THE GENERAL ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14356, 28 October 1908, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTION

c» DUNEDIN CENTRAL. Mil J. M'DONALD'R ADDRESS, Mr J. M'Donakl, who is a oa.n ct J elate to represent- Dunedin Central,in Parliament, addressed a largely-attended meeting of electors in tho Aliinintava Theatre last evening. Mr Barr, acting as chairman, briefly int.rothicc<] the oandklate, saying Jrf> Jiad had great pleasur# in agreeing to take tho oliair at' Mr M'Donaiid'rt* first- political meeting. During the time ha hail mot. Mr M'Donaid id t.lia council table hn had found him a man of generous and pkasant disposition, and ho had coma to the conclusion that Mr M'Donald in the. public .position ho occupied was doing .h:s utmost iii a straightforward mannor for those things ho believed to bo for tho good of the city.—■ (Applause.) Ho had pica-sure in asking Mr M'Donald to address tho audiencc. Mr M'Donald; in opening iiis address, expressed liis thanks to the chairman for his introduction and to tho largo audience for. its attendance. He had yielded at. last to tho great .pressure placed upon him bv his friends and had consented to contcst tno scat-. He believed in letting tho people know what side .ho was on, ankl believed iti fighting for what, be'' 'believed to k> ' right.—(Applause.) In his municipal caret;.' he had endeavoured to follow out what hs conceived io be true democracy. Ho believed that nil people should have equal rights. Ho was spooking to his friends tho working' mon, and in all things ho Kati allowed 'his sympathy to go out. to the poorer people,_ Reference to.his municipal ca.'cor was briefly made by Mr M'Donakl, from which ho -launched upon, a.n explanation in regard to .certain. anonymous letters which ha (had received and which had also appeared in tho press with pjgard to his being cited foeforo the ArWferat.i-o.n Court for a iiteaoh of an award. It. w.as true he was cited. But he would say that ii a.n investigation was made I<j* ililra Traxkc and Labour Council and it was foumd that ho had not treated the young, man as iew employers wouM, then ho would rceig.it from that platform .ml Mvcr stand again. And if the T.-ritor of 1 hcao anonymous totters WTU3 prepared to'give his name or come on ihe .public .platform with him he was' prepared io' give. £10 to the Hospital. At- this stage of tho meeting, amidst loud applause from the audience, a tady handed to Mr M'Donald a bouquet of flowers. Continuing, Mr M'Donakl Mid 'ho would ■ not. be a> party to any organisation at till. He came hafore. thorn as a new candidate. A "Progressive Liberal" was the title under which he stood. It was a hard mat-A tor to know what to call himsalf for a while.—(Loud; laughter.) lie h'ad always been a supporter of tho present Government, and would support i't ef> long as it was progressive. Ho would 6\ippcirt. tho Waid Goveimmentt. to about 95 .per ewit. of its moasurcs, and o,s le,:>g as its .policy was a progrrasiro one ho would stand by it, OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY.' After referring to the utterance of Sir Joseph Ward that thisy should have a. rest from legislation—on which point Mr M'Donald a-skod how could there be a. refit if they were to'continue to be progressive,— tho speaker said a point on which ho would oppcao lli.a Government was the Otago Central railway. They h'ad been, promised fiats railway '20 yea.M a.go, audi it was still- 50 mil® from its de3t.ipat.ion. It would cost- tlieni £400,000 to gcit. tihis distance completed* but it wa.i a neceaavy oxper.ditora, anid every 'business pereom in DiinKli.ll was vitally interested in getting thai line finished in. order to -mako Du.ncdin the great, manufacturing .centre it should be. _ There was no uac advocating' an. irrigation scheme unless tho railway was pushed forwairfa't tho sanio lime-in order to .provide facilities for tho transport of tho inioreasod produce. Thj' three bodies interostcd in making Dunoditi a, large, centre were the Otn.go Central Railway Leaiguo, the Gatlim 1 Railway, arid-tho Otago Harbour Board, LOCAL MATTERS. Ho was going to oppose any attempt to close liattmv street; and any attempt to take aay more of the foreshore. Ho believed tho time had arrived when-, in tho interests of the citizens of Dimcdin and the pebple of Otago, a big part of tho foreshore opposite. the Gasworks should ho ha'n'clcd over to -tho Harbour Board for reclamation. In J his connection lis hoped, it li<i hai:' let tho cat out « the l»g, the lion. Mr Millar would pardon him. His next- subject was LABOUR. 4 They had .read of the frightful condition of (he labouring people in England, and ho maintained there should be .no starving' people in the British Dominions,—(Applause.) If England only looked nit the matter in its true light and would take notico of how the Dominion was attempting, to cut, up all its ho.g estates so that the land might 1:o shared she might save the '.position, hut -while she put her land into deer forests and fo forth how could she expect'anything-olse tha.n starving people about .lmr doors.—(Applause.), We should do all -that lay in our power to prevent stich a tiling occurring in New Zealand. To a. small extent it already existed here, and numbers of nton eamo daily to the Town Hall seeking work. If he were returned he would cuideavour to provide work for .those in need of it, and .he did not believe anyone would turn round and say he had dona wrong. The next thing ho. would' rofer to was a, 4 LIVING WAGE. Twenty years ago tho workers were earning 6s and 7ii a day, and were able to purchase food for 5« which now cost 8s or 9s, and while he intended supporting Sir Joseph Ward, if Il:o cost-of living was lfts.a day the wage-earner must, rcceivff IDs a day. If ho could not. cam 10s a -doty, then, the cost of living must be brought down Io 8s a day, or to whatever he' did earn. They might call him a Socialist for saying this, bw, lie did net cairv' whether they did or nct.--(App!a-use.), The Govciinmoivt of the Dominion was a Socialistic Government, awl good luck to it. Why shoitld I ho Government net do something to iiring the price of feed down to. a proper level?— (Applause.) No country in the world where 10 or 15 per oant. of I.i:c peoplo Avc.ro making fortunes ami the others living upon the smell of a.n, oiilied irag could bo doing any good. (Applause.) Every man who'-worked shouiil not only receive enough to keep himself, h.is wife, and ohiltrcm, hut should earn a little more than that go that lie could 1 , make provision for a rainy day.—(Applause.) Hp Knew nothing about Socialism, so could not give a promise to support- it, but where food was lee high in price ho would doavour to bring it down to a propor level. During l.ho last 15 years kiwi worth £5 an acre had gens up to £10 and £12 an am-e.—(Criesof "£2O, £'30, and £50."). Refer-, ring to the last sunt, Mr M'Dciia.'d said that gentleman must have a section vn Trinccs street somewhere.—(Laughter.)The market had been eo good 'that tho peoplo hfllding land had mode fortunes, .awl the land liad Iwen changing hands fo frequently thai others -again nad made fortunes. The market was good now, hut. what- would happen if the price of land went down? The people would bo working for 10 or. 15 years for nothing, and the others would have gone out ef it with the unearned increment. ,n their pockets, and this would not have occurred if the land had belonged to the Slate. He was inclined to think tho present tiovcirnmcnt was pretty well a- fanners' Government.— ("Hear, hear.") Although it had dene a lot of good for the working man, still it Itod .helped- the farmci' to the .greatest extent. He did not lxijn'udffe the farmer a penny of the help he had received, but he said tho people living in tho oily had a right to a reasonable oha.ro of what was going. The farmer had bad reductions made through the tariff and through tho railway, and so long as farm produce was net too high for .the poorer, people he wr,s prepared to carry, mutton to .the whairves for nothing. Ho maintained that the extra cost of living -had ■ been brought about by the higli mairkeis they had had over the

eoa. Mr M'Donald then proceeded to make short reference to tho ARBITRATION ACT, which, with other acts of a lite nature, had, ho considered, tlono it lot of good, for which he gave tho Government credit,— ("Hear, hear.") But Ihe time had now come when the Government should listen to tho voios of members of the House, and if they could- advance a hotter policy it was tho'dutv of tho Prime Minister and his Cabinet to consider euch policy or proposals, and if it were tetter than their own to accept it.—{"Hear, hear.") The Arbitration Act had caused a lot of treu'blo to tho country, and he did not think thcro would ever be an act that, would suit both employer and employee. Still, the act had lieen productive of good, Mr M'Donald then wont on to rofer to strikes, which ho recognised were always a loa to a country, and incidentally mentioned the strike at Blackball. The attitudo of the men concerned in that he did not. regard as so oriininal after all. The time had come v/hen common sense ought to be used on both sides, and ho could only promise that where a dispute arose between employer and employee, and there was no machinery to deal wit-h it, ho would give his vote to that which he considered lair, whether it pleased tho employer or tho employee.— (Applntiso.) CAPITAL VALUES. 110 was a firm believer in the policy of the leasehold-(applause) —as opposed to ihe freehold, and would liko to give t-liein a few figures. In 1897 tho total value of all lands and buildings in New Zealand was estimated at 138 millions. This had risen in 1907 (or just- 10 years later) to 226 millions —an increase of no less than 98 millions, which could not he considered unsatisfactory. The unimproved value.-; in 1897 was estimated at-81 millions, and in 1907 at 119 millions. Now. what did they find? As he had said, the increase in value of our. land, etc., was 98' millions, whilst the unimproved values had risen 65 million;!. Now, if they deduct this 05 millions from the 98 millions they had a difference of 33 millions upon which no taxes whatever were levisd. He thought they would agree with him that 1 it was verv proper that peoplo should be encouraged to build and improve thoir land by huflohig, ctc., without t&mtion, ath'c Government is to bs congratulated in this connection, THI3 LAND QUESTION. In the Dominion at- present thcro wrc no J<Q63 than 115,713 freeholders approximately, as against 23,786 - leaseholders—a : total of 139,499 owning or leasing the lands, t As tho population of New Zealand was now a'hout. a million, this certainly left a ■ very large percentage who neither owned -..nor leased land, and he would niako it his ' constant aim t-o * press upon tho Govern- ■ ment the necessity, of seeing-, that those still desiring to go on the land liad evor.v assisti ancc. Tho enormous amount of Crown and . Native lands not accounted for in the above i figures would afford every facility for. deal- ' ing with a large proportion of tho still V T, To tllc lat £ Sir Jol,n M'Kcnzie rww Zealand owed the inauguration of the , most liberal land laws in-tho world. His system of the lease in perpetuity, which meant a leaee of 999 years, was undobirtedly an enforced compromise at. the time. But, ho plainly foresaw that ere long a more limited period would have to ho adopted, and this was actuallv reduced to 66 yea,re under the Land Act of 1907, which was almost as perfect as could be devised. Whilst they must, give the Government ciedit for ita land policy generally, there was no doubt tlvat certain grave defects in its administration had occurred far too frequently. Ho had only to mention tho eaee of tho notorious Otekaike Estate purchased by the Government, from which a few favoured individuals had been allowed to pick the very eyes out. leaving the poorer land to bo taken up In- tho general Public. Similar "evils prevailed with the uilrerclen Kstate, where emplovees were permitted to ehooso tho best land by bein<* the first to participate in the ballot. He did not think that the founders of our n]«L 1111 ovcr intended that men with £4000 or £5000 were to he assisted in this manner. Perhaps few measures had been > 'noie calculated to assise the farming com- , munity than • TIIE ADVANCES TO SETTLERS ACT. | Prior to its coming into force any farmer who-wislied to raise money to carry on his business could only do so at a- prohibitive -. rate of intercst-3, 10, or even 12 per cent. 2w>w ho received a loan from the Govern, .me lit at per for 36 years, ami, - what was still more extraordinary, at the ' end of that time, if his interest had been paid icgularly each year, he found that tin's oi per tent, per annum had actually cleared oft the debt itself. ADVANCE TO WORKERS. .. ''his money was lent for years, and if they paid regularly thoir half-yearly instalments a rob&io of 10 pqr cent, was allowed, making the interest 4J per cent. and 1 per cent, sinking fund,* or 54 per cent, for the .lender, 'In 364 years tho property became his own. The department now paid all costs in connection with deeds and mortgages, etc,, and only charged thu client with such, small's ims aa search fees (say 2s) and registration fees (ss). If ho was. returned he would support the Government in su(Sh good work' as this, and h trusted that ovcry working man in tho Dominion would try* and take advantage of this liberal offer. ' i i t GRADUATED LAND TAX. I An act had been passed providing for a .. gradual increase of tho tax 'on large estates. The tax was at the rate of Id in the pound for values up to £5000, rising subsequently l-16d for each additional £2000 ill value. . Consequently an estate worth £40,000 would have to pay approximately 2d _in the pound. This would ' appear equitable in every way, but, unfortunately, tlioro were certain unscrupulous ; owners of largo estates who quickly discovered a means to defeat its aim. This ; they aooomplishcd by simply cutting up their .estates ami placing portions in the names [ of their children and other members of their families, and even in the names of ; come of their trustworthy employees. It 1 was, estimated that the revenue thus sustaned a los-, of no less than £100,000 per 5 annum, and it was a .scandal that every | effort must be made io remove. ! " ' OTHER SUBJECTS. > In connection'with the Customs' he, con- , gratulatcd tho , Govornnient on having 1 taken off duty to the extent of something ,' -like £100,000. i • lie was a thorough believer in educa- > tion, and thought every boy in the ) Doriiinion should have a. right to rise from 1 the primary school to the high school and > university. L With regard to immigration, lie thought the Government was wrong in importing 5 labourers and tradesmen into the Dominion, , that was overrun with them at the present . time. They should import farm labourers, ]' and see that they . were farm labourers, ~ and make it a stipulation that if they j. come to this Dominion they must work so „ many years on the land for. the farmers before they would be allowed to migVatc j to the towns.—(Applause.) Ho would do evorything in his power f to keep down trusts and combines, j The Ministry, Ilc thought, should be strengthened by at, least two more MinisB ters in the business -interests of the Dominion. I VOLUNTEERING. j They should encourage this movement a? i- much as possible. He had alroady written t to every Mayor in the Dominion asking _ them to co-operate in the direction of havn ing a meeting on certain night to advancc (, the position of Volunteering. • Boys, he t thought, should be trained as cadets, and t after cadets should be promoted to a 'higher 0 sphere and placed in tho ranks of the j men and receive every ficility from the s Government in tho way of ranges and 3 ammunition, eo that, if ever tho time c should come when tho Dominion would b< B called lipon to defend itself there woukl 3 be at command a (it and able body of men. s CONCLUSION. a In bringing bis address to a close Mi Y M'Donald said he always wanted to dc 0 the fair thing by the people. He was pre " pared to carry his share of the responsi bility of spending their money. If .. lit should be plaeed in Parliament his firsl thought would' be of the people he wa< representing, his 6econd for the whole o' t Otago, his third for the Dominion, lii< „ fourth would be absolutely patriotic ant ' would be for the honour of his King am 1 country. Very loud applause greeted Mi y M'Donald as lie resumed his seat.

QUESTIONS, 8 In respon-o to n request by the Chairman t a largo number of questions was handed 1 up for the candidate's consideration. J In f'he coursc of a query respecting (he J right, of every man to work, Mr M'Uonald 1 said that in his mayoral capacity ho pro- « posed that. a- sum of £2000 should he put 1 on tile estimates of the corporation only to y ho ii'jctl in the case of urgent necessity for > providing work for men. \ Iu reply to several questions on the ' licensing, problem,, ho sard:—''The matter a was in tho hands of the people." He did I not wish to tell them his personal views, 1 because, " being a new candidate, hc i did t not like to take the risk of losincf either : the publicans' voto or tho "prohibition ists' 1 voto."--(Loud laughter.) A few minutes ( later, however,, in answering a question ] so framed as to assume his favourable atti- I tudc towards prohibition, Mr M'Donald I made a disclaimer, saying, "I am not a I prohibitionist, .but if the publicans relied : upon what I spend they would soon be < very hungry.'' " ■ _ I Other questions dealt with were the birth ra.to. tho announcement of which b>; the Chairman was tho signal for continued laughter, and the Friendly Societies Con- ' solidation Hill. i VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. | Mr Macdonald,' from the body of the i hall, rose to move a vote of confidence to ] tho ofYoct that "this meeting 'heartily , thanks Mr J. M'Donald for his able ad-, i «lr«BS. aod'desires to oxprcfci its firm conndcnco in. him as representative for this district." Mrs Holland seconded the , motion, which on being nut to tho meetinir was carried unanimously, there boing no" dissentients, A motion of thanks to Mr Ban' for acting chairman concluded tho meeting. MR J. FS ARNOLD'S CANDIDATURE, i Between 30 and 40 ladies and gentlemen met Mr Arnold' last night at the mooting of his Walker Street. Committee. Great enthusiaanv was displayed, ami no difficulty was experienced in obtaining voluntccrcan-vass-crs to cover.the district. Tho candidate addressed the gathering, pointing out that, os on previous occasions, ho was standing in tile interests of lixed principles, which lie trusted all members of committco throughly endorsed. Reports of work to date were received, and wero in every case of a very encouraging nature. DUNEDIN SOUTH. I MR T.-K. SIDEY AT SOUTH DUNEDIN. Mr T. K. Sidcy, tho sitting member, and 1 a candidate at tho general election, addressed a. large meeting in the _South Duncdin Town Ball last evening, tho building lising crowded in every part. The candidate, who spoko fluently and -with good effect, received a cordial Soaring, and his ■ roinavks woi'o frequently punctuated with 1 applause. Mr T. Field is, who occupied the chair, said it gavo hitn great pleasure to presido ! aA Mr Sidoy's meeting, that gentleman 1 being a tried and faithful representative of ' tho' district in the Parliament of tho 1 country. Mr Sidcy 'had represented tho district for seven years, and though ho ; ' (Mr Fiddis) had not voted for him on prc- ' vious cccasions, owing to having promised 1 other candidates, ho-did not know but that 1 ho. would vote for him on this occasion. ' Hot had'communicated with the member' for the district on many oocasions, asking ' him. to use his influence to get employment 1 for poor or distressed .persons in tho dis--1 tHct, and had always l'ecoived prompt and | sympathetic replies, and employment had ' almost invariably been obtained for those applied for.—(Applause.) [ Mr Sidsy, who on rising to speak was [ received with a. hearty round of applause, j.said they had arrived once more at the time when the peoplo had the opportunity of • expressing themselves on the question who • was to bo entrusted with the making of ; their laws and the administration of their laws during the next three years. , THE LATE Mil SEDDON. > This was ihe first time for no loss than i 18 yenta that a,general election was to take - place without the great personality of Mr Seddon being at tho head, of affairs. Dur- , ing 'those years forward ' steps had been token in many directions, and legislation 5 had been passed which would always bo } unsocial ed with , Sir Soddoji's . name. M-casurpj which ha<l been strenuously ' opposed had proved their own justification and gradually wore down opposition, until j at the last, general elcctiqgi Mr Sneddon , rooeived at tno hands of the people the . greatest triumph of his remarkable political j career. After Mr Bcddon's death all eyes turned to tho outstanding personality of li's first lieutenant— • ! , ' SIR ,T. Ci. WARD,, . as the man who not only had tho first claim 5 upon tho Premiership, but in whom also were best combined ilio qualities likely to [. hold the party together. Ponding Sir j Joseph's return from the Imperial Con- . fcrenco, the. Premiership was taken by Mr i Hall-Jones, who discharged tho duties with ,• much satisfaction, anil regarding the furs titer honour conferred upon him by his s appointment as High. Commissioner, it was • .a distinction which he had richly earned, c and tha country had with. oiX' voice ap- ; proved his appointment. On Sir .T. O. 3 Word assuming the office of Prime Minister he at once reconstructed tho Cabinet, and when tho personnel of the new Ministry i became known the prophets were many, , as usual, and unfavourable forecasts were j not wanting. ' What wore two of the r mosfc important ' 1 . PREDICTIONS ' . | 3 regarding the Ward Administration? First ] - they wore told that tno financial adminisI tration of the country would he character- | - ised by recklessness and improvidenco; and j s second, on the great , question of land J - policy, it was predicted that in view of tho ! s .diverse views known' to bo eyterta-ined by various, morobws of the Administration oil s . 'the subject of land tenures, the country i' might expect a .policy of " do nothing "—a J policy of "masterly inactivity" on the land question. No predictions could have been more completely falsified. The Ward • Administration could now be judged upon tho results of three sessions' work, and while ho wmild show'tlmt ther-e predictions hail not been fulfilled, tho main thing ho i- had sot himself to do that night was to g show that the reconstructed Govornnrent S had not departed from tha progressive policy'' that had characterised tho party, in tho past,. but that they ® had carried that policy further forward, n and in the interests of the workere. d T-lio propheoies of financial disaster that had been madd regarding Mir Seddon's it Government ihad ,n.over overtaken it; but n (ho Ward Government,' instead of riiisplay- >> ing greater improvidonce, had signalised its it lonti of office by Gevoral acts which wont '» further than thoso of ils predccos-ors in-. tho S direction of prndenro and eontion. Thira, y it ha<l eotabliisheid sinking funds for lion--0 productivo . loana -calculated. to . extinguish ' s them i.u some 55 years. Again, there had 0 been long outstanding treasury bills to the amouht.cf £700,000 which had been- renewed lf from yeaiv to year uuliil tihey had really bccomo a- pormanont debt. l';h« Goverii--10 memt set itself to liquidate these/ and Irnd ®" already rcduocd. them by a, sum of £300,000. 0 .Than the Government remove*! grounds <£ "complaints roganding tho payment far repairs to buildings coming out cf the capital IS account by .makiThg these itans a chairgo II up; i the Consolidatwl F«n<l; and wlii'.o S doing so, instead of diminishing the f " amount itransforral from tho revenue to tho :G capital account, it increased it- to '® £800,000, which . w.afs la.rgwr ; l>y £200,000 " than the ibighest sum bo transf&nrcd during !r Mr Scdidon's time. -Further,' grounds oi ,e complaint regaipding the audit system woro '? romoved by liarjig all tho departments under the control of 'lis Auditor-general; 10 and furlhoT improvements were content"r plaited under wliioh every penny of I" expenditure and .the jwme of every reci:l' would bo eubmittcxl to rairliiament. ' othor evidences of prudence might be men[r tioncd, buioU as the placing of t.lie super|o aJimuation eShomps on a. eoimdnr fina.noial c . basis, amd the only thing that mi.glit bo iucntione<l on 1 the other sEda wa6 tho into crcaso of 1 st THE LOAN BILL « is this year by .a quartor of a million. He of would have inuc-b preferred if the Govcrni3 jnent could jiavo managed without that id increase, and ho so eiqmvs3<l himself in id Uie Ilonec; but t.ho increased lean \ws fo; Ir tho speoial purposa of hack-block roading. It was nto (ioubt capable of Iraing justiififd 91 • owing to tho increased settlement lli.it had w -taken plac® wfii'iiu lwnt j'Airs, ami it )0 waß canried tina-nimously by the House. Ij. Ho might tako a, furihor opportunity of 1( j referring to flnanrx; gamsM? during t.ho ca-mpaign. In the meantime ho ha<l said enough to show the 'Govcrnmenl's at-tifudo '! to financing questions and to completely disprove, the prediotions as to recklessness. What ho had mentioned was strong tesii0 _ mony that tiw Government was actuated r j ) -by a desire to -p,rorcrd on safe financial j Unci. Predictions regarding . at THE LAND QUESTION es '•had also 'bean completely falsified. It 'd would have beoir more eor.ropt to Bay thai iv tho party, bad for some time previously id boon mair-fcing time on this question. Ite was true that tiro first proposals of 1906. I which would liavc prevented alienation of the public estate were not carried; hut a

great step had been taken in that diroo tion by tho 9,000,C00-actc endowment pro* po.=al which was carried in the following year; -and', it'was doubtful whether th» latter proposal could have licen carried : 1 it had not been precetlcd by the former as some collection would almost inevitably Jiavo had to be made to the freeholder* who wore in a majority in the House. But it liad to bo remembered that the freehold whieh was now granted wan not the old freehold, uixlcr which holdings could ba agg:regatcd at tho will of i,ndi«dua!s, but_a freehold which could nc-viif ho held' *,u larger -cMas than the old leasc-in-perps-tuity holding.?. ,Tho Govornmeiit ha<l taken a great, stop forward by attaching an area limitation to tlia -freehold,'and bad practically created a now form of tomirn Tho lease in perpetuity had been condemned for years, and yet it was never taken otf tho Stniuto Boole until the reconstructed Government took office. l]he rcnowablq lcabe system Was theli , cpnstitutod, ant'settlement tinder it had i>roccc<letl as b»fore. Then let them look at the , ~ GOVERNMENT'S LAND TAX PROPOSALS, . which largely increa«il tho scale of graduated taxation, and which would add another 25 per cent, on to it, after this ye,ir ; Lot them remember tho far-rcaching proposal under which land under tlie Land for Settlements Act could be eompulsorily acquired 'at the owner's valuation for land tax purposes.. Of tho increase in the land tax revenue for last year, somo £64,000' ■ was duo to the legislation cf 1907, and, liq asked, coti'.d any fair-minded pemon, in view of such legislation, say that tho Government had «a«d to bo progrcssive'f Ono had bccomo so familiar with advanced legislation that steps forward did not impress one as formerly. He said emphatically that tho Government's land legislation alone should ensure iis return by thoio who favoured a 'progressive policy. Then the Government had passed tho ADVANCES TO WORKERS ACT. Ha was aware that the cost of living had increased in - this country, but it could not fairly bo said that the Government had done nothing to boh) the situation.- Ono of tho main items of' increase in the cost of living was rent, and onj of tho ways in which the worker might cscapo tho increasing rent chaige was to have a home of his own, and to enable him to do that the Advances (o Workers/Act wao passed. That act offered tho work'or terms that'could ba obtained from no private individual. Ho got his money at 4$ per ccnt. interest, and tho charges for tho mortgage were almost nominal. Already nearly half a pounds had boon advanced under that act. That was merely another illustration bf ft forward, progressive .policy in the workers! interests. At Ibo present moment, unfortunately, the department had been paralysed by innumerable requests for advances which it had not the'funds to grant, but that situation was only a temporary one. The poorest workers, however, ..who had not been able to save a Jittlo Jnoiic.v, could not take advantago of that act, and (or thotn the Workmen's Dwellings Act was available. The lattev act bad not boon availed of to the extent that was at ono time anticipated. Tho localities selected had not, in his opinion, been in-, all casta • the most suitable. They had tho assurance of the Government that tho policy woyld be persevered with, and as experience of ita operation was gained' it should become of very great value to the worker. Again, the Government had helped'the worker by its TAXATION PROPOSAL?. The worker did not pay any direct taxation, and the policy of tho Government' had been to increase the proportion of the direct, taxation and reduco.. tho proportion of indirect taxation. The following return' (brought up to date) would illustrate that, giving tho proportion ■of indirect taxation to the total amount of taxations-collected for tho past 11 years :-Yem 1896-1901, 75 per cent.; 19014, 74 per cent.; 1904-6, 73 per cent.; 1906-7, 71 per cent.; 1907-8, 69 per cent. Theso figures bore eloquent testimony to the fact that tho Ward Administration was pursuing the policy that ba<l liitherto characterised th c party; Thq 1 Bums lose their -sting immediately 'Cross Qintment is applied. Keep it an hand.

last year'in particular was tlio result of its legislation, and it had to bo remembered tliat tlio full effcct of some of the tariff |j concessions did not. tako place that year, f, •Further, it hud to bo remembered that the t! proportion of direct taxation eliowcd tlio r above steady increase in spite of .the loss j| of land tax owing to the lands. acquired ]] under Iho Land for Settlements Arts, and a which now paid in rents a quarter of a mil- t< lion annually. Ho had shown that tho )i Government had Ijccii increasing tho pro- r portion of taxation of which tho workers I paid nothing; and, regarding indirect- tax- u ation, which they did pay, 1 ides reduce ing the proportion of that, the Government j: 3iad helped to lessen the cost of Jiving to i tile worker by the readjustment of it, and j by leinoving duties off neccssarics. In that j way a number of articles formerly duti- y able had been placed on tho free list. That r there were some, such as kerosene, that c ,the people did not gel tjho advantage of ho c was sorry to,admit:, but there, were others c that they got the. full benefit of, such as 2 tea, riee, and dried fruit.?. Tho present 1 Government had, l>y tho remission of the i BUgar duty, -reduccd the indirect' taxtaion 1 on an article of necessity by over £200.000 < per annum, and although the retailors hero i wcro getting less profit the people were' : getting tho benefit 0 f the full amount re- : flitted; and he supposed sugar was now " cheaper than it had ever before lxen in t the history of this country. Once a»ain t lio asked, was not that progressive work in i the interests of tlio workers? Again, the s expenditure on ' . ( EDUCATION Vas very largely for the benefit of Iho ' workora, and notwithstanding the great i record of progress mado by the Seddon Government, tho AVr.rd Administration • had carried still further forward progressive work in this department. They ! heard a. .good deal just now about free i (xiucation from tho primary school to tho university. It was a principle for which * be bad contended long ago; but somo persons wero not aware that the Ward Administration had 1 mado it an accomplished fact: He was not referring to the ucholarsbip system, for which much had been done, but which was competitive, and tiie success of ono meant the failure of another, but lo tho bursary system, under which every candidate, without restriction as to number, who obtained "credit" in the Junior University Seholarsip examination had his university fees paid up to £20 per annum for three years, and in Kihio cases for four years. That, was simply a. test that tho student had attained a certain standard of education, in tlio same way as tho proficiency i>ass was asked of those who went from the primary school to the high school. He thought they should aim at tho reduction of thetest to the standard of tho matriculation examination, but in the meantime the principlo had been recogniscd, and this session there were five or six students who wcro obtaininir free university education in addition to the scholarship holders at tho <)tap University. Then,' rcKardintr school books, itho Ward Government had. prac* tically provided a uniform reader for the wholo Dominion by the establishment of the School Journal, and a further sum of £3000 was placed on the Estimates this year towards free school books. He noticed the strictures recently passed on tho free-hook proposal, and as one of those who had for some, time advocated it as a solution of tho school book difficulty, liesaid that what he had advocated was that tho Education/ Board should purchase the books, which should bccomc the property of tho school, just tho earno as the desks and other equipment. Were those ivho opposed the free-book scheme opposed to freo and compulsory education, < with the free use of school buildngs? Eo thought not; and yet.every arjpiment. for the supply of free echool buildings applied equally to tlio proper''equipment of these buildings with every necessary to enable them to adequately perform their functions. /An important and vahialj> Education Act, into the details'of which ho had not time to. enter, was passed last, session, which ehpuld have, tho effect of increasing the efficiency of the teaching in .the primary schools. He thought lie might say, without egotism, that the School Committeer, owed in some degree to hrm the measure of control they had in tho appointment of teachers. All that had been done, recently for education had largely , increased Ihe education Uvote. it: had 'increased, from about Us 6d to not far 'short- of £1 per bead .during the past 10 years, and now reached a'tolalexpendihire of '£943,000, or nearly n, million per annum, Was not that progressive work m the interests of the workers? —and ho believed Timre'"'would before long-be done in tho direction of technical education. The OLD-AGE PENSIONS ACT ' was admittedly for, the .benefit of tho worker, and several concessions had been mado in that act. One of tho most important of these was regarding (lie method of computing tlio pensioner's income in order to arrive at tho amount of pension to which a. recipient 'was entitled. Hitherto a pensioner'who, by his industry bad earned .more than £34- during tho year, was penalised, .during the following year by a deduction■ of £1 in his.pension for every £1 he .had earned over £34, regardless of his prospects of earning anything during the ensuing year. Now, however, the magistrate could consider his earning prospects for the ensuing year, and could allow him to have earned as mush as £2 a. week without having any deduction mado from his pension'' on that account. Again, new pensioners obtained Iheir pension ono month earlier than under tho old JuW, ami persons who had saved money , to, insure' their lives now found their pensions unaffected by tho value of their life . Policies. Four years' absence from the Dominion was now allowed in even- easo instead of two in somo cases, as formerly, •the harshness of tlio Jaw regarding temporary insobriety was al-o greatly alleviated. The magistrate was given power to suspend'a pension certificate, and in somo cafe of cancellation, but the. pensioner can re-apply in one year from the date of,'cancellation, instead of winthin fivo ! years, as heretofore.' Other amendments had been made which he had not enumerated, but all of thoni represented concessions to itho workers. Then, again, further advances in the interest of tho workers .were made by tho WORKERS': COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS ACT of last session, which increased the compojisation: payable on, death from £400 to £500 ; and in ,'addition made .provision'for medical and funeral expenses to the extent of £20. In. the case of total disablement compensation was increased from £300 to £500. Compensation wa* also given where a worker contracted a disease due to the nature of his employment, the disease being treated as an injury by an accident. Certain rates of compensation were fixed for certain injuries, and that provision should facilitate the settlement of claims and avoid expensive litigation to determine tho amount of compensation; and regarding the costs of proceedings special provision was made limiting them to the amount fixed by the judge. There were other liberal provisions, such as that giving additional compensation to workers permanently injured under 21 years of age, and, generally, it would be admitted that the act was apothcr step forward on progressive lines.. 1

OTHER MEASURES. There were othor measures thai might ho mentioned, Such as the act providing for the inspection of scaffolding, ami also that making provision for tlin overtime rates to lie paid to underground workers in coal mines if they were more 'than eipnt hours underground or on holidayi; wliile M as an evidence of the Government's desire to protect the workers hero from cheap labour, and in the interests of racial purity, tho amendment to the, Chinese Immigration Act might ho mentioned, under which a further restriction in the shape of an educational test had been imposod.\ Tho Government had also shown itself prepared lo go on the lines that had hitherto characterised the, party in makitfg concessions to tho public wherever possible in tho public services. lie reminded those present of the telegraph concession of £d per word after 12 words, and of the postal concession .reducing postcards from Id to'|d, registered letters from 3(1 to 2il, increasing the weight of the.penny letter and reducing the money order and iwstal note rates, fio that a. money order for £5 coultl now be sent for 3d instead of 6d. and a' poslal noto for -91 for 2d instead of 3d. Railway, concessions had also been m.vJc, and while he was well aware that there were railway grievances waiting to bo redressed, still he felt sure tho railway men would readily agree that the Government had done a good deal, particularly for the lower-paid men in the' service. lie had not been attempting to cnumerato what had- been done for tho vorkers by the. Liberal party, but in the hings lo which he had referred ho had lca.lt almost- exclusively with what had >oon accomplished by the party since its •econstruction; anil in the face of these hings they would.agree that it could not vithout- great unfairness be said either that ho present Govornmtn had ecased to be )e progre;sivo or that it had not lone a good ileal for tlio workers. Mr Sidey then referred to the

INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION BILL of last session. The bill as passed was not the .same bill that had been so severely condemned by the workers' organisations. Many provisions that were • unacceptable to them in the hill of the previous year had disappeared, and so also had several that were in the .bill as introduced last session. Regarding tho substitution of Conciliaton Councils for the boards, ho understood the idea to bo that instead of having practically two courts with similar functions, as would be the case 1 if enlarged powers were given to ttic Conciliation Boards, every effort should first be made to effect a settlement, by conciliatory means before sending the dispute on to the court. The objections that had been- made by the workers to the councils were mainly two—first, that their representatives might be at a disadvantage \vit|i those of the employers, particularly in the case of female workers; ami, second, that those who represented tho workere on the councils would lie marked, and subsequently victimised. 13oth of these objections ,had been to some extent met—the first 1 by the. provision under which ono of tho representatives of each party need not be employed in the industry in which tho dispute had arisen, and tho second by the provision which placed upon tho employer the burden of proving, that an employee had not been victimised. He trusted, with these modifications, - the councils would be more acceptable. While the workers had gained much as compared with the original proposals, something had also been gained as compared with tho existing law. It was true that the establishment of Conciliation Councils left it still open to the 'employers as well as to, tho workers to take every ease to the Arbitration Court, but it at anyratc did not .place the parties in a worse position lliaiv. at present, because they had only to decline to come lo'an agreement or to make any recommendation when be-fore the council _if they desired their ease to be dealt with by the court, as at present: while tho probability was that many disputes would be so settled, and in that way, as well as by recommendations of the councils, the work of tho court- would be lessened, and eases would he brought more promptly before it. Then tho .power given to the court to make its award regarding wages take effect prior to the date of the award was a valuable one to meet, hardship arisinc from delay. Again, imprisonment Had. been abolished, more effective provisions made to prevent, victimisation, and lie thought alio it was not unfair to regard the enforcement cases being dealt, with by magistrates as a gain to the workers, because, although they had -asked for-assessors to sit with the magistrates, it hail to be remembered that until recently the employers had strongly opposed enforcement eases being dealt with by magistrates or by any body other than the Arbitration Court. In support, of that he quoted evidence given before the Labour Bills Committee when a similar provision was proposed in 1904, and when the employers' representative said: "We oppose the whole provision. We tmderstand the provision to- be to the effect that all enforcement cases, if. less than the sum of £50 bo involved, shall be heard by tho stipendiary magistrates as distinct from the Arbitration Court, but we believe that these enforcement, cases should continue to be dealt with by the Arbitration Court, and we' very strongly and unanimously object to (he proposed transfer." The witness went on to elaborate the reasons of the employers for so objecting. The provisions regarding enforcement, cases shpuld go a long way to rojnove the just grounds of complaint that had for so long existed regarding the delays in the administration of the arbitration, system? and lie earnestly hoped that the act would lie sufficiently acceptable to receive a fair trial. The SECOND BALLOT proposal had met with a. good deal of criticism. It had been said that it would prevent minorities being represented, but he pointed out that tho single electorate system did not contemplate minority representation, and made no provision for it. If it were desired to have minority representation or proportional representation, then some other system than the single electorate system would have to bj adopted. Tho .second ballot proposal was experimental, and much that was said regarding it could only be tested by experience. 110 preferred the preferential voting system. Tho main objcct of the proposal was to prevent a third candidate slipping in between two other candidates who were standing on the same side. He noticed that some persons thought this proposal was brought down for the firsji time at this juncture; but he drew attention to the fast that tho Government brought down a similar proposal just prior lo the election of 1902, when thero was no talk of an Independent Labour party in this country. Tho measure was not persevered with at that time, owing to opposition, particularly on the part o°f those advocating the absolute majority or preferential voting system. It was "also complicated at that time by the combined city electorate. He did not think the workers had anything to fear from a. second ballot, as tliey were in the majority, UNIVERSITY AND SCHOOL MATTERS. Mr Sidey .then referred briefly to several matters affecting the wel fare of the city, and said that Dunodin was in a foremost position in the country as ail educational centre. They had How- a number of important colonial schools attached! to their University. He desired to sl.wv "what tho Ward Government had dons for them m this connection. The University ,had a long outstanding debt of £16.000, which had been incurred in the erection of buildings. The Government had paid off £5000 of that amount, and the. £3500 was ex- . peeled to bo paid off this year, and he had no doubt the Government would gradually extinguish tho University's liability. Then the Government had confirmed the grant promised by Mr Seddon to build the dental school, and also placed on this year's Estimates a sum of £2100 for additional equipment for the dental school arid hospital. That sum should make, the school up-to-date in every respect, and .second to jio school in the world in its equipment. He regarded the dental school and hospital as a creation of his own. Again, the Government had decided that Dunodin should have the veterinary school, and this year a sum of £1000—part of a vote of £3000 —was placed on the Estimates for the veterinary school building. These Schools, naturally, came to Dunodin as branches of the medical school. The tight to retain the mining school ended in the Government, placing on the Estimates a vote of £4000, which tliey subsequently increased to £5000, for the purpose of iv new mining school building, which was now in course of consl ruction. Regarding tho educational institutions, the Government. placed £6500 on the Estimates fov the, new training college. This it lu-ut increased to some £8500, and had now granted an additional £1300 for improvements to the Union Street School, to be used in connection with the training college. The Government had also this year provided a imw Girls' High School for Dunedin. In the face of these facts tliey would agree that tho Government had been good friends of the University, and of the other educational inI stitutious t»I this plsfc,

PERSONAL. It was necessary for him to reler to t-lie issues before them in ihafc contest, and in doing so lie would avoid anything in tlin nature of pnrsonalitios. He very cordially reciprocated t-lio remarks of Mr Douglas in that conncetion. lie was being opposed, firstly, by a. candidate who supported the Government, and, secondly, by. a candidate who desired the formation of an Independent Labour party in the House. He had not ono word to ftfy against any elector standing for Parliament in whatever interest, he thought best. He had ail undoubted right to do so. Regarding, however, a contest in the same interest as himself, he might remind them that lie had fought (he balths of the party, and with the assistance of his friends and tho supporters of the party he had won them for that party in throe contests. He had been loyal to the party, and tire Government was not asking tiie constituency to change its representative. lie <lid not always vote with the Government, but. be was heartily with it on any question affecting the fate of the Administration, so long- as it continued on progressive lines. If tho electors were prepared to renew their confidence in tho Government, then lie submitted that the considerations he had mentioned should have some weight will) ' them. Coming to the question involved—namely, the formation of ail Independent- Labour party in tho House, the following question arose:—Was more likely to bo obtaine'd for Laliour by that course than by Labour members working as members of the Government party? It was tho same party that had given to the country the progressive legislation of (Tie past 15 years, and all the meiAbere of the Ministry had been closely associated with the parly in the passage of most of that legislation. The experience of the Australian States did not seem to promise better results by an in-, dependent' party. They had led th c vay wit.h much of the advanced legislation, and whero similar legislation had been subsequently passed in Australia its adoption had doubtless Ikoii facilitated by tho example of this country and : the successful operation of such legislation here. They were tho first to place compulsory arbitration on the Statute Book. They led' the. way with lands for settlement policy, and ihc'believed they wore first with the old-ago pension scheme. Their land legislation was in advance of anything in Australia, and so was their taxation system, The Australian Commonwealth had no State fire insurance, no State Coal Department, no advance's to workers scheme, and in other respects more bad been done under the twoparty system here than unde.r the threeparty system there. If titio Government had not shown itself progressive since its re-, construction he could_ better have understood the determination t« form a new party; or, again, if his vote and influence as u member of the Government, party had not been in favour of the workers or had lieen such as in any way to retard advanced legislation, lie could have belter understood the opposition of organised labour to himself. He liad been no drag upon tho Government, but the reverse-he 'had been in advance of the Government. It was true he had given no pledge to any organisation, and was responsible only to tho electors," but the Labour organisations had rccognised that he had. been on the workers' side, and at the last election not only .did not oppose him, but were gwd enough to pass a resolution recommending him to th 0 workers in tho constituency. He recalled the occasion when lie was first re•turned to represent them, and when, in expressing his acknowledgments, he. declared lie would always remember lie ivas representing a constituency very largely compose.! of workers. No one could justly say ho had ever forgotten that fact either inside the House or out of it. Ho was sure his constituent;! found him approachable at all times, and lie had never spared himself in his anxiety to help deserving men seeking ftmploynient. Ho 'had specially inioro3tod himself in tho railway workers, of whom (hero were many in his electorate, and during last- session a lot of work was done in which he had taken a prominent part, but for which there was not a. great deal yet to show. It had been a. positive grief to him to see men discharged, on ono or two occasions after long service as casuals; and in ono or two cases elderly men with young families, lie had striven for their reinstatement, and in some instances had succeeded with the he.lp of his colleagues. In conclusion, he thanked them for their patient hearing. lie claimed to have faithfullv represented lliem, audi lie asked lo he judged by his past actions. The parliamontarv experience ho ho-rl gained would ■be valuable to him in serving them in the future. It was the electors that had sent him to Parliament, and it was for the electors to say whether he wus to to represent iliem. He once again placed himself with confidence in their hands. CONCLUSION. Mr Sidc.v sat down amid a general round of applause. Replying to questions, the {'andidate sau.l ho knew of no foundation fcr the. statement that aftor the elcc-tion a .large numbrr of men on'railway work on the Uurnsidc fection would' i:e dispensed with, and o,n| tho authority of the Minister of Railways ■refuted a. statement iliat 40 new arrivals had been placed on this work in preference •to local men; he favoured the development of the Dominion's iron deposits, and if considered prudent the acquirement by tho State cf this industry, or ordering upon other industries that would be for the benefit of tho community as a whole. He also favoured giving labourers the full rcwa.rd cf their labour, or anything else that would help to bring about, a more equitable distribution of wealth; and was opposed to uido.smmina.tc' immigration. During thc process of questioning two m throe persons stocd up in different pails of tho hall at the same time and attempted to speak, ono speaker assorting that, eoma • omp'loyocs at the railway workshops wore members of ono of thc other candidate's committees. M* Sidey, when asked if the-latter procedure was' according to law, said he. considered railway servants should be granted greater political privileges than I'hey enjoyed; but it was not wise, under the

cxisiing -regulations, ihat railway 6crvtm*3 should take a) prominent part iw political contests. Mr J. B. ■ Taverncr moved, ami Mr .T, Downic soccndcd, a vote c[ I hanks and continued confidence in the candidate. Someone (whoso name, could not. bp. ascertained) ro=:o iiv the hall and moved as an amendment—"'flat Mr.Sidey was not a fit.a.nd proper parson to represent, the d'isivicl," and this after ccnsidtrablo hubbub, to seconded. The amendment on being put. found only 15 supporters, and +Jie .motion was earned by an overwhelming'majority, ehcers bsi.ng givem for the candidate. Mr Sidey, in returning 1 thank.', said lio desired (o say-that neither him.sc.lf not his committee was responsible for Ilie moving of an adverse amendmcrot at Mr Douglas's meeting. MR FLEMING'S CANDIDATURE. Mr W. Fleming held a very successful meeting in the. St.. Clair Gymnasium last evening. A hearty voto of thanks was accorded the candidate for his address. ' DUNKDIN NORTH. Mr A. ft- Barclay's main committee-met last, evening, Prince Alfr&d Hall, Great King street, Mr G. Flcury presiding. Reports wo.ro received, routine business transacted, antl tlm course for the future furtlicr outlined and settled. Mr G. M. Thomson had a large and most appreciative audience in the NorthEast Valley Council Chambers! -'ast even/ nig. Tlio. main subject of his address was Socialism, which lie combated 1 very strongly. His remarks were evidently appreciated by flip audience, the majority of whom agreed entirely with the speaker in his views as to the insidious character of the Socialistic propaganda aJid Mr Thomson was frequently applauded. At the clcsc of the meeting a- vote of thanks to the speaker and of the determination of the to. return him at the head of tlio poll was moved 'by Mr Frame, seconded by Mr Lumlcy. and carried unanimously. Mr Colin Macandrew was chairman. AUCKLAND WEST. i (Pp.om Our Own' Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, October 27. The contest in Auckland West is growing more interesting than it was at tinst expected to do, and there is now every prospect of a close finish between Mr C. 11. Pooio and Mr Thompson. A week or two ago Mr l'oole's supporters were confident that lie would have a "walk-over,", butthe stfonuous work which Mr Thompson's committee is doing and the impressions Created' by his speeches have improved bis chances, and now both sides are actively canvassing. Each side is, of course, quilo confident of but a keen contest is ateured. ( \ PALMERSTON. . (Per United Press Association,) PALMERSTON N., Ootobor 27. 1 Mr W. S. Milverton is announced as a candidate for the Palmcrston seat as on Independent. ' SELWYN. (Per United Press Association,) ASHBURTON, October 27. Mr'Joeepli'lvcis and Mr-Daniel O'Connor Brick; who have announced themselves as Liberal candidates for • the Setwyn scat owing to Mr W. J. Dickie's retirement, addressed meetings at Mcthvcn and Ohcrlscy respectively to-night. Mr Ivess expressed'himself, as a strong Government supporter,- and in complete agreement with the Government policy, except on the land question. While believing in tho land for settlement? policy, lie was in favour of tlio optional system. Mr Brick said ho was a whole-hearted' supporter -of the present Administration.. He favoured the Elective Executive, the institution of a Stale bank, and the. threefifths majority at the local option poll, ' (From Our Own Correspondent.) ' CHRISTQHURCH, October 27. An effort that is 'beiiig made to induce a very well-known Ashbmton, County farmer —Mr John Liunbie, of "Kyle—to contest tiro feat will probably, be fruitless, as Mr Lanibio is understood to be supporting and assisting Mr Hani v. The father of the Government candidate for Kllcsmorc—Mr .John Itcmiie. of Doykst-on—has also been approachcd with a view of contesting t's Sslwyn sat. but. it is understood that he is. unable to comply with the request on account, of pressure of business. The opposition with which ho is threatened will not, however, do Mr Hardy much harm, •ASHBURTON. (Per United Press Association.) ASHBtmTOX-, October 27. Mr Henry Davis has retired. from the contest [or (ho Ashhurton seat, GERALDINE. Mr J. M. Twomey, who 'was announced as an Opposition candidate) for the Goraldinc seat at the forthcoming election, has definitely decided to retire from the con-. test. Tho cause of Mr Twomey's -withdrawal is ill-health. WALLACE. \ The'To Tita. correspcuyJat, of the Southland* Times write.;:' •' I mndc.rstand that (he number of candidates is now .reduced to two, Messrs Carmioliael and Hanna being now reported to have withdrawn. A considerable Jiumbir of Mr Thomson's quondam followers are very much disgusted wiih his chamgo cf front, v a,n{J same even declare their intention of scratching out both nim® c-n election day as'an imlica ticai, of their dissatisfaction. There is certainly no;ic of that, enthusiasm which wa< to be-seen c-n former occasions." HON. R. M'NAB'S IMPRESSION!?. (Pep, United Press Association.) CHR.ISTCHUR&H, October 27. In eoiiVenation with a. reporter thi morning tho Hon. R. M'Nnb saiild hi thought a. Goveniwent majoTity in t'ln North Island was assured, but it. woulf jwt. be co substantial as tho South Island 'would. provide. There would be a number of second elections, notably in liawkc's Bay. He' did not think that from New Plymouth to Haivke's . lia.y there -would to much change in. the position of -the parties, Tho new constituency in Tarana'lvi bad four candidates, two c,n each t-id-e, and it was very hard to say who would win. Witih that 'exception, there would bq jio change in the. area, ho had referred to. So ifar as Auckland was concerned lie could only g>ci on hearsay, but a desperate effort was being made to unseat, tho -Hon. (!. Fowl els fon Grey Lynn. The Prime Minister had no opposition for Awarua, while the opposition' to the Hon. ,1. A. Milkir could c.nly be called sttclt by courtesy. " Tliore will be a. tremendous change in the personnel of the new House," Mr M'Nab added. ''Ten members arc rcl-irany voluntarily, and as two sitting members are con-testing Tnapeka one must go out. Of -the other 69 mom-tars le.ight or nine practically hare .no opposition—lbu'r are. unopposed in South Otago alone. That leaves 60 men fighting contested elections. If wo add tho usual proportion of defeats lo the certain newcomers we shall, probably have 22, new members—mere than olio-quarter cf t.ho entire House. Changes are mtst likely 'to, occur where two Ministerialists arc. standing for the same scat." WELLINGTON EAST. (Fir United .Press Association.) ] • WELLINGTON, October 27. Mr W. MT.ean, the Government candidate for Wellington East, addressed his first meeting to-night, speaking- generally inl favour of the Liberal policy and administration. He received a voto of thanks and lonfutawo. WAITAKF, (Pep. United . Press Association.) WAIMATE, October 27. Sir William Steward opened the campaign in the Waitaki cleetomte to-night, before a largo audience. He. reviewed tho' legislation of last session favourably, and pointed out that the .great prosperity of the Dominion was. largely due to the present Government's liberal policy. Ho claimed thai the fanners and settlers generally had greatly benefited by .lie liberal policy. Ho also claimed that the workers ■ had very largely benefited, lie was accorded a. unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. Mr Frank Smith, of Albury, if announced se an Opposition candidate for - Waitaki, and opens his campaign -on Saturday at the south end of the electorate, CHALMERS. Mr E. G. Allen addre,«Kl the Waitati portion of the electors last owning.. Tho.ro was r, very fair attendance, and the chair was occupied by 'Mr Tliomas' M'Conncll.' In or.cning Mr Allen combated 'the pub- . lished statement that ho had changed his political views since his lir.st appearance in polities, and quoted from bis manifesto (issued when he first stood- for Parliament) to prove that his views were now in effect, iho s:nn.?. He then dealt with the chief

political questions of tlm day. especially tl< matters relating lo daii-.yintc and Jigricitl- In two. I Mr Allen was given a good '! hearing, and during his speech was fre. li quenHy applauded. A vole of thanks ami h confkionco was carried unanimously. c< TUAPKKA. il There we«e between 40 anil 50. electors ®l ; Dr Chappie's meeting at Macra.es on ? Monday evening, tlic chair being occupied JI by .Mi- Jas. O'Connell (member of the Wai- w homo County Council). The candidate spoko at.length on mining, agricultural, and ; pastoral matters, .reviewed the work of last. ,v session of Parliament, and strongly advo- H ea-ted the mcdicnl inspection of eehools. 0 Ho was asked a .number of questions at the 0 close of his address, and on the motion of " Mesas firiffeu ami Simpson was accorded !J a hearty vote of thanks and confidence, winch, was declared carried unanimously, ■uio meeting was • very hearty and' enthusi- n , act in. according the. candidate. frequent '? applause of a most; cordial nature. v Mr li. Scott addrewed a .-meeting o( over ' < 40 eleetors at. Waipiata on Monday, even- .V Mv .lames Howell, who-was in the chair, in his opening remarks, re'ferred to the candidate i !m' a.'very' complimentary manner, as one who had lived in the " adjoining neighbourhood for many years, w and had interested iiim.solf in public mat- c Icts generally, but particularly in conn?ction with the Farmers' Union, and ci'- a pressed the .opinion' that if elected Mr Scott was capable, of voicing the require- 1 ments of the settlers generally. Tlio T address was well received, and at the conelusion tho -candidate, by .request, explained the. . principl© of the Second' Ballot. e Act at some length. A hearty vote of ° thanks to _Mr Scott for his address was carried amidst loud and prolonged applause. c 1 . MATAURA. t The Hon. R, M'Nab,.Minister of Lands, operas his election campaign for the. 1 Mautara seat to-night. The full pro- , gramme of meetings lias not yet been dc- : cided upon, but the speccli at Gore, the centre of tlio electorate, will be delivered J on same evening during next week. ' J' Mr E. H. Clark will address the'Obalmers electors at »SeaelifF this evening and at ' Wa-itati to-morrow evening. Mr J. W. Munro's committee has removed to 182 George street, and meets there to-night. Mr A. It. .Barclay will address the electors at Leitii Valley Sdioolroom to-mohwv evening. > : ■ c Mr J. M'Donald's committee meets at I Mornington' Couiieil Chambers to-morrow, i evening and at Russell- Street Mission Hail { on Friday evening. | Mr James Alien will hold a ladies' meeting at Lrnvrence at 3.30 p.m. on Thursday.. , He will address ihe .'electors at Tuapeka Flat at 6.30 p.m., and. will .speak at Evans V tflat at 8 p.m. on' the same day. Ho will 1 speak at Milbui'n''.on Friday evening. ( Mr W. Barr will"", address the electors at 1 Waitati on Friday evening. i Mr J. T. Johnson; announces further meetings as Monday, f 26th; Kuri'Buslnofi Tuesday,. 27th; Taieri Hoach on Wednesday*,- 28th;. Milburn on Thursday, 29th;,'";Maungatua. f, on Fi-idav. 30th; and' l AVacdsidc v ' on' Saturday, 31st, all at 8 p.m. 'V ' ■- j Mr J. F. Arnold's* central committee rooms aro,at:No.''6:Rqyal Arcade, , and are open daily.'' ./ . ,\ ' '' ' . TO-DAY'S * MEETINGS, ! Sutton.— Ml:i'J. T-'-Jflfoson.'s J Berwick.—Mr T. Maclct-nzie. Moonlight!—Dr Cflia\>j}le.V : ■ J Wedderburn • (3 .p.m:)'and Gimmerburn (8 p.m.).—Mr R:;, Scott.-.'!( Flag Swamp Creamery :.(9..<a.m.) and Mer- , ton (8 E; ft.-Allen,. ■ , M«>nlig.ht (6:p.ni) '.and';Maci'ae3 (8 pjatu). j —Mr J. A.^Macphcrspn.'-- 1 ';.'' ; Akatoro'(s;p.rii:) and.'Gleriledi ,(8 p.m.).— j Mr J. T ; 1 ;.; Ai-llmr Stjijct'SfclioolG^iviriasiuTn,— Mr J. W. Mutlro. "■ ■ • ' Clark!' v Morningtqj'Council) Ohamb'ers^and-Belle- . knowes' Missfthv.Hall.rT-Mr'i'J.'.F, committee,.J'' :' . ' ; i 'I 182' J. -W.' .Munro's • committee...: j; v.'; ; . v ' '■■■■■ : .i. . •<■■■ • • ■