THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XV, Issue 4088, 14 November 1911, Page 5

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

I MR BUICK’S CANDIDATURE. SOMETHING ABOUT COALITION. Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Palmerston North, Last Night. Mr Buick, M.P., addressed a crowded meeting at the Opera House to-night. The Mayor presided. In opening his election campaign, and replying to Mr McNab, the candidate said that it he did not do more in Parliament in the next 10 years than Mr McNab had done in his Idf he would be prepared to retire. Referring to the statement that Mr Massey had' been approached to join the Ministry, Mr Buick said he believed Mr Massey’s statement when he said he was. He (Mr Buick) said that he had not been two months in Parliament before he was asked if lie would join the Ministry—a coalition to keep down the working man. (Laughter). He was approached by a supporter of the Government, and asked If he would coalesce w’ith the Government party to fight the labour interests. (A voice: They were pulling your leg!) He replied that he would rather ten times have a Labour administration than the present administration, for he knew’ what labour would do, and he didn’t know what the present Government w’ould do. Mr Buick criticised the Government in regard to the Macdonald case, and the employment of the Chief Justice to go to Rarotonga, condemning the Judges receiving more than their salaries. “For God’s sake,” he pleaded, “let us have our judges pure.’’ He condemned the presentation of a Dreadnought by Sir Joseph 'Ward as bombastic hysteria; but he would not object to fifty Dreadnoughts if needed. Referring to the Mokau transaction, he said Messrs Findlay and Dalziell dominated everything, and there was a suspicion that Sir John Findlay and )sir James Carroll had ! worked a point. Mr Buick denounced the Budget as a “conglomerated mass of verbosity.” A vote of thanks and confidence was declared carried. THE LICENSING ISSUE. I At the conclusion of the, meeting I addressed by Mr Pearce (Opposition) at Haw’era, Mr Payne moved that, as Mr Pearce would not answer the question dealing with no-license, this meeting accords him a hearty vote of j thanks for his address, and a vote I of no-confidence respecting his atti- , tude on the licensing question. (Up-

Air T. R. Exley proposed that this meeting considers Air Pearce has answered every question fairly and straightforwardly, and accords him a vote of thanks and confidence. Air Exley’s motion was seconded and was received with loud and continued applause, apparently being agreed to by acclamation, and the chairman so declared it. A NOTE OF CONFIDENCE. “I was never more optimistic politically than I am to-night,” defier ed Air A. H. Herbert, an Oprositir n candidate for the Alasterton seat, in reply to the toast of his health at the dinner tendered by the citizens of Eketahnna borough and ooun*y to the Leader of the Opposition last night. He believed the electorate was going to break away from the thraldom that had held it for 21 years. A voice: “We have cut the tow-rope.” AIR SYKES’S CAAfPAIGN. Air G. R. Sykes will address the electors at Kaitawa on Wednesday of this week. JOTTINGS. There will be a greater change than usual in the personnel of Parliament after next general election, because no loss than seven members are not offering themselves for re-election. They are: Alessrs Dillon, Graham, Lawry, Parata, Phillips, Hail and Sir are Government supporters. William Steward. Six of the seven are Government supporters. , A large number of claims for enrolment have reached the Registrar of Electors in Alasterton since the closing of the main roll. The supplementary roll will probably contain between 2000 and 3000 names. Answering a question at Opunake, Mr Mackenzie said that personally he believed Mr Fowlds loft the Cabinet because he got tired of the work. AIR AIASSEY ENTERTAINED. The Leader of the Opposition was entertained at dinner by the citizens of F.ketalninr. borough and county last evening in Cripps" Commercial House. The Mayor of Eketahnna (Air E. Page) presided. The following was the toast list: — "The King, ' “Mr Massey” (proposed by Mr Page), “Trade and Commerce” (proposed by Air Matheson and responded to by the Cnairman of the Chamber if Commerce), Mr A. H. Herbert” (proposed by Air H. Griffiths) and “The Press.” (proposed by Air R. J. AleLean) In proposing the guest's health Mr Page paid a,, tribute to Mr Massey as being a man of great honesty of purpose, strength and courage.