THE GREY LYNN SEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15769, 18 November 1914, Page 4

THE GREY LYNN SEAT

ADDRESS BY MR. McLEAN.

ADVICE TO THE WORKER.

A largo audience greeted Mr. Murdoch McLean, official Governfent- candidate for Grey Lynn, at St. Barnabas's Hall, Mount Eden, last night, when he delivered a political address. He was introduced by Mr. W. Lambert, who presided. Speaking of the representation of Labour in the new Parliament, Mr. McLean said that he was in complete sympathy with the genuine worker, whose lot was a hard and strenuous one, and who, in his opinion, was entitled to organise to obtain all he could for his labour. If returned, the speaker promised to do all he could to assist the worker. (Applause.) He next traced the difficulties which the Massey Government had had to contend with, and said that it had acquitted itself with credit in such matters as the Waihi strike, the " smallpox" epidemic, the waterside strike, and the assisting of the Mother Country during her present great war. Good labour legislation had been introduced and placed on the Statute Book by the Massey Government., A minimum wage had been fixed, .and .rates of pay to Government servants had been increased practically all round. General humanitarian legislation had been enacted. In the matter of workers' homes, the number of homes built by the Ward Government during its six and a-half gears' tenure of office was 209 ; the number built by the Massey Government in two and a-half years was 345. Auckland had not received justice from previous Governments, but he thought that it could depend upon justice more and no less— from the Massey Government. (Applause.) A vigorous policy of public works' was necessary to the proper development of the country, a more vigorous policy than had been pursued hitherto. He strong'y advocated the establishment of a local navy, and closed his speech by warning the electors from returning to power a party which represented so many conflicting interests as the Ward party' represented. (Applause.) After the _ candidate had answered several questions, he was accorded a hearty and unanimous vote of confidence, on the motion of Mr. J. W. Brindley and Mr. W. T. Davis.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. McLean addressed a meeting of women electors at the Richmond Hall, and received a very attentive hearing from a fairly large audience. He dealt particularly with the legislation which the Government had passed affecting women, «nd said that the secret ballot to be taken before a strike was commenced, made compulsory by statute, was one of the best Acts which the present Government could have done for the protection and benefit of the wives end families of working men. (Applause.) At the close of tho candidate's address he was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. ADDRESS BY MR. MURRAY. A political address was delivered in St. Columba Hall, Grey Lynn, last night, by Mr. W. H Murray, a Reform candidate for the Grey Lynn' seat. Mr. E. A. Perkins presided over a good attendance. The candidate said there were people who had stated that he was going to retire from the contest. He hoped that before the election took place there would only be three out of the four present candidates to go to the poll—the sitting member, Mr. Payne,, the Hon. George Fowlde, and himse.f. The candidate said lie was fighting in the cause of the Reform Party because he thought it was the most progressive party vet evolved in the interests and the well-being of the people of the Dominion, larty politics were not altogether right, but while one had to look so far ahead, he felt that one had to sit "on one side of the fence or the other." Referring to the question of defence, -Mr. Murray said he thought the Government was deserving of praise for the attitude it took on the naval question, and he thought that credit was due to one member of the Opposition Party, Mr. A. M. Myers, for the position he had taken up in respect to the same matter. Compulsory training had proved to be a good tiling for the country,' and the speaker challenged anyone to say that it was unnecessary. He was prepared to admit that in the past the conditions of tho working classes had not been bettered as much as they should have been. Much could be accomplished by individual effort, but he thought more could bo done by collective effort. A great deal had been said about the profits which were made by t lge i ; ll . vldend -p ayin companies, but why should the workers who paid contributions devr, eJ° n *1? DOfc PUt m ° ney into fun 1 ™ h purpose of purchasing shares in these companies, so as to obtain a share in the dividends which they the workers helped to create. Joint ownership m big commercial concerns would be a start lnthk direction of solving the great labour , problems which they hal • 10 face to-day. They should be participants in that which thev created monoptSr But that would still 'be monopo.y ? 4 uc Of^th' n Ml,rra y;. Get to work and take hold wav tr monopolies yourselves. That is flm nay to break them down. If you think the dividends are too large, fewer the price of commodities and be satisfied with 552? dividends because you are the pro meters of the concerns. (Applause.) til? ?"?// th ? 1131176 ,and question the candidate said the present Government had done something towards remedymg evils but it had not gone half far enough The natives possessed 9,000 000 acres of land they drew a larger proporaiT of the.old age pensions and charitable aid benefits, and drew £250,000 sterling per annum from land values, and were free from rates. They also had the privilege of electing members to Parliamentwho could make laws that they were not subservient to, although Europeans were. That was not right. The natives were not entitled to privileges unless they were prepared to accept responsibilities Mr Murray urged that New Zealand secondary industries should be fostered and loyally supported by the people. The present Government had responded to the, demands of Civil servants for betterment of then-conditions, it had given the people the right to the freehold, and had made material advances in many other directions. The Government was worthy of praise for the stand it had taken in regard to the war. The candidate stated that on the liquor i question ho stood for a 55 per cent, majority, both on the national and the local issues. From a personal standpoint, he was particularly opposed to Bible-reading in schools—(applause) although he was favourable to a referendum on the question. The candidate concluded by stating that he intended to go on with the election, and would avoid making personal references to the other candidates. (Anplause.) Several questions were put to the candidate at the close of his address.

'* Are you in favour 0 reducing the limit of old age pensons from 65 to 40 years of age, as I consider that 65 is too'long to wait?" asked one individual, amidst laughter and cries of tired." Tho candidate replied that, seriously, he thought tho limit should be reduced to 60 for the male as well as for the female.

A motion of thanks and confidence was accorded the candidate on the motion of Mr. J. H. Kellow, seconded by Mr. O. Prince, an amendment that a' vote of thanks only be passed being lost. The meeting concluded with cheers for the candidate and Sir Joseph Ward, and the singing of the National Anthem.