MR. FITZGERALD'S CANDIDATURE.

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

MR. FITZGERALD'S CANDIDATURE.

Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald was a very busy man on Saturday. At 3 o'clock he met a number of the Suburbs electors opposite Mr Bowden's store at Kaiwarra, and expounded his political views. Before leaving he was presented by a deputation of young girls with a bouquet. He then went to Ngahauranga, where he addressed another meeting. Khandallah was next visited by the candidate, who afterwards spoke at Crofton at 6 o'clock. At 7.30 Brooklyn, where he delivered another address in the open air, and he finished up with a meeting at Newtown. At the Brooklyn meeting, at which Mr. John O'Brien presided, Mr. Fitzgerald devoted some time to a defence of the Government's financial policy, and maintained that most of the money which had been borrowed by the Liberal Ministry was in-terest-producing. He expressed himself in favour of a voluntary national superannuation scheme, so that the whole community could enjoy the benefits at present restricted to Civil servants. Referring to the question of defence, lie said that our interests were the interests of Great Britain, and that being so, he held that we should contribute a fair proportion of the cost of maintaining the King's navy. In his opinion, the Act providing for assistance to workers to secure homes for themselves was one of the best measures on the statute-book, [f elected — and ne felt certain that he would be at the top of the poll next Tuesday — he "would urge legislation for the reduction of taxation on the necessaries of life whenever and wherever possible; legislation for the better housing of the poorer members of the State ; legislation for the cheapening of money to the public ; and legislation which would in any way ameliorate the condition of deserving people. Replying to a question as to his views on Bible-reading in schools, the candidate said he considered that no education was complete without religion, but this should only be given in the children's homes or at their Sunday schools. In reply to another • question, Mr. Fitzgerald said that he believed | in encouraging the volunteers and the rifle clubs. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed,- and cheers were given for the candidate.