OTHER MEETINGS

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 50, 27 February 1918, Page 3

OTHER MEETINGS

MR. POLSON AT KELBURN There was a fair gathering of electors last night, when Mr. A. N. Poison delivered a further address in the Kelbuvn Kiosk. Mr. C. V. Goulter, who occupied the chair, stated, that, he wished to clear up a misunderstanding entertained by some people that Mr. Poison was an anti-conscviptionist. He .was, .on the other hand, an out-and-out win-the-war candidate, and hoped to get into Parliament as the soldiers' friend. In his opening remarks,' Mr. Poison said that, though he was in favour of conscription, he was not in favour, of the conscription of life alone. If men .were willing to give their lives, it was surely right that the Government should also conscript wealth. The speaker then went into detailed criticisms of the administration of the Defence Department, his remarks being' similar to those of previons addresses. The inefficient working of Medical Boards, which, the speaker said, led the country into enormous unnecessary expense, was also sharply criticised. While speaking on the question of pensions, which he' considered were on too lean a scale^ Mr. Poison said no proper provision was made for pensions for New Zealand sailors and their dependents, probably because their number was not great, but all who enlisted in any capacity should be placed on an equal footing. , -' The next question dealt with was the Public Service, in regard to which Mr. Poison said there .was serious discontent. The payment of war bonus was unsatisfactory, for it could be taken away at short notice. A rateable increase of salary should be substituted for the bonus, and should be made permanent, for the cost of living would tend to rise rather than fall. Equal pay for equal work was also advocated. In place of political coiirol of the Service, Mr. Poison would like to see a board of control. Mr. Poison then dealt with several local matters requiring immediate reform, and concluded by saying that the only way to remedy the many present faults was to oust the National Government. At the conclusion of' the address a unanimous vote of thanks was accorded the speaker t