GENERAL ELECTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 10 November 1914, Page 3

GENERAL ELECTION

THE MOTUEKA SEAT. MR. HUDSON'S CANDIDATURE. Mr R. P. Hudson addressed meetings at Tapawera, Kerere, and Glenhope last week.

He had a very successful round, being received in this" portion of the electorate with votes of thanks and confidence in the Reform, Party, and all the evidence of strong support at the forthcoming election.

In his address at Tapawera, Mr Hudson dealt with the financial position of the country now as compared with the time the Reform Party came into power. He laid stress on the condition in which New Zealand would have been had the present war occurred in 1912 instead of in 1914. As regards the benefits accruing from +-he Massey rule, Mr Hudson pointed oi ' m detail the improved position of practically every section of the community, with* the exception of the large landed proprietors, under the present Administration. He also explained the fallacy of the criticism levelled against the present Government in describing it as Tory or Conservative, a striking reply to this being the various liberal measures brought down during their term of office. Regarding the naval question, Mr Hudson called attention to the advantage to the country it would have been at the present time had the Bristol cruiser been available. The glaring inconsistency of the Leader of the Opposition was painfully apparent in objecting to the increased expenditure of £50,000 a year towards naval defence, whilst he (Sir Joseph Ward) at the Imperial Conference had agitated for a contribution from this country of half a million aniiuallv.

On the Prohibition question, Mr Hudson stated that, while unable to go so fa ras to say that prohibition would be of benefit to" the country, or not, he considered that it would be a mistake to carry it except on a strong majority. If this were done it would ensure the moral support necessary to make it successful. Referring to the Bible in Schools question, the candidate said that he could nob accept the responsibility of closing the school door against the greatest of all known books; but he feared the introduction, of aaiytlhing lappro,ac|hing religious teaching would lead to undesirable misunderstandings in mixed communities. He, however, thought this was a question for parents and those directly interested, and therefore would support the referendum.

Several questions were put to Mr. Hudson at the close of his speech, and answered satisfactorily. The meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Hudson as the representative of the Reform Party, which was carried unanimously with* acclamation.

'Mr George Macmahon occupied" th 6 chair in an efficient manner, receiving the usual vote of thanks at the conclusion of the meeting.

SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER

(United Pbess Association.)

AUCKLAND, Nov. 9

The Prime Minister arrived in Auckland this afternoon, and was accorded a hearty reception, being heartily cheered on the platform of the railway station. This evening Mr Massey addressed a largely attended meeting at Papakura, He was received with loud and continued applause, and dealt with the various planks of the Government platform. He said that although the present Government had had to face more difficulties than had beset any other Go.vern.ir.ent, it had grappled successfully with them all. The Government had been charged with not fulfilling its pledges, but he stated that the Government had kept all its pledges with the exception of two, viz., those connected with local government reform and compulsory insurance against sickness and unemployment. A Bill had been introduced relating to the former, providing for the abolition of the present system of Parliamentary grants, but owing to delay occasioned by the war it had been deferred. As to compulsory insurance, the Government thought it wise to await fho result of the working of the British scheme before proceeding further. Mr Massey quoted figures to show how land settlement had progressed under the regime of the present Government. In regard to the naval defence policy, he said that the experience of the last few weeks bad shown that much more than had been done would have to be done. At the conclusion of his address Mr Massey was accorded an almost unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, which was carried amidst 'loud applause and cheers. Mr Massey stated that the present speech was. not intended to be a fighting speech. Later in the campaign he might have occasion to take off the gloves, and when the oticasion arose he would not hesitate to do so. RUSH TO ENKOL. WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. There is an unprecedented rush, a "Times' 'representative learned to-day, to enrol on the supplementary rolls f.OT the forthcoming elections. Never before have people been rushing registrars so close upon elections, and never before have registrars been so busy after the issue of the main rolls. ' These facts are attributed to the new system introj duced this year for the so-called purging of the rolls. This system has resulted, according to those directly concerned, in such a state of muddledom, as far as the main rolls are concerned, that thousands of bona fide electors, mysteriously struck off, are now hurrying to have their names inscribed on the supplementary rolls. It is anticipated even with the present scurry the totals of persons on the rolls, in each electorate will fall far short of the figures at the last election. Up till to-day enrolments in electorates in and about Wellington were made at the Tate of from. 100 to 150 a day. The muddle over the rolls, owing to the new system, has resulted in the reversion to the old system of house-to-house canvass by an army of persons employed by the Electoral Department, and for the last few days this canvass has been actively pursued. It is admitted that the satisfactory compilation of the electoral rolls is a difficult task, but the ■letter-carrier and police system, it was also admitted to-day, had broken down, hence a resort to the house to house system had to be made. It is expected the rolls will be closed on Novembei 17th.

MR HERRIES BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS. AUCKLAND, This Day. _ Hon. W. H. Harries addressed his constituents at llanamara last night. He ! said that the party platform included lo- i cal and Imperial def ence,~freehold policy, encouragement of- subdivision of i large estates by inflicting an automatic j graduated land tax, establishment of j agricultural and land banks, better systern of hearing objections in regard _ to land disoutes, continuation' of immigra-I tion policy, establishment) of a boaTd of trade and commerce, introduction of a [ Bill to protect the iron and oil indus-' tries, an empowering Bill to expend' money on irrigation of dry areas, assistance to gum land owners, pensions for the phvsically infirm. State advances to boroughs, overhaul of the Customs du- • ties, and insurance against sickness and . unemployment. | A hearty vote of confidence and thanks i was c airied. ]