The General Elections

Southland Times, Issue 17078, 29 October 1902, Page 2

The General Elections

[Per United Press Association. [ Dunedin, Oct. 28. Mr J. A. Millar. M.H.R., addressed the electors in tho Alhambra theatre this evening and was well received. Ho generally supported the] Government’s policy, but in the matter of borrowing he thought they should go easy. The colony could safely borrow at the rate of a million a year, but not beyond that. He advocated loan money being devoted to reproductive works; transfers from the Consolidated Fund being used for non-productive works. He thought tho defence expenditure should be reduced. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. Mr Alexander Marshall, a candidate for the Taieri seat, addressed a largely attended meeting at Mosgiel to-night. He announced himself as a strong Government supporter, and defended their financial policy. He received a vote of thanks ; not desiring confidence until the electors went to the ballot box.

Mr D. Stewart, a candidate for Clutha, addressed tho electors at Clinton last evening, speaking in support of the Government’s policy. He received a vote of thanks, not asking for one of confidence. Christchurch, Oct. 28.

At the Magistrate’s Court, Lyttelton, today, George Dunnond was charged, on the information of the Registrar of Electors, with having witnessed claims for enrolment by John McPherson and Matthew Reimie without having seen their signatures written. McPherson and Rennie both swore that they had not signed any claim. The former had been five days in Lyttelton, having come from Bruce County, and the latter had recently arrived from China. Tho defendant and the barman at the Mitre hotel swore that McPherson and Rennie came to the hotel, and, seeing the notice about enrolment in the bar, signed claims, which Dunnond witnei sed. McPherson and Rennie were, on the suggestion of the defendant, made to sign their names in court, and tho Bench, after comparison of the signatures, was satisfied that they were identical and that there was no case against Dunnond. The Registrar then withdrew the charge against Dunnond and proceeded against McPherson and Rennie for having made false declarations. He did not press for a heavy penalty, as the thing had been done in a publichouse, and the men might have been under the influence of liquor. The Bench imposed a fine of ss, with the alternative of 24 hours’ imprisonment. Hawera, Oct. 28.

Mr McGuire addressed the electors last evening. He strongly criticised the administration of the Government, and received a vote of thanks, stating that he would prefer the question of confidence to be decided at the ballot box. ' Timaru, Oct. 28.

Mr John Campbell, a candidate for Waitaki in opposition to Major Steward, spoke at Albury last night, and had a good reception. He declared himself a Liberal, but took exception to the present method of administration. Borrowing should bo discontinued except on a small scale and within the colony, and the expenditure should not be allowed to exceed the revenue. He favoured freehold land tenure, Bible-in-schools, abolition of the totalisator, and free secondary education. Having been a farmer all his life, he chimed to know,the farmers’ wants, in whose interests he stood. He received a vote of thanks.

Mr David Roche will not be a candidate for the Invercargill seat at the general elections.

Mr Beehan .retires from tlta Auckland city, and Mr b_>er from the Waikato electoral contest. Tlieminin roll for the Mataura electorate contuini 5094 names, as against 4341 three years ago. F Mr Atkinson illustrated the growing tyranny of the Government, how all the Constitutional safeguards are one after the other disappearing, how the Ministry is usurping the functions of Parliament and of the Judiciary, and removing all the checks on the exercise of an absolute and unbridled power. Parliament seemed unable to resi; t it, and it rested with the people to say whether this intolerable system should continue. It was really becoming a reversion to the days of the old despotic Kings of England. An < rder in-Uouncil now could do almost anything, and only last session he was instrumental in getting cut out of the Second hand Dealers Bid a clause enabling tho Minister to exempt any one he pleased from its provisions.

Mr Atkinson, says the Post, is an uncom promising opponent of the grievous evils which Mr Seddon and his sub.’ervient following have introduced into the public life of tho colony, but ha is an advanced Ridioal in his opinions, and as such strengthens the progressive element in tho ranks of the Opposition. He is a standing illustration of the truth, which is being realised more clearly overt’ day, that Libera'ism and progress are in no sense the monopoly of the Ministerialists. The people have been induced, by a belief that the Government alone is truly Liberal to ignore or even connive {it disastrous extravagance and corrupting tactics.

In his address at Wellington on Friday night, Mr Atkinson laid stress upon the reckless extravagance that ha 1 marked the administration of the country during recent years, the rapid and dangerous growth of the public debt, and tho deliberate removal under the Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill, of the statutory checks upon the financial profligacy of the The money that is being lavishly harrowed is largely used in a wholesale system of debauching consti uencios. He remarked on the fact that Mr Luke had said that ellington did not get anything from the Government because it returned Opposition members. A more abject confession f political profligacy was, he undertook to say, never made. Another candidate was going to reform the Liberal part}' from within - first get within the crocodile and then reform it. (;,aughter and applause.)

Side by side by this borrowing said Mr Atkinson, was reckless expenditure, which gave two things an air of real p>osperity, whereas the prosperity was really the result of borrowed money. To illustrate the personal extravagance of Ministers, he quoted from the annual report of the Post and Telegraph j Department as to the diffuse and expensive telegrams sent by the Government at the cost of the taxpayer, and said that no sane man could look on such reckless plunging as was now going on without alarm. (Hear, hear.)