GENERAL ELECTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18237, 27 October 1919, Page 6

GENERAL ELECTION.

Mr J. Robertson will address the electors of Riccarton at the Oddfellows’ Hall (Church Corner) at 7.46 p.m. tomorrow, at the. Druids’ Hall, Hornby, on Wednesday, and at tho Riccarton Town Hall on Thursday, at the same time in each instance.

EGMONT SEAT. [Pee Pbess Association.] ELTHAM, October 25. Mr D. L. A. Astbury has been selected as Liberal candidate for the Egmont seat- Mr D. J. Hlighea . has withdrawn. STRATFORD SEAT. ,' [Peb Peess Association./ STRATFORD, October 25. The Hon J. B. Hine, member for Stratford and Minister of Internal Affairs, opened his political Campaign last night with an address in which he supported the policy, of the present Government. He said that two months ago he'had hoped for a continuance of the National- Government to deal with post-war problems, but it was not to be. He still thought that the people should combine to settle the Government on a solid basis. Mr Massey wanted commonsense and business men returned to Parliament, and did not demand that they should swear allegiance to himself. Sir Joseph Ward might have left the National. Government in order to precipitate a crisis, but the crisis did not arrive. Practically the only difference of opinion in the House had been as regards the accumulated surplus. He thought the small contract system the best for publio works. He did not mean that a man should take a contract and employ labour, but a small body of men should take a contract and share the pay. Mr Hine went to some trouble to prove the falsity of the statement made that. Air Massey was responsible for the imposition of the butter tax. When the tax was imposed, he said, Mr Massey was in England. The tax was imposed by the National Government. When Air Alassey returned he saw the unfairness of the tax and removed it, If the Government of the day had .paid the difference in the price of butter out of the Consolidated Fund, well and good, but the National Government took the course of inflicting the penalty on the land worked by the dairy farmers. The National Government had four years in which to remedy the matter, but failed to do so. Air Hine defended the Government’s policy of setting aside sums for four years for education, saving the Government from having to raise loans for the purpose. Education should bo less in the direction of classical knowledge and more in the vocational direction. Our technical schools were good, but could be widened as regards agricultural instruction. The speaker expressed himself as in favour of Stateowned steamers. At the conclusion of bis address a resolution of confidence in tho Government was passed.

PAHIATUA SEAT. [Per Press Association.] w WOODVILLE, October 2a

A meeting of delegates chose Mr R. B. Ross as Liberal candidate for Palliatua.

WAITEMATA SEAT. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, October 25.

Mr O. F. Bickford, in response tv a deputation, agreed to contest Waitemata as an Independent Liberal, with personal freedom as regards leadership and measures.

MARSDBN SEAT. [Per Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, October 26. The MarsdeiF seat will, in all probability, bo contested by Lieutenant-Col-onel kackesy, C.M.G., C.B.E, D.S.O-, who returned by the Remuera. In an interview, he stated that he had decided that, were it hot ,top late, he would stand in the interests of the returned soldiers. He would probablv.be a supporter of the Liberal Party.