THE CENTRAL ELECTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10088, 30 September 1918, Page 3

THE CENTRAL ELECTION

lAB9UB RALLY The Labour party held a great meetmg in. tho King’s Theatre hist evening in support of the Labour candidate, Hr P. Fraser. Tho theatre was crowded out, and tho doors closed long before tho time of starting the meeting. Tho Waterside Workers’ Land played a number of selections prior to tho speakers taking tho platform. Mr M. J. Ileardon (president of the Trades and Labour Council) presided over an enthusiastic audience. A letter was read by the chairman from the Bov. Moses Ayrton wishing Mr P. Fraser every success on tho day of the election.

Mi' T. Young was tho first speaker, and referred to the trarawaymea’s dispute. Ho said that tho dispute was the outcome of tho neglect of the National Government to keep down the cost of living. He advised the electors to vote for the only man that counted —Mr P. Fraser—and not for a man who said that lie could have been the Government candidate. A man who could have received the Government nomina- , tion was no good to the workers. Mr P. Fraser, who was received with loud and prolonged cheers, said that the electors of Wellington Central could prepare themselves for a continued and intensified campaign of lies from their opponents during the nest three days. What they had experienced was nothing to what they could expect. The Labour party had already achieved a victory insofar as not one candidate for Wellington Central stood up as an apologist for tho Government. Even Mr Hildreth, although t' •: nominee of the National Government, did not defend it. On the contrary, he stood for a general election as soon as possible. The Labour party had both tho old parties in the one camp, and it intended to keep them there. The principles of the Labour party were the outcome of social evolution; and were the only hope for the future of the working class. The electors of Wellington Central wore not called upon to decide on questions at the other end of the world, but on questions such as the cost of living, high rents, low wages, war profits, and exploitation generally. Ho expected a victory for democracy, and a defeat fur the forces of privilege and monopoly. Mr It. Sen>ple. also spoke. He referred to the fact that the Mayor of this city, who ought to bo the servant of the people, was actually the servant of , tho '.employers' Federation. No other conclusion could be come to when ono studied his action towards the tramwaymen, who,' after all, were only the victims of tho profiteering that was rampant. Mr H. E. Holland, who was the last speaker, referred to the cruelties which had been enacted at Wanganui, and wanted to. know why tho Government hesitated to put the magistrate’s report into print. He concluded by saying that next Thursday tho electors of Wellington .Central would bo asked to vote, and the result would leave its mark right throughout Now Zealand, and reflect itself-at the inevitable general election that must come sooner oxlater.

Tho meeting then broke up, with rousing cheers for tho Labour candidate. Mr A. Hindmarsh, who was to have been one of the sneakers, had to leave during the week for Rotorua with his daughter, who was very ill. In connection with tho Labour Party’s campaign, a meeting will bo hold'in the Poy Office Square, at midday, and an openair meeting will be hold at Ghuzneo street in the evening, at 8 o’clock. On Tuesday evening a meeting will ho held at the . Mission Hall, Aro street. On Wednesday evening meetings will be held at the Alexandra Hall, Abel Smith street, and the speakers will he Mr *l. MoCombs, M.P., Mr 11. Semple, and the candidate, Mr P. Fraser; at the St. Peter’s Schoolroom, Ghuzneo street, whoa the speakers will bo Mr O. 11. Chapman, Mr I'd. J. Reardon, Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., and Mr P. Fraser; at tho Mission Hall, Tory street, the speakers being the candidate (Mr P. Fraser), Air T. Young, and Mr J. McCombs, M.P.