ELLINGTON CENTRAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10086, 27 September 1918, Page 6

ELLINGTON CENTRAL

A SOLDIER CANDIDATE MEETING AT TORY STREET. Mr L. J. F. Garmson. tho returned tidier candidate for Wellington Central, addressed a meeting of electors at the Scottish Society's Hall, Tory street, last evening. Hr N. J. Bennington occupied the chair, and in introducing the candidate said that he -wished to represent the 100,000 soldiers who had gone to the front. It was time, he thought, that the soldiers hud a direct representative in Parliament. His mother was Mr« Cook, whose brother had fallen at the front in the Connaught Rangers. The candidate in the course of his remarks stated that in his estimation rho soldiers at the front wore entitled to at least ono representative in Parliament. In his opinion they were not getting a fair deal apart from charity vVhat was the u.so of hailing them ne fine follows if they did not get justice? It was time something quite definite was arranged ior .soldiers and their depen- ■ dents. As things were at present the returned soldier did not get a fair ohaneo of returning to citizenship under peace conditions. There was no use "f sending' soldiers to -the backblooks to have their hearts broken. What had occurred, after the South African war should afford a lesson. ' Before soldiers wore put on land it should bo somewhat improved. Why not put conscientious objectors on the land to break it .11? It would be bettor to use them in that way along with German aliens lu place or interning them. The workshops at the convalescent camps were useless. The Government had no sel nan of dealing with the returned soldier, olr James Alien only took interest in iho military side of the business. A connecting link with the civil side was required, and in the meantftno the best thing which could be done was to put a soldier in the House. (Applau-’.e.) Touching upon labour matters, the candidate expressed the opinion that women should bo equally remunerated with men. In many instances he pointed out that women who had taken the place of men wore only getting hall the wages formerly paid to the men. In such circumstances was it likely that a man could get his job back on returning from the front? (Hear, hear.) As to the cost of living problem he reckoned the only way to deal with it was by means of the Arbitration Court. (A voice: “Arbitration is getting pretty rotten now.") In his opinion the tramwaymen wore entitled to at least Is Id an hour. They had his utmost symr nathy. Regarding taxation, ho vf as m favour of graduated duties on incomes over ftoflO a year. Ho thought the State should control shipping, all. means of locomotion, and the coal mines. The political disabilities of women should be removed, and ho believed the Upper House should be elected. .St?*- 0 , em ’ ployyees should have full civil rights. At present they were . gagged and "spotted" if they dared open their mouths. As to land settlement, he considered 200 acres were enough for any man to hold and work properly. As to pensions, they should bo permanent and the State should take_ full responsibility. He derided the idea of the Hon. G. W. Russell of getting _ immigrants from Denmark, and Russia. Ho was opposed to the repeal of the Military Service Act. Conscription should have. come in from the first. Men had gone to the front who should not have gone, and men remained who should be at the front. Exemption could be gained by means of money. He had only to mention the name of Labilew. A man in khaki here. interrupted to say that the explanation on'behalf of I.aldlaw was that he was the only man in New Zealand competent to'carry on his own business. (Laughter.) Tho candidate went on to state 4 that he would be in favour of subfnitting to tho people whether there should be State control of the liquor traffic. He believed in the free secular system of education—also free books. Mr Garmson excused himself for not saying more, that being his maiden speech.A voice: Tou are doing very well. Mr Garmson: I have got a lot in my head, but I cannot got it out. (Laughter.) Mrs Cook, tho mother of the candidate, then addressed the meeting, explaining that in tho past she had had something to do with the of labour movements and tho return of Mr W. P. Reeves in Canterbury. She had been described as one of tho founders of tho Conciliation Act. She had always advocated a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work. Capital should only get its iust share from/ enterprise. The labourers should bo properly remunerated. Caro must be taken to prevent women ousting men from employment. There must bo equal recompense for men and women, otherwise women and Chinamen would get the preference from employers. If the ’ '.hour unions did not quarrel so much amongst themselves thev could have the political power of the country in the hollow of their hands. The voting machine was not being made proper use of by the working men. (Applause.) She had been to Mr Fraser's first mooting and been much amused bv his assertion that there wore only two real candidates in the field. It reminded her of tho Kaiser —"Me and God.” Her son had been crippled in the war. He had five children and responsibilities, but without being a "wind-bag’’ ho was perfectly competent to act well as the representative of the constituency. At present he was suffering somewhat from shell-shock, but he would certainly .improve as he went ou. In reply to a question the candidate said that the main plank of his platform apart from, that of the chosen Labour. candidate was that he wanted to specially represent the soldiers. Surely they were entitled to a direct representative as much as the Labour party. (Applause.) He had boon a voluntary recruit and his family had not received a penny from the Government until ton months after his departure. A vote of thanks was tendered to the candidate for his address. A.S.R.S. BRANCHES FAVOUR MR MACK'S CANDIDATURE. At a largely-attended meeting of the Auckkand branch of the -Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants on Saturday night a resolution condemning tho candidature of Mr M. J. Mack for Wellington Central .was defeated by a big majority. Delegates from Wellington wore present for the purpose of getting it through. The Auckland branch of the society njumbers 800 and odd members; the Newmarket branch, 300 and odd; the Napier branch about 150; and the Waipukurau branch, 70. The three last-named branches have carried resolutions favouring Mr Mack’s candidature. Mr Mack is receiving telegrams from railwayman ali over tho Dominion supporting his action in tho matter. RESOLUTIONS OF APPROVAL. Press Association. AUCKLAND. September 2G. The Newmarket branch of the A.S.R.S. resolved: "That the candidature of Mr Mack for Wellington Central seat meets with the approval of this branch. Wo consider his influence and usefulness as general secretary of the A.S.R.S. would bo much enhanced should ho succeed in winning a seat in Parliament., In wny event, his candidature is excellent

proof of his ability and standing as_ a recognised leader in Labour poatics. NAPIER. September 26. Napier and IVaipukurau railwaymen have passed motions favouring, air Mack’s candidature for Wellington: Central.

At a meeting of the Protestant Political Association in the town Hail. Auckland, on Tuesday night, \ynen 3600 people .were present, a resolution was unanimously carried appealing to the Protestants of Wellington Central to support the candidature of Mr M. J. Mack.

4 large and enthusiastic meeting of Mr Mack’s general committee was held last evening, when highly satisfactory reports were received from each section of the electorate. In every section tho members of the canvassing committee have met with strong promises of support for Mr Mack, -Large numbers of members of Labour organisations and commercial men are working assiduously to secure Mr Mack’s return for the Spinal arrangements were made by the setting-up of various standing committees to complete the whole of the electorate by to-morrow, and special arrangements' wore completed for Mr Mack’s final meeting of his supporters only on Wednesday, the 2nd prox.. in St. "John’s Church Schoolroom, at 8 p.m. Mr Mack’s committee colours will be blue.