The General Election.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8144, 18 November 1905, Page 2

The General Election.

Mr W. T. Wood, M.H.E., addressed 48 electors at Filzherbert East last night, Mr T. Lancaster presiding. • Mr Wood's address was on exactly similar lines to those he has already delivered in town and the various parts ol the district. On the land question he reiterated that he had voted against the freehold but said he was willing to grant it to.pioneer settlers but would except those taking up land under the Lands for Settlement Act. He again ascribed the desire for the freehold to Mr Massey's " stump " of the country in the south and to his representations that Government "would revalue their land. As regarded his opponent's views on the land question, Mr Wood said that if Mr Pirani was in favour of the freehold it followed that he was against the leasehold and the lease-in-perpetuity. He expressed the opinion that if it was right' for the individual to expect the freehold from the Government then it was surely right to expect that the individual should acquire the freehold from lands leased from Education Boards, Borough and County Councils and, following the principle to its logical conclusion, from the freeholder himself. His remarks on the administration of the past three years was to the same effect as he has already made. On. the questions of Bible-reading in schools and Prohibition, he said he was against them both but would vote in favour of the referendum in each instance. Mr Wood concluded his address by expressing his attitude on future probable legislation.

Eeplying to Capt. Hewitt,-Mr Wood answered the set questions of the Farmers' Union all in the affirmative.

Eeplying to Mr Kyle, he said he did not think school teachers were paid amply before the recent increase granted them. He was in favour of an increased land valuation for absentees; he was in favour of passing an act to make men absentees who returned to the colony only once every three years. Further replying to Mr Kyle,. Mr Wood said he was not aware that at id per gallon it was only, possible for a woman to earn 6s lOd per week milking cows at the State farm Levin, he understood they could earn 30s per week and then do the household work easily. Eoplying to Captain Hewitt, he said he was in favour of accommodation being provided at the experimental farms for students, and would assist in bringing about that situation.

Mr Wood was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence on the motion of Mr McKenzie, seconded by Mr Daniells.

Mr J. M. Shera, in a speech, at Parnell, went into figures to show the state of the colony's finances. Mr Sliera's contention is that Mr Seddon has failed to take into consideration the interest that had accrued against the colony on March 31. In one item alone, viz, on £29,000,000, there was 150 days' interest at 4 per cent, -which totalled £"485,538, which would have to be paid on May 1. Then there-was an item of £49,000 which required to be paid the day after the end of the financial year, that is on April 1. On March 31, there was owing £655,240. In addition to that there were sums due by various Departments amounting to JE181.331, making a total of £836,571. Possibly taxes to be collected and railway accounts might total £75,000, leaving £761,571 as the amount owing, and therefore there was no surplus, but a deficiency of £535. This partly explains why this extravagant Ministry is always rushing to the money-lender, though it collects revenue from less than a million people amounting each year to over seven millions of pounds. Speaking to the Aldington railway workshops employees, Mr G. W.Eussell let out a little hitherto unrecorded-his. tory. In 1895 the Government brought down a Bill to abolish the old Board of Eailway Commissioners and to appoint a fresh one. The new Board, under the Government Bill, was to consiss of Messrs Eonayne and Scott and the Minister, (Mr Cadman), who was to have a power of veto. When the Bill came down, he (Mr Eussell) waited on the Premier, and told him the Liberal Party was in favour of full Ministerial control. Me Seddon was incredulous, and said the Whips had reported to the contrary. He assured Mr Seddon the Whips were wrong, and asked the Premier how he would take it if he (Mr Russell) moved an amendment to the second reading "That the Government should be asked to take the Bill back so as to provide for full Ministerial control." Mr Seddon said he would take it as hostile, and ho (Mr Kussell) then said in that case he would not move it. " But what happened?" Mr Eussell proceeded. " The Government saw what a trump the card was I had put into his hands, and two days after my convocation with Mr Seddon all the amendments were sent down by the Government in the name of Mr David Pinkerton to turn the Bill into full Ministerial control. Later in the .session the Premier appealed to me in the House to conErm his statement that the Government had altered its policy at the request of its own party I therefore claim that I was largely instrumental in finally abolishing tlie Commissioners and procuring tho° substitution of Government control and direct responsibility to the people " During his speech at Pukekohe the Premier said he had heard that a rumour had been circulated to the effect that Mr McOardle, who was opposing Mr Massey, had not received the support of the people amongst whom he had previously lived. This statement was absolutely untrue. Another statement had been made to the effect that Mr McCardle would retire at the eleventh hour. This also was untrue. There was a surprise in store for somebody. - He knew that Mr McGardlo would have the confi.' dence and support of a majority of the people of the electorate. A voice- You will find out about that. Mr Massey he went on to say, had-told them at 1 ukekohe that he had .not used his pasition to get his relatives into the? pubhc service He (Mr Seddon) would rather that Mr Massey had said what was m his mind, viz., that he (the Premier should not have.appointedone ot ins children as private secretary to lumscjf. ling had been done by Mr Gladstone,-Lord Salisbury, Sir John AlcKenzie, Sir Harry Atkinson and other publ, cmcn . it M . asawjse provi;;ion> Hls Ali Seddon s) daughter, who acted as his innate secretary, held a high certificate as a -school, teacher, a,ul no one M? m"° UrV n a trUsted caP'™^W M CT Yd,V d, told them that he

there might not be any objection to' giving him a trial. (A Voice: Give Massev; a turn.) Mr Scddon: Yes, I am giving him a turn now. (Laughter). Speaking at St. Albans' main school, Christchurch, Mr T. Taylor read correspondence showing that he had personally advocated 8s per day in connection with the Construction Company's contracts: Mr Southan, speaking as a labourer, moved—"That this meeting expresses its entire satisfaction with Mr Taylor's action as a member of the Construction Company." This was carried amidst cheers, there being only one dissentient. After replying to a number of questions, Mr Taylor was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence.

The Opposition candidate for Dunedin Central has discovered to his dismay that the roll of that constituency has suddenly been swelled by the addition of some 300 or 400 seamen's names. Some of these seanien are on vessels loading in and out of Auckland, others are on the Island trade, and elsewhere. Mr Adams, speaking at Waikan, claimed that seamen had a right to vote where their homes were." If they had no homes they should have the privilege of being placed upon tho roll of whichever district their ship was in the habit of calling at, but lie protested against seamen being put upon the electoral k>ll of Dunedin Central when their sbipa never call there, or their home 3 were not there. Ho had men put upon his roll who had no right to be there. He asked the electors if they approved of such thing?, or whether they reserved to themselves the right to choose their representative? The protest was loudly applauded.