MR. R. A. WRIGHT AT NEWTOWN

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 123, 23 November 1908, Page 3

MR. R. A. WRIGHT AT NEWTOWN

Electors of South Wellington were contemporaneously entertained in the open-air at Revans-street on Saturday night by a cinematograph show, and Mr. R. Ai. Wright's address to his electors. Tho candidate, who is opposing Mr. Barber, spoke for over an hour to a crowd of several hundred people. In. opening he thanked the electors for the support he had already received, remarking that it was surprising how he polled" when it was considered that he was practically un unknown quantity. He had abstained from introducing personalities into the contest, which was between two different parties. He stood as an Independent and maintained that it was wrong for either the Government or the Opposition to ask the electors to return a man they may not want*. The party in power had been extravagant, and he intended to oppose it, although he favoured some of the measures, such as Advances to Settlers and Old Age Pensions. The course set out by the late Mr. John Ballanco had not been adhered to. With the return of Opposition, which would act as a check, there would be wholesome criticism. Tho candidate liken-ed the administrative business to that of a private concern, and accordingly no branch of the Government should be run at a loss. The working of the railways should be enquired into and the leakage stopped. Such losses were at present rectified by means of extra taxation. Moreover the civil service should be removed from Government control. x In conclusion Mr. Wright considered that the electors of South Wellington were in sympathy with reform, such as he had outlined, and also that they would vote accordingly. A round of three cheers was given for the candidate for his address.