POINTS FROM CANDIDATES' SPEECHES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 124, 21 November 1914, Page 3

POINTS FROM CANDIDATES' SPEECHES

NEWS AND NOTES. Mr D M'Laren, the Labour candidate for Wellington East, who formally opens his, campaign next week, held a preliminary meeting in the bowling pavilion at Hataitai last evening Mr. W. Wagstaff presided, and some fifty electors were present. The speaker, who received a sympathetic hearing, devoted a considerable portion of his address to a criticism of the present Administration. After speaking on finance, industrial, and other subjects the ' candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. . Opportunity to indulge in a little light ridicule at the expense of Sir Joseph Ward's suggestion to invest a sum of £5 for every baby born in the Dominion was taken by Mr. C J. Parr in an address at New -Lynn. ' ',' Anyhow," said the speaker, " this baby bonus scheme is not original,' for they have it' in Australia Over there they have what they call the bangle bonus. When a wife of a wealthy man presents him with a baby he gives her a bangle in honour of the event. On the other hand, when the wife of a working man has' a baby the husband gets himself a new suit and they say, ' Oh, Bill Smith's wife ha-S a | new baby.' " Above the round of laughter came a loud ¦ call :?" Give us politics-" | To this the candidate replied: "I am doing so; I'm giving you Sir Joseph Ward's politics.". (More laughter and applause.) ' The prosperous condition of the Dominion in spite of the war was referred to with pride by the Prime Minister last night In 1910 when there was 'a drop in the price of wool, 1014 Public servants were' turned on to, the streets. To-day not 'one Public 'servant had been dismissed, and no one had been turned off public works. Indeed, the Government saw its way to largely increase the number of men on public works During the two years ending 30th June the exports had increased by £5,000,000. If it had not been for the war there would have been by the end of this year an increase of another £3j000,000. It was the duty of the Government to give facilities to settlers and increase production. . Mr. F. T. Moore, Labour candidate for Wellington Suburbs, addressed a meeting of electors at Xgahauranga last evening. Mr Charles Duncan presided. The candidate said that when he received the nomination of the' Labour Party for the Suburbs seat he expected Mr. Fitzgerald to allow him a clear run against the Reform nominee. He had beaten Mr. Fitzgerald for the second ballot at last election, and prominent Liberals had said that wherever Labour gained an entry into the second ballot no Liberal candidate would oppose. In the face of this he had at first been inclined to feel strongly the prospect of a split in the Progressive vote, and a victory for the Government. He was ,now calmly reconciled to the position, and would, go to the poll full of confidence that at the last hour Progressive voters would realise ' that the only way to win the seat was by ; casting their votes for the candidate who was inHhe second ballot three years ago. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried. *, «»— » ' A quotation from Hansard was read by Mr. Massey, at Invercargill last night to show that in 1906 he moved a motion which was the beginning of the advances to workers movement, and there was nothing comical in his claim, as was suggested by Sir Joseph Ward at Winton. His motion in 1906 was to enable the Government Department to lend up to £400. His motion was knocked outi but only after the Prime Minister had Eromised his followers that he would ring down a Bill containing a similar provision that session. The Bill was brought down and was passed, and even included aya v little error that 'had occurred in the speaker's original motion. Many definitions of a "R-ed F<vl" have been attempted, but still another was advanced ' by Mr D M'Laren, when addressing the electors of -Wellington East at Hataitai last evening. I have been trying to get a definition of the term 'R-ed Fed.' from some of the Mas sey candidates," said Mr. M'Laren, "and so far I have . secured the following . - 'R'-d Fpd.'— anyone opposed to Mr. Massey ; anyone who supports Sir Joseph Ward; any person having Labour sympathies; anyone whom Mr. F. M. B. Fisher chooses to designate as bucli j a person whom the Massey Party hates, yet loves ; fears, yet despises ; opposes I while supports, and is in all respects dependent upon ; the Masseyites' stock in- trade." The seconder of the motion of thanks and confidence at Mr. A. M. Samuel's Uppet Hutt meeting waa Mr. Whiteman, not Mr. White, as previously stated. Mr. H. L. Michel, 1 selected Reform can | didate for the Grey electorata, opsned his *l«»ction campaign in the Toi\n Hall,, Greymouth, last evening (fcaya ;i Vie^s Association /nessage). One of the largest audiences ever accommodated in tli« hall was present In the course of a lengthy i address he reviewed the good work done I

by the Massey Government, and dealt fully with the important questions wiuuh are facing the Dominion. He was accorded a splendid hearing, and at the close of his speech a _ hearty vote of thanks wa« passed unanimously. Mr. A. Aislabie, Liberal candidate for the Suburbs, addressed a meeting of electors at the Kiosk, Seatoun, last night. Councillor Smith presided. After a criticism of the financial policy of the Government and the statements of the Hon. James Allen in reference to the Post Office Savings Bank, Mr. Aislabie advocated the establishment of a sick, accident, and unemployment assurance, combining a system of universal superannuation for private employees' contribution) to be made up by the employee paying one-quarter, the employer onequarter, and the State one-half. He would take the insurance under the Workers' Compensation Act out of pri* vate firms, who were making money out of the system that was established for the benefit of the workers, and place it in the hands of the State to conduct in conjunction with the other forms of provision before-mentioned. He explained his reasons for the bachelor tax, and advocated the appointment of an inspector to safeguard the savings of the people which are invested in life assurance. The speaker was given an excellent hearing, and was accorded a 1 hearty vote of thanks for his address. The Reform Party, said Mr. Herries at. Tauranga last night, was a solid paity, while the other side was a fortuitous concourse of atoms. The welldisciplined and compact party would win every time in Parliament, and get its measures passed. Speaking at Ngahauranga last night, Mr. F. T. Moore, Labour candidate for the Suburbs, said that the wilful heglect of the Massey Government to take steps to reduce the cost of living was alone a reason why that party should be removed from office. At Home the price of bread was only 6d per 4lb loaf; yet it was 8d here. Ihe British Government had kept down the price of all Britishj grown foods, and only sea-borne commodities were dearer there. The same action should have been taken in New Zealand. - Mr. J E. Fitzgerald, Opposition candidate for the Suburbs seat, addressed the electors at the Town Hall, Miramar, last evening. Mr. Edwards presided. The candidate, who was heartily received, declared that the present Government had for years acted as an impedimpnt to progress by opposing all those measures of advancement which tended to the welfare and progress of the Dominion. Despite Mr. Massey's warcry of three years ago of "Settlement, more settlement, and still more settlement," they had actually placed less peopk' upon the land than the Liberal Party during any, two years of office. He strongly advocated further settlement ot the lands, with restriction of area, settled by taxation, and social reforms by evolution, and not revolution. Mr. Fitzgerald received the usual compliment, and a committee was set up to further his interests. About 50 people assembled at Wainuio mata last evening to hear an address by Mr A. M. Samuel. Reform candidate <or the Hutt seat. Mr. Wood was elected chairman. Mr. _ Samuel's address was on the lines of his previous speeches. A number of questions were asked, and were answered satisfactorily. At the close of the address a hearty vote of thanks to the candidate and confidence in the Massey Administration was proposed by Mr J Pederston, anJ seconded by Mr. C. J. Jensen, and carried unanimously. At St. Thomas's Schoolroom last evening, Mr. J. P. Luke met the members of his committee, and wae accorded a most enthusia-stic reception. 'Mr. W. Barr occupied the chair. Those pre- ¦ sent pledged themselves loyally to cooperate and further Mr. Luke's candidature in the forthcoming election. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald stated at Miramar last night that he was a supporter of the Liberal Party, not because that party was perfect, but because he rucog- i nieed that the day was not far distant when the unification of Liberalism and Labour, realising their common interests, would again wield thp destinies of New Zealand. (Applause.) ( He stood for Liberal and progressive measures in the best interests of the people as a whole. The candidate concluded by appealing to all true Liberals and Labourites to support his candidature, because he claimed to be more fitted to represent their views and defend their rights, and because a great number of electors, both Liberal and Labour, were satisfied as to the soundness of his policy, his consistency, and his sincerity. An open-air meeting was held in Tina-kori-road last evening by Mr/ H. E. Holland. Social Democratic candidate for Wellington North. He strongly attacked the- Massey Government for lte "undemocratic and reactionary policy, and stated that it compared unfavourably with the Ballance and Seddon Governments. He strongly blamed the present I Government for the rises in the price of sugar, and urged that, in the interests of the people, the supplies should be under control, as was the case at Home. Mr. Holland received an excellent hearing. Speaking at Auckland on Monday night, Mr. A. M. Myers, Liberal member and candidate for Auckland East, referred to the political differences of the Liberals and the Reformers^and pointed to, the gap which separated the promise and performance of the present Government. As to the Liberal Party, he pointed out that if Sir Joseph Ward were returned to power at the approaching elections, the majority of the members of the new Ministry would come from the North Island. (Applause.) They did not intend, in the present campaign, to emulate the Reformers at the last elections by indulging in innuendos or any statements which could not be substantiated. They were, however prepared to meet any such statements on the public platform. (Applause. ) The schoolroom was well filled at PlimmertOn last night, when Mr. R. A. Wright addressed the electors in that part of the Suburbs Mr Gardiner presided The speaker defended the Government against the reckless charges which were circulated by the Opposition. The Government were responsible, according to their opponents, for every disaster which had occurred during their term of office, with the exception of the European war. So far they had not I been blamed for this. Perhaps that J would come later on. Replying to quesI tions, he 6aid it was unfair that railway servants should work over 70 hours per [ week. He favoured a substantial reduction of these hours. He denied that the Government had broken its pledges. It had carried cut its piogiamme remark ly well, considering the difficulties it had encountered. He challenged anyone to prove that taxation had been increased. It was untrue that the Civil Service was reeking with disaffection. The General F,lection would prove the inaccuracy of this assertion. A motion was moved that the speaker be thanked for his address. To this an amendment was proposed ( adding that he possessed the confluence of the electors. On a, division the amendment was carried amidst loud applause,

Mr. R. A. Wright, Reform candidate for the Suburbs, emphasised a point at Plimmerton last night. When such persons, he said, as Mr. Wilford, Sir Joseph / Ward, Mr. Hanatt, Mr. Sidey, and Mr. Colvin voted against the late Mr. T. E^ Taylor's proposal to abolish the penalties imposed upon thrifty, industrious, arid deserving aged colonists, who were deprived of the benefits of the old-age pension scheme because they were possessed of a home valued at £270, the Reform Party voted with Mr. Taylor, and his proposal would have been carried if the present. Opposition Party had risen to the occasion. Mr. A. H. Hihdfnarsh, Labour candidate for, Wellington South, addressed some fifty persons at an open air meet ing at Vogeltown_ last night on the general lines" of hie previous speeches, criticising and condemning the Government. He was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, and received three hearty cheers from the crowd.