THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 25, Issue 40, 26 May 1914, Page 4

THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

MR ATMORE AT MATAURA. Mr Atmore, M.P. for Nelson, visited Mataura on Thursday at the invitation of the Liberal League, and was welcome on arrival by the Mayor and quite a crowd of citizens, reports the Colonist. After visiting the various local industries, he addressed one of the largest and most enthusiastic political meetings ever held in Mataura. Throughout bis whole discourse, which waa presided over by Mr Lowden, the Mayor, he waa subjected to a continuous round of applause. In fact, in such a supposed hotbed of Conservatism it waa astonishing how the public were carried away by his eloquence. Large numbers of residents came from considerable distances, notwithstanding the fact that it was a very stormy night. Mr Atmore made a great point, of | proving all his statements from Mr Massey's own documents. This greatly delighted his audience. He challenged the. Government to debate the points on this or any otner platform in New Zealand. In reply to a question by a Relorm farmer re the acqisilion of estate.-, Mr Atmore asked the questioner, as a practical farmer, if he couid take up a section in the local estates recently purchased by the Government, and was immediately answered with an emphatic “ No.” At the conclusion of bis address, which lasted 2% hours, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Aimore for his able address, and confidence in the Liberal Party, under the leadership of Sir Joseph Ward, was carried unanimously without one dissentient. Cheers for Mr Atmore and Sir Joseph Ward were called for again and again. Mr Atmore was immediately after inundated nrilh congratulations. The audience was loath to disperse. > After the meeting Mr Atmore was entertained by his Liberal friends and the toasts “The King,” and “ The New Zealand Parliament” were drunk, and were ably replied to by Mr Atmore.

Mr 11. Atraore delivered a, political speech at Wiuton on the following night Though the night was cold the Rink HaJl was crowded and the speaker received an excellent hearing. The fallowin'.,' motion was carried by an overwhelming majority: ‘‘That this meeting thanks Mr Atrnore for his most able address, and expresses its utmost confidence in the Liberal Party, and that it is in the interest of the country that the Liberals should be returned to power at the forthcoming election, with Sir Joseph Ward, member for Awarua. at the head.” The meeting closed with cheers for the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr Berries in the course of his recent Nelson speech was very definite on the question of large estates. The Government, he, said, stood for the small freeholder, the settlement of the land in small areas, and with the farmer his own landlord. If the graduated land tax was not sufficient to burst up the large estates, it would.be increased. The Government was determined to bring about the closer settlement of the large estates. If the Opposition was so earnest in its desire to burst up the large estates, Mr Merries very naturally wanted to know why it had not done so in any of the twenty-one years it was in power? Cer'ainly these large estates would not exist after twenty-one years of Reform Government rule.

Sir Joseph Ward, in his speech at Napier on Monday evening, expressed bis opinion that the Liberals would be in power next December. Continuing, he said ; “ We do not want office unless we can obtain it in a proper way. And what is more; we Jo not want office unless we have a majority of the people behind us. There can be no sate and sound Government carried on in a young country such as this unless the people are unmistakably behind the Government that is in power - ”

Mr 6 M. Thomson addressed a meeting of his constituents at' Dunedin on Friday. He spoke in support of the party system and said that the action of the Government in connection with the strike had his support. A vote of thanks and confidence in him and in the Massey Government was carried by a large majority against an amendment of thanks only.

Mr Robert JBletcher, chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board is announced to /contest Wellington Central in the Liberal interest with the Hon. Mr Fisher.