THE WELLINGTON NORTH CAMPAIGN

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 43, 19 February 1918, Page 3

THE WELLINGTON NORTH CAMPAIGN

CANDIDATES' MEETINGS

MR. POLSON AT WADESTOWN.

About fifty persons attended at the Social Club room, Pitt-street, Wadestown, last evening, to hear an address by Mr. A. N. Poison Mr. C: R. JopHn occupied the chair. The main part of the candidate's address was.devoted to a criticism of the Defence administration of the Government, and was mainly on the lines of his previous speeches. He emphasised the point that if married men were sent away with our Expeditionary Forces adequate provision should be made for their families. We could not at the present timo repeal the Military Service Act, for we could not fail giving our support to the men at the front; but when the Act was passed conscripting life, there should also have been passed an Act conscripting wealth. The treatment of conscientious objectors was adversely commented on. The pensions of our soldiers should be largely increased. Nurses should be given pensions equal to that of the soldiers, because they had earned such monetary recognition. Pen- ' sions for soldiers' dependents should be " received as a right. The efforts of Dr. Thacker and other "champions of domocracy" bad resulted in much improved treatment of our Expeditionary Forces, i and those dependent upon them. The I Defence authorities were dreadfully lacking in their duty in allowing such large numbers of Huns to remain in our midst, instead'of interning them all. The ' speaker's description of 1 what ho describ- | ed as the unjust ti-eatmeilt of the Main Body men was applauded. The married men who volunteered originally were eu- , titled to get their increases from the time they enlisted. The Defence adminI istration was the most inefficient branch >of the public service at present. (Dr. Thacker: Worse than the railways?). Mr. Poison said the two Departments were about on a par, bo far as ineffici- ! ency went. '■ Dr. Thacker, M.P., addressed the audience, strongly recommending Mr. Poison for support. I On the motion of Mr. Blake, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the candidate