CANTERBURY CANDIDATES. CHRISTCHURCH, November 1.

Otago Witness, Issue 2695, 8 November 1905, Page 32

CANTERBURY CANDIDATES. CHRISTCHURCH, November 1.

Mr C. Lewis, member for Courtenay. and a oandidate for re-election, addressed a well-attended meeting of electors at Prebbleton to-night, and was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks. He reviewed the work of the session, explained the work done by the Opposition in amending proposed legislation introduced by the Government, criticised the Government's methods. aucL stated, that if the coloju. wanted an

Opposition it was no use sending only 20 men. If, say, 35 opposition members were returned, then there would be some sportHe believed that as a result of the election the strength of the Opposition would be considerably augmented, and the party thereby would be rendered more efficient. 1 Mr T. E. Taylor. M.H.R., 'a candidate for the North Christchurch seat, opened! the campaign this evening in the Canterbury Hall, which was packed in all parts. After reviewing the work of the session, he referred to the Government's system of ' audit, and said that before the voucher | inquiry he had thought the auditor had to check the morality of any transaction, ■ but he learnt that that was not so; he only had to check the formality. No ' relative of a Minister of the Crown, he urged, ought to be employed in the publio service during a Minister's term of office. He did not say anything improper had \ occurred, but there ought not to be any room left for such. It was found that the auditor could not tell the name of any person who received money from a voucher passed by him, although he could tell the department concerned. The auditor ought to know the name of the person for whom , the voucher was made out, and any representative public man ought to be able to go into the Treasury Department and obtain particulars of any voucher. He condemned the Laud Commission, and said the ! Government ought to have proposed a reasonable lease>,^of 33 years. No generation had a. right to tie up the lands of the State for a longer period. He defended his attitude in standing by his friend Mr Fisher over the voucher episode "when he believed him to be right. The New Liberals had nothing to apologise for, and would all be returned at the coming election. At the conclusion of the address the meeting passed a resolution thanking the • candidate, and pledging itself to assist in. j securing his return The dissentient I element made itself heard, however, when i the motion was put. 1 Mr C. A. C. Hardy, M.H.R., addressed the doctors of Selwyn at Rakaia last evening. Thsre was a capital afctenOanee, and Mr Hardy was followed with close attention throughout. At the conclusion the candidate was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Mr Hardy said he did not v want a vote of confidence ; he would leave that till polling day.