THE GENERAL ELECTION

Evening Star, Issue 18121, 10 November 1922, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTION

MEETINGS. THIS EVENING. Broad Bay.—Mr J. Stephans (Chalmers). Palmerston.—Hon. E. P- Lee (Onmaru). Waihola.—Mr J. M. Dickon (Chalmers). PRIME MINISTER OPTIMISTIC. The Hon. W. F. Massey addressed a largo meeting at New Plymout last night, and was .given a splendid l reception, the crowd Bringing “He's a. jolly goodiellow as he entered tho hall. The spjvch kept to the lines of that delivered at Pukekohe on Monjay night. Ho referred to tho conditions brought about by the. big slump and tho difficulties accompanying it; but went on to refer to the improvement in revenue, better prices for produce, cheaper money, and other conditions now prevailing, which signalised the turning of the corner' and bettor times. Mr Massey stressed that the present position made him more optimistic than ho had been since the slump. Ho announced that Mr Jessup, chairman of the Meat Board, who had done good work in London in connection with marketing and securing lower freights, was returning to the dominion, and that a gentleman who had been at the head of the Imperial Supplies Department during tho war was going Home to take Mr Jessup's place. It is understood that Mr Massey’s reference was to Mr T. R. Lees, now secretary of the Meat Board. At the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks and confidence in the Massey Government was carried with acclamation.

MINISTER. OF LANDS AND CONSTITUENTS.

The Hon. D. H. Guthrie, member for Oroua, had a very largo meeting at Feilding last night, and v/r.e accorded a. cordial hearing. Replying to criticism of the Government, he claimed that it- wan not under the influence of vested interests. On the contrary, it had driven a veryhard bargain with the Sugar Company, thereby saving £4,500,000. Through the handling of supplies the Board of Trade had succeeded in keeping down the cost of living, particularly in regard to homo necessities. In regard to soldiers’ settlement, Tho (Minister showed that out of £20,000,000 advanced on rural and town homes the lons to March 31 was only £43,000, or £2 2s per man repatriated. Replying to tho Opposition statement that there was no unemployment under the Liberal regime, tho Minister said 1 that in 1909 the Liberal Government found it necessary to dismiss a number of Civil servants. A deputation of working men in June of fhat year waited on tho Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), and Mr D. M’Laren, then secretary of the waterside workers, said tho position of the men on the wharves had never been so had for fifteen years. Union secretaries computed the unemployed in Wellington at 2,000. At that time there was not a war aftermath to cause dislocation.. On the land oneation tho Minister said he always favored the freehold, and held that a settler with the prospect of the freehold got the best out of the land. At the same time good leasehold tenures were available for those who required them. Speaking on aggregation, Mr Guthrie held that, tho days of ranching had passed. He declared that the policy of the Government, ns indicated by the legislation passed in recent years, "was to encourage closer settlement. On the dairy pool he strongly supported the Bill, and suggested consideration during the recess and its passing into law by tho new Parliament. He- dealt with the criticism of the I’eparoa and the Motntar.a Settlements. After, answering questions, tho Minister was accorded an enthusiastic vote of thanks and confidence in the Massey Party. WAIKATO: TWO CANDIDATES RETIRE. Mr Mervyn Wills, whose campaign was to open at To Awannitu last night, intimated during the afternoon that, in deference to Air Massey's wishes, he had decided to retire from tho Waikato contest. It is understood that Mr Dent, whose candidature was announced a few -weeks ago, is -also retiring, thus leaving a straight-out issue between Air J. 1. Johnson (Reform) and Air F. Lye (Liberal). DUNEDIN WEST. Mr C. AI. Moss, Labor candidate for the Dunpdin West electorate,, spoke in the Wa-kari Drill Hull last night, the attendance including a number of ladies. Air C. Campbell, president of tho Otago Labor Council, was in tho chair. Dealing with, the policy of the Government in its administration of the State Guaamteca Act, covering the advance to workers and settlers and the Housing Act, the candidate pointed out that there was no necessity for assisted immigration, as in the past when prospects were good. The policy of the Government in assisting immigration was to create unemployment, thereby reducing the standard of living. The Labor Party, ho said, favored arbitration in industrial, national, and international disputes. Air A. Payton moved, and Air J. S. Williamson seconded, a vote of thanks to and confidence in Air Moss, which was carried unanimously. AWAHUAS CLAIMANT?. Mr J. R. Hamilton, member for Awarua, addressed a well-attended, meeting at Woodlands last, night, making a general defence of the Government against Opposition criticism- Ho received: a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr Norman A.lTntyre, Go-operative candidate for Awarna, 'opened his campaign at Bluff. Ho declared himself a Progressive, standing independently of any party. He criticised all parties, and received a vote of thanks. CHRISTCHURCH NORTH. The Rev. J. K. Archer, Labor candidate for Christchurch North, opened his campaign last night, when he addressed a largo attendance of electors. Ho spoke principally on Labor ideals, and at tho close was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. THE WESTLAND SEAT. Air T. E. Y. Seddon addressed a large audience at Greymouth. He outlined the Liberal policy, and criticised the Government purchases and soldier settlement. The Liberals, lie said, were responsible for tho best features of tho agricultural bank scheme. He advocated Proportional Representation, and denied that the Bill to sell the Greymouth native reserve was dead. He denied voting in a no-confidence motion with Labor. He was opposed to tho nationalisation of tho mines. He received a vote of thanks and confidence. WANGANUI. Mir James Ross. Labor candidate . for Wanganui, in opening his campaign, atated that he upheld the Labor Party’s platform. He received a vote of thanks. NAPIER. Mir John Mason, unofficial Reform candidate .for the Napier seat, addressed a large audience at the Municipal Theatre last nighk Ho received a sympathetic hearing, and at the close of ; lrb address was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. LABOR CAN DID AT eTfOR OAMARU. 'The Otago Labor Representation Committee at its meeting last night considered a request from Oamam that a. candidate should: contest that electorate, and decided to make arrangements to that end. Tho name of the candidate will be announced next week. “YERY LIKE A WHALE." Hie Greymouth 'Star’ editorially congratulates Sir Joseph Ward l on his decision not to oppose the Hon. J. A. Hanan for Invercargill, and suggests that as Christchurch East would bo an ideal constituency for Sir Joseph to represent, DiThacker should insist on withdrawing in his ex-leader’s favor.—Own correspondent. • DUNEDIN NORTH. It is announced elsewhere that the roll can be inspected at Mr J. J. Clark’s committee rooms. Mr Clark’s campaign for Dunedin North begins at Upper Junction on Monday, next.

CJHALSIF.H3. ]\Ct* J, Stephens, Labor candidate, addressee) a meeting of over thirty electors at North-cast Harbor on Wednesday night. Mr J. MacDonald occupied the chair. On Hie motion of Mr Kellett, seconded by Mr Churchill, a vote of thanks and confidence iwaa carried, unanimously by a shorn of bands. AUCKLAND CANDIDATES. A number of candidates opened their campaigns last night. Mr \V. Noton, Opposition candidate for Parnell, fully endorsed Mr Wilford’s statement of his policy, and contended that the title of Reform claimed by the Government was a misnomer. He received a vote of thanks. Mr Wilford spoke briefly in support of the candidate. Mr F. N. Bartram, Labor candidate for Grey Lynn, criticised the Governments policy, andi asserted that it stood for capital. He received a vote of thanks and confidence. , Mr F. K. Bur bush, Liberal and moderate Labor candidate for Waiteraata, advocated a genera, 1 policy of reconstruction, the formation of a committee of experts to investigate public finances, railway boards to include representatives of employees and the public, a progressive laud settlement. Mr Wilford spoke briefly. The candidate received a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr Had Skelton, Opposition: candidate for Roskill, warmly criticised the administration of the Government, especially in respect of the land problem, which, ha declared, was the root of all the financial, social, and economic evils from which the dominion is suffering. He received a vote of thanks and confidence. Air W. J. Jordan, Official Labor candidate for Manukau, severely criticised the Massey Administration, saying that although an Official! Labor candidate, he pledged himself to represent the views of Manukau, irrespective of what any leader of any party might dictate. Ho received a vote of thanks, one of confidence being withdrawn at the candidate’s request. An Auckland message states that Mr Wilford' addressed meeting last night at Devon port (Waitems.ta electorate) and) Parnell, supporting the 'Opposition candor dates, Messrs F. H. Burbueh and W. Noton. He had a good '.rearing.