GENERAL ELECTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7930, 13 October 1911, Page 7

GENERAL ELECTION

WELLINGTON NORTH Dll IZARD'S CANDIDATURE. Tho Anglican schoolroom, Ivclburco, was crowded lust night, wllou Dr Izard, tho Liberal. candidate for Wellington North, addressed tho electors. The ladies were well represented. Air R. C. Dewey, who presided, said Dr Izard was thoroughly qualified to represent them in Dariiauieul. A native Now Zealander, ho had taken an active part in public matters; ho was. a good sportsman, and had done a good deal for sport in Wellington. An electorate like Wellington North could not be better rvp resented than by a man of Dr Izard’s unfailing energy, ability, and independence of character. (Applause.) Dr Izard, who received a very attentive hearing throughout, said ho was a sup porter of the Diboral party, not because no thought Up was perfect, for it had often made mistakes, hnt because ho thought there were greater potentialities for tho Liberal party, which was more in touch with the ideals of the Democracy. In politics he was a moderate. He believed that in New Zealand they listened too "much to the Extremists. There was always a danger that if people shouted long enough their views were taken os Die accurate feelings of the people. Dealing with Mr llcrdman’s Civil tcrvice Reform Bill, the candidate said ho could not agree with tho view r of his opponent that a higher typo of civil servant would result from such legislationHe did not think Mr Herdxnan was justified in saying that the present system produced .“time-servers and sycophants ami obsequious. flatterers of the Ministry/' Civil Service Boards wero unsound and undemocratic, and tho people should pause before they banded on their right to govern to irresponsible boards. In the charges of "reckless and extravagant administration” levelled at the Government Mr Ilerdman included the increase in tho salaries of Civil servants, but why should Civil servants not participate in increases, whilst increases wore going on elsewhere and tho cost of living was going up all round ? Dr Izard claimed that the industrial and social unrest throughout the world was in a measure due to the better education of the people and to a higher condition of living resulting therefrom. Yet, in comparison, the New Zealand •workman was well treated. In tho recent strikes at Home workers were content rvith 73 home a week for wages ranging from 27s to 355. Here the worker was a long way hotter oil. Ho. admitted the problem of tho increased cost of living was a very grave one, and one not easily solved. It was agitating almost every country to-day. The consumer suffered all tho time. Ho agreed that tho question largely concerned tho purchasing power of money. We had been promised a Royal Commission, whoso deliberations would be valuable, but he was afraid ho could see no adequate solution of the problem as yet. As tiie university is situated in tho Kclbumo portion of his electorate. Dr Izard took the opportunity of referring to the question or university . reform. The true objects of a university were not, ho held, simply the passing of examinations, but for research, where the problems of science, philosophy, and political economy were tackled. Tho question of reform hod been side-tracked to tile question of external examinations, and bn this the discussion had centred. He cordially supported the proposal to refer tills matter to a Royal Commission, realising as he did the importance of university training. His opponent, said the candidate, had declared that State Socialism "spelt disaster." No one, however, could deny the benefits to the country from the State’s aid to agriculture, establishment of State Dire Insurance, coal mines. State advances to farmers and workers, and tho many other avenues in which tho State had protected the individual from exploitation. The Opposition Jmd declared that the Budget was pure "electioneering,” yet at no time was it so essential for a Government to put its proposals before tho country than on the eve of an election, so that everyone might thoroughly understand them. (Applause.) In reply to questions Dr Izard said he was not in favour of the bare majority on the licensing question. He was opposed to a referendum on the compulsory training question, whilst believing that every consideration should be shown to those who had conscientious objections. Provision' for these had, however, been made for serving with the ambulance and transport corps. . On the land question he was a leaseholder. On the motion of Mr Holmden, seconded by Mr O’Kano, Dr Izard was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.

WELLINGTON SUBURBS Mr J. B. Fitzgerald addressed a largely attended meeting of electors in .Wyatt's Kiosk, Worsen Bay, last evening. Mr Bell presided. The candidate, who spoke for over two horns in elaboration of the planks of his platform,' was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr Booth, seconded by Mr Myers. PAHIATUA SEAT THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATE. SPECIAL TO THE “ TIMES.” WOOHVJLLE. October 12. , Mr J, H. Escott, the ‘‘official Opposition candidatefor Paiuatua, addressed his inaugural meeting here to-night, ‘i’he Mayor (Mr AV. G. Crawford) presided. The audience was large and occasionally hilarious. Mr Eecott mentioned that ho had been elected by ballot to represent the Opposition in the fight, and he intended to avoid personalities. He then explained the planks in the Opposition platform. Public indebtedness, he said, was mounting at an alarming rate. He was not to stop borrowing, but it must be‘kept within bounds. He referred to increases in expenditure on the ilutt railway and other duplication works as evidence of extravagance. Regarding the land question he was an out-anci-out freeholder. He believed in limitation of area. The Land lor Settlement tenants should also be given the option to purchase their holdings ut the value the State paid for the land. It would release a great deal of money if the Opposition's proposal to allow of the sale 01“ these laud*# was adopted. The country had six millions sterling locked up in Laud for Settlement land which if purchased by the tenants would enable that sum to be used to buy more estate*. The Government should have paid more attention to the purchase of native lands, which wero much cheaper. In parting with the freehold the Slate really parted with nothing, as it always had the right to tax the land. Their civil service ueded reform, and the Opposition, if elected, would introduce legislation giving the son of the ‘worker as good a chance of appointment as the sou of a Minister or a member. A voice: It is done now. Mr Escott declared himself in favour of local bodies having an assured financs by » mean© of subsidies for roads and bridges in proportion to the burden borne for that object by the local ratepayers. A voice: That's done now, too! The candidate advocated the repeal of ! the Arbitration Act because botn emplovers and workers were unsatisfied with it. The Queensland Wages Board i system was preferable. The Government's proposal to give pensions to widows with ; •children was, as far as he could see, the 1 only real thing in the Budget. The rest was promises. Questioners gave the candidate a lively j quarter of an hour. Mr Escott declared huiself a bar© majority man on the licensing question and against any inter- I

femice with the secular education system.

Tiie chairman, when questions wars exhausted, remarked, "It’s usual to move a vole of thanks to a candidate.” A voice; Do you really think ho i« worth itl (Laughter.) A vote of thanks was moved without comment by Mr Joseph Franklyn. Tho seconding hung fire, but Mr L. Dobbyu came to the rescue, declaring, “I’ll second If nobody else will.”

The detail of carrying the motion was overlooked, Mr Escott not waiting for this formality before ho returned thanks, and promised to give another address later. DUNEDIN NORTH LIBERAL SUPPORTER'S ADDRESS. PRESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, October 12. Mr J. London, Ministerial candidate for Dunedin North, addressed a meeting of electors to-night. Ho supported tho Liberal Government for tho reason that he believed its policy had been of infinitely greater benefit to tho great body of tho people than any legislation they could have hoped for from the Opposition side. He referred to tho public debt, asserting that tho country had splendid assets to show for its liability, and this was a true test of financial stability. With proper restrictions guarding the State from monopoly for speculative purposes he favoured the freehold, but weald just’ns vigorously oppose any system of freehold permitting aggregation of big estates and the locking up of lands. Ho received a unanimous vote ofthanks. Mr Fletcher’s opening meeting is nd vertised for Monday evening.