THE COMING ELECTIONS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 267, 31 October 1911, Page 5

THE COMING ELECTIONS

MB. JAMES ALLEN AT MILTON. Irtß rnnss as.-kiation.] Milton. Oct. :»>. Mr. Janies Alien addressed the Bruce electors t«> night. He depre rated that legislation was rushed through in the dving hours cf Parliament. ami defended his action in criticising the payment to the Chief Justice fr sittings on the Native iuind Commissi >n ami for revising the statutes. He disclaimed having injured the credit of the Dominion, and said he would turn the tables on the Prime Minister and attack him with misrepresentation and injuring the Dominion by placing such a document upon the table as the Budget. It showed that the net debt was £79. *37. On. which was £2.148.992 more than a return he had asked f disclosed. He had jwinted <ut discrepancies in von nection with the amount borrowed for roads and bridges, and drew attention to the growth of loans from £2,274,857 in lf>'7 to over 6.1 millions in 1910. He also referred to the decrease in premiums on I per cent, loans between 1907 and I!*•!•. The next point touched open was the misrepresentation to which his party had been subjected, including a statement that if it was in power it would repeal a great deal <;f the legislation on the Statute Bo k. and that it never assisted the Government in passing legislation. The Government was severely criticised for extravagance, and also for its carelessness, which were attributed to its long continuance in office. The same cause led to undue preference, in which conection advertising was cited, anti the increaser! expenditure of the public money in election years was also mentioned. The evil effects cf ever borrowing were commented upon, after which Mr. Allen referred to dissension in the Cabinet and the lack of a distinct policy on the part of the Government. Mr. Allen received an almost unanimous vote '-f than.% uinl confidence at the conclusion of iiis address.

MR. MASSEY IX TARANAKI

SPEECH AT ELTHAM LAST NIGHT.

[PER I’KE-SS ASSOCI.irtOX j

Eltham, Oct. 31

The Leader cf the Opposition addressed a public meeting in Eltham Town Hall last night. About eight hundred were present. The Mayor, Mr. G. P. Wake, presided. Mr. Massey received an excellent hearing. He said the big question or: jwdling day would be does Government retain the confidence of the peopleHe was glad to say that the whole of Taranaki province was represented by men on the Opposition side and it would continue to be so represented. Opposition members offer honest and willing service and he believed the time was earning when men f greater energy anti .ability than those r. w in power would be required to manage the affairs < f the <•<. :ntr; . W e could not go on piling up debt and increasing t.ax.ati< :i a.- «e had dene in the last few- years, b:it would. have to keep the expenditure mitr-h nearer our income than was at present the case.

Referring to the Financial Statement, Mr. Massey contended it sho’vol no bint of reducing taxation f- of the cost of living. There was no evidence < f a Land poliev. < f reform of the Legislative C< uncil. of an improved method of appr intmen! in the public service, or nf dealing with the dissatisfaction in the railway rcrvice : it was an ek e.i-..jeer-ing Budget without any policy wi rthy r f the name. He w< aid only go back five years since the time the present Minuter took office. He dealt at length with the unsatisfactory land sy :cm and criticised the various Land Bills brought down by the Gt vernment. Despite th' - immigration system, arrivals scarcely balanced the departures as settlers could K t get access to the land new un< ■ « upied. He supported Sir J. Findlay’s suggestion that the natives should be placed on the same footing as the pakehns in regard to their land and urged the right to acquire the freehold and offer sci-ui ’ty of tenure. He <•< rnpl lined that Government did not I'.criisc the authority granted in regard to the purchase of lam! f'-f settlement. The onlv farmer in the Ministry was Mr. Buddo and tic•lid not give him the portfolio • f l ands as he had repeatedly expres sed himself in favour cf the free hold, so Sir J. Ward, who kiicv; nothing about land, had to hang cu to that portfolio. Mr. Massey adversely critteised the Mokau transaction contending that every facility was given for speculation .as again*! the ordinary settler. He held that anyone voting for a Government candidate would express approval of the Mokau transaction.

jj.r. Massry hr wis nor .’Hi’ii.>* burrowing, and admitted that the i-untry had favourable assets. but the indebtedness was increasing at too great a rate. While G.-v i rriment was anxious that to de all financing of the country whin New Zealand money could not be invented ”i the country there must be something wrong. He cumplitiicd that details of the cost of loans could not be obtained. The people had a right to know how the money was expended. He strongly urged reform < f the Le gislative Council, making it an eha - tire body on a pr<-port>en.al system. He said that although the public service was a good one. political titUtienee prevailed. New Zealand lagged behind other countries in this respect.

Regarding Public' Works, he t" olirrd som.'tiftsg on list* ions e-r the English Development Heard, without political mliunar er the [>’i -—are < t a local government system out <>< date. Money voted for reads and bridges in any cue year should be spent in that year.

It was extraordinnrv that iiu-re.t-< - to railway men’s p.-.v wire n.ldi •rt the r'l' of trie elcet'cn. Tl •■ >• were objection to the fum-t > ’ I’atliametP being hamied over rMinisters.

Mr. Mas-ox quoted the proposals under tl.<- last Tariff Bill giving the Minister the power to dienic whether articles were dutiable or mt. Taxation had been increased on articles required in the engineering industry. Continuing, he sa ; d that the Minister of Public Works had power to take away money voted for ct i tain works and to spend it elsewhere. Salaries fixed by the Act should not be altered, except by an Act of Parliament. Increasing payment of judges appointed to commissions was tampering with the Jmh’e'al Bench. It was proved th*: N.Z. was the most Imperialistic Dominion in the Empire, but he considered Parliament should have been consulted about the Dreadnought, instead of the Ministry usurping the functions of tiie representatives of the people. He detailed h : s Family Home Protection Bill which he hoped to make licensed bv law.

He dealt with the amounts paid to Government anti Opposition papers for advertisements. The proper system would be to give advertisements according to newspapers circulation. He quoted criticisms of the Government by Messrs. Ross. Graham, and Barclay, and urged the electors to vote fcr a Reform candidate at the coming election. A vote of thanks to Air. Massey and confidence in the p’rescnt member for Egmont was carried. Mr. Astbury. one if the candid.?:-; for the last election de.dred ,o move an amendment but would not rse till the chairman prone ded to put the motion. Mr. Mackenzie speaks at Eltham to-night. MR JENNINGS AT WAITARA. Waitara. Oct. 3!. Mr. Jennings. the Government candidate for Taumaranui, spoke last night and defended the administration cf his party. He quoted largely figures to show that though the public debt had inc;case.! the. was a decreased burden on th;’ people in consequence cf the money being spent in great pr< p,rtic!i fc. production purpose;. He made a strong appeal to his audience to vote against the Opposition for >he reason that that party as a whole had endeavoured to block the passing of the Waitara Harbour board Bill four years ago, while Govern ment on the other hand helped the distirct to be freed cf Nev- Plymiidh liability. At vote of thanks ;:-:ily was !•>•:>- posed, followed by an amendment of thanks and ccnfiJcucc. the latt' : being carried by an overwhelming majority.

WAIPAWA SEAT. MR. GEORGE HUNTER AT PAKI PAKI. The School at Paki Paki was well filled last night when Mr. George Hunter, a candidate for Waipawa scat, addressed the electors. Mr. Mint! occupied the chair. Mr. Hunter dealt with the land question, taxati :n. v—Juaticns. expenditure iff puldie m-lie' without authr-Ety from Parliament, reform of the Legislative Council and C ivil Service reform. At the conclusion a number ci questions were asked mid nnsv.rrcd. O:i the u: ' ; '-n “I Mr. Baker, scc•ded by Mr. Anderson, a licartv ■.etc of thanks wars carried, with •applause, to Mr. Hunter for h.s interesting and instructive address. Votes cf thanks to the chairman cf the school committee fi r the use nf the school and t > Air. Hunter’s chairman concluded an enthusi istic and sympathetic meeting. Mr. G< • rge Hunter addressed a meeting < f electors at ALaraetctara this afteincon. He :j i ik- nt W-.i • narama this evening. The electors a, Puk ihu are reminded that Mr. George Hunter delivers a political address there to-morrow night. By a typographical mistake he was advertised to speak at Pukehnu. THE NAPIER SEAT. Air. E. Crowley announces his candidature h r the Napier seat. Mr. C rowley states that he is stand ing in the interests of the Reform Party and will shortly take the oppcitnnity cf piaving his views fully before the elector-. HAWKE S BAA' SEAT.

The following ricr!:on news has been contributed cither by the can. delates concerned or by their committees :—

Mr. G. Spencer Ul.apham mldre scd a crowded meeting at I’nkctii irt school on Saturday < vrnmg. Mr. Janus Orr it) the chilis’. The candidate met with emitmiions applause ihreugb.out the address. Mr. t lapbum accepted an invitation extended to him by a large number < f res-dents to visit Puketitiri nyim before the election.

Whilst oTi this trip. Mr. Clapham :»lsi» addressed a inect'ng at Hendi ley’s Mill. Patoka, and received a [vote of thanks and confidence. .At i the conclusion of the meeting a com--1 mitt: e of 13 strong was formed. I At both meetings the elei-ti r.s enj dorsed the resolutions passed at the Hastings mass meeting relating to the selection of the East. Const llailI way route. Mr. ( lap::am left for Wniron by this morning’s boat. EXAMINE THE ROLLS. A number • ! i c-.c'en' - ii led t■■ t tirolmeiH lied that :ii : names <L m t appear ea the Ha’-'k*- s Rav Pa vliamentaiy roll whed- I;-::- jtr-t .> ■ m printed. Elect...' through: ul .he district are advised <" inspect tl.e r !!.- at the - a I;::- post iffi'C' ami. if tluir names do mt m i-- ni: m . in • u: foi'ms tiia. .b i. i . -- ma-. be included in tl.e • t-j l" o. tai", roils. A HOI’SE DIVIDED. A curious po-itiou I d ;.t;- ; :n one family in •egaru _• j th' t.-ral b< limi.a-■ of thiy :i ■ ]t is >t:-.’«d that -i res.b- :1 wu l’..k- I’ak iha • *■ o- d i L.u he : • ( ; t t :> h d i ill .tic w , i,,'t ■«liM hi ' 1 J f. select a candid::: >•! IL.’kr. Fay.

The Returning Officer for the 'Hawke’s Bay electoral district (Air. R. Braithwaite) lias arranged to have polling berths it Moeangiangu ■Kagatiki .ami Wahanui in addition ’ to th .se already decided on. As notified in our advertising columns the weekly meetings cf Air H. tan Smi.scm’s committees will be held to-day at the Old Post Office.