THE ERALGEN ELECTION.

Mataura Ensign, 9 November 1908, Page 4

THE ERALGEN ELECTION.

SIR J. G. WARD AT AUCKLAND.

AUCKLAND, Nov. 8. The Prime Minister deliver eel a speech in His Majesty's Theatre last evening, to a crowded audience. He dealt principally with Government finance, defending the 'Government against the Wellington criticism. He quoted tho expenditure . on public works in the North and South Islands, for the last ten years, to show that the North had a balance of £2,149,584 over the South, made up of £937,859 on railways and £1,211,727 on roads and bridges. Sir

Joseph referred to land settlement in Auckland, to show that the Government was doing all that could rea- ] sonably 'bo required. Out of two million odd interest pn Public Debt, over £1,000,000 was for debt the Liberal Government took over when it came into power. The Government, as a lending institution, had done more and could do more than all financial institutions in the country. To nationalise everything the So-

cialists wan tod would cost two hundred millions, and those who wanted nationalisation could get the reins of power themselves and take the responsibility, for he would not. Referring to the financial outlook, he said that during the past seven months the receipts had been £4,470,000, or £40,461 more than for the corresponding period of last year. For the twelve months ended October receipts wore £312,502 more thanduring the previous corresponding period. He condemned the suggestion to establish a Civil Service Board. Referring to education, he announced that the Government had decided to give teachers the benefit (of the doubt that had arisen, and to give them the minimum salaries prescribed under the.Act at once. This, together with 'increments, would mean an increased expenditure next year of £32,000 or £33,000. Amidst uproar from a Socialist crowd in the galleries, a vote of thanks and confidence was proposed and carried. Sir J: !G. Ward left this afternoon ■' for New Plymouth, by the West Coast boat. "When we raise in England a loan of one million pounds, people think that one million sovereigns are coming, out- to New Zealand. They don't. They stay in England and help to pay half the interest." —Mr Fisher. The performance at a recent meeting called by Mr Fisher was a solo one tili question time, says a Wellington paper. Mr Fitzgerald (of Blackball fame) then rose with dramatic gesture. "The speaker referred to America as a highly protected country. Is lie aware of the fact that that country is now ou the verge of a bloody revolution because the unemployed trouble is so bad "there?" Mr Fisher retorted that the position was the same in England under free trade. He did not think that the unemployed trouble would be met by setting up of a protective tariff or the breaking of it down. At once another Socialist was on his feet. "If neither protection nor free trade will solve the unemployed promblem, will the candidate say what will?" "It's very hard to settle," replied Mr Fisher. "The unemployed question with somo people would lie settled with some people if they would work." Decidedly original was the brief address by a Taradale lady the other night when introducing a candidate for tho Napier seat to a meeting of ladies: —"Ladies, we are here assembled to further the interests of Mr J. V. Brown. It is gratifying to see so many present, and I feel sure we shall send in our man with flying colors. Before leaving home I chanced to be dyeing a blouse for election day,'and, happening to read the label, I found that even the maker of the soap recommends "brown" to stand sun, rain, and wind without changing color. I am sure our worthy candidate will do likewise. Even if they do throw mud, "brown* won't show the strain, and, remember, ladies, "brown" is the predominant color this season. Mind you keep it ■ so." Then the candidate took up n.s parable. Brown is a lucky man tr have enlisted the sympathies of a "chairwoman" like that! Mr Stephen l'owell, in proposing a vote, of thanks and confidence at Mr C. M. Gray's St. Albau's meeting, waf responsible for a mild diversion. Ir support of his proposition, he dipped into the storehouse of golden memory. "1 remember once," he' commenced gently, "having heard of a man whr could produce tears by the simple way he uttered his words. Mr Gray has reminded us of a modern Mark Antony."—(Laughter.) "Now, what did Shakespearo make Mark Antony say? 'I am no orator ' " —(lnterrupt t-jonsi). "I am " —(Renewed interruptions.) AduresS;::g himself to the side wall which was trimmed with young men and policemen, the. speaker continued determinedly: "Yon are going to listen to what I say. 'I am no oratoi ' " But the audience broke . out in a fresh place, and Mark's famousstatement of fact had to go forth in tho severely condensed form which, was all Mr Powell was permitted to render. Mr Fowlds is not the only Minister who will have to light hard to retain his seat. Private advices received in Christchurch from the Matauru electorate indicate that Mr McNab it up against a fairly hard proposition in Mr G. J. Anderson, a Gore journalist. Mr McNab has hitherto polled ver\ solidly in Gore itself. Indeed, it ha:been said thai his majority in that town is practically his winning majority. On this occasion, for tho first time, lie is opposed by a Gore resident, who is not only very popular in th; town, hut has a large following in ah parts of the elec!orate. He has made o promising beginning with his campaign, and tho Minister, who is addressing three or four meetings a day, will have all his work cut out to heal him.—J'he 'Dominion.' The two candidates far tho Napier seat have now passed out of tile attitude of passive resistance, and have emerged into that of positive aggression. Both strongly support the Go vernment, but the line of cleavage between them is clearly defined. Mr A. L. D. Frnser stated in his opening address that his ideal member of Parliament was not the man who went as a delegate, and whose alpha and omega was to get money spent in his electorate, a man who became a door-mat for Ministers in order that he might find out what was being spent in his electorate. Ho believed in a member of Parliament whose ideals permitted of a far-reaching horizon, and who made endeavor to mould the present and future tho wdiole Dominion. This is not Mr Brown's view. In his opening speech at Port Ahuriri on Wednesday io challenged his opponent's political theory, and said: "If Mr Fraser can get a new post office for Napier, that should not prevent him being a statesman. If I am returned to Parliament, I will not only sit otf the doormats of Ministers, but, bedad, I'll take, my blankets and sleep there until I get what I want." Mr Brown made it clear that his political creed was .summed up in the advancement of Najjier, which he contended had been subjected to flagrant neglect.