THE POLITICAL BATTLE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12615, 18 November 1911, Page 3

THE POLITICAL BATTLE.

(Per Press Association.)

NAPIER., last night. Mr Henry Hill, Chief Inspector, ot Schools, ancl Labor candidate for Napier, opened his campaign this evening. when he addressed a very large meeting of electors in the Theatre Royal. He wished the electors to understand tlLit he was under no promise to the Conservatives or the Liberals, but simply stood as the working man's ... candidate. "Sir Hill had ail excellent hearing, ancl was accorded a unanimous vote ol thanks and confidence.

lIMAKU, last night. The.^on. J, A- .Millar lias handed to the Press "Association the following : I "My attention has been drawn to the telegraphed extract from an article appearing in. last. night's issue of the Wellington Post, ' -with -reference, to a statement made by myself- in a speech in the 'Garrison Hall at' Dunedin to-day, concerning,. the leadership of the Liberal party. How such a construction can be placed. upon my words as indicated in the, article in question is bej*ond my comprehension. Had the Post any knowledge of local facts which caused the. statement it would liave known*" accurately, to what I, M-as referring, and m-y object in-:- making- the reference that I did to the subject was to deny publicly a report which, was". .being insidiously circulated in Dunedin and. my constituency that there was no need to vote for me at the coming election because I was to proceed to London after the election and take up. the position of- High; Commissioner for New Zealand. In fact this rumor had gone much further afield than my electorate, and I took the first opportunity of denying it.; I intended my course of action to thank my constituents for their loyalty to myself over a, long period of years, . arid stated that the natural ambition of every man in such circumstances was to occupv the highest position, in the land, and tliat if the opportunity occurred. I would be nleased to submit myself to the Liberal party for election. I never dreamt how my remarks would bo distorted in the direction' of prophesying Sir Jos. Ward intended relinquishing the position as. leader of the "Liberal party. In fact I know nothing' which* has ever, or at the present time, pointed in isuch a direction. "Phe Prime Minister lias the confidence of his colleagues and party, and I feel certain that the coming polls will show that he has the confidence of the people." (Bpecial to the Herald.) DUNEDIN, this day. If enthusiasm counts for anything, it wpuld seem that Mr Bedford has, Phoenix like, sprung from the ashes of the past, and now soars towards the hill of. popularity j He addressed a great gathering in tlie Garrison Hall Jast night, and the enthusiasm eclipsed even that in the days when he was the whiter haired boy of the good folk of Dunedin. That was nine years a^o, when he topped the poll for combined Dunedin by an unparalleled majority, his" present rival, Mr Millar being second. Three years later his popularity waned, and he was* beaten badly by poor A. R*. Barclay, who has how withdrawn from the"., press of things. In succeeding years Mr Bedford, as he himself put it, "has married and learned better wisdom politically, and now he seems the idol of a certain section of the community, especially the womanfolk and "tor." liners." He made a good impression last night, and received an ovation.'' He opened in a vein of satirical confession of surprise that he was opposed to a prospective l'ii-ne Minister. He. then went on to analyse the case, for the Government as presented by Mr 'Millai;. If it was the best case, he wondered where the Government M-ould get support. The Government, he said, was characterised by political timidity and wasteful management. It was' huge with 20 years' patronage to emoluments of office, and . i.-nst fail. He ridiculed their alleged j ' r• . ressive policy, and asserted that Mh i the Ministry was in doubt or difficulty "•"'♦■'hey sheltered behind a Royal Cfdmmissirn,' which always recorded . a verdict hv..'*- for arid against, so that everybody w.-is satisfied. He* specially referred to the payment to the Chief Justice and Racing Commission as specific examples of extravagance. *- ; The pro posal to, give ..Ist bonus of £65,000 to asyndicate to" exploit the iron- deposits was denounced strongly. He said he possessed secret information about the marvellous wealth, of ; the deposits, and alleged that a syndicate was awaiting a bonus before starting operations. lie contended that the exploiting of such deposits should be nationalised, as well as all wealth God had put 'in the earth for the common benefit. He was particularly severe on the difference between Mr Millar's views as a member ana*- -those, as a Minister. He reckoned that , if he himself were in a similar position' lie- would follow Mr Fowlds' example and get out. In reply to innumerable questions, he said a Royal Commission . was se,t. up -now to inquire into the '-Ministry, and he "believed their report would- be to put the Government oh*; a well-greased' shoot, which * would take^.the'm ; right down ahd/out.* A r unariihipns '."■'vote ■of ' confidence 1 -was 1 passed amidst enthusiasm. .'.'.'■.