POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Mataura Ensign, 29 November 1911, Page 3

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

THE PRIME MINISTER. ADDRESSES IN THE NORTH. PEK UNII'ED TRESS ASSOCIATION. STRATFORD, Nov. 28. Yesterday tlio Prime Minister, companied by Lady Ward and Miss Ward, returned to Stratford and laid the foundation-stone of the new District High School, a large number of people being present, and the Prime Minister being well received. In performing the ceremony, Sir Joseph Ward dealt with educational matters generally, showing the great progress made, and speaking in complimentary terms of the Stratford school's excellent work. The Prime Minister and party wero later entertained at dinner. Bouquets wero presented to Lady and Miss Ward. PALMSRSTON N., Nov. 28. The Prime Minister spent two hours hero en route to Dannevirke this afternoon. He was accorded a reception at the station. There was a gathering of the Liberal Party at the Empire Hall, where Mr T. W. Wood, ex-mem-ber, welcomed the Prime Minister and Lady ,Ward. Mr Robert McNab also welcomed the Prime Minister. Referring to attacks on the Prime Minister, Mr McNab said that the slanders of slanderers would be answered at the polls by people who had not time for slanderers.

Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, commented upon Mr McNab's speech of the previous evening and referred to excellent reports from constituencies as to Liberal prospects. Cheers for the Prime Minister and Lady Ward concluded the function.

DANNEVIRKE, Nov. 28. The Prime Minister addressed an ] ludience that crowded the Drill Hall ;o-night. On arrival lie received an | >vation lasting some minutes. The speaker traversed many points touched ipon in recent public utterances. He isked if they had ever known New Zealand as prosperous as it was now, and whether their opponents knew that the savings of the middle classes were the highest in the world. Another test was that there was more money available for trade, and all uses, in the Dominion than was ever previously known. A third test was that the avenues of employment were all full, and there was work for every man in the country. He defended the borrowing policy of the Government. The Government had to tight the large landowners to wrest From them land for the men and women i)f the country. Were they going to allow a party to come into power who would not do for the people of the country what his party had been prepared to do since 1907 ? The only large landholders who were candidates at this election were all supporters of the Opposition. Ho challenged the Opposition to show where the Government was extravagant in public expenditure. Under his administration the people were paying 1-ls per head less in taxation than when he became Prime Minister. Kc asked them to await the result of Mr McNab's challenge to Mr Massoy, made at Palmerston on the previous night, before condemning the Government, Ho traversed the contentions of the Opposition in regard to delay in publication of details in regard to the five million loan, and read telegrams from the High Commissioner in support of his statement that the details were not available. He rend an opinion uttered by Mr Eraser, M.P., that the price paid for the loan was not excessive. Regarding the suggestion that because Sir Wilfrid Lnurier had been ejected from office his Government should be turned out, he pointed out that Sir Wilfrid Laurier had been in office for 15 years, and he had only been in five. He claimed that there was a clear line of demarcation between the policy of the Government and its opponents, and it was for the people of the colony to decide. He predicted that the Government would come back from the elections stronger than ever. A motion of thanks to Sir Joseph and of confidence in the Government was declared carried on the voices, there being considerable dissent. A section of th« public was hostile throughout, and the Prime Minister was subject to much interruption ; but he had no difficulty in presenting his points, and the speech was marked with great applause. i S!R JAMES CARROLL'S RETURN. GISBORNE, Nov. 28. Sir James Carroll to-day received over 300 telegrams from all parts of the I Dominion, congratulating him on his (unopposed return to Parliament. i A largely-attended meeting of natives also met the Native Minister this i morning and congratulated him on the \ honor to himself and to the Dominion jby his knighthood.