THE LAST NIGHT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 140, 10 December 1914, Page 3

THE LAST NIGHT

CANDIDATES' FINAL APPEALS ROUND THE HALLS AND ON STREET CORNERS. With the repeal of the Second Ballot the last night before polling day has regained all its old importance. It is the last opportunity afforded candidates of placing their views before their constituents by word of mouth, and they make a full use of it. Halls both large and small in all parts of the city and suburbs were crowded, and in addition there were numerous open-air rallies. A fine evening favoured the open-air speakers, and none of them had reason to complain of lack of interest on the part of the electors. In the streets where there were no meetings there was nothing to indicate that the evening was not an ordinary one. Of course the home-going crowds when the principal meetings terminated were large, and everywhere there was talk of politics, but there were no processions or any other organised demonstrations. TWO PROPHECIES MR. HERDMAN ON THE GOVERNMENTS PROSPECTS. Ifc was a friendly audience that faced Mr. A. L. Herdman in his final speech at the Sydney-street Schoolroom last night. The hall was well filled, the chair being taken by Captain J. T. King. After thanking his committee for the good work it had done he said he thought that one could predict with a. certain amount of certainty that the present Government would meet with a considerable amount of success throughout New Zealand. He had come to the conclusion that the Government was certain of 32 seats and 24 were doubtful. Of that 24 he considered that the Government could rely on twelve, giving the Government a majority of six at least. He did not think he was in any way optimistic in taking that view of the position. Replying to interjections from the back, he expressed regret that more direct methods had not been employed earlier in the campaign to prevent obstructive tactics at public meetings, and he went on to contend that the evidence is plain that Sir Joseph Ward is allied with the "Red" Federation of Labour As to the Public Service Act, he declared that the Opposition desired to get control of the Public Service so that they might exercise the patronage and power and influence which they previously possessed. (Applause.) " I do believe we are going to win this election," he said in conclusion, " but let us see that we win well, that we poll every vote, and that we give them a real good thrashing." (Applause.) On the motion of Mr. A. de B. Brandon, seconded by Mr. Upham, a vote of confidence in the candidate and the Government was carried, a small minority at the back voting against. Before the meeting dispersed " He's a Jolly Good Fellow " was sung with great heartiness. THE OUTLOOK FOR THE OPPOSITION MR. FLETCHER'S PREDICTION. Optimism as to his chances of success on the morrow characterised the final address of Mi-. R. Fletcher, Liberal candidate for Wellington Central, delivered in the old Skating Rink last evening. Mr. W. Perry presided, and there were some 500 electors present. "I have never had a bad hearing ever since I started my public career in Wellington," opened the speaker, "and I ask you, if you see fit, to send me to represent you." A voice: "Easy." Later, he remarked. "I hope by this time to-morrow night — (Another voice: "You'll be an M.P.") — that the numbers will show that the top line has been struck out and I am on top." (Applause.) He ventured to say that Sir Joseph Wara would be returned with a majority of 14 or 15 votes, and that "Mr. Massey will be relegated to Waiuku or somewhere where he ought to be." Referring to commercial travellers and the allegations of "roll-stuffing," he said: "If the commercial travellers don't stand up and denounce this job they are not the men I think they are." If he did not get into the House he would the day after to-morrow challenge every one of these votes. He was going to see the whole thing through. Touching on the Harbour Board, he said: "I have been the strongest chairman the Wellington Harbour Board ever had, and I have been the best chairman it ever had," und then proceeded to show how the board had improved since his advent on it. The fact that his name had been the first one drawn out of the box when the contest between the Government nominee and himself was taking place showed how "the little angel up above was looking after him." He believed the Government had provoked the strike in the interests of the employers. Much had been heard about Sir Joseph Ward settling it in two days, but he (the speaker) could have settled it in twenty-four hours, as he did the Patea strike, of which nothing was heard. Referring to the Ministers, Mr. Fletcher commented: "They are a terrible lot. It gives anyone the 'pip' to look at them, andi I wouldn't be seen in their company for five minutes." After describing Sir Joseph Ward as "the only statesman we have in New Zealand," the candidate expressed the view that a wave of Liberalism was sweeping over the country from the North Cape to the' Bluff, and he believed that on the following day the electors would vote for the old Liberal flag that had done so much for the country during the twenty-one years it had held office. The candidate received a very sympathetic hearing and was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, carried amid hearty cheering.