THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13889, 25 October 1905, Page 9

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THE LYTTELTON SEAT. MR C. L. RUSSELL’S CANDIDATURE. . - Mr C. L. Russell, a candidate for the Lyttelton seat in Parliament, opened the election campaign in the district last night by giving a public address in the Oddfellows’ Hall. There was an attendance which comfortably filled the hail, and the chair was taken by Mr J. T. Brice. Mr Russell, who was greeted with applause, said that though he liad lived in the Lyttelton district for five or eix years he was not personally known to many of the audience. As this was the first occasion on which he had addressed an audience on political matters' be asked indulgence for any shortcomings lie might display. In answer to the question which lie was sure to ho asked, what were his polities, the question was a difficult one to answer under existing circumstances, but he would say that in old days the Parliament of New Zealand was looked upon as a pattern to many places in the world. Parties were properly defined, and there were statesman in those days. Now, however, that Parliament had become so degraded that it could not be put down as anything- else than a debating society for scandal and personalities, while the real business of the country was neglected. Ho considered that the real political parties in New Zealand were Liberals, Radicals and Socialists, the Radicals being tine Government Party, the Socialists the New Liberals, and the Liberals the Opposition. He would ally himself with tine lastnamed party, from which most of the Liberal measures of the colony had emanated. Land laws by Mr Roileston, women’s franchise by .Sir John Hall, workmen’s homes by Mr Bollard, superannuation for ail Civil servants, increased salaries for teachers, increased wages for lower - grade railway employees, and reform ot the Legislative Council. In tiie sense he Pad indicated he dairaed to be a. Liberal, and if elected would bo a member of the Opposition, reserving (Ins right to vote as lie chose on any question, whether brought forward by fine Government or the Opposition. His vote would, however, be generally oast against the present Government in the case of a no-ocnfidence motion. \vhen tlie present Government came into power it was _ going to have an economical, self-reliant, non-borrowing policy. What had it done? It had established records, the longest term in office, the biggest borrowing, and the most reckless spendthrift m Hie colony. The badge of rue present Government should be three B’s—for bluff, bombast and bunkum. The surpluses of the present Goverment would, he believed, not exist ndt for the fine-art manner in which the public accounts were kept. Ho was not going; to discuss the Finanr cial Statement of the Government, for he was not at present competent to do so, but they had heard a deal of how surpluses _ wore manufactured, such «e money being charged to -revenue which should have been charged to capital. He considered the Premier one of the ablest men who had ever filled the position of Premier of the country—(applause)—and if ho would only come out of his present company and follow the dictates of his real nature, and submit to have the brake put on him, he would be an honour to any Government in the world; but ho had surrounded himself with weak colleagues, and had taken ell the important portfolios himself, with the result that he had too much to do, and the departments he represented were neglected. The present Government had been a most expensive and extravagant one; the people of the colony had been living in a fool’s paradise, and it was time there was a change. It had become the custom to look upon any man who came forward in the Opposition interest as an enemy to the workers, because it was considered that the old Conservative party was hostile to the interests of the workers. He hated the name Conservative, and there was no Conservative party in New Zealand now. The last remnant of that party had disappeared six 'years ago, and in its place a party had been formed to look after the interests of all classes, the interest of the colony generally. He thought it right to briefly state what his career had been before'becoming a candidate for their suffrages. Ho had been in the Railway service for twenty-four years, for eighteen years of which he had been a stationmaster. During that time he had had many hundreds of men under his hands, and he was proud to say that he had never reported one man to headquarters. He had always endeavoured to protect the men’s interests by shortening their hours and increasing their pay. He considered the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act one of the best pieces of legislation placed on the Statute Book, but it should apply to Government employees. The Act had not worked smoothly, but much of that was attributable to the manner in which it was administered, and the inconsistency of the awards. Local industries must be protected, and the Government was to blame for not having grappled with that octopus, the Harvester Trust, by the throat. He was a freeholder, and thought the present Crown tenants should have the right to convert their 999 years’ leases into freeholds, but not at the original value: a fair_ basis should be arrived at. Education was so important that a Minister should devote the whole of his time to it. The system- on which scholarships were granted should be revised. so that Hie lowest scholarship should bo a step toward the University. There should be a uniform set of school books. Technical education should be put on an up-to-date footing. Experts should be appointed, and teachers sent Home and bo the Continent to learn the latest methods. The status of School Committees should be raised. He objected to the payment of teachers on a capitation basis. A workable su.perannuation scheme should be put into operation for teachers. The Government scheme was not workable. The present system of education, free, secular and compulsory, should nob be interfered with. The Public Revenues Act should be expunged from the Statute Book. Th© Legislative Council should be elective, and should rim concurrently with the other Chamber. He condemned the exercise of political _ influence in connection with appointments to the Civil Service, and urged that a Civil Service Board should be set up. He favoured the erection of workmen’s homes, but did not agree with the Government’s proposals. The majority of workmen, ho said, did not like to bo dumped down with a large number of other people. They should be allowed to choose their own sites, and to borrow at a reasonable rate. The licensing question should be left in. the hands of the people. He upheld the existing licensing law, and opposed interference with the will of the people. The present system of public accounts should be improved, and public accounts and vouchers should be open for inspection by members of Parliament, as was allowed in other colonies. “ Are you the gentleman who was in- ' strumental in bringing blacklegs to j Lyttelton in 1890 P” was a question I asked,' and it was followed by: “How j much did you get for it?” Mr Russell replied: “I am the gentleman whom the Railway Department asked to send six men up to 'Wellington. I did so, and I’m not sohamod of Tt.” . In reply to other questions, he said

that he was not in favour of the single tax. He would like to see Saturday selected for the compulsory half-holi-day. Casual hands should have- a chance of filling vacancies in the railway service at Lyttelton. There was no legal or moral obligation on the part of the Govern mono u> £ay compensation, to- publicans whose premises were closed, but if two houses were closed in a district 'and eight were left, the eight ought to pay the two something on account of the good-will the latter had lost. The candidate was again questioned in regard to his action at the time of the strike in 1890, and he replied that the Railway Commissioners asked him to send six men—(A voice: “Blacklegs.”)—from Palmerston. He was an officer of the service, and was not a member of a union. Ho had sworn allegiance to the Government, and was nob going to break his oath for any Union in the world. So he sent the men. Th© maritime strike was not thrown up at Mr Millar, who had threatened to step shipping from Auckland to the Bluff, and he did not see why a paltry thing like that should be brought up now. A vote of thanks was passed to the candidate, on the motion of Mr Schumacher, seconded by Mr J. Palmer.

On making inquiries at official sources (says the Wellington “Post”) it was found that our informant was not correct in the statements published in Saturday’s “Post” concerning the unsatisfactory condition of the Newtown electoral roll. It was stated that names still appear on the roll after having been posted as struck off. The explanation is that there are some four or five names identical with others, and these coincidences might mislead observers. Thor© are many people bearing similar names, but so far ae the officers are concerned, every inquiry is made and identity sought to be established. As to deceased persons’ names appearing on the roll, only three persons have been reported as dead, but the deaths are net registered with, the Registrar of Deaths under the same addresses and occupations. Each individual case is inquired into, but names cannot be removed until the conditions laid down in the Electoral Act have been fully complied with. Th© same remark holds good a.s regards married women, and other people being on mors than one roll. Such duplications are principally due to ©lectors failing to give the necessary or the fullest information to identify them as being on another roll.

Mr W. W. Collins met his friends and supporters 'in the Richmond Schoolroom last evening, when there was a large and enthusiastic meeting, including many ladies. Mr Collins briefly addressed those present, and expressed his pleasure at meeting so- many of his old friends. He said he - had never attempted to gain notoriety by methods 'which wore becoming too common • in political life, but had consistently supported‘or opposed principles and measures as he had deemed them ini. the interests of or opposed to the interests of the community. There was little doubt that the coming contest would be one of the most important ever fought in New Zealand, for it would decide whether the policy which had proved so successful for the past fourteen years should Continue. He congratulated Hie Government on increasing the amount of the old age pension 'to 10s a week, an increase he had himself advocated when in Parliament. A motion was unanimously carried that those presonlt Should form themselves into a committee to assist-Mr Collins in the Richmond division of the doctorate. , A meeting of the committee was afterwards held, when Air P. Whitmore was elected chairman, and arrangements were made for future meetings. Mr T. Clarkson, a candidate for the Avon seat, addressed the electors in the Burwcod Schoolroom last evening. There was a fair .attendance, and Mr E. H. Little presided. The-candidate’s speech was -well received. Special attention was given to the Elective Executive, a criticism of Air Massey s policy, and the protection of local industries. At the conclusion of his address several questions were asked and answered, after wMdi a vote of thanks and confidence, moved by Air P. -T. Do La Cour, seconded by Air C. Brand, w r as carried unanimously. A meeting of Mr J. Had field’s General Committee was held on Monday night, in the Sydenham reading rooms, Colombo, Street. Tbs reports of stobcommittees w'ere considered very (Satisfactory. It was decided the first public address should not be given until Parliament had prorogued. Air T. H. Davey’s Central Committee met ini the Druids’ Hall, Worcester Street, last night, when there was a larcro attendance. Air G. B. Ritchie presided. Tne various sub-committees brought in. very satisfactory reports from all quarters, the reports irom ladies’ committees being particularly Several new names iveie added to the committee, and arrangements were completed for Air Davey s first public address to the electors. , Addresses will be given by candidates this evening as follow: —Air T. Clarkson at Alarebland, Air James Thorn at Waltham, Air R. Aloore at Ohoka, Mill. Shaw, at Duvauchelle’s, Mr J. Ivess at Lyndhurst. Air C. M. Gray will meet his friends and supporters in St Luke’s Schoolroom, Ala rich ester Street, at eight o’clock to-morrow evening. A meeting of the friends and supporters of Air B. Baynes will be held in the Maori Hall, New Brighton, at eight o’clock this evening.