LABOUR CAMPAIGN

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

LABOUR CAMPAIGN

4 crowded meeting in support of the Labour candiate. Mr P. Fraser, was held in St. Peter’s Schoolroom last night. Mr A. Parlnno presided, and in addition to the candidate the meeting was addressed by Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., president of tho New Zealand Labour Party, Miff. McCombs, M.P., and Mr H. E. Holland. H.P. . Mr Fraser, who was received with cheers, dealt with tho inequal distribution of wealth, the cost of living, war profits, war loans, and the relative importance attached to life and wealth by tho National Government. He said tha; it was a testimony to the efficiency cl tho Labour Party’s work that not e single candidate dare come out in Central i.itli a reactionary programme, but ali the same Mr Hildreth, who was the National Government candidate, could not masquerade as an advanced Democrat, while he stood as the Government’s can didate. ✓ The other opposing candidates,, who had flocked into the constituency on all sorts. of pretexts, were not a veryserious faction. Every vote given to any of them was a vote against Labour. There was a crowded attendance at the Alexandra Hall, Abel Smith street,- lesl night when the Labour Party held a meeting in support of Mr P. Fraser. Mr T. Young (secretary of ■ the Seamen’s Union) presided. Mr H. E. Holland delivered a critical address on the position of the mother who is now liable to jail as a result of her love for her offspring —which was an outstanding feature of tho lower order of animal life. Ho denounced the law which had placed a mother and father in jail for six months. The law was bad and an outrage against human rights. Mr Fraser dealt with the Governments finance, condemning the Government’s taxation. Te advocated highly graduated land and income taxes, and condemned the repeal of tho excess profits tax. In Britain one-third of the war expenditure was met out of revenue. In New ZeaTand no part of it was mot out of revenue. At tho end of thirty years the investor? in war bonds at the rate of interest, filer cent, free of income tax (in reality about 7 per cent, on high incomes), would receive back twice the money invested, and tbe country would still owe them tho original sum.. Even tho Farmers’ Union had condemned the issue of the loans free of income tax. The fight between tho Labour Party- and the National Government was essentially me of life versus wealth; the National Government standing for the interests of wealth and the Labour Party for that of life.

Among the speakers in the Post Office square at midday to-day will be Mr J. McCombs, M.P., who will speak in si pport of the Labour candidate, Mr P. Fraser. Mr H. E. Holland, M.P.. and the Labour candidate will speak at tho Mission Hall, Aro street, to-night at 8 o'clock. An open air meeting will bo hold at Gliumoc street to-night in support of the Labour candidate. A number of wellknown Labour men will speak. Mr Atmore will speak at the Post Office square to-day between 12 and 1 and I and 2 o'clock. Mr Hildreth will address electors at St. Peter’s Schoolroom this evening. ELECTION DAY. Shopkeepers and hotelkeepers aro reminded that seetioij J 23 of the Legislature Act. XOCti, requires that on the day of the ejection of a member of Wellington Central it is necessary for every hotel and every shop within the electoral district that is required by Hie Shops and Offices Act to close for a weekly half-holiday, to observe a halfholiday from midday on the Thursday in place of closing as usual ou the Saturday afternoon. It is not necessary for factories to close, but reasonable opportunity shall be afforded workers for recording their votes, no deduction to be made from their wages provided the time taken does not exceed one hour. The observance of these provisions will -esu’u in the closing of shops and hotels wear of Clyde quay and Cambridge terrace, and those in Tory street. Tarn nak’ street. Vivian street. Courtenay place, and Cuba street and Willis street, except those portions north of Dixon street and west of Lower Cuba street.