ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 123, 21 November 1911, Page 3

ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

WELLINGTON SUBURBS.

MR. BELL AT BERHAMPORE.

Mr. W. H. D. Bell, Opposition candidate for Wellington Suburbs, addressed a meeting of electors in the Masonic Hall, Adelaide-road, Berhampore. There was an attendance of about fifty people. Mr. F. Gale presided. The candidate reiterated his criticism of the present Government and recapitulated the platform of the party which he represented. He urged a quicker and more economical development of the country with a settlement of Native land under fair and reasonable conditions to the Natives. He advocated a reduction in the increasing burden of taxation. The Opposition Party was out to administer the country and expend the loans more economically and effectively. He explained the party's, land policy in the granting of the freehold to Crown tenants at original valuation. This was not making a gift to the tenant—a bribe to the Crown tenant—-it was a fair deal at the price that would be got in open market. What could the Crown do with the land if it did "retain it? If it leased it, it fot an annual toll in the shape of rent. i it sold it, it got an annual toll in the shape of tax. The State was losing nothing, but gaining the advantage in the opening up of fresh lands without going to the London money market; for more loam>. (Applause.) It was a mistake to say the Opposition Party was not in favour of old-age pensions. (Applause.) The party was in favour of .reducing the age of old-age pensioners. In regard to labour, the working man under the Ward Government found it harder to live than he had before. There were no more discontented people in New Zealand than the Government's own people—their own employees. The railway men had on the eve of, election a miserable pittance thrown to them as to a dog. He referred also to the action, of the Minister in refusing right of appeal to "probationers." The Government had done nothing to remove the misunderstanding. This was not the position a pattern employer should take ap. Had the Government done anything to justify its existence to the working man? The Government had tried to buy the.Civil Service on the eve of election, and he felt it had failed. (A Voice: Yes, it has.) ' Surely the railway servant and the Civil servant preferred to be removed from political influence. (Hear, hear.) That was what the Opposition Party meant to'do. (Applause.) The boards would nob be despots—no more despots than the judges at present. i Voices: Oh! and laughter.) The system tad been a success in Victoria. People here were sick of the patronage which permeated right through the community. Dealing with the question of defence, Mr. Bell expressed high approval of the Act ae .it stood t . but deplored its being drawn' into politics. If once politics were introduced into the working of the Defence Act then the system was doomed. On the liquor question the candidate upheld the three-fifths , majority as being mctfe inclined to give stability than the bare majority. (A Voice: Then you're riot a democrat.) Mr. Bell explained that the bare majority would lead to disastrous see-eawing .between liquor and no-lioense. In answer to questions th'e candidate «aid he was in favour of an increased graduated land tax to break up big estates. He was also in favour of preference to unionists.

On the motion of Mr. W. F. Nees. seconded by Mr. S. Campbell, a hearty vote of thanks and confidence was accorded the candidate. An amendment in the sha.pt) of a vote of thanks to the candidate and an, expression ot confidence in the Government was moved and seconded, but received only one or live votes.

The meeting closed with cheers for the candidate. - -

MR. LUKE AT WADESTOWN.

Mr. A. Neely presided over Mr. J. P. Luke's meeting at Wadestown last night. The candidate -was well received, and after touching on hi* experience in local affairs, which culminated in Ms election as a member of Parliament, stated that though his electorate had been somewhat changed, he believed he would secure sufficient support to again be its representative. He was democratic enough to believe that it Was not in the best interests of New Zealand that the lands should be alienated from the people. The national endowment of land, the rock on which New Zealand was building up a structure to provide for old age pensions, education, and maintenance of hospitals and charitable aid, should not be disposed of. He was strongly averse to the Opposition'* land policy. He wanted to be associated with the building up of a Liberal party, which would stand for honest progressive legislation and fearless administration. New Zealand, he declared, was not tired of Liberalism. There might be differences of opinion about the constitution of the Ministry, but the country would not go back to the days of legislation in the terestsr of a few. The question of the high cost of living should be fully investigated ; our present system of education, with a broad way for all up' to the university, should remain, and the iron industry should be nationalised. On the motion of Mr. A. Swift, Mr. Luke was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.

LABOUR CANDIDATE'S AIMS. I Mr. F. T. Moore, Labour candidate for the Suburbs seat, addressed a large attendance of electors at Makara last might. Mr. Bowler occupied the chair.., In the course of explaining the aims and objects of Labour, the candidate said that ever the. advent of popular government social reformers have been striving for the adoption of an ideal plan of administration that will establish harmony between Capital and Labour. Today this ideal form of administratioii was in sight, because Labour was deterinined to see placed on the Statute Book economic schemes for the definite separation of these two great factors in the production of wealth. In order to end quarrels between Capital and Labour, capitalists would be given the opportunity of handing to the State their land, mercantile, and industrial securities m exchange for State securities bearing-in-terest at 5 per cent, per annum, and the State would then take over the ownership ot such lauds and industries. This, he said, was the only way in which the .problem of Capital and Labour could be properly solved, and resistance to this scheme meant industrial unrest, ending in paralysing strikes. New Zealand had tried arbitration, and now saw no «ourse open but the taking into her own hands of the interests of Capital and Labour, so that each may be paid its fair and proper share of the fruits, of industry. The growing demand for .popular control of all big food industries to reduce the cost of living was also a reason in support of Labour's proposals, «nd the statesmen who failed to grasp., the situation were unworthy of election, to Parliament. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried on the motion of •Mr. G. Monk,, seconded by Mr. Healy.. WELLINGTON NORTH. MR. CAREY'S CANDIDATURE. Mr. E. 3. Carey, Labour candidate for Wellington North, addressed a meeting of the electors at St, Paul's Schoolroom, Tinakori-road, last evening. There were about seventy persons present. Mr. G. Tester occupied the chair. Mr. Carey said there was a growing de-

sire for a change in the political control of the country. He was sure that there would be a remarkable increase in the votes polled for Labour at the coming elections. The people were no longer satisfied with the Liberal Party, which twenty years ago was placed in power by the progressive electors to fight the monopolists. Mr. Carey then outlined the policy of the Labour Party as set forth" in its platform, and as dealt with by him in previous addresses. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. DR. IZARD'S CANDIDATURE. Dr. A. W. Izard addressed a meeting at Cloake's Hall, Tmakori-road, last night, Mr. Cloake presiding. The candidate said that TaUway employees, a* well as the Civil Service, should be given full civil and political rights. The time was now ripe for the appointment oi a Royal Commission to immediately consider the desirableness of a systematic and orderly completion of the railway system. Sufficient money should be borrowed each year to ensure completion of works fairly scheduled within a given time. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed. WELLINGTON CENTRAL. MR. FISHER AT TORY-STREET MISSION HALL. Mr. Fisher, Opposition candidate for Wellington Central, addressed a crowded meeting at the ToTy-street Mission Hall last evening. The candidate's speech was mainly on the lines of his previous address. Referring to population he said that up to last August New-Zea-land had lost to Australia 6200. Yet a sum of £32,000 was voted on the Estimates for immigration. It would, he argued, be much better to do something in the direction of retaining the population already in the country. Mr. Fisher described the Premier's, estimate of the national wealth (at £650,000,000) as a "blithering fallacy." No Arbitration Court would be satisfactory that was presided over by a Judge. A man who. understood the desires of the people who come before the Court would have to be appointed. He did nob wish to in any way disparage the present Judge, and concluded his remarks under this head by advocating a - wages boards system. Coming to the Opposition he stated that it had been said that he was associated with a> party which had paid 3s 6d per day to men. No one, could deny that 3s 6d was being paid to> men to-day in Government employ. An interjector said that this was contingent on broken time caused by wet weather. Mr. Fisher replied that the Government Whip, Mr. Ell, was his, authority for the statement. The candidate criticised at length the extra payments to Judges, and remarked that in one year the Chief Justice received' £9500 from the State. He also criticised the expenditure of money on the old Parliament Buildings since the fire, and declared his adherence to the leasehold, saying that he did not want- to see a single solitary acre of the national estate sold. At the close of his address the candidate answered a num. ber of questions. "Are you- in favour of a bare majority on the licensing question?" one'elector asked. '

'Yes, I am," Mr. Fisher replied. Mr. Fisher was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.

WELLINGTON EAST.

MR. F. G. BOLTON AT HATAITAT. Mr. F. G. Bolton, Government candidate for, Wellington East addressed the •electors in the. Hataitai Pavilion last evening. Despite the. heavy weather, the attendance—from' 85' to 90—well-fill-ed the building. Captain Light occupied the chair. The candidate, refering to certain statements made by the Opposition candidate, contended that hie opponent*', statement that the cost of raising the £5,000,000 loan was £300,000, was grossly in excess of the true figures, and that as.the loan is officially stated to have produced a net rpturn of £96 6s Id per £IOO, the actual cost was £185,000 and not £300,000. These figures could be verified at the Treasury. As to the matter of the Dreadnought, he failed to understand the Opposition candidate's criticism* seeing that'his own party voted for the gift, and that up to that time New Zealand nad not contributed anything like her "fair proportion of the cost of naval defence. He was pleased. to see that his opponent after three or four times stating publicly that he did not favour an increase in the Graduated Land Tax, was now according to the report of his meeting of last Friday .in favour of it. He (the candidate) expressed himself in favour of an increase in the Graduated Land Tax, a stiff Absentee Tax, and the prin< ciple of the Death Duties Act. which he characterised a& the fairest possible method of effecting - a more equal distribution .of wealth. He justified tho Government's attittude on the land ques iipn, approved of the Old Age Pensions Amendment Act ot 1911, of the Widow* Pensions Act, 1911, and of assistance being furnished in maternity cases to the wives of those' unable to piovid* proper medical attendance. The reduction of the cost of living was an essential question to.be tackled. He was prepared to stand or fall on this, the outstanding plank in his platform. In answer to a question the candidate thought that enquiry by a committee of the best experts into the whole railway management and service would result in a benefit. The candidate wa# accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. A call ; for three cheers was heartily responded to.

HUTT.

MR. M'EWAN AT UPPER HUTT. Mr. J. W. M'Ewan. a candidate for the Hutt seat, spoke at Upper Hutt on Saturday evening, Following the example set by many of the candidates this election, the speaker dispensed with the formality of a chairman. He described himself, in the opening, as an Independent Oppositionist. Mr. M'Ewan dealt at considerable length with railway matters, pointing out the enormous increase in the cost of railway construction in this country.' He stated that the cost had risen from £9BOO per mile, at which figure it was up till 1907, to £20,000 between 1907 and 1910. In dealing with the land question •he described the various points in his policy. To ( meet the increased demand for land he suggested that all available Crown lands should be immediately surveyed, roaded, and thrown open for settlement. The large pastoral runs should be cut up into small grazing areas as soon as the present leases fell in. In order to prevent further exploitation of the Natives all Native lands not in use should be acquired by the State, and dealt with in the same manner as ordinary Crown lands. After answering a number of questions the candidate was aecorded a hearty vote of thanks. MR. MASSEY AT OAMARU.

\Vt TJSLEGBAPH—£BZSS ASSOCIATION.] OAMARtT, 20th November. Mr. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, addressed a. packed meeting in the Opera House to-night, in reply to Sir Joseph Ward, who spoke on Saturday night. The Kegimenta) Band played a welcome. Mr. Massey was suffering from ik yjty bad' cold; and his voice wa*

sometimes hardly audible. He had a splendid reception, and spoke along the lines of his previous speeches, his remarks meeting with frequent bursts of applause. At the conclusion of his address the following motion was carried by a forest of hands :—"That this meet- ! ing conveys a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Massey for his excellent address, and, in the opinion of this community, considers that the time has arrived when it is necessary to have a I change of Government in the best interests of this Dominion." PREMIER ON "POLITICAL TRICKS.' [bi telegraph—press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, 20th Nov. Speaking at the laying of the foundation stone of the new Departmental Buildings, the Premier said he had been talking ill the South for the last ten days or so, beginning sometimes at 9.30 a.m. and finishing, at midnight. He had had a very happy time indeed. He was not going to say a word on this occasion which might offend anyone, but in the course of a day or two ha would refer to some of the funny incidents which had been taking place recently in his own electorate. It had required a special train and 500 people to be imported to convey the impression that the people of bis electorate were in doubt about him. On the evening of 7th December they would have the answer to all these little worked-up political tricks and tarradiddles which were, intended to mislead the public in distant parts. (Applause.) IN DUNEDIN WEST IB* TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, 20th November. Mr/J. W. Munro, Socialist candidate for Dunedin West, addressed a meeting in the Garrison Hall to-night. The attendance was large, and'the-candidate received a good hearing. He dealt with the land question, and attacked the Opposition for its attempts to dispose of the freehold of the public estate. The attitude of the Government in attempting to treat the railways as a money earning concern was, he said, to be deplored. He asserted that neither Mr. Massey nor Sir Joseph Ward had any solution of the problem of the cost of living, because the members of both parties were supported by people whose interests would be infringed upon if the cost of living were reduced. He favoured a secular system of education, free from the primary school to the university, and strongly advocated the instituting of a State currency. He supported the bare majority for local option and Dominion prohibition, and opposed compulsory military training. A motion was carried expressing thanks and pledging the meeting to endeavour to return the candidate at the head of the poll. IN THE FIRING LINE. POINTS FRQM~THE SPEECHES. "Don't you think the land question is the first question to be dealt with in New Zealand?" a member of the audience asked Mr. Bell at Berhampore last night. "No," replied the candidate at once, "I think the first question to be dealt with is the cleansing of politics—that is far beyond the land question." "Well, Mi*. .Massey won't do it," came as the last word from the enquirer. At his meeting' at Hataitai. last evening, the Government candidate for Wellington East (Mr. F. G. Bolton) look occasion to' refer to, certain of the 'political phased of the Opposition representa-' tive for the Seat. Earlier in the campaign Dr. Newman (according to Mr. Bolton) made a most, extraordinary statement at Kilbirnie. It concerned the graduated land tax. He said then that he did not favour an increase in the graduated land tax. (An auditor confirmed this.) The tax, said Dr. Newman, was already high enough. This, it was alleged, ho repeated 'on..several subsequent occasions. ; " Now," added Mr. Bolton, "on the 17th November the Opposition candidate was asked if he, if elected, would increase the graduated tax. In reply he answered that the present tax was doing sufficiently well. But if Sir Joseph Ward was bringing down a new Bill he (Dr. Newman) would support it!" (Laughter.) "If this election!" added the speaker, "were to last long enough—say, three or four years—wo would'?.have this gentleman converted to'the Government platform."

"Do you believe in Government monopolies?" Mr. Bell was asked'at Berhampore last night. '" The only, justification for the Government to enter into comEetition with private employers is to reak upprivate monopolies," the candidate replied. "Then, are you in favour of it entering into competition with the Union Company?" "1 think we owe a good deal to the Union Company," said Mr. Bell, "but if.the Union Company's rates are extortionate and if they use their monopoly for purposes of extortion, then we should enter into competition at once." (Applause.)

Yet another claimant for propounding the Advances to Workers scheme, Mr. J. J. Ramsay, writes to the Dunedin Star:—"When I stood for Taieri in 1902 one of the planks of my platform was the extension of the provisions of the Advances to Settlers Act to workers. J am not prepared to dogmatically say nobody had advocated it previously, but if they had I never heard of it. To show my idea was very much on the lines of what afterwards became law, I may add that I pointed out that land such as the Cutten Estate, beyond Musselburgh, should bo acquired and settled with workers who would then be within easy reach of their work. I notice that Mr. Massey claims to be the father of the idea because he brought in a Bill in 1906, after the thing had been.'foreshadowed in the Governor's Speech, but if ho is the father, sir, I think I may safely claim the title of grandfather. Mr. Massey says the Government stole their idea from him. Did he steal his from me? I, at any rate, mooted it in 1902, and he in 1906. . ."

"Are you in favour of wiping out the Arbitration Act and giving freedom of contract?" asked a member of Mr. Bell's audience at Berhanrpore. "Well." said the candidate, "I think the Arbitration Act is dead, and I am in favour of wiping it off th* Statute Book." In answer to a further question as to what he would do in - place of arbitration, Mr. Bell spoke in favour of profitsharing. It had not been found, the candidate told another questioner, that pro-fit-sharing meant low wages, and a sop in the shape ot profits. He quoted the case of London gasworks;

"You have heard it said that so long as we have increases of wages so long will we have an increase fh the,cost of living. This is only relatively true, and ; does not 'apply to the primary industries of the country. The men engaged in our primary industries are the worst paid wage earners in this country."— Mr. F. G. Bolton, Government candidate for Wellington j£ast, at Hataitai last evening, when speaking on the question of th« redaction of the cost of living.

Mr. James Allen (a local paper reports) was too clover for a local wag at Blue Spur on Friday night, who asked the member for Bruce if lie eoneidcv-

Ed twenty years too long for the Government to be in power, was it wot too long for a member of Parliament to occupy one seat. Mr. Allen replied that, unlike the Government, a member of Parliament had to submit every three years to the purging process of an election, so that tho length of his time did not apply in the same way.

The writs were not issued yesterday, as anticipated. Consequently persons who are not yet enrolled can 6end in their claims up to 6 o'clock to-night.

The main rolls for the city seats contain the following numbers of electors : —Wellington North, 9389; East, '9384; South', 8820; Centraf, 9878; and Suburbs, 7183.

There is a Young New Zealand Party in Auckland that has decided to support the candidature of the Hon. G. Fowlds, and Messrs. Withy, Speight, and Poole. No pledge is to be asked from any candidate.

The speech which Mr. Hill delivered in the Napier Theatre Royal on Friday must have removed any doubts about the colour of that gentleman's .political coat (says the Hawkes Bay Herald, which supports the Opposition). We have known Mr. Hill for so long, and always as an outspoken Liberal of an advanced type, that it was impossible to corfceive that he would support Mr. Massey or the present Reform Party in its endeavours to remove a Ministry which it believes has outlived its period of usefulness. Mr. Hill could not have been expected honestly to take up any such attitude, and no one need be the least surprised at the very definite declaration he made of his opposition to several of the planks of the Reform Party's , programme. . j . If Mr. Massey expects to get any support from Labour candidates they must be of different make from Mr. Hill. This seems to us to rob the election of its political interest. We regret Mr. Crowley's retirement as much as Mr. Brown does. Electors are now left to make their choice of two men, both, to all practical purposes -supporter* ot the Government, and the choice must be made on personal, and not on political grounds. "I wish it to be clearly understood that I am not in favour of large estates," said Mr. Escott, opposition candidate for Pahjatua, at Waipukurau. He added that he would like to see a Bill brought down making $t impossible for one man to hold more than a given area of land. If that were done he did not consider that it would matter to the State whether the land was leasehold or freehold.

"The real progress of this country dated back to the advent of the Liberal Party. It was then that the foundation of true Liberalism was established and the legislative work of the succeeding years was built on a foundation of opportunities for _ the people to settle on the land on liberal terms. The social work must not be' retarded by any attitude of: a reactionary, party."—Mr. J. P. Luke at Wadestown.

" Let me say, ladies and gentlemen, that I stand before you with no ties at all," replied Mr. Myers, of Auckland, to a question why he had now abandoned his independent attitude and come out as a Government supporter. "Last year I was elected as an Independent Liberal, and I did not attend a caucus or go into the Government Whips' room except on one occasion when I left my umbrella there. (Laughter.) But I observed that so long as you have a party system it is futile for a member to stand altogether aloof—he must lean towards the party ; with which he is mostly in sympathy. 1 Personally, I can assure you, after my brief experience, that I am more in sympathy with the Liberal party than ever, and that is why I stand before you in the interests of the Liberal platform." (Applause.)

Mr. J. W. M'Larin, who is contesting the Franklin seat against the Leader of the. Opposition, stated at P&pakura on Friday that when he entered into the campaign at last election he realised he had, in tackling the Leader of the Opposition, a big hurdle to negotiate, and, though defeated, he was again forward on this occasion in conformity with a promise to fight the election in support of the party that had done more for the farming community than any previous administration that had been in power. The candidate mentioned that at the last ehction it was brought against him, in connection with the . vigorous outcry against certain proposed dairy regulations, that he had made application for a position of dairy inspector at a salary of £l4O a year. He refuted the statement and offered to donate £SO for a public purpose; if it could be proved that he had at any time applied for a Government billet. At a later date Mr. Massey stated that two opponents were already in the Legislative Council, and no doubt, after the next election, there would be another one in the Upper Chamber. Mr. M'Larin said he had always declared that if he could not get elected to Parliament he wouki not accept "a position in the Legislative Council, but would go back to his farm and his occupation.

The election campaign is proceeding merrily on the West Coast, says the correspondent of the Christchurch Press Most interest centres around the fight in Westland, where Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon is meeting with strenuous opposition Irom Mr. H. L. Michel ; whose politics are of an Independent Liberal character. The campaign is being conducted with extreme energy, both candidatea addressing several meetings a day in an effort tc get around the big electorate, containing 81 polling, places, before the eventful day arrives. Both Messrs Seddon and Michel draw crowded houses •vheitiver they speak and invariably re ceive attentive hearings. As evidence of the enormous interest raised in, the congest, it may tie mentioned that evtn special trains have been run in order to convey country elector* to some of the larger centres to attend the meetings. Mr. Seddon went through a tedious ninety minutes questioning at Waiota. which by common consent is regarded as the deciding factor in the contest. There are over 300 votes lit this townsjiip, and both sides claim to have a majority there. The energy of the candidates in wooing the electors is only surpassed by the bitterness imparted in the conflict by their supporters. Everywhere the inflamed state of public opinion is apparent.