THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Mataura Ensign, 10 November 1908, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

♦ j THE MATAURA SEAT. ' MR ANDERSON~IN THE SOUTH. ! Yesterday Mr G. J. Anderson ad- i dressed meetings of electors at tho balls at Kennington, Mabel Bush, and Kimu. There were large attendances at each meeting, that at Mabel Bush being particularly large. The candidate was given a good hearing, and was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence on each occasion. At Rimu an amendment of thanks only was proposed, but a show of hands being asked for, only the proposer, seconder, and one or two others voted for it. Mr Anderson's proposals regarding tho freehold were applauded at each meeting, and he received very encouraging support in each district. FURTHER NOMINATIONS. PKU UNITED PBKSS ASSOCIATION. WESTPORT, Nov. 10. James Colvin (G.) and F. Muuro (G.) have been nominated for Duller. ELECTION SNIPS. "When we see tourists with their draughtboard suits aud baggy trousers ducking all over tho country, do we seriously think they are doing New Zealand any good?" asked Mr Rossor of tho Auckland City Contral elector* in his first address. "Tho money that is spent on the Tourist Department might bo better spent in roadiug the back blocks," he added. "I should like to know how far the Government is going with this dairy regulation business f" was the pertinent query addressed by a Carterton farmer to the Hon. It. McNab at tho Carterton Conference. "We've gone from one u"P to anotner y ear by year until we shall soon have to feed our cows in closed-in tennis lawns 1" Our correspondent reports that on Thursday evening last Dr Chappie spoke at Kelso and had a large audience, despite the inclemency of the evening. As a speaker, tho doctor made a great impression on his hearers. The pity is, our correspondent thinks, that two such good men as Dr Chappie and Mr Marpherson, whose politics are the same, should bo contesting against each other, and it is regarded as quite on the cards that Mr Scott may head the poll. "There is one power in this country tlia,t is greater than all the newspapers put together—tho platform."—air F. M. 15. Fisher. WYNDHAM FARMERS' UNION. UNFAIR REPORTING. The Wyndhani branch of the N.Z. farmers' Union met on Saturday evening, the. advertised business being to discuss the political situation. Present: Messrs T. W. Foster (president, in the chair), A. Beange, R. Shields, J. Milne, John McKay (Riverside), D. Caldwell, A. Bell, James McGlinchev, C. Muir, A. Ayson, J. J. Mitchell, Angus Campbell, D. Wards, junr., and J. ¥» Cook. An apology was read from Mr Thos. Ayson, in the courso of which he suggested that certain members of the branch be selected to act on Mr Anderson's election committee. Tho President said that, as those present would have seen by the advertisement, tlio principal business was connected with matters relating to the forthcoming election for the Mataura seat. Some stc.p» had already been taken "J, ,* L Uttttcr - Tho Woodlands branch «1 the Union had convened a meeting of delegates at Edendale to consider what steps to take. At the time that meeting was called there was onlv on« candidate in the field, and it was hoped that another candidate might be induced to come forward in the interest* of the farming community. Fortunately, by the date of the meeting there was another candidate in the field. There was a fair attendnce of delegates, this brunch being represented hv Messrs James Milne, T. Ayson, H. Arnott, and the speaker. It was decided

;it the first mooting (on tbo Wednesday) to ask replies from tho candidates to tho Union's <|Uestions, such replies to bo in by the Saturday following. On meeting on Saturdny io consider tlio replies, it was. tumid that Mr M.CjV au ' H reply n«s that ho whs ausweriug all questions from tluj platform. Mr Trotter, of Woodlands (who presided), reported that the questions had been put to Mr MeNab as Woodlands, Mr Mci Nab giving a direct "No" to the Jot. On tin. other hand, Mr Anderson gitvo fairly favorable replies. This left tho delegates no option but to support the candidature of Mr Anderson; and, after discussion, it was decided 1»t a large majority to reoommwid the branches to support the candidature of Mr Anderson., He wished now to speak of a report of that meeting which had appeared. He was sorry to have- to state that tho report was a misrepresentation of tho facts of the meeting. The report sWved a great deal of bias, as could be spou from the fact that the remarks "of two gentlemen who .spoke against the motion were fully reported, and more credited to them than they actually said; while the remarks of those on the other side were cut down by over half. One man's speech was imitilitated, so that it was made to appear that he was against the motion, whereas that man, while still standing, stated in conclusion that ho was in favor of the motion. But the worst feature was in regard to the voting. The report said that t|ie motion was carried by four (or Ave) votes to three. Ho had no. hesitation in saying that this was not a fair statement

of tho fart. The fact wus that three voted against the motion, two did not vote, and seven voted for the motion. He would ask, Was that not a good majority? A journal whleh. adopted such tactics on such an occasion was contemptible.—{Mr Macpherson. rose and stated that he had not counted the votes himself, but had Rot his information from the chairman after the mcot""«•]—Mr Foster, continuing, said the figures were contrary to fact. The effect of the meeting WHS S |, o jl w i by the unfair report. It would have been far better if the decision of the delegates had not been reported at all. The speaker then proceeded to state that lie had been eluded with supporting a "journalist against a farmer." if Mr McNab claimed to be a farmer, he had not shown that bis interests were in common with those of the farmers. At bis Wyndhain meeting ho made a pretence of being a freeholder, but the speaker asked, Wore Mr MoNab's actions those of a freeholder? Mr MeNah spent n lot of time dealing with the high-country lands, but fought shy of the position of the resumed estates, which had the chief interest locally. In, the past three years where was the evidence to be found that Mr McNab is a freeholder? Farmers had the rights to look to him to support farmers' interests. In answering "No I" to the Union's questions Mr McNab hud supported the electoral franchise for local bodies' elections. Did the farmers consider it right to apply the principle of one man one vote and give the privilege to non-ratepayers in connection with tho local bodies? If so, they should support Mr McNab. Mr McNab had stated that he was not afraid of what an award might be in tho farm laborers' dispute. They wore all aware of what had happened in that matter, the Oonft stating that an award would be impracticable. Since the inception of the Union Mr McNab had "got his knife in it," for what reason the speaker could not tell, becauso up to tho time of the. introduction of his Land Hill the Union had given him no cause to com-, plain, lint the Union had done its part in compelling him to drop some objectionable features of Hie bill, so that in its later presentment it was unrecognisable by the original. As to Mr Anderson, he had been in touch with the Farmers' Union throughout, being editor of the 'Knsign' and reporting tho Union's meeting from tho beginning. His views wore not of to-day, and were in harmony with those of the farming community. The speaker said that he had done his best to lay the position fairly before the meeting, whose privilege it now was to endorse or not the action of the delegates.— (Applause.) Mr Arnott, after explaining how the delegates had been selected, said he Telt a' good deal the same as Mr Foster in regard to the report, which was biassed and very misleading. It had been suggested that tho_ delegates meet in committee, and, with tnat experience, he could not say but that it would have been prudent, and a report to be supplied for publication. Mr McGlinchey agreed with the latter suggestion, especially at election time. Ho moved: "That the action. o{ the delegates. be oeufirmed.."

Mr Beange seconded. His attention had been drawn to tho report, and ba had boon asked : Whore was the OllttF The speaker strongly combatted tha remarks attributed to ono speaker on the leasehold. There were some freeholders on Edendale, he said, in as rd positions as the leaseholders. With favorable seasons of tho past five years the leaseholders there would nave had their properties free had they the option to purchase. He ridiculed tho reference to "sweating" and "interest-ridden." He recalled the fset that tho Land Commissioners' report showed that 90 per cent, favored the freehold, but that did not satisfy tho ruling powers, which included land nationalists and single taxers. If lite Union was going to be of any use, it must take a stand. Mr R. Shields thought a newspaper should report fairly or not at all. Mr Arnott expressed the opinion that tho time had come when the Union must "boom or burst." It was essential to discuss polities, and, if they could not do that, let them all go home and shut their mouths. The Chairman coincided with Mr Arnott. All other Unions were political. What was tho use of going to fight, and firing blank cartridges? It was timo to go to battle with guns loaded. Mr McGlinchey said the want of cohesion had deterred tome from joining the Union. Ho had scan a member of the Union canvassing for the man who said "No I" The motion was carried. It was decided to appoint Messrs Foster, Arnott, Shields ,Bell, Ayson, John McKay, and McGlinchey to aei on Mr Anderson's election committee; and it was suggested that members take seats on the platform at Mr Anderson's Wyndham meeting.