GENERAL ELECTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 November 1922, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION

THE NELSON SEAT

MR H. ATMORE’S CANDIDATURE

Mr Harry Atmoro addressed a meeting of electors hist evening at the Uira schoolroom when fifty-one were present and Mr Henry Harvey was voted to the chair. The candidate dealt with the main questirins of the day and was frequently applauded. He clearly defined his position in regard to the political parties and declared that “direct action’’ and “go-slow” were two of the greatest obstacles to the betterment of Labour in every part of the world. The present age was supposed to be one oi' reason and we could surely fine! a, less barbaric way of settling industrial disputes than the strike method. The principle was being more clearly re- ' cognised that the safety and welfare of 'he people must be Hie supreme consideration (applause), and lie insisted that the fad of a disagreement existing between seamen a shipping company should no more be considered reason for cutting all commercial intercourse between the two Islands than the fact of two men disagreeing in Trafalgar Street should be the occasion for closing the shops in the vicinity. (Applause.) The danger of unconstitutional methods to the whole social fabric was a very real one and he had repeatedly drawn attention to it in the House. All necessary reforms could be obtained by constitutional means and without breaking a single pane of glass or shedding a drop of blood. He' stood for constitutional methods always. (Applause.) He again referred jo the extravagant payment of £27,000 to Sir Duncan Elliott for inspecting locomotives and trucks in England and ho contrasted that payment and the rebate of nearly £17.000 to the wealthy Bank of New Zealand, with the reduction of £3O from the salary of £3OO of a State employee, and hi? said such contrasts in treatment created much bitterness among workers and all lovera of fair play, (Applause.) j At the conclusion of bis adj dress he was asked by Mr Wesley as to what he would do on a "noconfidence” motion, and lie replied that his vote, would never be used to put the extreme party in power (applause) and he had made this attitude perfectly clear by his speeches in the House arid the country, and it was probably because of this attitude that he had been asked by Wellington citizens to give an address in the Town Hall on “Evolution and Revolution in Politics, and the True Road to Social and Economic Betterment.’* He had also been cbm- j plimented by members on . both sides of the House for his Imperialistic arid constitutional speeches, and this was recorded in Hansard, and some, of the extracts had been reproduced in the Nelson Mail. (Applause.) A vote of thanks and confidence was pronosed by Mr W. J. Harvey, seconded by Mr Rayner.fand carried with only one. dissentient voijee. A vote of thanlcs to Mr Harvey for presiding teimfnated the meeting. A strong committee of ten was then formed with Mr H. T. HaWey as chairman. The representative nature of the meeting may be gathered from the fact that 68 votes were polled at Him in 1919 and Mr Atmore had 51 present last evening.—Communicated. Mr H. Atmore will address the electors at Ranzau to-nieht (Thursday); Richmond to-morrow (Fridav): Clifton Terrace, Monday: Wakefield, Tuesday.; Tasman, Wednesday. Committee Rooms, Bridge Street open every evening.

MR A. GILBERTS CANDIDATURE

A meeting was held last evening in the school at Clifton Terrace in sunn or t o' Mr A. Gilbert, the Government candidate. and it speaks well for the district to say that every family was renresented and a resident of fifty years said it was the largest political meeting ever held at. Atawhai. Mr .1. T. Barnes was elected chairman

■"id in introducing the candidate said ♦ hatJMV Gilbert was known through the district as a worker, and would he a credit to any constituency. TTe welcomed him for those present and wished, him success.

Mr Gilbert addressed the meeting for over an hour and a-half, and had a most- attentive audience, without the slightest intcmmHon. He dealt with

important questions of the dnv in a.

concise and clear manner, and those wresent expressed their great appreciation of his interesting address, -The candidate dealt with many subjects of interest to a country audience, such as

housing question, better working conditions. to settlers, lucerne growing, production, depreciation in cost ef production, trade within the Empire, etc., and in r conclusion assured those present that if returned he should do Jiis host for the good of his'constituency and devote his whole time for the benefit of the district.

Mr Q. Dodson proposed that the best thanks of the meeting be given 'to Mr Gilbert for his address. He further stated that the speech hfid. been most instructive and interesting, quite different from the usual run of political speches, and he also stated that the meeting had full confidence in the candidate.

Mr E., Hayton seconded Mid endorsed the previous speakers’ remarks. A suggestion was made to include a vote of confidence, but Mr Gilbert mentioned that Ids Committee did not desire it, and he thanked all present for the kind hearing given him; also proposing- vote of thanks to the chairman, Both, proposals twere earned with enthusiasm. ' A proposal was made to form a committee. This was agreed to and all were elected although Mr Dodson informed the meeting that a committee could do nothing, as they were practically all of one mind and were determined to return a Government candidate.

The chairman called for questions, , but Mr Dodson and others explained; that everyone was satisfied and so there was no necessity for any,—Communicated. Mr Gilbert will speak at the Forester’s Hall, Hillside, to-night; Stoke Public Hall, to-morrow; Mapum Schoolrooaf, Saturday; Brightwater Public School, Monday.

ELLESMERE SEAT

(United Press Association)

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Mr J. C. Free, Liberal-Labour candidate for Ellesmere, speaking at Southbridge, expressed strong resentment of 1 the imputation of disloyalty against the Liberal Party and alleged that Mr Massey was first to join forces with the Reds. Those who held extreme Labour views invariably had to abandon them .in favour of moderate views and moderate Labour meant Liberalism. He regretted the split between these two aeo- , tions. Mr Free criticised the policy of purchasing high-priced land for’soldiers and urged a revaluation rather than a proposed expenditure of £5,000,000 in advances. The muddled condition of the railways necessitated the undivided attention of one Minister. He criticised) immigration, Board of Trade policy, and the meat pool, and declared that a State bank would not be free from political influence. *