POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 439, 29 October 1908, Page 2

POLITICAL.

Mr. Frankland at Ronptoa

(Special Reporter.)

On Monday evening, Mr. F. W. Frankland addressed the electors in the Coronation Hall, at Rongotea, Mr. J. Glover in the chair. Mr. Frankland spoke for an hour and a quarter to a highly appreciative audience of about sixty, including a large proportion of ladies. Mr. Frankland was loudly applauded when he announced as one of the leading features of his candidature that he was in favour of the bare majority for deciding licensing polls as the only rational, wholesome, and truly democratic method. He explained that his strong feeling on this point constituted his principal reason for contesting the seat with Mr. Stevens, in spite of the fact that they were both Government supporters. Mr. Frankland explained that his support of the Government was a discriminating and independent one. In illustration of his independence, he instanced the fact that be had published his adhesion to the absolute majority or contingent vote system as the best way of remedying what was pernicious and illogical in our past electoral machinery. At the same time he recognised' the solid benefits (in spite of minor defects) derivable from the Second Ballot Act as at least an enormous improvement on a system long discredited among advanced political thinkers. In spite of independence, he thought a candidate ought, under ordinary circumstances, to label himself as either a Government supporter or an Oppositionist, because the electors had a right to say which ot the two sets of distinguished and experienced politicians who were contending tor power in the House should have the administration of the country entrusted to them. The Elective Executive, advocated by Mr. Gardner, was an ideal measure and he (the speaker) had advocated it from boyhood as an ideal. But, as practical men, they must recognise that, in the peculiar circumstances of the Empire’s growth as a constitutional monarchy, the relation of Executive to Legislature was a specially delicate piece of political mechanism which it would be unwise to disturb in too hasty a manner. This was more particularly the case if, as some thought, there were clouds on the international horizon which per-, haps threatened that the Empire itself might be subjected to an unusual strain, Mr. Frankland spoke a good deal about the referendum, as some ot the residents of Rongotea had recently invited him to lecture on this subject. The candidate said he was endeavouring, at his meetings, to traverse the positions enunciated by his opponent, Mr. Newman, and that —following this course —he had already, at other local centres, taken up the subjects of native land, the public debt, and the labour laws. He would that evening deal with what Mr, Newman said about Legislative Council reform. He quite agreed with that gentleman about our part of the country being glaringly underrepresented in the Council, and of course recognised that the principle ut election on a leiiitunal basis would automatically remedy this defect. But it was possible to pay too dearly for such an advantage ; and he (the speaker) distrusted elective second chambers, which had so frequently been instruments of aristocracy and reaction when the circumstances of their origin made them representative of the wealthier interests. The only safe principle of election, in his opinion, was by the more popular House of the Legislature, as had once been suggested by Sir Joseph Ward in Mr. Seddon’s time, and as he (the speaker) had advocated since he first came to the country, thirty years ago.

After the conclusion of the address, Mr Frankland was asked a number of questions, including the test-questions (on no-license) formulated by the New Zealand alliance. These last-named were submitted to the candidate by Mr. Rockel, of Carnarvon, and were all of them answered by Mr Frankland in the affirmative. The meeting ended with a very hearty vote of thanks.

Mr Massey, leader of the Op' position party, delivered an address at Feilding, on Monday evening, and at Woodville on Tuesday evening. His address at Feilding was in reply to the Prime Minister. He is to address a meeting at Palmerston, on Monday next. The Oroua and Palmerston seats are receiving much attention from the leaders of both parties, and the candidates apparently are only circumstances.