing a largo meeting of the lady electors of Wellington North at the Syduey-streefc schoolroom yesterday afternoon, emphasised the dangers and evils of the Socialism that is slowly gaining ground' in the Dominion. He also criticised the financial position, and particularly tho exponditure, which he held was increase ing at an altogether too rapid rate. In the courseof an address at Marton on Thursday evening, Mr. F. W. Frankland, a candidate' for the Manawatu electorate, strongly opposed the idea that the choice of the electors should bt> confined to candidates selected by. party leaders or managers. He spoke ia favour of No-License. A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded to Mr, Franldand. Mr. A. R. Atkinson, at the Bethel last evening, said he concurred to a large ex* tent with the legislative rest cure pro-! pounded by the Prime Minister, but oa the express understanding that Parliament went to work to overhaul and reconstruct the measures placed on' tha statu,te-book in recent years. But it wai absolutely impossible for any reasonably man to quarrel with the legislative programme for ihe future, because, although the Prime Minister's big speech at Palmerston North totalled fourteen, columns covering the Government's policy for the coming elections, yet two Bills exhausted the legislations programme — the Land Ssttlement Financs Bill and National Provident Bill, with. the principles of both of which hei agreed. "Let us not be alarmed or hysterical or panic-stricken, but soberly-minded. Let us not talk any more than is abso-> lutely necessary to arouse the people to the trufa position about stringency and slumps and hard times ahead. Let us rather calmly and resolutely set ourselves to discover the cause and apply ( "* the remedy. It is time that the people, of this country should recognise that there must be a strong opposition ia Parliament. It is -absohvtely necessary, that there should be a check upon the present Government, which will indeed be a governor to the engine. The Prime Minister sneered at the suggestion made by Mr. Massey that tho Opposition in the last Parliament had acted as a governor to the engine. The Prime Minister ridiculed the suggestion, and declared that, indeed, would be the tail wagging the dog. Let us now have an opposition that he will respect. One that he will not laugh at; one that will watch with care and vigilance the future finances of this country." — Mr. -Williams at O'Doniiell's Hall, Kilbirnie. Some idea of tho work of campaigning in tho Taumarvmui electorate may be formed from Mr. Jennings's itinerary. Starting at Waitara on 15th October, ho has since addressed forty-two meetings, travelled over 800 miles by train, trap, steam launch, and spent the past five days on horseback. The candidate has now to undertake the more remote portion of the Taranaki province before election day, and no doubt will have ample opportunity of growling and sympathising with settlers, over tho I condition of the roads. In speaking on the unemployed quettion last night, Mr. Braithwaito, who is contesting the Suburbs seal, stated that he had placed his solution on the matter before Sir Joseph Ward, who ventured that "there was something in it.'*' "Now," said the candidate, "that ia the first rung in the ladder, and I shall not rest until I have it passed."' Mr. Frederick Geo. Bolton, solicitor^ was nominated to-day for the Welling* ton North by Thomas Beau«-ir-qnt Dwan, Norman Mitchell, Thos. Wilson, Elizabeth Partridge," Theodora A. Rawle, David M'Cubbin Findlay, Grace L. Drake, Hector James Sutherland, Constantine Walsh, Came Pearson Blacklock, William Dawson Irons. Mr. JR. B. Williams addressed a largal mooting at O'Donnell's Hall, Kilbirnie, last night. The candidate fully reviewed the financial position of tho Dominion, and declared himself a strong opponent of the Ward Administration for their optimism in the* face of the obvious facts which justify no such optimism, but which, on the contrary, as stated by the chaiiman of the directors of the Bank of New Zealand, point to ihe necessity for the greatest frugality and care. Ho contended that the present Administration, with its past history of extravagance and unwarranted expenditure of the public funds, was totally unfit to manage our finances in the times before us. He dealt also with tho defence question, advocating aniveisal training. With regard to the Civil Service, he advocated the appointment of a Civil Service Board to control the public service, and strongly attacked the present system of political control and the opportunities it gave for log-rolling, political patronage, and nepotism. He dealt with other subjects on the lines of previous addresses,.

Mr. A. J. Black has withdrawn from the Auckland City Central contest in favour of Mr. Arthur Rosser, Labour candidate. At the conclusion of his address to a crowded meeting at Eastbourne last night, Mr. T. M. Wilford was given a vote of thanks- and confidence on the motion of Mr. Russell, seconded by Mr. Leahy. Mr. Frank Wills presided. Mr. Wilford was then entertained by local residents, and the health of the candidate- was enthusiastically toasted. Two open-air meetings were addressed by Mr. D. M'Laren, Labour candidate lor Wellington East, one at the corner of Dock-street and Adelaide-road, and another at the x>rner of Drummondstreet. Mr. M'Laren spoke on the lines of his previous addresses. In reply to a question, he pointed to taxation of land values as a means of reducing house rents. At each meeting the candidate was accorded & vote of thanks and confidence. An elector at Mr. Bolton's meeting last evening asked the candidate why . he opposed Mr. Izard and yet supported the present Government. "The reason X am opposing My. Izard," said the candidate, "is because this is a free country — (loud applause) — and it is my birthplace." "I would like to ask you again," persisted the questioner, "if you cannot get a better reason." Mr. Bolton retorted : "It is quite good enough few you." (Applause.) Mr. A. E. Atkinson writes : "Please allow me to say that your report of my indisposition is like that of Mark Twain's death a few years ago, 'greatly exaggerated.' The demands of my campaign for Wellington East are of too exacting a character to give me time for indisposition just now, and I am thankfu? to say that I am still in the ■possession of my usual health. After the 24th, or even after the 17th, if the electors make my majority large enough at the first attsmpt, there will be ample time for sickness and sleep and all other luxuries. Unfortunately, however, my wife is prostrated with influenza, and those of your readers who understand •what a blow that means to the efficiency of my canvass will not even after this correction withdraw the sympathy which yesterday's paragraph was calculated to create." "In Tinakori-road," said Mr. Izard last night, "there is a gentleman who • says I am an old woman. He says I have done nothing. He must be a great judge of human nature. He says I sat still in the Houpe like a mummy. I say that* no man, for the sake of talking, or for the sake of repetition, or for the sake of taking his half hour or hour, should waste tho time of the country. That view has always been prominent in my mind. When it has been necessary for me to speak, I have spoken." Diversion came from an unexpected quarter in St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, last night, during Mr. Braithwaite's candidature for the Suburbs seat. Quite unannounced a strange figure broke into itfae back of the hall and sauntered up w> the platform, to the tune of greetings wm some of the audience of "'Hello; Joe." On arrival on the stage he made for the candidate, who took m the situation at a glance, and shook • hands with his visitor and accorded him a seat alongside him. "Joe" made himself quite at home, and condescended nis patronage for the remainder of the meeting. Ho evidently was a big "draw," as his coming ushered several latecomers. At first he sat quietly, but when the audience became noisy, he held up an intimidatory finger as a warning. When the candidate had finished his address, "Joo" took the boards and opened fire , with the questions. There .was an immediate uproar, and the questions were not audible. After trying to make himself heard, ho retired with the parting shot that those "in front of him had "no more manners than the ducks that walk the streets." v There was a numerous attendance of electors, including several women, at 1 the Victoria Hall last night, when Mr. E. A. Wright delivered' an address. Mr. Densem occupied the chair. Mr. Wright claimed that although he was not a supporter of the present Administration, he was in reality a Liberal in the true pense of the word. Referring to the indebtedness of the Dominion, he said the time must come when the moneylenders would say that tho people of the Dominion had dipped deeply into their pockets. A large proportion of the money which the Liberal Party had borrowed was noti returning interest on capital. For instance, a considerable amount had- been expended on ths railways, which were not paying. Mr. Wright's further remarks were on the lines of his previous addresses, and at the close he was accorded a unanimous vote ot thanks and confidence. Candidates at the coming election wilJ require to carry a chairmau round with them if the same bashfulness and unexplainable modesty is manifested in an audience as in the case at Mr. J. W. Braithwaite's meeting at Newtown last night. After inviting his audience several times to elect amongst themselves the customary chairman, the candidate asked any one to allow himself to be nominated. Even, this, did not bring forth the necessary adjunct to the meeting, and then Mr. Braithwaite stepped down ■ amongst his audience and tried individual persuasion. , No more was this of avail, but just as all hope was vanishing a shuffling of feet at the rear of the hall announced a claimant for the vacancy. After a little inciting from his comrades bshihd, the budding chairman — a youth in knickerbockers — assumed his position on the stage. He. however, was overcome by stage fright, and the candidate came forward unintroduced, and had to play a lone hand in ruling the meeting for the remainder of the evening. Mr. W. C. Buchanan addressed the electors at Carterton last night. There was a good attendance, and the. candidate had a very cordial reception, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Mr. Wm. M'Lean addressed Wellington East electors at Mem-street School last evening. Mr. W. Woods presided. Mr. M'Lean devoted some time to the checking of trusts iv the interests of the people, and he laid much stress upon the development by the Government of the mineral wealth of the Dominion as a solution of the unemployed problem. He favoured the restriction of immigration to bona fide agriculturists. A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded to the candidate. Mr. David M'Laren's nominators are Miss H Ewart, Messrs. G. H. Jackson, 13. A. Martin, James Goer, Robert Sinclair, and H. Langdon. "There are only two kinds of politicians—the one wants to preserve the individualistic basis of society, the other ,\ants to change it to that of a true social. Tarn with the latter," said Mr. D. M'Laren last evening, "for the issue is Labour versus Anti -Labour," he added. A mishap to the motor-car which is being used by Mr. R. W. Short in his campaign for the Hutt seat caused the candidate to arrive three-quarters of an hour late for his Whiteman's Valley fixture last night. The audience, however, had waited to give Mr. Short a very hearty reception, an attentive hearing, and, finally, a vote of thanks and confidence