GENERAL ELECTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7979, 9 December 1911, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION

THE SECOND BALLOT LABOUR'S ATTITUDE. Last evening the following official report of a special meeting: of the national administrative council of tho Now Zealand Labour party was handed to üb: “That at a meeting of the above party held to-night (Friday, December Bth) at thd Trades Hall, a resolution, was carried unanimously; That this party does not commit its members to vote for or give their support to any but a pledged candidate of the New Zealand Labour party. J. W. Kay, secretary.” Tho report states that all the combined branches of the party were represented, the attendance being large. Mr Young's statement regarding the attitude of Labour was fully gone into from the standpoint of the party's interest and responsibilities right through New Zealand, and as a result the above resolution was passed unanimously. The following is an excerpt from Mi Young’s speech of thanks after the declaration of the poll:—There will be a meeting of tho supporters of the Labour party to-morrow evening, and at that meeting we will decide as to which candidate we will vote for on the second ballot, and I venture to say it will not be for the candidate that secured every motor car and cab in this city to bring voters to the poll.” ME YOHNiG'S EXPLANATION.

At a meeting of the national executive of the New Zealand Labour party last evening the following communication was received from Mr W. T. Young,’ , the Labour candidate for Wellington Central: “Mr Young wishes to make it clear that in returning thanks to the electors on Thursday night ho intended to convey that if our (Labour) supporters were going tb be asked to support the candidature of any candidate for Wellington Central it would have to be done through the Labour party itself. (Signed.) W. T. Young." CLEARLY DEFINED. UNITED STAND AGAINST ALIENATION. Tho position of the Labour party in the second ballots has been stated by Mr David McLaren,' Wellington president of tho New Zealand Labour party. H is that they are definitely against the policy of alienation favoured by the Opposition. , , Said Mr McLaren yesterday: Our party's position has been clearly ana definitely stated, that, being; out toi principles, wo should decide on any motion that arose in . the House as it related to the principles and programme of our party and the pledges \ve hav3 given to the people, and on which oar members are returned. This arL Absolutely honest course, and it is the clearness of our attitude that, in my _ jmq g/meat, is gaining the confidence or tne people of New Zealand. One thing on which wo take a strong and definite stand is this—that we are out-and-out in opposition to those people who are prepared to alienate the Crown lands and national endowment lands of our country; and that, of course, places us in the position that on the ground or definite principles we cannot sympathise with the Opposition party, eeemgthat it has pronounced its policy to be one of general freehold, which spells alienation of the national estate. ine fact that some individual members. ot that party may profess leasehold views in antagonism to their own leaders cannot alter our view of the matter., i am confident that our party will present an absolutely united front ,in the second ballot battle/' , ■ LATEST FIGURES THREE MORE SECOND BALLOT’S ' Thirty second ballots were obviously necessary when the voting returns first eamo to hand; now three more appear' likely, according to tho information supplied by the returning ofiicers yesterday to tho chief electoral officer. Hr Mansfield. These problematical second ballots are in Palmerston, Christchurch South, and Dunedin Central. With only 41 separating the Ministerialist from the combined total of Labour and Opposition, and some outstanding voters’ permits, it was thought possible that Mr Ell might . have to face tho ordeal once again, while in Dunedin Centra 1. 47 more votes on the side of Labour and Liberal will render a second ballot necessary. ’ It is though not from the chief doctoral officer, that 150 voters’ permits were outstanding at c the time of the first count. j It is doubtful who will be the second candidate in the Chalmers second ballot contest. Johnson (Independent Liberal) was four votes ahead of Dickson (Opposition), who came third, but 99 absent voters' permits and seamen’s rights outt banding may change the candidates in he fight, though they cannot obviate the second ballot. . Tho seamen's votes in connection with tho Wellington Central seat have begun to arrive, but will not be counted for some days.’ Latest figures give the voting at the following places:— BAY OP ISLANDS. Tho Bay of Islands returns made it clear on Thursday night that Mr Vernon Reed had been elected. The final figures now show the position to be : *V. H. Reed (Md ... 2601 . G. Wilkinson (O.) 2436 No change. WAXPAWiA. Tho final returns are:— G. Hunter (O.) 3326 A. B. Jull (M.) 2793 Opposition gain. This result was indicated yesterday. , WELLINGTON SUBURBS-. The official recount of tho votes cast for tho Wellington Suburbs seat is as follows: W. S. D. Bell 2382 P. T. Moore 1271 J. 13. Fitzgerald ...-. 1194 J. P. Luke 1020 Absent voters’ and seamen’s votes so for to hand number: Bell 22, Fitzgerald 12, Luko 9, Moore 1. Forty more votes of this description have yet to come in. The small differences in tho main .figures are not due to any incorrect totals from tho booths, but to the ballot papers that were set aside for tho opinion of tho returning officer. PRESS ASSOCIATION. HAWKE’S BAY FINAL. HASTINGS, December 8. Hawke’s Bay final: Campbell (0.) 2738. Simsou (M.) 1799, Clapham (Lab.) 023, Fraser (L.) 909, Lane (I. Lab.) 399; informal 81. A second ballot is necessary. OROUA. FEUDING, December 8. The complete Oroua result is: Guthrie (0.) 2926, Hornblow (M.) 2049. GREY. GREYMOUTH, December 8. Tho final returns are: Guinness 05..), 3551, .Webb (Lab.) 2519; informal, 65.

QUEENSTOWN, December 8, The final returns for Wakatipu are:— leaser (O.) 2735, Horn (MO 2X57. WALIiA.CE. INVERCARGILL. December 6. In Wallace, Thomson secured 3061 votes, Carmichael 1216, Ding 652, INCOMPLETE RETURNS MB McNAB NOT BEATEN YET. MAT BE IN SECOND BALLOT. PRESS ASSOCIATION PALMERSTON, December 8. There is much interest here as to the position regarding the second ballot for the Palmerston seat. The position is that Mr Buick has a majority of 10, but there are 177 absentee votes to come, and the returning officer has received telegraphic notification of the recording of 120 of these. The official recount will take place to-morrow, when the absentee votes will also probably be opened. MB HUNTER OR MR DAVEY? PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, December 8. There is a possibility of a second ballot in Christchurch South. Mr H. G. Ell has only polled 19 votes in excess of the absolute majority of valid votes, and 43 absent voters' permits 'were issued; in addition there were 196 informal votes cast. There is also some likelihood of a second ballot in. Christchurch East between Dr Thacker* and Mr Hunter instead of between Dr Thacker and Mr Davey. Of the total number of absent voters' .permits issued the, returning officer has received 73, and it is possible that these may contain sufficient v6tes for Mr Hunter to place him second on the poll. A scrutiny of the Christchurch East roll and count takes place to-mor-row. i At a meeting of Mr Ensor's friends and , supporters this afternoon several prominent Labour men were present and promised to give Mr Ensor what assistance they could. WESTLAND. V HOKITIKA, December 8. Seddon (M-) secured 3410 votes and Michel (M.) 3128. There are about 100 permits to come. NELSON. NELSON, December 8. For the 1 Nelsofi seat a second ballot will be necessary -between Atmore (I.Lr) and Moffatt (1.L.) Absent voters, about 70, will not alter the result. Atmore is about 250 behind an actual majority. MR MASSEY’S VIEWS REFORM PROSPECTS BRIGHT. HONOURS REST WITH THE OPPOSITION. ■ * PRESS ASSOCIATION. v AUCKLAND, December 8. The loader of the Opposition is well satisfied with the results of the first ballot, and ib confident that the prospects of the party of.securing a majority at the second ballot are very bright. "The results of the elections ;so far as they have gone are, of course, very satisfactory to the Reform party," Mr Massey said this afternoon! "I noticed that Ministers and the journalistic supporters of the Government are trying to explain away* the fact tliat the Ward Ministry ie engaged in a life and death struggle, and that up. to the present honours are certainly with the Opposition. The fact is that the people of New Zealand are heartily tired of spurious liberalism, sham democracy, and the improper and extravagant methods of the i present administration, and, in their desire for sane and honest policy and an energetic administration, are turning ta. the; men who for years past have conscientiously done their, duty-on the Opposition side of the House, • , '

■ "Two of our men have gone down in' the fight," continued Mr Massey. "One. Mr Hardy, has lost his seat on account of a local squabble over the Water Supply Bill which was before Parliament, last session, and the other, Mr Divo, because he was not able to make so many promises as his opponent, the Minister for Agriculture. But the Government has lost Auckland West, Waikato, Taumarunui, Oamaru, and Waipawa,- and has failed to secure the now seat of Haglan. ‘ "It is quite safe to predict that it. will kse many more seats, at the secopd ballots on Thursday. X am very strongly, of. opinion that we shall secure the majority of the seats for which the representation has not'yet been decided, and that there will be more surprises next week than there were yesterday. I am not in the habit of boasting, but the handwriting is on the wall, ■, and I _ am convinced that the Ministry has received notice to quit. In all directions and from all sections of the community I have heard the . opinion expressed that the Government has been in office too long, and tbatrh. .change would be in the best interests of the country. I believe that the change is coming. J „ "The new evangel? Yesterdays polling" Mr Massey remarked, "shows the new evangel is not worth discussing. NEWSPAPER COMMENTS THE DEMOCRATIC OUTLOOK. ENCOURAGING SIGNS. "A VERITABLE CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY." BPECIAI. TO THE ‘‘TIMES.”' AUCKLAND, December 8. „ ' Dismissing the election, the "Star says:—"The majority in favour of progressive and democratic . government and legislation is about .50 per cent, greater than the total poll call of the Opposition, a result which can hardly be termed discouraging to Liberalism. As to the conditions under which the contest, has been carried on, Sir Joseph Ward says truly that the Liberals have had to fight everywhere against unfair and unscrupulous tactics.' Never before has au election in this country degenerated so completely, so far as the Opposition was concerned, into a veritable 'campaign of calumny,' but in spite of the libels and distortions of truth in which leading Oppositionists have so freely indulged, the confidence of the people in Liberalism remains unshaken; and their gratitude for the good work it has already done, and their hope in its future, can bo trusted to carry the Liberal Government back to office to promote, with unabated zeal and energy, the best interests of the •whole Dominion. In the meantime, we may content ourselves with observing that wo can see no signs, in the results so far to hand, of the great revulsion of public feeling against Liberalism that the Opposition so confidently counted upon, and that, so far as the evidence now available can help us to form an opinion, there is every probability that the Government will have a working majority in the new Parliament." WORKING MAJORITY PREDICTED. LIBERAL HOPES BRIGHT. STRENGTH OF NEW HOUSE FORECASTED. SFECIAXi TO THE “ TIMES.” CHRISTCHURCH. December 8. Referring to the election, the "Lyttelton Times" says:—"lf last night's re-

turns could be accepted ns a reliable 1m dicatiou of what will happen next week, Mr Massey and his friends might fairly claim to have won a signal victory at the polls, but they probably will admit themselves that their prosx>ects do not look quite so rosy in tho second ballots os they did in the seats they have secured. In most iustances the necessity for another appeal to tho electors has been brought about by more than one progressive candidate appearing in tho field, and if the Liberals, Independent Liberals, and Labourites join forces next week they should have little difficulty in winning a largo majority of tho contests that remain to bo decided. Wo think ourselves that at least twenty of tho seats still un-filled-should fall to Government candidates, and that of tho remaining thir* teen seven should go to the Opposition, four to Labour candidates, and two to Independents. If this prediction should bo realised the new House of Representatives will consist of thirty-nine Liberals, thirty Conservatives, four Labour ro prosentatiros, and three Independents. The Labour representatives and tho Independents usually would bo found vot- . ing with tho Government, so that the progressive party would havo a comfortable working majority of from twelve to fourteen; but, of course, the position of tho Government in tho now Parliament will depend to a very v large extent upon tho efforts tho progressive party makes in tho constituencies during the next few days." SOUTHERN SEATS SECOND BALLOT FORECASTS. I SIR JOHN FINDLAY PREDICTS * . LIBERAL VICTORY. HON; GEORGE POMELOS' VIEWS SPECIAL TO , THE tf TIMES. 1 * ‘ ; AUCKLAND, December 8. Keen interest already centres on the second ballot in the Auckland district. In Parnell Sir John Findlay's chances ‘ cannot be rated very high, for the reason that Mr Dickson will get a largo propor* turn of tho Mack vote. Labourites would rather see, an Oppositionist in the seat, for the reason tnat they believe it will ' bo easier for them,..to oust an Opposition** ist than a Liberal at tho next election, by. which time they believe their organ- ■- Isation will' bo strong and complete ; / enough to give them a majority,, at the • polls. With a lead of over'six hundred. to make up, ; and this handicap, therefore, Sir John .Findlay will have to put up a wonderful light to score a win. The! Hon. 'George Fowlds has'not a walk-over against Mr Payne, who will get a lot of the'Murray votes. Still, tho - ox-Minister of Education should • poll ■ sufficiently to geKin. • An easy win is ahead of Mr Poland, but Mr Stallworthy has a harder task, - ■ His young opponent is very popular, and . the bulk of the’ Opposition vote will go his way. The chances are, however, that Mr; Stallworthy will carry enough of the vote. to put him back again. ■ Mr Napier has not a great deal to come , and go on in his contest with Mr Harris, but the probabilities are that ho will *: succeed in holding his position at the top of tho poll, ■ ■ . Sir John Iriudlay, in discussing the political position* this morning, summed up the Liberal prospect's in the following words:—"After carefully examining the ; results of yesterday's polling, and from what T know of the political feeling in the electorates where a second ballot must take place, I,am confident that in These second ballots a substantial majority of j; the electorates in question will. return supporters of the present Government, It Is idle to predict with any mathomat- . ical, definiteness what the relative posi- , fcion of the parties will be, but I'do not • ibelieve ? that, any-- Impartial examination ■, of tho situation can result in any other conclusion than that the Government will be'returned With' a; substantial working ■ majority." r . The Hon. George Powlds, interviewed by a "Star" reporter this morning upon- , the results of yesterday's polling, said the first feeling was one of that so many old colleagues and friends had either/beeu defeated or would have to, face a second ballot. His second feeling was that the results generally boro ; our the opinion he had expressed when resigning,, from-., the ' Ministry, that the Government had not taken sufficient 'heed of the’new Lorce developing ahead : of the Liberal party. 'The result in Grey Lynn was a striking illustration of that fact. The selected candidate of the , • Opposition was third, with GOO vo-es ' behind the-candidate with the most ; ex- ; travagant programme. "L thought X was? fairly Radical," said Mr Fowlds, but : it seems that I am not sufficiently so to . retain the undivided support of the pro- - I gressive forces of the. Grey Lynn elecIterate/' There* is a ; -lesson to bo derived * from many of the results. For example; Waikato, a country'constituency; has returned a candidate-who is, a much inors ( Radical candidate than the outgoing mOTi- ,r ber. The position revealed in Dunedin West is equally interesting, Mr Bedford being much more of a .Radical than Mr Millar, while 756 votes were cast for an. v extreme Socialist* in the same electorate. On the other hand there has been a substantial reduction in th(A Opposition in some of the South Island electorates. Clutha, Wakatipu and Bruce all indicate smaller Opposition majorities, while in . Temuka, where the Liberal , last time won'on a second ballot, there . is this time an'absolute majority of 46AThe defeat of the senior Opposition whip* Mr C. A. C. Hardy, for Selwyn, is another sign of the times. In Wellington Central. / also, it seems likely that Mr be ousted by Mr Letcher., , Th , e M P°„ slt 3 1 generally/’ added Mr Fowlds, does not appear to boa, serious one for the procressivo party. On the second ballot it ■ seems to me that they will secure a sub' stantial working majority. LABOUR’S ATTITUDE NO ACTION IN THE SECOND .BALLOT. PRESS. ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, December 8. Tho Labour representation . committee met to-night. The question ol.tho selection!of candidates in,- the second ballots in Avon. Rioearton, and Clmstohuroh East. was discussed at considerable length. Ultimately it was decided that Labour should fate no action regarding the second ballots in any ol these electorates. !It was decided to initiate a strenuous . throe years’ campaign on behalf of Lab- ! our i n conjunction with the Labour 'party in other parts of.the Dominion, ; with the object of capturing tho government of tho Dominion three years hence, PARNELL • MEETING OP MR MACK’S COMMITTEE. WILL SUPPORT SIB JOHN FINDLAY. ] PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND. December 8. At a meeting of Mr Mack’s committee this evening it was resolved that the committee should not disband, butshould proceed to support and work for Sir John Findlay. DUTY OP LIBERALS MARCH OF PROGRESS MUST GO ON. SPECIAL TO THE “TOTES.” CHRISTCHURCH, December 8. The “ Lyttelton Times ’’ of this mom- : ing, in. concluding an article on tho elections, aaysTho position of the Government in the now Parliament will de-

pend to a very large extent upon the efforts the progressive x>arty makes in tho constituencies during the next few lays. Canterbury can be trusted to do its part in seeing that tJio march of progress is continued, but in some of tho other provinces the relations between, the various sections of tho Liberal party are not so cordial as they should bo, and the bcoond ballots iniglit very well made the occasion for healing old differences and divisions. Tho election© have progressed far enough to show that the need of tho Liberal-Labour party at the present time is a restoration of _ trie mutual -confidonce and tlie enthusiasm which lod it ou from success, to success during tho earlier years of its career. It has not yet finished the great work it set out to accomplish. There are still wrongs to be righted, and reforms to bo achieved, and now is tha time for it© leaders to show that they arc worthy of the traditions and tho opportunities to which they have succeeded/* ME JOHNSON OK MK HICKSON? HUNKDJN, December 8. The returning officer for Chalmers may bo able to-morrow night to announce whether Mr Johnson or Mr Dickson will he in the second ballot. At present the i’ormor is leading the latter by four rotes. Nino absent voters* votes came to "hand to-day,, leaving nearly 100 still to come. Several have to come from as. Car m VVhangarei. WELLINGTON SOUTH , MR R. A. WEIGHT HECKLED. Mr IL A. Wright, the Conservative opponent of Mr Hiudmarsh (Labour) in the second ballot for Wellington South, Addressed a meeting' at the corner of Howard and Tasman streets last evening. Mr Wright said tho ■ Opposition required every vote, and he appealed to them to return him at the second ballot. Sumo of Mr Barber's voters had assured him they would transfer their allegiance to him. (A voice: “Not all of them/) Ho believed ho would get half of Mr Barber's supporters. An elector: “You hope so!" Mr Wright said tho only way a-change of Government could be brought about was by returning a majority of Conservative candidates who would vote against the Government* ou a want-of-confidence motion. He was pledged to do this. He had nothing to say against his opponent, but from what he gathered Mr liiadmarsh bad not made any definite pronouncement as to his attitude on a •waiLt-of-eonhdenco motion. Ho had said it depended, upon the “Question and the state of affairs. An elector assured the candidate that Labour, not tho Conservative party, was ■going to govern Now Zealand. Mr Wright: Tho Labour party under •the most favourable conditions could only return four members. Wuat good could four members do iu tho i Lou set Ironical laughter and cries of; ‘ Ihey rould sway tlio House; they can force discussion. They will be men to speak out.” (Applause.) ■ ' ~ , Mr Wrigut said Labour would be pretty old by the time they had acquired a majority. , , • An elector: Mhats tho good, ot putting the' Opposition inf Another: What about your action on ■giving Crown tenants the freehold at tho original value. .. Mr Wright: I am not inffavour ot.itI would vote against it. V . ' , Mr Wright was again tackled-on the laud question. Ho was told ho would ■hav’e to support tho sale of Crown lands at tho original value if his'party went to the vote over it. Mr Wright: I have made it clear that I would not vote in favour of it On a want-of-confidenco motion. _ I would not vote for it under any condition. After further questions ■ cheers were called for the candidate. There was no response, but a call for- cheers lor Mr Hiudmarsh was loudly responded to. Mr Wright also addressed meetings „at Brooklyn (where he received a vote ot thanks' and confidence) and also in Wallace street. WELLINGTON CENTRAL ME FISHER’S APPEAL. A crowded audience met Mr F. M. B. Fisher at St. Peter's . Hall, , Ghuzneo street, last night- He had. a good heare, lag, though'interruptions -were frequent j,t times. Mr Fisher was Ins own chairman. . . ~v The candidate, who was received with sheers and hand-clapping, said that ho considered that his pertormance ot the previous day was the very best he had ever put up iu Wellington. (Applause.) It was a really, good fight, due entirely bo the steel of his opponents, with whom he had had a fair contest frcefiom any bad feeling or personality. He fought almost entirely from. t tho platform and , had a very small organisation, and. esti* mated "his election expenses up to the present time at JlfiQ. But this was only about one-fifth, of what was spent against jiirn in providing vehicles; He ■ complained of unjust treatment id connection with his efforts to secure the use of the Town Hall on tho night before elections. His experience showed him that this city at the present time was 'held within the grip of an unscrupulous party. As for the Labour, vote, he wanted it made clear that he had not approached the Labour party in any way. He had no authority from tho leader or tho Opposition to approach any other party bud negotiate with it for his in--1 terest in the electorate. He must leave It entirely to the judgment of the third party, which could apply the test to him if it liked. He , contrasted the respective positions of himself and his opponent and declared that his own qualification for election was a complete knowledge of politics for many years A question in connection with the statement made recently as to Mr Fletcher having , been approached by the Opposition to contest the scat in its behalf was answered, at Mr 3? isher s toanest. by Mr E. , Martin the Opposition oarty organiser. Mr Martin declared chat since Mr Fisher had been a member of the Opposition, he (Mr Martin) had never approached any man in Hew Zealand .with the object of asking him. to contest Wellington Central against him. There was nobody who under any cirxmmstances would have been acceptable to the party as the official candidate against Mr Fisher. Whether Mr Fletcher s memory had served him false or not he did not know, but ho wanted to give his statement denial. Ho., would like to take the electors into his confidence, but it might scorn as if he was hitting Mr Fletcher beneath ■ tho belt. Ho would not do this until the election was over- Then, or before, it Mr Fletcher asked him within forty-eight hours, ho was prepared to go upon his (Mr Fletcher’s) platform and state exactly what had transpired. . A veto of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously with cheering. MR R. FLETCHER. ENTHUSIASTIC COMMITTEE MEET-. ING. At the Druids’ Hall, Taranaki stre'et, last evening a largely attended and enthusiastic meeting of Mr Robert Fletcher’s committee was held. A noticeable feature of the meeting was tho great acquisition of strength which tho committee gained. Mr Fletcher, in a short address, took the opportunity of referring to a statement made by the Labour candidate, Mr Young, on the night of tho election. He said that bo far as the conduct of the election was concerned, ho had absolutely ploughed his own course, without tho assistance of any outside party in bringing voters to the -poll. The few vehicles he had employed were supplied by a great personal friend, who. as it happened, knew no side in politics. As to motor cars, he had three (not all the motor cars in the city of Wellington, as alleged). IJe was pot responsible for tho many motor ears and other vehicles flying about the electorate in connection with the licensing

poll. As to Mr Young’s allegation of the 'power of money,” if it applied to him —which he could hardly think it did—he loft his supporters to pass their own judgment upon that, but he did not believe any fair-minded man would give it credence for a single 1 moment. At the same time, he could readily understand how words sometimes slipped out quite unintentionally in tho heat of an election contest, and he was generous enough to think that the Labour candidate did not really mean to convey what he actually said. (Applause.) WELLINGTON EAST MR McLAREN’S CHANCES. A largely attended meeting of the combined committees supporting Mr H. MeLaren's candidature was held last evening in the central committee rooms, Kent terrace. , Mr McLaren expressed his thanks to all tho ladies and gentlemen for the very active support they had given him. Arrangements were made for day and night meetings in various, parts or the electorate, and every activity will be shown until tho day of the second bal*°A number of persons, were present who had been working for Mr Bolton, and offered their hearty support to ensure Mr MeLaren's return. Tho meeting was characterised by much enthusiasm. SUBURBS SEAT i MR BELL AT BERHAMPORE. Mr Bell, Conservative candidate for Wellington. Suburbs, addressed a wellattended meeting in tho ilascTUc Hall, Beriiamporo, last night. Mr W. Higgmbottom was the chairman. Mr Bell said he was entitled to the strong support of those people who had voted for Mr Luke and Mr I itzgerald. The question between tho Government and the Opposition had' been, the question of ” ins ” and “ outs. ’ He had always said the Opposition did not object, so much to the legislation of the Govern, meat as to tho way the country was managed. Tho Opposition platform was very much the same as tho prolessecl platform, of tlvo Government. Ihe Government, after twenty years in office, had shown its inability to carry out that platform, and therefore it was time someone else had a chance. That meant that the Government supporters and the Opposition supporters had practically the same political ideals. The only difference was that Government supporters thought the present Administration were able and willing to carry out those ideals, and the Opoosition- supporters thought the Government were not. “ I believe/* con. tinned Mr Bell, “ the Government differ from us on the land question, though I don’t know what the Government land policy is; but I am led to understand we differ to a certain extent/’ Neither Government' nor Opposition supporters advocated nationalisation of land and industries. He did not expect to get the Labour vote—he believed it would go to Mr Mdore. Both Labour and Opposition agreed that the Government should be removed from office, though they disagreed as to - the method in which the country should be administered after* wards. They were perfectly good friends, but they differed as to the way in which the country’s business should; he earned on. He could not understand how any man who had supported the present Government ccmld change hi© political opinions-.and'support the Labour party. The Labour party said the high cost ot living was due to trusts. The Opposition said it was due principally to heavy taxation. They both proposed to reduce the cost of living, but they , disagreed as to what was best to do. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence-on the motion of Mr T. Hood, seconded >by Mr Ryan. MEETINGS TO-NIGHT ; Mr'■ Hiudmarsh —Green street, Newtown. , Mr Bell—Assembly Hall, Pahautanui. Mr Moore —Porirua (open-air). Mr Wright—Luxford street, 7; Wilson street, 8. , -. Mr Field —Town Hall, Otaki. Mr McLaren^—Post-office corner. South Kilbirnie, 7; Courtenay place, 8.