ELECTION PROSPECTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17327, 26 November 1919, Page 10

ELECTION PROSPECTS.

.' GOVERNMENT'S POSITION.* MB. MASSEY SATISFIED. A SUCCESSFUL TOUR. [BY. TELEGRAPH—OWN COEBKSPOSDEKT.] CHRISTCHTJRCH. Tuesday. "From my point of view," said the Prima Minister, Mr. W. F. Massev, when interviewed to-day oil the political outlook, 'lit is quite good. As far as I am able to judge, the people are satisfied with the position the Government party has taken up right from the time it went into j office up to the. present. *t- T xt° P[°iP ects of the party, not only in • 'the .North Island, but throughout the "Do- , minion, are good. Nothing could have been better or more ■ satisfactory than the tour I have just completed of part of the .North Island." ! MR. MASSEY'S OPPONENT SPEECH AT PAPAKURA. ' VIEWS ON LABOUR QUESTIONS :l • ; CONFIDENCE VOTE AND BOUQUET. [BI TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL reporter.] i PAPAKURA. Tuesday. The latest opponent of the Prime Minister in the tranklin electorate, Mr. J. 1 Rea, Opposition, opened his campaign at ;Papakura this ovening. Dr. Broolitield. i chairman of th,e Town Board presided, and some 200 people were present. The candidate received an attentive hearing, and often gained applause, particularly when his views were generally in line with those of Labour. Mr. Rea, who is an untiring and somewhat garulous speaker, said he was a practical ■ farmer, but indicated that he was not at present farming. He stated that as he was more or less a stranger to the district he would outline his history. He came to New Zealand 36 years ago, as a youth, and had had a varied experience. Previously he had been an active supporter of the Libtiral-Labour Federation, and if elected he would vote against the Reform Government on party issues, and with Sir Joseph Ward. (Applause.) One of the reasons why he stood as an "Independent Liberal" was that the old Liberal organisation had gone to th» wall. It had been said that he was standing for a purpose, but he could assure them he was not running a " stoomer." Referring to Lord Jellicoe's report, which he thought the Government was prepared to " swallow whole," he declared that an annual expenditure of £1,500,000 made it necessary for the naval proposals to receive very careful consideration. • j Sympathy with Sane Labour. ' Continuing, the candidate said he had every sympathy with sane Labour, but not for the extremists who had ruined Labour's chances in this election. The reason why he had been particularly " shook" with the Liberals was that they stood for democracy. I Proceeding, he said that Mr. Massey and his party had persistently opposed all outstanding democratic measures, but Sir Joseph Ward had not, a remark that raised objection and counter-objection in the audience. He favoured the reform of the system of . representation. Applause greeted his statement that profiteering had been rampant. He favoured the nationalisation of the medical profession. He said it should be illegal for companies to " water" stock, ana one of the solutions of the cost of living problem was the establishment of co-operative concerns, which Sir Joseph Ward had said should receive State encouragement. He supported a more severe graduated land tax. He upheld the justice of the butter payment, in which he himself was participating, and said I that the interest on the amount should also be paid. I The statement that the Reform Party had failed to carry out its election promises brought a member of the audience to his feet, but the remarks were drowned in opposition applause. David and Goliath. In regard to his action in standing against Mr. Maesey, the candidate told tha story of David and Goliath, which he rendered in modern slang. " David," concluded the candidate, " asked who was this crook, and when he found the other had cold, feet he decided to sock Goliath over. (Laughter.) In this case I am David and the other Liberals should have been opposing Mr. Massey, but they had cold feet." On the liquor question he favoured State control with compensation. (Ap plause.) The candidate dealt with othei topics from the Liberal standpoint and concluded amid loud applause. I The meeting livened up considerably during Question time. Th« candidate said he favoured deep sea shipping being owned by the -'State. Questioned as to the personnel oi the influential deputation which, it was said, had waited on him, the can didate said this statement was incorrect and he stood at the request of widelyscattered electors, his difficulty being the , want of Liberal organisation. He could say, however, that the Liberal organisation, such as it was, was behind him. Questioned as to how he would vote in the event of Labour obtaining the balance of power, he said he did not think there was any chance of such an eventuality. There would be two parties and he would vote against the Government. Pressed to answer the question, he said he certainly would .vote with Labour ii Labour was voting with the Liberals. In any case he would rather vote for Labour than for the Reform Party. A Voice: You would make a good Labour candidate. Later the candidate alluded to Messrs. Semple, Webb and Holland in severe terms and said he regarded all Labour not connected with these men as sane Labour. Towards the end of the meeting an effort was made by a section of the audience tc cry down a persistent and hostile questioner. At the end of his address a lady walked up amid applause and presented the candidate with a huge bouquet. • A vote of thanks followed by one oi thanks and confidence was carried and a motion of thanks to Mi. Massey was greeted with laughter. Throughout the candidate raised amusement by his frequent use of slang. EDEN. Mr J. C. Parr, M.P., Government candidate for Eden, addressed a crowded audience at St. Thomas' Hall, New Lynn last evening. Mr. J. Lawson, chairman of the New Lynn Town Board, presided and in introducing the candidate said Mr. Pair had rendered most useful service to the district. Mr Parr emphasised the importance of education in the great work of superreconstruction, and said the best educated nation would win in the arts and in competition in times of peace. In his opinion the portfolio of Education was the most important of all. Mr. Parr received a very cordial reception, and on the motion oi Mr. Lang was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks and appreciation. DUNE DIN NORTH. [BY TELEGRAPH.—-PRESS ASSOCIATION'.} DUNEDIK, Tuesday. Mr. E. Kellett, who is opposing Mr. A Walker, M.P., the official Labour candidal* for Dunedin North, as an Independeui Labour candidate, addressed a largely attended meeting at Ravensbourno to nij,'ht. At the outset he made it clear that lt< was standing against official Labour oi account of its disloyal attitude during tin war, particularly on account of tin F*-«-eration of Labour's manifesto ii in October. 1916.