"THE INDEPENDENT MIND"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 139, 9 December 1914, Page 3

"THE INDEPENDENT MIND"

MR; R. B. WILLIAMS AN IMPARTIAL CRITIC. The attendance at Mr. B. B. Williams's meeting in St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, last evening was not large, but the audience made up for its lack in numbers by a good deal of warm enthusiasm. The Independent candidate was described by the chairman, Mr. Roberts, as a free lance in every respect, with a special mission in the reduction of the cost of living and the principle of referendum on the question of Bible-in-Schools. Mr. Williams, he said, stood out as a democrat pure and simple. The candidate, who was greeted with hearty applause, proceeded to elaborate on the outline set forth by the chairman — a description which, he said, ace. .<itely fitted the case. Mr. Williams quoted the present Prime Minister, speaking after the last election at a farewell to the defeated candidate, who had represented Reform on that occasion. Mr. Massey then said, as reported by the Evening Post, that "he was proud to honour Mr. Williams for the straight, clean, and honest fight he had put up. If Mr. Williams' had had a longer period for his campaign he • would have been successful He was a man who would get into Parliament. Mr. Massey said be sincerely hoped Mr. Williams would be returned to Parliament." (Applause.) On the same occasion Mr. Herdman had voiced similar sentiments. (Applause.) "My platform," continued Mr. Williams, "is sound finance, clean administration, restriction of monopolies, closer settlement of land," immediate reduction in the cost of living, extension of pensions to those afflicted, increase of State aid for loans m the erection of dwellings, substitution for the second ballot, and the referendum. I stand for the masses and and not for a class." (Applause.) The speaker contended that the Government had stood by their pledge to reform finance, but they had not fulfilled the pledge to reform the fiscal system. They had fulfilled the pledge to give the freehold. Voice : What's that got to do with the masses? Mr. Williams : "Quite right. I am not a freeholder myself." Ihe speaker added that tho Government had failed to find a substitute for the second ballot. On the other hand, Mr. Williams condemned Sir Joseph Ward for his complete surrender on the question of the leasehold v. freehold, and praised the Labour Party for the stand it took on this question. The two big parties had come so close together that these were the times for the keenest vigilance of tho independent mind in Parliament. (Hear, hear.) Deprecating, in conclusion, the bitterness of party strife, Mr. Williams said he wished he could have read in The Post a declaration from Sir Joseph Ward something like this : "I am shocked at the action of certain people, and I don't approve of any conduct which will stifle free speech. Those who adopt this course don't help our cause, and I denounce^ it and repudiate any sympathy with it. We will win fairly or lose like men." "And I hope," continued Mi". Williams, "that Mr. Massey would say also : 'I regret the feeling and bitterness Bhown against me and my party. I < counsel my followers not to copy" the pernicious example of these people. Wo will go into office without stich methods or be put out after a clean fight.' (Applause.) Our leaders have too much of the narrow^ party politician about them and too little of the statesman, and we are the poorer by reason of it." (Applause.) The candidate was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence.