THE ELECTIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLV, Issue 10450, 1 December 1919, Page 8

THE ELECTIONS

WELLINGTON NORTH MR OAKLEY BROWNE'S CANDIDATURE. St. Paul's schoolroom, Tinakori road, was crowded on Saturday night when Mr H. Oakley Browne, the official Liberal candidate for the Wellington North seat, addressed tho electors. Mr ■C. AVheeler presided, commending the candidato for expressing his wolli.ngness to do his share in endeavouring to shape the political destinies of New Zealand. Mr Browne, who was received with loud applause, said .ho was extremely gratified at tho largo number present, and expressed the opinion that the rcI captions he was getting would spur I him on t.o greater effort. He stood a 3 a Liberal —there was no • rail-sitting about him. On a no-confidenco motion he would vote against the Reform Government, and with tho Liberail party. (.Applause.) He spoke of the beneficent legislation passed by the Liberal party, at tho head of which had stood Ballanco, Seddon, and Ward, and of the many benefits derived by the people from Liberal enactments. He favoured a moro rapid development of the important hydro-electric schemes first advocated by Sir l Joseph Ward, said the benefits resulting would bo incalculable, and would removo many d's.iiiiiis from which thousands suffered under present conditions. He condemned the Reform party for its neglect and failure in grappling with the land-aggregation evil. Under that administration the number of large landholders had largely increased. Tho manner in which land juggling and aggregation wore going on at present was a disgrace and a sad reflection upon tho efficiency of Reform administration. (Applause.) Mr Browne dealt with the labour question, saying that while ho did not favour extreme or reactionary measures. Labour was deserving of every consideration. But thev should realise that Labour and capital must co-pper-ate and not be in opposition if the best results were to be secured. Direct action was inimical to the interests of not only the workers themselves, but; to the general public. He, favoured something like the Whitley scheme, so that the worker could bo given a direct and personal interest in his work. The gaunt spectre of unemplo3'ment was, ho believed, the, cause of much of tho industrial unrest —remove that, secure to the workers permanent employment, good wages and conditions, and the present difficulties would gradually disappear. (Applause.) He stood for tho workers—he believed in championing tho cause of liberty and right, but improvements would have to bo effected by constitutional means and methods. He thought, the housing problem couid bo solved —or at any rate the present acute position relieved —if Uie suburbs whoro laud was available could be brought closer to tho workers of the city by improved train and tram ser. vices and reduced fares. In connection with tho cost of living he said several factors had to be considered —the scarcity of the world's supplies, the transforming of many factories for the manufacture of arms instead of useful products, tho lack ot transport, profiteering—(applause)—and worst of all tho inflation of the currency. They must break down monopolies, prevent profiteering; they must readjust the coinage question, and have a State hank with a restricted note issue They must prevent tho largo institutions and foreign holders from making huge profits nt tho expense of tho comfort and happiness of tho people, and he was satisfied that tho Liberal party with its progressive and defined policy would remedy the evils, whereas the Reform party had no such defined policy and merely asked the people of New Zealand to sign and hand to them a blank cheque—— A voice: That's not so. It won't bo good for New Zealand if the . Liberals Another voice: What do you know about it? Why, you don't bcJong to New Zealand. You don't know* it yet | First voice : Ido belong to New Zealand- —■ Second voice: You don't, I l.Dpw you; you don't belong to anywhere. (Silence followed.) The candidato proceeded to say that the Liberal party's platform was ono of true reform and progress. It stood for tho people, for tho public it bonefited in yoars past, and who had prospered under it. They wanted young progressive men to see that tho people got a full measure of liberty and justice (Applause.) Locally there was much improvement required—in publio buildings, in tho publio service, and dn tlio advantages and facilities an important city like Wellington should possess, but had bden deprived of for years merely because there was apparently no oiio to secure for it justice. He strongly opposed a local navy, and favoured, support being given to Imperial naval defence. Ho concluded by hoping {.hoy would replnxio in power the Liberal party, which had done so mtich for Now Zealand in tihe past and which would make for true progress and general prosperity. (Loud applause.) A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously, and at the conclusion of tho meeting sovoral ladies ;md gentlemen handed in their names as me-mibers of the committee. MAORI SEATS \ RETURNING~OFFIOEiRS APPOINTED, j Tho following have been • appointed returning officers for tho Maori electoral districts: — Northern.—Mr Walter Harry Bowler. Eastern. —Mr. William Edward Goffe. Western. —Mr Ernest White Cave. Southern.—Mr Samuel Ernest McCarthy.

CANDIDATES' ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr . Oakley Browne, the Liberal candidates for Wellington .North, ■will address the electors in the Thomdon Hall, Goring /street, to-morrow evening, at 8 o'clock. A meeting of his general committee will bo held in the mam committee rooms, 10, Woodward street, to-night at 8 o'clock, when important business will bo dealt with. A fcst of future engagements is advertised in this issue. Mr J. P. Luke (Wellington North) will speak at the Kelburn Kiosk to-morrow night. Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) will speak at Petone on Thursday night. He and Mrs Wilford will address the Petone ladies' committee to-morrow afternoon, Mrs Len. McKenzie invites ladies .interested in her husband's candidature for Wellington East to meet her this afternoon to set up a committee. Mr McJienzie will speak at'Hataitai to-night. Mr E. P. Ki.shworth (Hutt) will speak at Petono to-morrow night. Mr R. A. Wright (Suburbs) will address the .electors at Island Bay to-night- He other meetings for a week. Mr D. Sloane (Suburbs) will speak at Northland to-night. Mr Hornsby (Wairarapa)'will speak tonight at Kahutara. Lieut-Colonel Mitchell will address the lady 'electors of Wellington South at -Pullford's Ilall, Brooklyn, to-myrrow night at 8 o'clock Mr W. H. Piold addresses the electors of Ota.ki at Plimrnerton' school to-night at 8 o'clock. Mr Evelyn Maodonald will speak at the Te Horo Hall to-morrow night, and at the hall, Ohau, on Wednesday.