WELLINGTON NORTH

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 137, 8 December 1919, Page 3

WELLINGTON NORTH

LIBERAL CANDIDATE'S ADDRESS

Another successful meeting was held by Mr. Qakleytoßrowne, the Liberal candidate for Wellington North, on Saturday evening, when he addressed the electors in the Methodist Schoolroom, Moles-worth-street. Mr. J. J. M'Grath presided, and there was a large and enthusiastic audience. Mr. Browne, in opening, referred to the tactics employed by " Reformers " at previous elections, and instanced the famous telegram sent by Mr. Massey to Otaki before tho second ballot in 1911, urging " Reformers" to support the " Red Fed " candidate, so as to keep out the Liberal. He also jeminded his audience of the "James letter" of 1913, forwarded by the official organiser of tho "Reform" Party to members of that' organisation, urging them to produce a public expression of opinion adverse to the Liberals, if necessary by passing resolutions among themselves, and wiring them to headquarters as if they were spontaneous outbursts of popular indignation against Sir Joseph Ward.

Dealing with the bonus promised by Sir Joseph Weird to the Post and Telegraph officials, the speaker emphasised that the promise had been actually made, ,and that the Government now refused to ratify it. He also suggested that tho Public Service Commission should be superseded by a non-political board, to which the public servants should elect a representative member. Mr. Browne referred in parsing to the influence of the great landholders, "the power behind the throne," on the Reform side, and expressed the opinion that a heavy increase of the graduated land tax was necessary to assist in the good work of breaking-up the large estates.

Tlie candidate answered a number of questions, and at the close of the meeting he received a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. As the gathering dispersed Mr. Browne was enthusiastically cheered.