THE ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 9138, 8 November 1890, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

Mr F. H. Frnaer was nominated for the city electorate by Meaara J. Thompson and A. Fitchott yesterday. Mr London will address the electors iu the Schoolroom, Panatabanui, this evening, at 8 o'clock. Mr Izard will address the eleotors la the Oddfellows’ Hall, Upper Hutt, this evening, at 7.30. Dr Newman will address the electors in the Nganranga Hall on Tuesday evening. Mr Outhio addresses the electors in the Alhambra Hall, on Thursday next. Mr Fisher’s Thorndon committee meet at Styles’ shop, in Molesworth street, on Monday, at 8 p.m. Mr .Winter addressed the electors (of whom there was a very large attendance) at MltoheUown last evening. Mr Goto was chosen chairman. Mr Winter was well re. coived by the meeting, and touched upon the principal political questions of the day. ioeisting that it la absolutely necessary that labour should be more fairly represented in Parliament in the future than in the past. He dwelt at length upon the necessity of reforming the land laws, and also denounced the property tax. Speaking on the question capital versus labour, he held that the recent unhappy struggle was mainly caused by capitalists, ana snggestod that the Unions should so amend their rules as to induce all classes of labourers to become members. Replying to questions, Mr Winter was of opinion that the Government should be in the position of acquiring any land for the purposes of settlement. He was not in favour of at present altering the licensing laws. A vote of thanks was carried unanimously, and a similar vote to the chairman closed a must enthusiastic meeting, A strong committee was formed in Mr Winter’s interest. Addressing a meeting at Vogel town last night, Mr Dnthie, after a passing allusion to his reception at the Opera House, farther elaborated his viewe on the relations of capital and labour, and the opeuiog of land for settlement. Be said that progress iu this must depend on funds available, and he did not think settlement should continue, as in the past, to add to the permanent debt of the Colony, He had under oonsidetation a scheme of special debentures, in which small savings could be invested for land settlement, but this he would mors fully explain at the Alhambra Hall next week. The British Chancellor bad recently decided on issuing '‘accumulative " Consols to encourage saving amongst the people, and he thought there were various advantages in directly applying the savings of the working classes to the extension of settlement. After briefly dealing with the question ofeducation, he explained that ho had been a good deal blamed by some people for his refusal to support the Ministry. He recognised that party government was not personal, hat concerted action amongst men who agreed on political principles, and generally on public questions. Be would be found loyal (to the views he expressed, whoever might be leaders; but government by party was impossible when expediency was the guide. He, for one, would not enter or remain in politics unless he believed that in the next Parliament there would bo a obange for the better. A number of questions having been asked and answered, a vote of thanks was passed to the candidate. Mr Dnthie leaves by this morning’s train for Manawatu and Wanganui, but expects to return by Wednesday. (TEOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.) Sanson, November 7. Mr John Stevens addressed a large meet!ng of tho eleotors of Palmerston, and received a vote of thanks and confidence by a majority of five to one. Palmerston North, November 7. Election matters are quiet, and 1 have nothing of moment to report. All three candidates are quietly but actively canvassing, and Mr Wilson, who has not yet addressed the electors here, has arranged to do lo at the Theatre Koyal on Tuesday, the

18th inst. Mr Wilson passed tbsoogh Palmerston yesterday, and to have quite recovered from his recent indisposition. Westport, November 7. Mr B. O’Conor completed a tonr of his electorate with an address in Westport tonight. He will in all probability have » walk-over ~-tbo first in the history of the diatiict. The constituency is one of the worst io the Colony to canvass. This may have had a deterrent effect.

(PER PRHBS ASSOCIATION,) Invercargill, November 7. Mr J. G. Fraser, editor of the Soother* Standard, announces himself as a candidate for the Mataura district. He supports the main planks of the Farmers* CJnion, and is standing in tho interests of the small farmers and the working classes. Woodville, November 7. Mr Beetham addressed tho electors here last night, and received a vote of thanks. A vote of confidence was first proposed, but he declined to receive it, saying the polling booth was the place to show confidence. He met with a good reception. Christchurch, November 7. J. Tippet Smith is announced for a city seat. Auckland, November?. A requisition has been framed asking Mr Goldie to stand for Newton. Mr W. J. Napier has resolved to contest chat seat, Westport, November 7. Mr E. O'Conor addressed a crowded meeting" of,electors this evening. After reviewing the business of tho past session, he advocated a modification of the Hare system of election, also female franchise. He condemned the present system of party government as iniquitous. He was opposed to the property tax, but favoured an income and progressive land tax. He dwelt on the Injustice of allowing the shipping industry to evade taxation, and odvooated the establishment of Government marine* trans* port service to connect with the railways, and built so as to be convertible Into oruisers. He had no objection to borrowing, providing it bo subject to a plebiscite of the Colony, If the State borrowed in tho Colony only, as the Premier advocated, the price of money would bo raised. He declined to pledge himself to support either party, desiring to see the Government free from the disgrace of personal contentions. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously, Mr O’Conor has held 25 meetings in the district. It la not probable that there will be any opposition to him.

ME. MIXCHELSON’3 ADDRESS. Auckland, November 7. # The Hon B. Mitcbelson, who Is a candidate for Eden, addressed the electors of that district to-night at' Mount Eden, There was a crowded audience. Mr Mitcbelson said that when the present Government took office the whole of the Colony was suffering from financial and commercial depression, and it was very gratifying to find that the bountiful resources e£ the Colony had enabled it out of the revenue to remit £3,325,000 to London as interest payments during two and a half years, to pay off £128,000 of the deficit of 1888, and to have on the 3lat of March last a surplus of £36,000. During the last three years the experience of the Colony in financial matters bad been critical, but the present Government, by prudence and economy, had been able to bring the ship of Slate out considerable danger into a haven of safety, and it required only a few more years of economy, prudence, and foresight to restore the Colony to the proud position of being the most prosperous In the Australian group. Mr Mitcbelson blamed the Opposition for their obstruction during last session, and went on to speak of land settlement, urging that the land policy of the Government bad been more successful than that of any previous Ministry, and bad been the means of settling a larger number of people upon the land during the first three years than ever before. With regard to Native lands it was felt by the Natives that they did not get snob prices from the Government as they could from outside purchasers, but the Government paid such a pi ice as would not prevent them from offering the land lor settlement at reasonable rates, and thereby kept it from passing into the hands of speculators. The question of taxing Native lands would to be faced, but the Government could not now deal with that question. As the present time was not opportune, the Government had decided, so far as they were concerned, that no further borrowing would take place on the London market during the next Parliament, bub the new Parliament would have to consider whether it should not have to borrow in the Colony iot the acquisition of Native lands and for the purpose of opening up large tracts of Crown lands before sale. Mr Mitcbelson maintained that those who said that a reduction to the extent of from three hundred thousand to a million could be accomplished had not gone carefully into the question. The Government were still making reductions wherever they were possible, but they did not consider the cry for retrenchment was genuine, because of the number of applications made by members last session for expenditure in their various districts. If any greater reduction was to be made a considerable sacrifice would have to be made in the conveniences of the people. He had previously told them that be was opposed to the property tax and would not support it if he could see some other tax which could be substituted for it, and those were still his views ; bub aa the Government could not do without the amount of revenue obtained from that tax, they could nob see their way to abolish it. Any reduction of taxation in the present financial condition o! the Colony was impossible whilst the existing services had to be provided. It was said that the property tax had driven money out of the Colony, but there- was more money in New Zealand to-day than ever before, and this money could be obtained at a lower rate of interest* The Government believed that the school age should bo raised to 6 years, and if that were done, and the capitation reduced ss, as bad been suggested during last session, a saving of at least £76,000 per annum would bo effected, Mr Mikohelson, in conclusion, said that confidence had been restored in the Colony and outside of it notwithstanding what was said by pessimists, and the Goverocuent had largely reduced public expenditure, whilst the exports had enormously increased. All that was to be done now was to encourage land settlement, and to economise, and he prudent iu all public works. Mr Mitcbelson received a vote of confidence, an amendment that he be given a vote of thanks only being rejected by a large majority.