GENERAL ELECTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 2 December 1922, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION.

THE NELSON SEAT MR H. ATMORE’S CANDIDATURE Mr Harry Atmoro continued his campaign last evening at the Toi Toi Valley Mission Hall, wkn 87 (doctors were'present, and gave him an enthusiastic reception. Mr John Orsrnan was voted to the chair and referred to Air Atmore as one who had done splendid work Tor his native district, and to whom they were ging to give more opportunities Cor good work. (.Applause). .dr Mmore bcc-on his address by rcifirring to Air Fell’s letter in last .o.i-ii'in.ds Alail. lie-said that it was another illustration of party-fooling, as Mr Foil,knew quite well whore he (Mr At inure) r.ioml in regard 1 to extreme views, for they -discussed matters several times. lie had slated

at nearly every meeting that his veto would never be used to put a revointionary party in power, and ho again made that statement i>nreservedly for tlm benefit of his friend. Air Fell. (Laughter and applause). fie, had beep personally congratulated by the Chief Justice, Air Massey, and several ■r' the Ministers and two leaders of ihe legal profession, eminent K.O.’s, for his vh>ws .on the question, so he eenhl bear with equanimity the party .suggestion made 1 b.v Mr VFell, wlio knew belter. (Applause). There were various ways of lighting evidently, but as be. Mr Atmore, had nothing to hide, ho feared no question, and Air Fell was at liberty to put. questions to him on his plat form .on Wednesday evening. It was evidently a question of “The People v. Party,” and the people must win! (Loud applause). He again, referred to the division lists, and read from Hansard giving names of members, and showing.that the Reformers and the Holland Party had voted in one lobby against a Now Zealander getting* the position of Directoi of Education, whilst the Liberals voted in the other lobby in. favour of the New Zealander. He read out another list on a division for the appointment of Deputy Public Trustees, where all the Alinisters and, party voted with Air Holland and his party iu one lobby, and the Liberals were, in the other lobby. He then gave another division list from the pages of Hansard, in which he showed that on a motion for pensions to the 600 totally blind persons in New Zealand, the Liberals and Air Holland’s Party voted in favour of the pensions in one lobby, whilst the Government Tarty voted against the pensions with the exception of Messrs Wright and Sykes. He asked his audience whether there was a man or woman there who would not' vote as he did? (Loud applause). He would vote for those pensions always, and he did not care; who else was in the lobby with him? 1 1 Avas a disgrace to New Zealand that pensions were not provided. He had perhaps done more than any other man in the House to put the true economic position before the people, and he was surprised at the partyism which tended to obscure the groat issues. He asked them to note that all the anonymous letters were coming from his opponents. (Applause). He was steering clear b| all personalities —the problems were too grave for such trifling.. He expected to rvin, as the people Avere stronger than the party—the whole Avas still greater" than the part! (Applause). He appealed to/the people—his oppenents appealed to the party! He Avould let it rest at that. (Applause). HJe had the kindliest feelings towards Mr ATassey personally, and he stood for constitn tional methods only (Applause). He again stressed the necessity for reducing taxation in New Zealand, as he said it was strangling industry and preventing expansion of trade. Taxation must be reduced.. Air Atmore dealt Avith the main questions, and at the conclusion of his address Mr-Fellow moved a-hearty vote of" thanks for the splendid . address and one of complete confidence iii Lis as their future member. He was sure Air Atmore Avould be returned. The people Avould see to that. • (Applause). Mr Alercer seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to Air Qrsman for presiding was. carried by acclamation.—Comuumicated. ! ( , t v /. , Mr Harry Atmore Avill address the electors at Redwood’s Valley "tii-night at 7, gnd at Appleby Schoolroom at 8; on Monday, mid-day, Nelson wharves; Alonday evening, Wai-iti School; Tuesday, AVaimea AVest Schoolroom; Wednesday evening, Empire Theatre.

MR A. GILBERT’S CANDIDATURE

The Government candidature, Mr A. Gilbert, held, a successful meeting at Spring Grove last evening, about 40 electors being present. Mr J, Wells was voted to the chair and in introducing the candidate spoke of' the useful work that he had done for the fruitgrowing industry and in other directions.

The candidate made a vigorous and effective reply to the Liberal-Labour candidate’s speech of the previous evening. Mr Gilbert w’egVetted ’ the continued repetition (I • itlie' absurd and unfair charges being made against the Government, particularly in view of the complete and satisfactory explanations given by the Prime Minister at the Theatre last Tuesday. We had either to accept Mr Massey’s statements or those made by Mr Atmore, and, said Air Gilbert, he would venture to say that 99 per cent, of the electors of Now Zealand would admit quite frankly and fairly that Mr Massey was absolutely honed, and his character,' and also of beyond reproach'] The inferences that they had. been bestowing 'favours upon Sir Duncan Elliott;, the cement companies and land owners, who sold for soldier settlement purposes at the public, expense were unworthy and beneath contempt. Mr Gilbert urged .that the politics of New Zealand must be kept on a higher and more dignified level and he felt sure that the fair-minded electors of Nelson would show their resentment of the present tactics in a very decided manner on' election day. The candidate then dealt at length with matters of national importance, emphasising the great need of guarding and restricting our public expenditure which bad increased from 12 millions in 1913-14 to 28 millions to the present time. We ■ must bring expenditure within revenue f .and to do tins we must effect economies in every possible way, increase our,- exports and decrease our imports. These are matters in which, every citizen of New Zealand can assist and we must encou[rage self-reliance, industry and thrift. The candidate concluded a two hours’ address with an appeal to the electors to weigh very carefully the responsibility and duty attaching to the vote, and, he felt sure that if it were used 'by the thinking, responsible electors with a due regard to the national wellbeing, putting aside all personal and parochial considerations, it would be found on .election day that Nelson had decided by a, substantial majority to return the Massey Government for a further 3 years to lead and assist us along the road to progress and prosperity. Mr W. B. Lewis, in moving, a vote

of thanks, spoke of the address as being of a sound,, practical arid helpful nature and even opponents would admit that, they had been enlightened by the address and. said Mr Lewis, 1 hope Mr Gilbert will be our member.' The resolution was seconded by Mr 'Robinson and carried enthusiastically. The meeting closed with a vote, of thanks to the chair.—Communicated. Mr A. Gilbert will address electors at Waimea West on Monday evening find at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday evening.

MOTUEKA SEAT MR R. P. HUDSON’S CANDIDATURE

Air R. IV Hudson will address the electors as follows Monday- December 4. Lower Montcrc 4 p.m.; Ngatimoti 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, Sandy Bay 2 p.m. ; Brooklyn 8 p.m. Wednesday. December 6t!i, Rocky Hivcr 2 p.m. MR R. PATTERSON’S CANDIDATURE Air R. Patterson, Liberal-Labour candidate for the Alotueka seat, addressed a meeting.of electors at Tapawera last evening. The Candidate dwelt Ayitli the planks of the party platform and gave additional view's or his own. His remarks will be reported at length.in Monday’s' Mail:.. PREMIER' IN THE SOUTH (United Press Association.) GIiRISTCHURCII, Nov. 30> Mr Massey arrived from the West Coast this evening. On the, way across he addressed a large meeting of residents at Olira. . ? , • In a speech at Dark eld Air Massey said that there was one question which was being asked and winch bo wished to touch upon. It was: Was, the present Government going to bo a party Avith a working majority in. the .House? All other questions had sunk into insignificance' beside that one. In Britain a neAV Opposition. iihd been rer turned, and yye. pqight get the same here. We had. exactly the same thing —three parties and half a dozen little groups of vancient, historic, and n&w Liberals. ’ "p

“Let us suppose,” lie continued, “that after next Thursday night no one parly will havp- a majority over the others. One party will hold the balance of power, and it will then be able, to dictate to the other two. ” Mr 'Holland, speaking at Westport—and incidentally dropping .the usual courtesy title of ‘Mr—(laughter)—said: Tf we help Wilford to oust Massey, then Wilford and his people must accept the policy dictated by us.’ ’’ • • This evening Mr Massey spoke in the Theatre Royal, Christchurch;.' The audience was fairly .orderly, but there .was a continual stream ofinterjections i during the greater part of the evening. In the course of his address Mr Massey dealt, with the matter of soldiers’ pensions. Ho stated that these had been paid to the last farthing, and there was, the possibility that 'they might be increased before the end of the present.year. He had now .the report of the Commission .set up to deal with the matter, and consideration of the _ increase would he one of the first things to bo dealt with by the next meeting of Cabinet. 3n all, he I stated, the Government had to pay £3,093,365 in pensions, and this was but one of the things it had to face,’ |n meeting its liabilities this country; could not afford to default, and now there was no chance that it would.

At the conclusion of the meeting a hfarty vote of thanks to Mr Massey, and continued confidence in the Governanent of which Me is the head, was moved. Thq ..motion was declared carried oy a very majority, and the gathering rose and cheered Mr Massey lustily. . ; ;

MR WILFORD AT HASTINGS NAPIER, Hastings 30. ' Mi’ Wilford addressed a large meeting in Iho Municipal' Theatre, Hastings, to-night,'though the building was not full. _ He received a good hearing, and interjections were few in number. The speaker spent a good deal of time in criticising the policy of the Government, and dealt in detail with the various planks of his own platform. Mr Wilford was accorded a vote of thanks, and the meeting also passed a resolution‘expressing the opinion that a change of Government was necessary. ; _ THAMES, Dec. 1." '■ v Mr Whiteside, (Independent Liberal), has decided to retire in favour of Mr Allan, (Liberal-Labour) and will actively organize'for him. , ‘