THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 October 1908, Page 4

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

AT GERALDINE. [F£3 PKES3 ASSOCIATION.] TJMARU, Oct 6. The political campaign opened in South Canterbury to-night, when Mr \V. H. Williams, one of the five candidates for the Geraldine clectora.te, addressed a largely attended meeting at the Volunteer Hall, Temuka. Mr Williams announcd himself as a supporter of the Government in general but considered there was room for economy in the administration. Too much was spent on the Tourist Department to the detriment of roads for back blocks settlers. The speech dealt chiefly with the land and labour question. He advocated a continuance of the present land set!lenient policy, strongly defending the leasehold. Mure amicable relations would require to be established beIween capital and labour. . Each should learn to recognise that it was dependant on the other and while employers should pay a fair living wage Iho employees should aim at deserving good treatment. He believed in taxing nil luxuries, including mofcovj cars and taking taxation off tho necessaries nf life. Ho was given an attentive hearing and lie replied to a number of questions and was accorded a vote of I hanks? AT WAIEAU. BLENHEIM, Oct 6.—The election for Wairau has assumed some peculiarities. Two Liberal candidates and an old lime Oppositionist (J. Duncan) who.on this occasion announced himself as an Independent Liberal, were in tho field. The two Liberals consented to the Prime Minister making a choice between them, with the result that 1!. McArtncy was chosen as (he Government candidate. It is stated definitely to-day that Mr Duncan has retired from the contest, and (his would give Mr McArtncy a-walk-over, and obviate the licensing poll if (}. Turner, an outside candidate with exceedingly slender chances, stood down; but in consequence of Ihc new development an Opposition candidate will probably be lixed upon in a rlay or two.