THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1702, 16 December 1919, Page 7

THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Mil .AYRTON AT THE OPERA HOUSE.

There was a largo attendunco at the Opera House L«i ingijt 10 hoar an address by Mr •Mv Ay i ton. cue Labour candidate for .the Palmeis.uu scat. Mr Ayrton wus well reeeimi uiid lrcquenily applauded. Mr R. Ross occupied tlie chair. 'Alter Mr Ayrtoii's address he was asked a largo number of questions, both written and oral. Une questioner said he would like 1 to know the meaning of indentured labour, and Mr Ayrton replied that it was forced labour; it was the modern form of slavery; .Mr A. Buchanan asked: Does Mr Ayrton approve of the New Zealand Government having helped the Homo Country in tin late war?' Mr Ayrton replied that he was a citizen of New 'Zealand, and he certainly believed that the conditions existing compelled Now Zealand to render that service, and he shared the responsibility involved as a citizen of New Zealand and the Empire. Asked if ho was in favour of a white New Zealand, Mr Ayrton said ho wanted the standard of living, to which those living in New Zealand were accustomed, to bo maintained, and while they should not be moved by feoiings of race hatred, they should not allow any coloured people to be admitted to Now Zealand _ who would endanger that standard of living. If the Japanese for selfish motivos decided to invade New Zealand, would you bo prepared to defend it? was another question, and tho reply was that they would bo obliged to whether they wanted to or not. Mr M. H. Oram asked if it was not a fact that if elected to Parliament.Mr Ayrton would hove to vote according to the dictates of tho Labour caucus. The candidate said he wanted to assure them that if elected to Parliament he would bo the most free man in the political arena. The chairman of tho Labour Party could not select a candidate for anv seat in New Zealand. The peoplo of Palmerston North selected him a 9 their candidute, and that could not bo altered.

A voice: That's not the question. Mr Ayrton said that he knew that Mr Oram was trying to get at him about Messrs Holland and" Semple, but they were not the Labour Party, lie knew that there were some people in the Labour Party who did not come, up to the standard, but if every crunch in Palmerston North had to be judged bv tho undesirables in them they , would have to close up tho churches tomorrow. Tho only thing to which lie (the speaker) was committed was the principles of the party, and no man or body of men was big enough for him to have to submit to. . ■ Answering further questions. Mr Ayrton said ho understood that tho P.P.A. had pledged itself to another candidate. The increased cost of sugar was due to the price being fixed by a monopoly. He was in favour of the maternity bonus being increased. Asked if he would support progressive measures introduced by the Liberal Party, the candidate said he would support good measures that came from any part;. He was prepared to support hotel and restaurant workers ceasing work at five <>tsix o'clock; He did not know anv earthly renson why men should work eight hours if six would do. He thought that all bodies of men and women were entitled to one day's rest a week. He believed in the rest day, notwithstanding what the "Standard" sajd about tho Labour Party encroaching on the sanctity of tho rest day, and he believed that all parties should participate in that rest day.

By this time tho audience was getting restless, and the chairman suggested that somebody should move a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr IT. Shaw then moved : That the meeting thank Mr Ayrton for his r.<s- - and considers him a fit i>nd proper person to represent Palmerston in Parliament. This was carried with enthusiasm, and about 75 per cent, of tho peoplo then left tho building. There were, however, other questions slill unanswered, and a few peoplo remained behind to hear the replies: In replv to one question as to whether he had handed in his resignation as a member of Parliament to the Labour Party, to lx> used if that party considered that he did not follow its dictates, Mr Ayrton said he had never been approached on the matter. He, had no resignation to write, and he was not expected to do so. Tho only pledge he had given was that to subscribe to tho platform of . tho Labour Party.

■ ;Ur Buchanan asked if Mr Ayrton, when in Runauga. counselled the miners to withhold con I from the transports, or bv any rneans suggested or endeavoured to pvocuro tho withholding of such cool. The candidate's reply was that he had never been a member of a Trades Union in Now Zealand and had no voice in a union's deliberations md could not dictate to it any more than Mr Buchanan would allow him to dictato to tho Farmers' Union. lie could only make recommendations from the outside, and he knew there werd more sensible methods than tho "go slow" and strike methods. The candidate said he was in favour of a universal half-holiday, and the questions being concluded, tho meeting then terminated.

Sir Jpsep'n Ward addressed a meeting of Sectors in the Town Tall, Wellington, last night. The Hall was tilled in all parts, and Sir Joseph Ward, who was greeted with prolonged applause, wag given a. quiet and attentive hearing. He outlined the policy set forth in the manifesto, and at the conclusion of his speech a vote of thanks and confidence ir. the Liberal Party Was carried by acclamation. 'Mr E. Newman has received the following telegram from the Prime •Minister:— "Ro endowment for Foxton Harbour Board.—Referring to your representations in which vou have drawn my attention to a promise made bv the late Hon. J. A. Millar when Minister for Railways to the effect that if the Harbour Hoard .struck a rate for the purchase of the whnrf and improvements of the Mannwa.tu river as a- port, that the Government would endeavour to set aside a block of land as an endowment for the Harbour Board. I have much pleasure in stating that I shall bo glad to look into (his matter at an early date with a view to givinir effect to Mr Millar's promise."