THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Evening Star, Issue 18141, 4 December 1922, Page 9

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

MBBHSOS. —This Evening.Ravonsbourn«. —Mr J. J. Clark. Barron's Hall.—Mr J. W. Mimro. Wakari.—Hon. W. Downto Stewart. Smith's Hall.—Mr C. M. Moss. Anderson Bay.—Mr C._ E. Sta-tham. Morningloli.—Mr W. S. Maslin. South Dunedin. —Air J. Gilchrist. St. Clair.—Mr T. K. Sidey. Otakou.—Mr J. Dickson. Pafcckihi.— Mr J. Stephen*. —To-morrow Night.— Bums Hall.—Hon. W, Downie Stewart. O.mho. —.Mr Munro. North-east Valiev.—Mr Clark. Green Island. —Xt r Sidey. Vvnkari.—Mr Moss. Anderson Bay.—.Mr Gilchrist. Mussel.—Mr MacAlauus. Carroll Street.—Mr Statham. Sandymount.—Mr Stephens. South Dunedin.—Mr Muslin. ■North-east Harbor.—.Mr Dickson. PRIME MINISTER INDISPOSED. MEETINGS CANCELLED. Mr Massey returned to Wellington from d» southern tour on Saturday night. He /poke at Kaikoura on Friday night, and on Saturday motored to Picton, where he caught the Wainui. He was to speak at Pahiatua, Dannevirke. and Woodville to-day, but ho developed a cold, due probably to the wet weather which he had experienced, and, siting under medical advice, he has cancelled his engagements. Ho is now confined to bed. His condition is not serious, but he has a slightly high temperature. BRITISH LABOR PARTY’S GOOD WISHES. The following cablegram was received on Saturday by the National Office of the New Zealand Labor Party from the British Labor Party:—“Nash, Labor Party, Wellington.—The British Labor Party, now His .Majesty’s Opposition in Parliament at Westminster, sends fraternal greetings to the New Zealand Labor Party and cordial wishes for a great triumph at the General Elections which are now pending. World peace, national freedom, and economic justice are the corner stones of Labor’s policy in all parte of the British Commonwealth, and a powerful Labor Party in New Zealand will help to advance the cause of international peace, economy, reconstruction, and social well-being. _ On behalf of the executive of tho British Labor Party — Sidney Webb, M.P. (chairman). Arthur Henderson (secretary).”

RAILWAY SERVANTS AND THE LABOR PARTY. The King’s Theatre was crowded on Sunday afternoon to hear an address by Mr Al. J. .Mack, general secretary of the Amalgamated’ Society of Railway Servants. On the platform with the speaker were the Labor candidates (Messrs J. W. Munro, C. M. Moss, J. Gilchrist, J. E. AlacManua, and J. Stephens), and tno president of the Hllkadc branch of the A.S.R.S., Mr T. M'Lennm. Mr M. J. Reddlrrgkm. president of the Otago branch of the A.S.R.S., occupied the. chair, and explained that Mr Mack was touring the South Island to place before the railway men tho attitude of the Government in'connection with tho Public Expenditure Act, to state the case of tie I'lltor Party, .and'to show why the railway servants should support the Labor candidates.

Mr Mack, in an address extending over ninety minutes, stated that the only political party that was sincere in its desire to better the conditions of the workers was- the Labor Party. The Hon. W. F. Massey was looking after the interests of tho butter-fat and meat producers; tho Hon. W. Nosv/crtby was looting after the interests of tho wheat growers and big land owners; tho Hon. Sir W. H. Herries was looking after the interests of the banking institutions; and tho Hon. W. Downie Stewart was looting after the interests of the insurance companies. It was time that tho workers returned men from their own class, who could look after their interests. At tho invitation of members of the audience tho Labor candidates briefly addressed the meeting, aa did Mr M‘Lennon. Mr J. Riley moved—“ That a hearty vole of thanks bo accorded Mr Mack for his very instructive address, and that the meeting pledges itself to secure tho return of tho Labor candidates.” This motion was seconded by Mr W. Anderson, and was carried unanimoiialy amidst great applause. Tho meeting closed with cheers for Ate Holland and! the Labor Party. V-- * DUNEDIN CENTRAL. Mr 0. E. Statham addressed a meeting that filled the South Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday night. Mr Peter Johnson presided. There wajs an element present which subjected tho candidate to a good deal of hostile interruption. Air Statham said he proposed to deal with the platform of the extreme Labor Party. Beforo doing so, however, lie would like to say a word about Air Alaslin. He always maintained that elections should be fought on purely political lines, and that personalities should not be allowed to com© into tho question. Ate Maslin’fi actions had, however, made it impossible for him (Air Statham) to avoid mentioning him personally. Ho was unfortunately unable to criticise Air Ala.slin’s policy, as" he was at a loss to know what it was, as if he had one he had failed to enunciate it during tho present campaign. Air Alaalin, although ho had apparently been unable to obtain the official nomination of the Liberal Party, was asking for Liberal support on the grounds that he was a Liberal stalwart and a great supporter of the old Liberal) Administration. He had failed to explain why, if that were so, he had been a candidate on several occasions in opposition to the Liberal Administration and to the Liberal nominees of Air Seddon and Sir Joseph Wards, for both of whom he now professed such deep ad.miration. Air Statham said that all those who had’ attended his meetings at last election would no doubt remember that he had promised the electors that, although he was personally not a Prohibitionist, be would give an absolutely fair run on the referendum as between Prohibition and Continuance. He had promised (1) to stand by the bare majority on all licensing questions; (2) to support a straight-out issue between Prohibition and Continuance on the ballot paper; (3) to support preferential voting on tho ballot paper if more than two issues were retained; (4) to maintain the triennial referendum ; (5) to uphold the present law as to extinction of licenses in the ©vent, of Prohibition being carried without any extension of time; and (6) to support the retention of 6 o’clock closing. AH these p-romi-ses he had faithfully kept, gnd every vole of his on the Recess Licensing Committee had been given in strict accordance with his pledges. Air Afaslin had persistently stated that he (Mr Statham) was one of the majority that had voted for tho report as brought down., that he had admitted this in his speech in the House of Representatives on August 2 last, and that the pledges referred to in that speech must have been pledges given to the “trade.” Mr Maslin bad been challenged to prove lus statements by ‘Hanoard ’ or otherwise, but he had faded’ to do so. Ho (Mr Statham) bad made no such admission as that referred to, and ho had not supported the report as brought down. He produced* and read to the meeting a telegram from Mr R. A. Wright, M.P., Mayor of Wellington, who was a member of the Licensing Committee, which, he claimed, completely refuted Air Alaslin’a statements as to how h© had voted. Ho handed this telegram to the chairman of tlie meeting, together with a memorandum from the Clerk of the House- of Representatives, showing how h© had voted on each division on the Licensing Committee, and said that, these documents could be inspected at any time by anyone who desired to see them, “The pledgee I referred to,” said Mr Statham, “were tho pledges I made on the licensing question at last election, and) I make the same pledges to-day. I made no pledge whatever either to or in the interest of the licensing trade.” He regretted that Air Alaslin had so strangely persisted in his campaign of misrepresentahon, which could only be flharacterised as a deliberate attempt to

damage him in the eyes of the electors. Coming to the platform of the extreme Labor Party, .Air Statham said ho desired to reason this out with those present who were supporters of the party. The plank for the socialisation of tho means of production, distribution, and exchange meant in plain English that all industries and commercial enterprises were to ho taken over by the State and run byjho State. The plank for land nationalisation provided that all privately-owned land (whether largo rural holdings or cottage plots in tho city—because there was no exception) was not to be told or tiansferred except to tho State and at tho State’s own valuation. Wo wore assured that there was to bo no confiscation, and that, tho State would pay fair value for all lands and indirstrios taken over. He tic* sired to ask ono or two pertinent questions. The first was: Seeing that tho capital value of all the privately-owned lands in New Zetland, including buildings and other improvements, wqs approximately £500,000,000, and that machinerv and plant used in connection with our industries, and other privately-owned stock and chattels which would have to be taken over, amounted to many millions more, where was tho extreme Labor Party going to get the money to carry’ out its scheme? Further, tho Labor Party was out to abolish capitalism, and desired to have no private capitalists in this country. Hi 6 second question, therefore, was: Supposing that they’ did find the huge sums of money necessary to give etlect to their extraordinary proposition,, what would become of the persons from whom they bought the land, industries, etc. ? _ They would still be capitalists, for. according to the Labor Party’s own showing, ho took it that they were going to pay them cash for the property taken over! Surely they could see tho * impracticability of these wild proposals. Ho appealed to the workers not to be led astray, but to strive for amt support a sano progressive policy of social and industrial reform on sound constitu--1 tional lines. At tho close of his address 1 tho speaker was bombarded with ques--1 lions, most of which related to Labor and his attitude thereto. Answering an inquiry about his associations with tho ' P.P'A., he stated that ho did not pledge • himself to any such organisation, but he ’ was pleased that any organisation should ’ nominate him. Mr Statham did not desire ■ a motion of confidence, find ft "Vine ■' thanks was carried. Air AV. S. Maslin, Progressive Liberal ‘ candidate for tho Dunedin Central elec- ' torate, addressed a meeting at the Odd- > fellows’ Hall, Forbury Corner, on Satur- , day’ nudit. Thera were about sixty o.ec- : tors present, and tho chair was occupied • by Air Thomas Dalton. Air Maslin. said ’ that ho was not going to refer to any little friction that might have arisen. In every electorate there was what was known as a “ mnd-mamifacturing machine, and in that respect Dunedin Central occupied a ■ very high place. After accusing the He- ' form Party of extravagance, and mismanage- ’ mont in its government, the speaker criticised its method of purchasing land lor 1 returned soldiers. Air Maslin (hen remarked that ho was in full sympathy with tho worker?, but he considered that the ’ official Labor Party platform was injun- ’ ous to the working man’s cause. Ho concluded by promising that, should 1 rolnbi- ’ tton bo carried, bo would do his best to 1 see that the ensuing legislation, would not : bo constituted of half-measures, but would ’ be such ns would bo a credit to the legis- ’ la tors. A hearty vote of thanks and con--1 fidcnce in Air Maslin was earned on the ’ motion of Air W, Hay, seconded by Air | P. J. Murphy.

DUNEDIN NORTH. Air J. W- Alunro, the Labor candidate for Dunedin North, addressed a large meeting of electors in tho North-cast va‘ley Town Hall on Saturday; evening. Mr W Been- occupied tho chair. Mr Alunro claimed that tho statements made about tho Labor Party and the warnings to beware of tho party were uncalled for. Tlio=© who levelled the charges must know that thev wore absolutely untrue, the candidate next spoke on tho land policy of tho Labor Party, and in re erring to the institution of a State bank, stated that banks, insurance companies, ana so on dictated the rates of interest, upon which were based the rates of profit Referring to the last balance-sheet of tho Bank of New Zealand, ho expressed; surprise to find that the Wlion in in transit amounted to only £2,858, while the notes in circulation, which the Government made a legal tender, represented £4,294,230. Tho banks were carrying oat tho currency quest ion with ‘‘a bale o paper and a printing press. no reason why a State bank could not bo brought into existence by Act of I atliam,n£ Tho Labor Party» land pohey was the only land policy any ©Uh© parties had got. Questions being: invited, a .»«iUMna.ii in tho front of the ball ose and made a speech of a rather rambling order, and continued until tho audience suppressed him by frequent and loud interjections. A few mtgutes later he sam he would move that Mr Munro was not a’fib and proper person to represent an;vK r ,dv tho motion being received with tokens of amusement. After a few ques_ tions had been answered, a motion of thanks’ for the address and confidence in A x Munro was carried unanimously, and three cheers were given for tho Labor Party. __ REV lIOWARD _ EIATOTT AND AIR, * VEITCH. Much indignation hay ’been caused in Waimanui Aicihodist circles by tho di. covorv that a special correspondent has telegraphed that trouble has been caused in tlio Methodist Church as the result of a controversy between Mir Howard Elholt and Ate Veitch. A straightout denial is given to the report. Tho facts are that Air Elliott at e public meeting urged the PP A not to vote for any man whose past actions or future pledges did not stamp him as a protector of Protestantism. The next night Ate Veitch mad© certain charges against Mr Elhott, who threatened proceedings for slander. Mr Veitch then published in the local papers an apology to Air Elliott, saying that his charges were without foundation. After Ate Veitch s char-ms half a dozen Methodists privately proposed to ask the Church leaders to withdraw an invitation to Air Aei tch to speak at the opening of the Synod. 'The (proposal, however, was dropped, and there is absolutely no ground for the special correspondent’s messages.—VA anganui telegram. MAORI POLITICS. BIG FIELD IN THE NORTH. “The five candidates in the field for the Northern Alaori seat are all busily electioneering, ” said Air Aiperahama luoro to the Auckland ‘ Star’_ on his return to Auckland from the Northern AVairoa, “ and tho chances at present seem to favor the return of Air Tau Hen-are, the Reform candidate. ’ Ate Tuoro was himself in tho field till the J2nd inst., when a big hui was held at AVhakarapo, on the northern side of the Hokianga 11 orb or. All the northern tribes except those of the Kaipara were represented at this hiu, at which tho various candidates were present, and in turn explained their political views. After -the meeting it was privately agreed that two should withdraw in order to concentrate support fog Auaru Nwho, it was understood, would carry .the Liberal banner. Air Tuoro duly retired, but the other candidate decided later to continue tho contest. Tho position in .the .Northern Alaori electorate now, therefore, is that five candidates will go to the poll —Air Tau Heuare as the Government candidate, Alessra Diaka To Tai and Nan Paraon© Ka.witi as rival candidates representing Batona’s association, Air Auaru Ngawaka as the Liberal aspirant, and Air Hone Hoke, who stands as an Independent upholder of the Treaty of AVaitangi. Ate Tuoro’s main plank” was a system of Government advances to Natives for the development of their lands under a scheme similar to the soldiers’ repatriation scheme, and he is retiring conditional to Ate Ngawaka including this proposal in his platform. The opinion among the Northern Natives, however, is that the one most likely to defeat Tau Henare is the Katana candidate, Nau Paraon© Kewiti.

Divorces are practically unknown in Switzerland. Perfectly natural in the land of safety matches!