THE COMING ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13028, 20 November 1905, Page 6

THE COMING ELECTION.

AUCKLAND WEST. *

ADDRESS BY MR, PARR,

Mr. C. .1. Parr, the Opposition candidate for Auckland West, had a good reception en Friday evening from a large audience at the Church of Christ in Ponsonby Road. Mr. Entrican, who occupied the chair, said Mr. Parr had served Ponsonby for ten years past in various public capacities, and had shown a thorough grasp of local government. Mr. Parr said that efficient administration was the first dut-- of a Government, legislation being of secondary importance. No on* was satisfied with the administrative methods of:' the present Government. Mismanagement and extravagance characterised most Departments. He instanced Lands. Defence, and railway works. Was it good business to pay £72,000 upon co-operative labour for a railway work when a contractor had offered to do the whole job for £44,000? Yet this had actually taken place on the Main Trunk line. And even with this largo expenditure the co-operative labourers justly complained of the low wages paid them by the Government. The present Government had been guilty of gross neglect of this province. What possible excuse could be offered for giving Westland £81 Is lOd per head in railways expenditure while North Auckland only got £12 7s 6d? Wellington was able to boast of an expenditure on public buildings of nearly £500,000, while the Government had not spent one tenth of that sum in the city of Auckland. What was the remedy for such favouritism? Government supporters admitted that wo had been badly treated, but said the cure'.was. to keep Mr. Seddon in power and try and reform him. But the only occasion that Mr! Seddon shoved -any repentance was at "election time. (Laughter.) Tho air was then full of promises. . The performance somehow never equalled the promise. Jus:, this time three years ago Mr. Seddon promised us £250,000 for the Main Trunk line, but he only managed to spend £112,000 of this vote. Were tho.people of Auckland going to be humbugged this time? That was the question. (Hear, hear.) The Opposition would undertake by a vigorous land settlement policy, and by a fair expenditure of public moneys in this province, to give this city a prosperity it had not hitherto known. In conclusion Mr. Parr said lie was a young New Zealander, and he was proud of the fact. One of his opponents had denied that being- native born and bred was any recommendation. But surely, all things being equal,, our own sons should get first chance. In every walk of life the New Zealander had more than held his own. To-day, in science, Professor Rutherford, a Canterbury boy, claimed tho attention of tho world. In education, his schoolmate, Professor Maclaurin, of Victoria College, had carried off Smith's prize, the highest mathematical honour in Great Britain, against all-comers. In medicine. Dr. Sinclair Gillies, sou of the late Judge Gillies, had come out first in London University, and now had made an Australian reputation. South Africa also showed that as soldiers we were not to be despised. (Applause.) And he believed New Zealauders could play the game of politics just as well as the game of football, if they only had ; a chance. (Hear, hear.) It was for Auckland West to say whether it would give a New Zealander a show. (Applause.) - Mr. H. Bagnall moved and Mr. Crombio seconded a vote of thanks and confidence, which was carried unanimously.

MANCKAU. . ~ » Mr. M. M- Kirkbride, the Opposition candidate, addressed his East Tamaki constituents in Allen's Hall, East Tamaki, on Saturday night, and met with a most enthusiastic reception. Between sixty and severity persons were present, Mr. Herbert Thompson, of Greenmount, being voted to the chair. Mr. Kirkbride's address was on similar lines to his previous speeches to his constituents, and included a startling indictment against the Seddon Administration. Mr. Kirkbride claimed for his party that a great portion of Mr. Seddon's legislation had been licked into shape by them, and entered an earnest plea for honest administration and less political bribery. He spoke very strongly in the cause of technical education, ratepayer*' franchise for local taxation, the appointment of a non-political service board, and for an optional land tenure with the right of . purchase. : Mr. Kirkbride spo&e foe nearly two hours, and wa3 cheered to the echo. A hearty vote of thanks and ; confidence was carried nem. con, and the ; proceedings terminated With the usual vote of thanks to the. chairman.

Mr. Ralph D. Stewart, the Government candidate for Manukau, delivered an address to a largo attendance at Howick on Saturday night. Mr. Stewart, previous to going to Howick, addressed a gathering at the Westfield Freezing Works. He will speak to-night at Clcvedon and Ness Valley. - '

EGMONT. ' _ Mr. C. Leech, the Opposition candidate for Egniont, addressed a meeting of the electors at Kakahi on Friday night. Mr. Leech received a, splendid hearing, and was frequently applauded. At the conclusion of the meeting he was asked several questions, which he replied to satisfactorily. In reply to a question as to what in his opinion should be the wages of a workingman in this district, Mr. Leech replied:—"Considering the increased cost ■of living and the heavy freights charged by ; the Railway Department on provisions, etc., I. do not consider wages should be lower than ten shillings per day." Mr. Leech received a hearty vote of thinks. Mr.; Parker was in the chair.

OHINEMURI. MR. MOSS REPLIES TO THE PREMIER. [by telegraph.—OWN CORRESPOND EXT.j •-■.-.. 'Paeroa, Friday. Mr. Moss addressed the electors at Paeroa last night, and was accorded a good reception by a crowded meeting. Mr. Cock preside*!. A great portion of his speech was in reply to the remarks of the Premier regarding him when Mr. Seddon was at Paeroa last week. Mr. Moss - said that the Premier had stated that he had opposed the increase in the old age pensions, which .vas ,! an absolute misrepresentation. Mr. Moss offered to give £50 to a charity if anyone could prove that the Premier's statement that he voted against the second reading of : the Old Age Pensions Bill oflast session was true. Mr. Moss quoted Hansard to show that he had supported the increase, and had also supported the proposal to exempt the homes in computing the amount of. the pension. Mr. Moss said that the Premier's statement that he (Mr. Moss) had congratulated the Government on the Maori Lands for Settlement Bill was nottrue, although he, had congratulated the native Affairs Committee, of which ho himself was a member. Mr. Moss complained of the secrecy observed regarding the public business, and also said that when in Paeroa the Premier had dodged some awkward subjects, notably the question of the Paeroa freeholds, and the bringing into operation of the Gold Duties Act. Mr. Moss said tho vote foi the Piafco swamp was too small, and contrasted the paltry amount with the largo expenditure on the- Flaxbnnrno Estate. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Moss was accorded by acclamation a vote of thanks and confidence, on the motion of Mr. Edwin Edwards.

Mr. H. Poland addressed the elector? at Waitawheta on Tuesday evening, at Matatoke on Wednesday evening, and at Wharepoa on Thursday evening, receiving d. vote of thanks at each place.

PAHIATUA. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION".] Pahiatua, Saturday. Mr. Ross, the Government candidate for Pahiatua, addressed the electors last night. He said he would, if returned, give the Liberal party general support, at the same time reserving to himself the right to vote against the Government on questions in which its policy was at variance with his pledges to the electors. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried.

BAY OF PLENTY. [by TELEGRAPH.OWN correspondent.] Opotiki, Saturday. Mr. Foster addressed the electors in the Town Hall last night. He said Mr. Seddon was accused of raising the cost of living, but he (Mr. Foster) referred to reductions on candles, currants, coffee, raisins, and kerosene, and said £1,691,232 had been given to the people through the Customs. implying to questions he said he could not state a limit to the Government competing with private enterprise. He would vote against a referendum on the Bible in schools question. When questioned as to whether he would give more assistance to the'no-license party than Mr. Herries he refused to answer.

.■ ■ ■ : ; ! ' ■:. - THAMES. ;■ -: ■'.'. ■: [BY TELEGIIAPH.—OWN' COREESPONDEXT."| CoKOiWNDEt, Saturday. Mr. Malcolm Fleming, a candidate for the Thames seat, had a. good meeting at Driving Creek last evening. Mr. Kirkwood occupied the chair. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Fleming for his address, and at the conclusion of the meeting a strong working committee was formed. LICENSED VICTUALLERS AND THE ELECTIONS. [by telegraph.—press association.] CHRISTCHtrKCH, Friday. It is authoritatively announced that the statement that the Licensed Victuallers' Association is supporting certain candidates for city and suburban electorates is not in accordance with fact. The trade some time ago decided to devote all their attention to the local option poll, and not to interfere in Parliamentary elections.

Mr. W. Chambers, the Independent candidate for the Parneil seat, will address the electors of Parnell on Thursday, November 30, and not next Thursday, as previously stated. He will also speak at Newmarket, St. Heliers Bay. Ellerslio, and Panmure on dates to be advertised. Mr. E. W. Alison addresses the electors of Waitemata at Greenhithe at half-past two o'clock this afternoon; in tho schoolroom, Wainui, on Wednesday at seven p.m., and in the Public Hall, Wade, at halt-past seven p.m. on Thursday. Mr. John Bollard will address the electors of Eden in tho Public Hall, Epsom, at eight o'clock this evening. k Mr. R. French addresses the electors of Eden in the New Lynn Public Hall at eight o'clock this evening. Mr. G. Fowlds will address the electors of Grey Lynn in tho Baptist, schoolroom, Wolseley Road (near the city abattoirs) at eight o'clock to-morrow evening. Dr. H. D. Bamford will address the electors of Auckland East in St. Andrew's Hall, Lower S3monds-street, at eight o'clock on Thursday evening next. Mr. W. F. Massey will address the electors of Franklin at Huntly on Wednesday, evening, and at Ngaruawhia on Thursday evening next. The meetings will take place in the Public Hall, commencing at eight o'clock. Mr. M. M. Kirkbridc will address the electors of Manukau in the Public Hall, Howick, at eight o'clock this evening.