AUCKLAND WEST SEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17329, 28 November 1919, Page 8

AUCKLAND WEST SEAT.

MR. C. F. BENNETT'S ADDRESS. REBUKE TO INTERRUPTERS. i FAILINGS OF LABOUR PARTY. | The Government candidate for Auckland West, Mr. C. F. Bennett, delivered an address to the electors at the Paget Street Hall last evening. Mr. R. L. Stewart presided over a crowded audience, about 'AM people being present. JJuxiug tne eariy part. 01 tne speech, when tne candidate was criticising tne actions and utterances of tne juuuour leaaers, ne was suujected to a considerable amount ot interruption from Liaoour supporters at the back of the hall. Mr. .Bennett referred to the results of the Parliamentary elections in Britain and France since the war as a remarkable victory for sane democracy over extreme Socialists. An lnterjector : What about Belgium and Italy? The candidate was referring to pubI lished utterances of some of tne Labour , leaders in New Zealand when a storm : of interjection came from a noisy eleI men m the audience. ! When the noise subsided sufficiently! ' for Mr. Bennett to be heard he made reference to the tactics of Labour sympathisers in Wellington in refusing to i allow certain candidates to be heard. He said it was manifest from the utter- | I ances of the leaders and the actions of ! I their supporters that they had yet to '. acquire the attributes ot -reverence, : self-knowledge and self-control which i were essential to leadership and a proper ' spirit of citizenship. The assumption that the Labour Party alone was capable , of guiding the destinies of the country . i was ridiculous. * I j Further interjection occurred at this ■ stage, but when it subsided the candidate , ; was allowed to proceed with his address j I without further serious interruption. I I He dealt with social legislation, land settlement, repatriation of soldiers, pro- : fiteering, and the cast of living, and emphasised the necessity of progressive legislation to solve the problems that had arisen through the war. . Replying to questions the candidate said he was of opinion that wages in New Zealand had not increased in proportion to the increased cost of living and if elected he would endeavour to have the matter remedied by constitutional methods. < He was opposed to the four months' training camp scheme and favoured a revival of the junior cadet system and a revision of the territorial system. He declined to state by what method he would settle the butchers' strike, as negotiations in regard to the dispute were now proce.Tling. At the > conclusiou of the meeting a vote of thanks* and confidence was carried by a large majority. Cheers were then given for the Labour Party and counter-cheers for Mr. Massey. MR. M. J. SAVAGE'S CAMPAIGN. The Labour Party's campaign in the Auckland West constituency was continued last evening, when Mr. M. J. Savage addressed an audience of about 200 people in the Leys Institute. He was given a good hearing. Mr. V. Johnson presided. Mr. Savage spoke along the lines of his previous addresses. He said he regretted having to complain of certain tactics, which he did not specify, alleged to have been adopted by one of his opponents' canvassers. He did not object to fair criticism, he expected no favours, no quarter; all that he asked for was' fair dealing. hen, however, slanderous statements were made, not only in regard to himself, but in respect u> the party he represented, it was tune to object. He declared there was no extreme Labour

. Party. The New Zealand Labour Party, ; the leaders of which were called extreme, _ comprised honest workers, including . women. In Auckland there were 32 unions , affiliated to the New Zealand Labour ' Party, and it could not be said that the members of all these unions were extreme. In reply to a question regarding the nationalisation of industry, the candidate said Labour was not in lavour of cunnscation. In the event of tnc nationalisation of any industry, he would propose to pay , I the , amount of compensation required by i the issue of debentures, which 'could be , liquidated out ot the profits. I ihe candidate was accorded a vote of ' . thanks ana confidence. • BOLLS CLOSE TO-DAY. i ! RUSH FOR ENROLMENT. • ABSENT VOTES' PERMIT. > To-day will be the last opportunity i which those qualified will have of eu- . roiling on the rariiameutary rolls. The • writs for the general elections are to be , issued to-day and therefore the supple- ■ mentary rol-s will close at 6 p.m. in all i electorates. There has been a rush for - enrolment during the last few days and » the various registrars of electors had a > particularly brisk day yesterday. It is ■ anticipated that they will have a similar 1 experience to-day. 1 The staff at the central electoral office iI in the Government Buildings, Customs • , Street, has been increased to 14, and i has beeu kept very busy. Ihe fact ■ that several electors are seeking general information at the central office, instead of applying to the registrars in their own districts, as they could do, is, of course, adding to the work of that office. Large numbers of absent voters' permits and seamen's rights are being issued. Nominations of all candidates for the European elections close on Saturday, December 6, and for the Maori elections on Monday, December 3. The polling date for the European elections is Wednesday, December 17, and for the Maori elections Tuesday, December 16. The write in the former cases are returnable on December 26, and in the latter on January 9. , RAGLAN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ! PUKEKOHE, Thursday. | The Government candidate for Raglan ' Mr. R. P. Bo.lard, M.P., addressed a large number of electors at Onewbero last night. He delivered a speech on the lines of his previous addresses. After answering several questions the candidate was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. I FRANKLIN. Mr. J. Rea, the Opposition candidate for Franklin, addressee! a large meeting of electors in the Premier Hall, Pukekohe, I last evening. Mr. C. K. Lawrie, Mayor ;of Pukekohe, presided. The candidate ; delivered an address similar to that de- : livercd at Papakura. At the conclusion . of the address several questions were asked. He said he was not a prohibitionist, but was an advocate of State con- < trol. He was accorded a vote of thanks. WAITEMATA. Mr. A. E. Greenslude. Opposition candidate for Waitemuta. addressed a largely- ' . attended meeting of the electors last even- j ing in the Belmont schoolroom. Mr. F. , K. N. Gaudiiijjßresided. The candidate 1 received an attentive hearing. A hearty , vote ot thanks and confidence was unani- , mously passed, and a large committee was , formed to further Mr. Greenslade's candi- ] dature in that district. : ,