THE GENERAL ELECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14357, 29 October 1908, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTION

PARLIAMENT TO EE DISSOLVED TO-DAY. (Pep. United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 28. A proclamation dissolving tin; present Parliament will lie issued to-morrow. The writs for the olection of a new Parliament will bo issued within a (lay or two. AUCKLAND EAST, (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 28. Mr F. E. Iteumo opened his campaign for Auckland East to-night, addressing a largo gathering and receiving a vote of thanks ami confidence. Ho advocated a progressive income tax, and spoke strongly in favour of the freehold. He commended the Government's T/il«vtv legislation. Hiding the workers to stand by it in -their own interests. He also advocated military instruction as part of the State school curriculum, together with the cadet system, followed by the. military training of youths. PAHNELL. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 23. Mr Lawry, who is seeking re-election for Pnrnell, opened his campaign to-night, when ho addressed a well-attended meeting and received a vote of thanks and confidence. He said he had now attained his political manhood, lmviug been 21 years in Parliament, and that, for 18 years of that period ho had represented Parncll without, violating an election plc-dge or neglecting a public duty. Ho'spoke in favour of the optional system of land tenure, and in dealing with .the Main Trunk railway slid thai it should never have lieon constructed through the central route before they had a conncetion with Taralioki. Ho was opposed to an elective Legislative Council, but agreed with Mr Massey aa to the need of local government reform on a comprehensive scale. THAMES. (Per United Press Association.) THAMES, October 28. The Hon. .]. M'Gowan delivered his first Address at Tlnmcs to-night. He reminded iik hearers that an election was never assured until it was won, and he did r.ot believe in takinir any chanccs. lie referred lo the fact thxt, when .he last addrew-vd them ho was a member of the Kcddon Administration, but. since ifewv changcs had come about owing to the death of 'Richard Seddon. The party remained, however, and its policy had beon to endeavour to do the greatest good to the greatest, number. Ho submitted that tho preeont/ C'abijaer. was, if anything, stronger -than it was before, and this, as ho liad stated, was not duo to tho inherent merits of the members thereof, but because their legislation 1 had Iveen cart on sour.d linos, and because they had endeavoured to do tihe.ir best, in the interests of the jzjopk', and not for any particular class. Keferring to the financial l>osit.ion of the Dominion, ho submitted figures to show that, though tho mwy market was tr'mjjcnv, the Dominion's finances wero in a more satisfat-tory state. There was no danger of the pessimistic utterances of those opposed to the present Administration being proved correct. He quoted from Sir .i-xeph Ward's recent specch in which the opinion was expreawd that the present str. : n:j\>ney would soon be removed and the Dom-tiion's progress would be even more substantial in tho future than it- had been in the- pair. It. was satisfactory to note that the revenue for the past half.jrear had been so substantial, the only Jasgo 'decrease being in Cv.rioms, and this was due to the fact that, in many directions— Customs, ctc.—sntefcrniail .reductions iuicl l>ei'n made. Despite this fact, tho revenue for the past ihalf-yoar showed am incrcwo. Tho speaker then ve.i'nrrixl to labour legislation, which, h-o said, liad gencraJly been in the interests of tiro workers. Ho referred to the .pac&ing »;f i'ic Worktw 1 Divcllings, Advances to \v'i triors, Factory, and other legislation, a;..! to other acts which had b:cn in tho in:cßv;t- of tho workers. Ho referred also io nxt'Jit decisions of J he Arbitration Court, ;aid that they wero generally in the Jiroction of giving employees a fair day's v,R.;«s for a day's work. In some cast»— tho £ax industry was instanced as one—awards had ken 'given under then exist,in;,- cvfiditioiif, but owin;; to a fall in price i;. i hc-on found impossible to continue operations, and a goodly numbers of mills to bo shut dwsm. Heferenco was aJt«> n::rle to the advantage to tho people of tho Government Insurance Department, and io tho beneficial results that had followed tho pas'-nig of Iho Bank of Now Zealand whkiii had virtually saved a valuable institution and the whole Dominica from diro financial distress. Cheap rnoi.oy -'had increased the production pf the Dominion. Thfe was shown by the papers. Taxation lad beau reduccd, old-ago pensions .increased, and various considerable improvements made. Tho speaker made d-atialcd roferenco to the Customs tAuilf r'eduotioiis. This was for the benefit of the workcirn, showing that tho Government had tho interests of the masses at heart. Rcfeauco wan made to the GoTornment land policy, which tho- speaker defended. He held that the Govcrnmo.nl land policy w-M such that it; practically gave 'landholders the freehold far 66 years. The Government's land legislation liad brought about a large ineimsc in the number of settlors, and tho general evidence was one of satisfaction at .the present conditions. He submitted that from a. practical point, of view to all intents and purposes the Government, allowed tho freehold to be obtained. The of land for education and okl-age pensions was a splendid idea, and was in the beat interests of the people as a whole. Settlers were assisted in every way possible, and m every direction tho Government endeavoured to help along tho small settlers, whereas the big banking institutions did not trouble to help tho small people, but only assisted the larger settlors and financial institutions. Reference was made to the Native laud policy, which was defended. Soinc people said the Native lands, should be individualised, but as there were 40.0GC Natives, and.also circuitous methods for individualising the land, it showed what a stupendous task this would bo. As ;c the advances to settlers, Mr, M'Gowan painted out that up to date lioariy £3,000,000 had boon lent to settlors. Tho net profit earned by the Advances tc Settlers and Workers' Department amounted to £313,000, and the present net profits amounted to about £60.0f1C annually, notwithstanding that concessions had been made in the sliiuc of reduction of interest. He said that Mr John Dul'nic and Mr Massey had condemned the Advances to Settlers'- Act, which had proved a great success and a great benefit, especially to .the small settlers. Heferring tc mining, he said the Government had done all that' was possible lo assist this important industry. Ho gave the following details of tho expenditure by the depart ment of which ho was in charge:—[Expenditure (public works appropriations): Total for the eight years, 1892-93 to 1899' 1900, £374,556; aterage. £46,819 per annum: total for the eight veal's 1900-01 to 1907-8, £474,922; average, £59,365 per annum. Special items: Aid to prospecting, ■lotal.for the eight vears 1E92-3 to 1893' 19C0. £14.115; Schools of Mines, £23,765; total for tho eight years 1900-01 to 1907190F—aid to prospecting, £14,065: School? of Mines. £36,027. (The expenditure under this bead was practically the same for thr two periods, in spite of the statement that it had fallen off considerably.) The gold export, for the first nine months of 190/ was 382.08107., valued at £1,527,526, and for the first nine months or 1908, 390.4420z. valued nt £1,544,231. the increase for the nine months of 1908 being 83610z, of a value of £16.705. The total export, (oi 1890 .(12 months), the year before tho Ballanco Government came into office, was 193,19;0z, valued at £773,438, or about onehalf of the yield for the first nine months of the present year. The coal product ior also showed a considerable increase in out pit! Tito State coal mines showed a large increase in output compared with last year, The- leading items of improvement during the pvc.wnt Ministry's term of otlico were: The hank-to-bank clause in the Mining ami Coal Mines Act (eight hours underground), and the provision for payment of overt inu bevond that limit. Also, in the Coal Mine.' Act of 1900 a stated period of half an houi was given for "crib time." As encourage ment to prospectors the subsidy was in creased to £?. to £1 instead of pound fot jiound, to £1 per man per week insteai of 10s. io 5-: i«-r foot for tunnelling o; driving through hard rock instead o' is mid in minors' rights a reduction in tin foo to 5s was made. Tho Government encouraged mining ai deep levels by th-: purchase of tho Thames-llauraki pump and giving subsidies for boring and dee; -sinking, also a subsidy for unwatcring tin I'oss flat-, encouraging the introduction o : capital by increasing tho area that may bt gran!<xl under the mineral prospcetinp warrant to 10.000 acre?. Additional protection was given lo prospectors, and inert stringent labour conditions had been madi to prevent large areas being looked up Better provision had been made for tin payment of compensation lo workers it mines, and an improvement in the tub

of biisiuo.is and residence eitcs. The Government afforded protection to tributors l>y a provision in the Mining' Act thatno tributes shall be payable until a miner's earnings exceed £2 per week. Other enactments wore inspection of mines by workers' representatives,- belter provision for the inspection of mines by • the appointment, of three additional inspectors, and the opening of the State coal mine*. .Mr M'Uownn- defended the establishment by Uls State of coal mines, and said thai they had proved to he in the interest of tin werkefs of New Zealand. He spoke of the one mine- that, was notpaying, but- expressed the- opinion that bc-foro Ion;; tint mine would pay. lie referred io the fact that- the output from the lninv; was gradually increasing, and showed t-liat. the colony posseted a. valuable a«sct, which was being worked in tho 1>0.",t interest? of tho people. •Speaking of railway construction, he submittal figures to show mat. in this department also the Government bad done well. The figure.; wore* as under Expenditure on railway construction, in the North Island in tlw eiifht. years from 1901 to 1908 inclusive, £2,580,920; in the South Island, £1,909,687. With regard to the contentions of Mr Yuile. he said that while tbat j;enlleman was quite conscientious in his statement an to what- ho considered the correctfigures, it was more than probable that ha had included amounts thai- could not l>c regarded by -the Public Works Department, as properly coining under the head of railway construction. Tile Minister de-fended Ibe present prison n;.?th<xk and said am honest endeavour was ! king made to induce prisoners to lead letter lives. An for rscanes. prisoners had c.v.a,]>cd from the o;ac:; of New /.eidaml, but that- did not, injure-the system, lie '.v<;uld rather have a few escapes so long as a. decent, percentage cf prisoners wcio induced to reform, and were ifivcn a chance to do so. lie did v.ol- think that they should hound a man down, but should endeavour to touch som-:s responsive chord, and by the- employment of thes? men outfide gaols do «ocd. A-> io the reported increased taxation which had buen referred Io by tho members of the Opposition, ho pointed oul that the land tax, income tax, and stamp duties had been included, but th-we could not be called taxes per head of population as they fell only on a class. The increase was duo to the fact. thai, ilie people were in a more prosperuiiß <ondit-ir:n-, and "therefore, as natural Hjquenee, added mere I:> the revenue. He rofer-sd in detail -to the mining position, and said it- was iive inient-ion of the Government Io assist as much as pcssible this important- industry, but il could not allow the money <jf the Dominion lo be used for exploiting properties. What was desired was -legitimate prospecLing, which would benefit not- only the district I but the whole colony.

As lo education, he defended the present system. He thought that, if school books .had been provided at first cost, that would have sufficed. However, it had been decided to grant school books five. This was a greater conec-s-noa than he himself personally would have lacn. iiwlined to favour.

Several questions wore put. Mr M'Gowan ;aid lio did not favour the imposition of £500 poll tax on Oiiineso. The present education test would suffice. As to tli-a Mciklo grant, lw expressed the opinion that, Mr Metklft btl given tho Government a full and clear receipt, and had no further claim upon it. Mr Meikle had a claim upon tlioso whose false testimony had caussd his conviction, bet -not against- tho Government. lie was opposed- to rompulsorv military : : ervicc as advocated, and thought the present Volunteer system would suffice. A unanimous vote of thanks and confidence in Mr M'Gowan as a member and Minister ajnd in the Government was passed amidst loud appla-uw. grey" LYNN*. | (Pek Uxited Pjisss Association.) | AUCKLAND, _ October 23. Mr Oliver Nicholson. who is opposing the j Hon. George IWkis for Groy Lynn, alluded j in his address to-night, to the Tc tlranga | Home incident. Ho referred to the manner i iu which one section of tho prc-s had ' cried down this scandal, while some of the j papers approved of the department's action, i In his address Mr Fowlds had | refeiTcd to tho matter, and on his return to Wellington he sent out reprints of -his I s-pcech, and also comments from the various newspapers commending him for his action, lo tho electors, Tho Minister thought, it necessary at the outset to meet, any repudiation. Now, ho (.Mr Nicholson) doomed it is his duty to place tho mailer before the electors from tho public platform. and jrive them tlip true position with regard to tho home.--(Loud applause.) The candidate produced the report, of the commission, and commenced to read the commissioner's comments on the flogging of girls and cutting their hair. " What is tho | t.rno position of affaire?" ho a.sktd. Flogi ging was indicted on the girk-some of i thorn 20 years of age—by the manager, with tho tacit approval of the department. No special embargo had been placed as to the methods. The Minister was .right when 'no raid lie lutd nothing to do in tho approval or tho sanctioning of tho flogging. It was done by the management; but that system was carricd on with the tacit approval of tho department, which said nothing against it. Girls' hair was cut off with tho approval and consent of the Minister of Education.—(Uproar, and cries of "Shame" and "Hot.") Now, resumed the candidate, this was despite tho fact that permission to do this rort. of thing-had from time to time been applied for and. refused by the Ministcrs predecessor in oilico (tiic late Mr Seddon), whose, heart was always swelled wit-h -love and symp-athy for 'his fellow matures.

TAUMARUNUI. (Fbou Our Own Correspondent.)

TE AWAMUTU, October 27. The Taumarunui electorate is a trying one on candidates for parliamentary honours. There are over 100 polling places, and most of the travelling is difficult owing to the condition'of tho reads. Mr Jennings (one of the candidates for the seat), since addressing his liret meeting at Waitara. on October 15, has addressed '23 meetings, including Otorohanga last evening, lie has trayolled 400 miles by train, 50 by trap, and 36 by horseback. The electorate touches four land diet rids—Auckla nd, Taranaki, Wellington, and Ilawke's Iky. TSig worjt portion of tho electorate is the Hinterland of North Taranaki, where the roads are very bad owing to the continuous rains of late. Th c physical and menial strain involved in contesting such ecats is very great. AUCKLAND ROLLS. (Fnoit Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND-, October 27. " We have oftict-rs engaged doing nothing eko but perusing -the rolls of adjoining electorates," declared a registrar this morning, "a.nd while there is no suggestion of any deliberate intent- to etuff the rolls theirs is need for strict investigation, as is evidenced by the fact that close upon- 1000 names will have lobedelcted from the rolls. Tho vast, majority of applications for enrolment come 'through the agents of C'it'aar the Liquor or the No-liec-res parlies, and while I do .not for one momc-nt impute any but the most honest motives to both, I am iievcW'lmlftß firmly of opinion that tho Government should take in hand the thorough (ampliation of t*ie rolls. Kvery- electorate should bo canvassed by Govcrnniioiit offio-u-s a-nd the name of ovc-ry elector collected in the same manner a.* t.l» census returns lirv secured. Until t.hi,s is done I am of opinion that our doctoral system can jiovor be regarded as quite, eatft-factory." WAIIIAItAPA. (From Oua Own Correspondknt.) _ WELLINGTON, October 23. In Wairarapa Messi* Hornsby and Buchanan are working bard, and there is every indication that the fables wiil be turned on the Government on this occasion. MASTERTON. Reports from the country di.-tricis of Wellington province (telegraphs tho Masterton correspondent of the Evening Post) indicate that there will be a heavy vote against Mr llogg on the question of (he freehold land tenure. Farmers appear to be making this the paramount political question at i.'he coming poll. II AW KB'3 BAY. (Pur United Press Association.) HAS-TrVflS. October 23. At a meeting of farmers held at Hastings to-day under the auspices of the Farmers' Union a. l.allot was held, as the result, of which il was decided by a large majority to support. Sir William Ku.scll's candidature for Ilawke's Bay. The Chairman explained that the decision was no! a mandate to all fanners how they should voic. The -press was not admitted to the meeting. A second ballot was necessary between Sir William Hussell and A. E. Jull, and this was iu favour of .Sir William, who also headed the first ballot.

(FROM; OUR OWN ConiiKsroNUE^T.) WELLINGTON, October 28. Sir William Russell's chances for the Ilawke's May seat are said to lx> daily improving. Mr Dillon, tho present member, has not been a- conspicuous success in Parliament. WELLINGTON' SEATS. (Fp.osi Our Own Corhesponhbht.) Octobcr 28/ Matters are still <iuiet. in conneel.ioti with the general elcotion here, the candidates for the most, part contenting themselves with meetings in remote oorners of tho electorate.?. I went a round of the meetings lasl evening, but, failed to discover anything of a particularly exciting or even interesting nature. Mr Hislop addressed bis first ineoting. but has not yet pot into his stride, and bis effort was only a kind of preliminary canter. . Mr Fisher also is p;oiiift quietly. Both speakers had packed audiences, but the halls in which they spoke are small. Mr M'Laren. the Labour candidate, is speaking both day and night, and is -boinjf listened to attentively by fairly large audiences,

GREY. | (From Opr Own Correspondent.) c GREYMOUTH, October 28. * Tlio Hon. Mr (iiiinnos-s opened his eloc- ■ lion campaign last- night, and -received a j cordial reception. The greater part, of : hia speech consisted of a. ra-ital of his re-, cord, which hi' claimcd wtis a good one. He followed with a strong attack on the ■prcs?. and the local-journals in particular, his chief corn-plaint- in. this, respect bcinff tJiat- he was not reported as often as lie should like. However, ho dill not care, i for tho moro newspaper he had against i him the greater would bo his majority, I Mr Guinness explained at. lonpfth his posi- i tion as lipeakcr, whic.h, ho claimed, did not interfere with hi; duties as a member. lie announced thai- he would, not support the lmre majority at the local oplion poll. Referring to liis opponent, he remarked that the late, Hon. J. Kerr hnd always kvn chairman of his commitoe, while his son, ] who was now contesting the seat, had , always supported him tdl now, when ho was spreading a report that the. old member wa.-s not Rood enough to represent them any longer. That, however, was a question which -Mr Guinness would confidently let them settle on November 17. CimiSTCHURCII ,(NORTH. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CHIIISTCHUUCH, October 27. Tho Saturday Half-hoiiday League dc-os not intend, apparently, to lot Mr C. M. Qray forget its existence nor overlook the fact that tho' league has a quarrel with him. It is organising a public meeting, , at which his attitude on the question wii! be dealt with. October 28. 'Inr T. E. Taylor mndo an auspicious start in his campaign to-night. 'flic hall in which .lie spolio was packed with ftCO or 600 people, and quik> as many more were unable to gain admission, so tiio candidate addressed an overflow jnc-cting before beginning his spccch to tlw andicnco inside. He was, of courss rapturously received, but it is by no means safe to asm mo from tho size of his audience and his reception that his return is assured. There are largo numbers of people, inchtdmany Oppositionists who always go to hear him' apeak-, at. leasi: once, during the campaign, just for the sake of listening- to one of the best platform speakers in New Zealand. Mr Taylor drew largo- audiences whenever he spoke at tho last election, but that did not win him the scat-, mainly because Iho faithful, with whom admiration for Mr Taylor is almost a religion, came from, .-ili parts of Clirieli-hnrcli to hear him. His speech to-night was moderate in tone, j and so generally culogisl-io of tho Govern- j ' metr! that, as tho- Prtisj l-aaiarks, it makes I one almost think that there might be some- i thing in tho rumour that Mr Taylor was j quita ready to hecomo the Government ! candidate, if only they would hayo liadjrlm. ] Tin; Press makes another point oit Mr J Taylor's assertion that they should have i legislation to mako speculation in land impossible. Land being the- basis of tho people's existence, it should I.*? made legally Impcssihlo to -gamble in it. Mr Taylor, it. is well known, was the first man to Recognise the, advantage of living on tlio Cosltmoro Hills. H<> bought a (jootf area- of the land a number of years at;o, and is generally understood io have done very well out o! it, Iho land having in- i e.r.?a?cd enormously in. value. It is as j striking a ease of ' unearned increment" I m could be found in the' colony. The | Press therefore suggests that Mr Taylor j would not like* such legislation he proposes j to 1m retrospective. Speaking of tho j Arbitration Act, Mr Taylor said a ridi- j j cidous proposal had licen made by tho j I Attorney-gcnrral in regard lo a "needs" ar/1 "exertion" wage. Why, he asked, ! should not. lawyers have a "needs" and j '"exertion" wage? Tt was a propofal obviously mado -by a mail who had never livorl among tho workers, and who was taking a superficial viow from one point in connection with -the industrial problem. Regarding land settlement, a changed system as wonted. Instead of spending £6090 in settling each family on tho land they should deal with tho man of small moans who wanted a small piece of firstclass land. If they spent their next£l,ooo,ooo on small farms for small settlers the country would benefit by it from the point of view of production and general benefit to all industries. On the question of finance Mr Taylor said the Government was not to be blamed for the present, shortage ot money, nor for not advancing money to workers and settlers. He strongly approved of the decision of the Government to adopt the svslein of post-audit, contending that tho frystem oE ticcrccy connect-cd with tho expenditure of public money should be abolished. If the moliikcrs had always had access to the public accounts a great deal of the political turmoil which occur-rcd throe years ago would never have occurred. Too much money was derived from Customs. The surplus was slated to be £W9,0D0, but. did any of t-liem believe that they had this surplus. In 16 years they had spent £27,000,000 of borrowed money, and this had resulted in a number of prosperous years. The surplus would no: have been possible without this large expenditure of loan money. What bc-eanie of most of the surplus? It was taken from the masses of the people, through tho Customs, and was spent- almost entirely on roads ari bridges to create hind values for the comparatively small portion of the people who had land to bo appreciated by public works. Money spent in improving land value:? should lx> drawn from the land itee'.f. A reform was needed in public works expenditure. Parliament was endeavouring to do an impossible task. Except the member representing tho district, and perhaps the Minister in charge, no one knew whether a vote I was required, deserved, or useful. Ail local works should be carried out- ,-by a local authority, and the public work? administration decentralised. Tho present system was resiionsible for the unspeakable degradation of many niombors of Parliament. If tho people wanted a Parliament lo deal with national matters, parochial matters should bo attended to. by a parochial authority. In concluding, lie said the country had had from til'-' pre.-ent Ministry for three years first-class administration, and every Minister was allowed to run his own dcoartmems. He did not fool impelled to Income a joint in the tail of any .political party or leader. GERALD INK. In announcing his retirement from liis candidature for the Geraldino seat- Mr .1. 'i'oomey says:—"! regret exceedingly that I am forced to inform you that I am compelled very reluctantly lo retire from tho orosont election At 9.30 a.m. on Monday. 12th hist., l)r Crawshaw told me that if I undertook to speak the following Tuesday night- he would not be responsible for anything which might hitppen. This was a great- blow to me. as I Jmd not had a day's illness in my life, and I insisted on my friend, Dr Warren, being called in in consultation. Both doctors came at 2 p.m.. and as 1 had greatly improved they agreed to let me keep my appointment. About { an hour afterwards 1 received a letter which conveyed to me information of a very serious import. From -ibis 1 learned that a very determined eHuri to ruin my business was to be made, and after mature consideration I decided that I could not engage in any undertaking which would necessitate my absence Iron) home. For i this reason 1 am forced lo retire, as I must give mv undivided attention to my - business: but while doing so I wish to let ■ volt know that I am getting better, and . hone to be us well us ever soon,''

(JHRISTPHI/ltC'H KAST. (?aoa Our. Ow:; CoflmroxDrar.) chriptc:hi:r,cii. octoim- 27. Mr T. 11. Rivcy's snm-h last, niglil- wont ail tho Lx-'i!oi- for the hocldin;.; ho encoimtorod from n p>.*c - tion of tin l audience, who wore apparently Socialif.tu. Ho ha;; ;i blunt, forcible way of moctintr all iut'jrrnptiuiis. which goes down well willi tho crowd, and he generally iuanaijcil to scorc oil the

interrupters. Referring to his vote m favour -of remitting tho duty 011 (lour, iio sai<l that when the lull was being discussed the price of (lour went down, but as soon as the was passed the price wont, up again* 'lhe workers did not. -get. the increase, but they had to pay the £1 a. ton duty.—(A Voice: "You voted against the State flour mill.") Mr Davey: Ycb, I did, awl ftliall do so again. Speaking on labour matters, Mr Davey contended that where a union came before the Arbitration Court for tlhe first time the court should be compelled to give an award. What, was to .prevent the Arbitration Court, giving nn award in the farm labourers' dispute. Mr Justice Sim bad said that it would be inadvisable to make an award, as it might create ill-feeling between the workers and their employers. What court in tlie world would not give a. decision 'because it would create ill-feeling between tb P litigants? He regretted' to have to refer to the judge, or, rather, the court as no reply could bo made, but. it. was bis duty to make this reference. Ho also regretted that letters had l)ecn written asking that. Mr .1 usticg Sim be shifted from the bencJi. There was considerable interruption at this slago, a part-V of men at the back taking exception to that, advice not to "shift" Judge Sim. "We'll shift you!" came, a deep-voiced threat. "Shift me if you cm, but yon can't." Mr Davcy retorted. He -went on lo say, amid continued interruptions, that the unions which sent the letters only nailed Mr Justice Sim to the hendh more firmly, as no Government would dare to sllitt- a judge at the request of a disappointed litigant. AVON, (Fhou Obp. Own Corrf.spondint.) CHRISTOIIUTvCII, Oclolx* 27. Mr Jamiesou, the Opposition candidate for Avon, is improving bis position. He is (jctiinff good meetings, and if he fails to win it will not he for lack of indefatigable canvassing.

RICCARTON. (From Our Own Coßnr.sroNDKi.T.) CHPJSTCHTJBCH, October 27. Mr Slieat. is making good headway in Riccarton, and Mr Witty s return is by no means p s sure as his supporters could wish. TIMARU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CIIRISTCHimOII, October 27. Mr W. D. Campbell, who has taken (ho field as an Opposition candidate for Timaru against Mt Craigie (the Mayor), opened bis campaign most auspiciously last night. Tlie Theatre P.oyal v. as crowded, even the stage being e-o fully occupied that only standing room was left for the. candidate. The main feature.? of Mr Campbell's address •were his strong condemnation of the second I ballot from various points of view, and his i advocacy of proportional representation and [an elective tapper Honse. He- spoke very i strongly against tlie action of tlie Government in adopting superannuation schemes which wore not *elf-simportit;g. He also dcaii at romo length with the .famous "gag" clan™, awd in a very strong condemnation of if, he made reference to historical incidents to show liow iniquitous this clause rc-aily was. As a justification of his candidature Mr Campbell gave o little information concerning bis personal history, showiivs; that lie was indebted to tho State 'for his education. By means of scholarship.; lie had been able to pass through the high school and the un-iveieity. Those scholarships bad cost the State £320, and, capitalising that £uni at. 5 per cent., lis calculated that the State bad vested. £6100 in -him, and be considered it his duty to devote sue!) a-bili'ti-Kt as ho possessed to tho wsrvicc of the public in return for what, the pnbiio bad done for him. Mr Campbell spoke, vigorously for two hours, and then epent. half an hour in replying to questions. He was well -received, and bis j speech evidently mado an impression. | DUNEDIN WEST. | Mr J. IV. Munro addressed the electors ■ at tho Arthur Street School (iym.na?ium j last evening. There was a good audience, | whicih evinecd by its applause its appreeiai tion of -his i-emairkn. He commenced by referring io a lo'ler winch recently aippeGifd .staling Unit it,V was tony ho had come front Wellington to ccntot this scstt. As he had Dover b&jn in Vi'edJington in bis life, and bad- spent jiear.ly the -whole of .his life .in and about Dunedin, the com-.men-Is in the W,!or could only have fcwsi j iniendetl Ui misload t-ho electors. Mr M-uiu'o then (procf«l«l to explain the theory j of a State bank, to which die Labour party J was coninnttcd, and ho dca-lt briefly '.vilih the larnl qucst-iqn, pointing out the vital ! importance of tiiis subject, even to the city i dweller. The speaker added iha't, in spite j of' its appa,ic.utly extreme views, the Labour i party's platform \v;vs the on j which the Hon. .T. A. Millar ba<l been- first- ! returned, to Parliament. In reply to a | question as to -whether he was i-n favoirrof j tho bare ma-jo,rity on tho no-Hcen?e. vote, 1 Mr Mitnro replied that, as a dejiwerat, he endorsed majority .rule qn alii qucstiaaß, thong;h with regtw-d to the. liquor voi.o' -ho should prefer a- majority vote of the whole Dominion to decide the matter, If elected, .ho should most, certainly vote nil .favour of tlie bare majority for each electorate if tho proposal came More Parliament. DUNEDIN CENTRAL. Mr J. F. Arnold's committee mailings, held la< night, at Eellokncwes a.ndi Mornington, were eniinont.ly suecasful. Meinbera of both sexes were present;, awl all di.-playod an, earnest dctormiiia.tion to bring Mr Arnold's candidature -to a sueeessful issue. Several fresh canvassers wero appointed, and Mr Arnold in addressing the incietmgs again urged tlmt a,U pctsonal matters bo kept out of the contest, wliioh :he dcsrrcel should be fousui on nurc'ly political lines.

TAIBRI. I<£r .7. T. Johnson, candidate for Taieri, addressed the elcstoio of Hyde in tho schoolroom cn- Monday evening. There wss a good attendance, and lie was frequently applauded. in answering tho Farmers' Onion questions lie said he was not in favour of granting the freehold on goldfields or pastoral lands, but on all other lands would grant the option of -freehold or leasehold, the conditions being that the hind could not be sold except 10 tho Crown at its original valuation, plus improvemoniri. ]Ie also would consider all land rented as excess land, and would impose the maximum tax thereon, 'irrespective of area, giving (ho tenant the iirst rigid: of purchase, unless both tenant and landlord agreed to continue their relationship, when the tax would be suspended during the pleasure of the tenant. He opposed the nationalisation of I lie means of production, distribution, and exchange except in the case of farm produce. Mr Joluison received a hearty vote of thanks. Considering 'the slonny weather. Mr Johnson hud a fair audience at Middlemarch, and was accorded it hearty vole of thanks. • BRUCR.

It is rumoured at Middlcmareh '-hat Mr W. D. Mason may yet contest, the dcftion for the Bruec --rail for which lie was a camlidato in 1995. TUAPEKA. Mr Macpherson addressed a large and enthusiastic meeting o( electors ntOturehua on, Monday night. Ho was givon a cordial hearing, and ut the close of the address quoslions wore ansucrcd to t.he satisfaction of all prcnerit. The candidate was accorded a. vote of thanks and confident'?, tlio motion beinij doc-lured i-.trricil luianimcrusly by |be chairman, amid' great enthusiasm.

i)r Chappie was root by a- largo numlior of doctor.* at (Ircon Aallov on Tuesday niehl. Mr Hubert- JTathesou \ras voted t-o tho chair, and there wero'.i.boui 40 prosiMif. Tii<j greater interest was manifested in the speaker's remark.-, which hi-sied more than an hour ami a-half. lit* doull exhaustively with nniMeis of local mid general interest. and was applauded for his sirictures on I ho second ballot and for his oxplanation of his system for the mcdicnl inspection of country schools, its well as for his advocacy of Statu experiment in boriuy for artesian water. A vuto of thaiiKS and confidents was carried unanimously, on tho motion of Mr H. Bailey and Mr Pollock. CHALMERS. On Tuesday last Mr K. U. A lion visilcd Waikouaiti, and gave an address. Theio was a fair attendum I *' of clect-ois. including i-ovor.il ladies. In vlu> unavoidable absence of the Mayor Cr B. Irwin ouaipicd tho chair, anil spoke in very complimentary UTins in introducing t-iio cundidale. MiAllen. who was gicotixl v.jitli loud applause, expressed plrasuiv in again wooing ill? suf, traces of tin l Wuikouaili eloolors after a •soparalion of six years. Ho treasured highly the ilhtiiiinalocl u<Mror-. pro.scritMl t<> him when Waikouaili was severed from Chalmers, and he hoped to merit their conih'ence in the fmuro as be had done in Ih/> I pasl. Mr Allen llien gave an address. chieHy Ireuiin;; on ajirieuliural and oral mailers. as befiited his audieneo. and he i also (ja,vo Mine derailed particulars as lo j tho manner in which tho new <|;tiry rei;u'a--1 lions wore to be applied iylicu they cajut

into operation. A vote of thanks to Mr Allen for bis speech and of confidence in him as a fitting representative for the electorate. was curried unanimously amidst applause. ' MATAURA. On Tuesday afternoon (says the Maiaura Llisign), a deputation consisting of between 30 and 40 gentlemen, representative l i?™V ilataura , and Wyndham, waited oil Mr (J. J. Anderson with the object of inducing him lo contest, the Mataura seat. Willi lhe lion. Ti, M'Nab, Mr Ihos. Macliibbon (Mataura) introduced liie business, and Messrs A. TVango (Wyndham) and A. A. MacCibbon (Core) also spoke.'

Mr Anderson,_ in reply, said thai prrson.idy he would have preferred to have been excused, hut the requests had l;c;':i so numerous and insistent that he fell, he would ]>e churlish to continue to decline their overtures. lie would therefore enter the lists, and though the time was short bo would do his utmost, in the short period remaining at his disposal.

. Mr L. 11. Clark announces further meetings as under: — ICvansdale Hall on Friday, \iaikouaili Hall on Saturday, and Port Cnalmors on Mnndav.

Ml' J. P. Arnold announces that he will address the electors of Dunedin Central at- the Alhambra. Theatre to-morrow even-

Mr T. K. Sidey will address the electors at Cayersham Hall to-morrow evening. The St. Kilda Ladies' Committor' is invited to meet to-morrow afternoon.

The Hon. ,J. A. Millar's committee meet'.? on Tuc-sday evenings at the rooms, Robin's Buildings, Octagon. Mr R. Seott intimates an alteration in hi.< itinerary. He will now address meetings at lino's Junction on Friday. 6th prox., ul 8 p.m.; at Evan's Mat (noon), Dunltekl (3 p.m.), and Miller's Flat (8 p.m.), on Saturday. 7t.h; at Crookston, on Monday, 9lh, pros.; at Wciidon Valley (3 p.m.) and Hei'iot (8 p.m.) on -the 10th prow; at ICelso on the evening of'the Uth prow, and at Dnnrobin (3 p.m.) and Mc.a Flat (8 p.m.) on 12th prow The remainder of the programme is unaltered. TO-DAY'S MEETINGS. . Albany Street Hall.—Mr 0. M. Thom(•011. Caversbam. Ilall.—Mr P. It. Douglas. Port Chalmers.—-Mr W. Barr. Mrs Dormer's Room, North-East Valley. —Mr A. 1!. Barclay's committee. Russell Street Mission Hall.—Mr J. F. Arnold's committee. VVaitati.—Mr H. 11. Clark. licit h Valley School.—Mr A. R. Barclay. Mornington Council Chambers.—Mr ,1. M'Donald's oomrnitt.ee.

Lawrence (3.30 p.m.), Tuapeka Flat (6.30 p.m.), and Evan's Flat (8 p.m.).—Mr J. Allen. Hindon.—Mr .T. T. .Johnson. Waipori Falls,—Mr T. Mackenzie. Poclburn (3 p.m.) and Hough Ridge (8 p.m.).—Mr Pv. Scott. Green Valley;—Mr J. A. 'Macpherson. Ivokonga School (3 p.m.) and Waipiala (8 p.m.).—Dr Chappie.