POLITICAL VISITORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15566, 25 March 1914, Page 10

POLITICAL VISITORS.

IN KAIPARA ELECTORATE. tS MEETING AT HELENSVILLE. 1 OPPOSITION POINTS OF VIEW. Two members of Parliament now on a tour of North Auckland in the interests of the Opposition, Messrs. W. D. 3. Mac Donald and J. C. Thomson, opened their campaign at Helensville on Monday evening before a large audience. Mr. Mac Donald was very warmly received when he rose to speak. He said that the Opposition regarded Kaipara as an Opposition seat, and he proceeded to criticise the men who assisted the ilassev Government into office. He dealt with the subjects of land settlement and finance along orthodox lines. Referring to native land, the speaker pointed out that in the north of Auckland there were 3.800,000 acres of native land, so that they were closely interested iii the question. thr Native Land Act of 1909 was such a splendid piecc of legislation that the present Native Minister warmly applauded it. Since that Act was passed 1-483,000 acres of native land had been alienated—a total of half a million acres a year, and half of the alienated land Sad been disposed of outright. What had the Government done to speed up the opening of native lands' 1 lis Bill of 1909 had 419 clauses, and was put through all its stages in three or four hours proof that hardly anyone in the House understood what it meant. Yet that Act was a masterpiese of legislation for the solution of the native land problem.

Mr. Mac Donald made caustic references to the naval proposals of the present Administration. He contended that Sir Joseph Ward's proposal to contribute directly to the Imperial Navy was infinitely superior, to the formation of the nucleus of a toy navy, which even as a toy navy would mean an almost impossible burden on the taxpayers of the Dominion. " I say that everyone at the coming elections will want to ■ demand a. clear and definite explanation as to the naval defence proposals for this country," declared Mr. Mac Donald. Mt. Thomson also received a hearty round of applause upon rising. After pointing out a few facts and figures connected with the last general elections the member for Wallace referred to the claims of Mr. MaSsey that his party were more Liberal and democratic than the Opposition Party, and asked his hearers if that boast reconciled with the abolition of. the second ballot in favour of the " first past the post'' system. Again, if the labour laws of the Seddon and Ward Administrations were so prejudicial to the prosperity of the country and were driving people out of the country,, why had no attempt been made to repeal them? Why also had nothing -been done to reduce the high cost of living? Mr. Massey before attaining office had declared that . the taxation was bearing too heavily on the working; man, yet last year that taxation was increased by 3s 4d per head. He had also protested against the undue pressure of death duties, yet last year was the record revenue-producing year for death duties, and nothing had been attempted by way of reducing them. Both speakers had an attentive and appreciative hearing, and at the close a resolution according them hearty thanks and expressing implicit confidence in Sir j Joseph Ward as leader of the party was I carried.

' Mr. G. Witty, M.P., and Mr. R. Hoe, the selected Opposition candidate for Kaipara, addressed a large meeting at Port Albert, and were accorded an excellent reception. MEETING AT KAUKAPAKAPA. • AN APPEAL FOR SUPPORT. [by TELEGRAPH. correspondent. ] ' Kaukapakapa, Tuesday*. Messrs. Mac Donald . and: Thomson, M.P.'s, addressed a meeting here to-night. The weather was threatening and there was only a small attendance. Mr* J. G. ■ Coates, M.P., introduced the visitors and Mr. R. Hoe, the Oppostion candidate, was also present. Mr. Thomson made a vigorous appeal for support for-his party on account of its past services and legislation. Mr. Thornson denounced the press, which dominated I the Reform Party ana was a monopoly, . and said that the Reform Party is the > party that opposed old age pensions, land for settlement, arid other similar measures. The Government's < alleged failure to - r°- % deem its election pledges, the reduction of the Customs duties, and the cost of living. l J were also referred to. .*.? :,! Mr. Mac Donald dealt chiefly with land ; | legislation, detailing the Opposition policy J; and contrasting it with that of the Reform . Party. He made a defence of the Op- . position policy .dealing with labour legislation and loan expenditure for public works. -; Hp. claimed that ■ the Government statement about commitments left to the Massey Government by the previous Ad- , ministrations, with no money provided to f meet them, was a fallacy.. • Both speakers received a close and at- ; tentive hearing and were accorded' a hearty vote of thanks.

LEADER OF OPPOSITION. POLITICAL ADDRESS TO-NIGHT, ■ |f{ Sir Joseph Ward, Bart.', Leader of the : Opposition, will arrive from the South this morning, ana' this evening will de<: liver a political address at the I own Hall. .£?, The Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) will preside. '