CANDIDATES' SPEECHES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7980, 11 December 1911, Page 5

CANDIDATES' SPEECHES

WELLINGTON SOUTH ME A. H. HIXDAIAIISII. At the various places in. the Wellington South electorate in. which Mr A. H. Hindmarsh spoke on Saturday night in the open-air he was popularly received. Mr Hiudmarsh said that the result of the elections had shown that Labour would have a very strong say in the legislation of this country for some years to come. They know that there had been rather a reaction against the Arbitration Act and tho Government's administration. The large landholders of the country, by the use of tho press and other ways, had managed to secure—or would, he believed—secure an undue ascendency in the politics of New Zealand., and it would bo well for the people to take stock of tile position, ’and send to Parliament men who took a different view of politics to what the largo landowners did. In Wellington South the issue was between Mr Wright and himself* Mr Wright supported tho Opposition, and stood for certain planks which were not to bo found in that party's platform. It was all very well, for a candidate to say, "I am in favour of this and that," for tho purpose of vote-catching, but tho point was, what did tho party‘advocate? ‘'.because/' added the speaker, "when it comes to Parliament it is your party and not yourself, and no party man lias a right to discredit his party. You ought to measure a politician/© promises by his party’s policy/'' Mr Massey had, said the candidate, told them that ho would vote against any further taxation of the land. Mr Herd man had said that he was opposed to any increase of the graduated tax. Now, they knew very well that tho graduated tax was advocated by the Labour party as a means to break up large estates, and this country could not progress until tho land question was settled, iu fact, many people had left for other parts during tho last two or three years because they could not get land, -This was a very serious thing. Wore they going to strengthen a party of largo landowners, to whom they would have to look to settle tho land if they got into power? What had they to offer tho people? AU of their sup* porters had voted against the abolitionof tho duty on hour, which would have benefited the people. If they did not want such a party to becomo 100 powerful, they would vote against them. Ameliorative measures meant taxation, and there wets nothing-left to tax but the land. This the Opposition certainly would not do. The Labour party did not identify itself with either Government or Opposition, but was determined to gain all it could by the circumstances of the time. They would assist all progressive legislation; to wliich they would act as a spur, and he believed that the people would help along this new patty, whose definite platform was before the Country* (Applause.) MR WRIGHT. Mr R. A. Wright, who is in tho second ballot with Mr Hindmarsh, Labour candidate for Wellington South seat, addressed open-air meetings at Newtown on Saturday evening. Mr Wright said the question now before the ©lectors of . Wellington South was whether on Thursday next they would add, to tho growing power of the Opposition and turn the Government out- or vote for a Labour candidate, who had so far as ho knew not given ahy pledge one waj* or another on this question; Tho question had been put to Mr Hindmarsh, and he said ho would be guided by the* circumstances. (A voice: "Quito right/') "What did you do in Parliament tho three years you were there?" inquired a questioner. "Perhaps," replied Mr Wright, "when, they send you to Parliament you will bo able to do better/’ There was no doubt, continued the candidate, that under tho circumstances tho, Government and Opposition would be fairly close, "and if you don’t return a member who is straight out. pledged to vote, on a‘noconfidoitc© motion direct against the Government you don’t know whether perhaps that ouo vote will not allow the Government to continue onj* and youmay never have a chanco like that again of getting a fair inquiry into your affairs/' The candidate had numerous interjections. ABSENT VOTERS’ RESULTS. The 110 absent voters papers in the Wellington South electorate were cast as follows Wright 68, Barber 24, Hindmarsh 14, Couzens 4. Tho total votes now stand R. A. Wright 2055 A. 11. Hindmarsh 26-10 W. H. P. Barber 1250 Hr Couzens 383