THE GENERAL ELECTION

Southland Times, Issue 16889, 14 November 1911, Page 7

THE GENERAL ELECTION

AWAKUA. A rumour has been circulated in Invercargill to the effect that Mr Morris has retired from the Awarua contest. Mr Morris desires to assure his friends and supporters that there is no foundation for any such statement. As a matter of fact he has made arrangements to deliver a final address in the Garrison Hall, Bluff, on Friday, Ist December; also at Winton, and AVaikiwi just before the election. Mr Morris visited Stewart Island last Wednesday. The time was too short between the arrival and departure of the boat for Mr Morris to deliver an address ; but he met and had a chat With the electors. On Thursday Mr Morris addressed a Very successful meeting in the Tisbury achoolhouse. About eighty were present, Including several ladies. Mr O'Neill Was in the chair. The candidate was Well .received and at the conclusion of the address was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, which was carried with acclamation. MR J. R. HAMILTON AT LOCHIEL. On Friday night, Mr J. R. Hamilton addressed a meeting at Lochiei, when, despite a downpour of rain and wintry conditions, between 200 and 300 electors Were present. Mr R. Watson was in the chair. Mr Hamilton’s address was somewhat on the lines of those delivered in other parts of the electorate as already reported, but in addition he replied to Sir Joseph Ward’s criticisms, with special reference to the expenditure OR certain public works votes in Awarua. In connection with these Government grants. Mr Hamilton said that Sir Joseph Ward had been invited nearly six Weeks ago to investigate them and had promised to do so. If he (Mr Hamilton) were given permission to examine the records of the Roads Department he would undertake to settle the matter in as many hours as it had taken Sir Joseph Ward weeks. With regard to Bir Joseph Ward’s contention that Mr Hamilton, as a member of: the County Council, should have let him know about these votes/as soon as they came under his notice, Mr Hamilton said that if it had. come to this that Sir Joseph Ward had found it necessary to receive advice from Mr Hamilton, then it was time that Sir Joseph Ward let Mr Hamilton represent Awarua. Mr Hamilton pointed out that until this year all public works money had been spent through another department over which the County Council had neither jurisdiction nor control, and he failed to see why he should be called upon to report on what was being done by. another public department. The candidate was frequently interrupted by applause, and at the close of his address a vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously by acclamation on the motion of Mr D. L. McLachlan seconded by Mr Irwin. WALLACE. ' ijast week Mr A. Carmichael held a series of successful meetings. On Saturday. 4th inst., he was at South Hi'l-ew-d, Air Thos. Hazlett took th& atmir. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried on the motion of Mr Dennis McCarthy, seconded by Mr Thomson Stuart. On the following Monday evening Mr Carmichael spoke at Dipton. Over the meeting Mr William Campbell presided, and a vote of thanks and confidence was carried at the Instance of Mr Jas. McDonald, sen., seconded by Mr Thos. Campbell. Hossburn was the scene of operations on the 7th, and there-the chairman was Mr H. Graham, While the vote of thanks and confidence carried was moved by Mr Dawson and seconded by Mr McAulay. On the 9th Mr Carmichael addressed the electors at Wrey’s-Bush, Mr Thomas Power presiding over the meeting. Mr John Curtein moved, and Mr P. Gailacher seconded, a vote of thanks to the candidate, and the meeting carried the proposal by acclamation. On the 10th the candidate visited Oplo, where Mr C. S. Stevens was his chairman, and he received a vote of thanks and confidence moved by Mr Wm. O’Dowd and seconded by Mr Thos. Cournane. On Saturday night Mr Carmichael spoke at Aparima. Mr A. Robson occupied the chair, and Mr Mulrhead moved a vote, of thanks and confidence. The motion was seconded by Mr Wm. Taylor and carried unanimously. The candidate was frequently applauded at all his meetings, and in all cases the motions in his favour were carried unanimously with hearty applause. MATAUSA. Election time is fast approaching and the various candidates are very busy addressing the constituents. Mr G. J. Anderson, the sitting member for Mataura, paid a visit to the Islington sawmill at Kamahi on the 6th Inst., and delivered a political address (believed to be the'first ever given at Kamahi). There was an attendance of about a score, and Mr H. A. Halliday was chairman. Mr Anderson was very pleased with the presence of a few ladles, and at the close of his address the chairman moved a vote of thanks to, and confidence In, Mr Anderson, which was acclaimed. Mr Mac Gibbon also addressed the electors on the same evening in the Public Hall at Morton Mains, where there was a good attendance, Mr A. J. Sheat In the chair. Mr Mac Gibbon was accorded a very good iiearing, and at the close received a vote of thanks on the motion of Mr T. McFadzlen, who stated that the ballot box was the place to show their confidence.—Own Correspondent. Mr G. J. Anderson addressed the electors on Saturday night at Waikaka Valley .school, when notwithstanding the wretched weather a large number attended. Mr Anderson laid the policy of those In Opposition - before the meeting and criticised the policy of the Government. Mr W. Waddell occupied the chair and at the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks and confidence was * carried ' on the motion of Messrs Cockburn, and D. Smith. No questions were put to the candidate. WAKATIPU. Last Thursday evening, 9th inst., Mr W. Fraser, member for Wakatipu, and one of the candidates for this electorate, addressed tiie electors in Balfour Public Hall, Mr D. Dickie presiding. The hall was crowded, there being 250 to 300 electors present. Mr Dickie, introducing Mr Fraser, said that Mr Fraser’s record spoke for him, and it was generally considered that he was on£ of the best members in the present Parliament. Mr Frarfcr, on rising to speak, was loudly cheered, and in a short review of his past went on to criticise the present Government's measures. He adversely criticised the general administration of the Ward Government, and said that some of the bills brought down were crudely thought out. among them being the different land bills. The Railway Department. he said, “was seething with discontent.” The present system of-granting loans to public bodies was a demoralising system. He would favour all grants to be handed over to the local body the County Council. They were tlio proper body to manage this matter. He criticised the finance of the country and the last Budget. Granting that wo have some good assets Interest bearing, he considered that the expenditure in running the Dominion was out of all proportion to the size of it and Us population. Ho treated the Farmers’ Co-operative Bank Bill gently, as well as the Land Settlement Bill of 1904. His handling of the State Bank BUI and the amendiV-nt to the Old xVge Pension BUI was received with laughter and continued cheers. There ■were a largo number of ladies present, and they seemed to fully enjoy his remarks on the Government’s amendment to the Old Age Pensions scheme. After an able address Mr Fraser resumed his seat amid loud cheers. QUESTIONS. To Mr Greig—He would support having workmen’s homes in country places such as Balfour, as it would benefit the workers and would help to save this floating population, which was detrimental to the prosperity of the colony. To Mr McLaren - He was in favour of compulsory training, it being, he thought, good for our young men. and a peace reserve force was necessary. To Mr Keown —He was in favour of the totalisator, but he thought the bookies were well out of court. The difference between the two forms of betting being, that the bookies ran after you and you ran after the tote. He had

supported the retention of the totalisator. To Mr Stewart —He was not against a judicious borrowing scheme to complete our public works, but as to Sir Joseph’s big borrowing scheme he thought it somewhat Utopian as he wondered where Sir Joseph could get all this money. To Mr Stewart —He was not in favour of the co-operative system of constructing railways, as he thought the system was demoralising in all its bearings. To Mr Greig—He would be in favour of the railway being used, or the tariff so reduced to aid settlers lying back from tlie markets, but lie could not see his way to differentiate between the poor man and the rich in the use of the railway. He believed in the railways for tlio whole not for any particular class. To Mr Greig—Ho did not know anything about the Friday morning train from Lumsdcn to Gore, but he was sure that the Minister for Railways would not continue to run it if it did not pa>. Mr Cowle proposed and Mr Walker seconded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Fraser as our member. Mr Stewart proposed as an amendment that Mr Fraser be tnanked for his address. The Chairman said that there were 12 hands held up for the amendment. The motion was carried with acclamation and prolonged cheers. —Own Correspondent. Mr James Horn concluded a weeks campaign in the southern portion of the Wakatipu electorate with an address at Waikaia on Saturday evening, some 200 electors being present. Mr E. Dennis introduced the candidate, who received a warm welcome from an audience which grew markedly enthusiastic as the evening wore on. Mr Horn s long experience on the goldfields of Cential Otago has given him so comprehensive a knowledge of all phases of the mining industry that he is an authority on such subjects, and this was readily recognised by the large number of practical miners who listened to him. His advocacy of a more forward policy in regard to the further development of .mining in practically untried areas was warmly applauded, as was also his appeal on behalf of the back-block settlers of the lakes and Upper Clutha districts. Mr John McKlssock, after a few questions had been put to the .candidate, proposed a motion of thanks and confidence, which was quickly seconded in half a dozen places. An amendment for a hearty vote of thanks only was proposed by Messrs W. Sligo and Jas. Handyside. On the amendment being put, only two hands were held up in support. For the motion fully threefourths rose in response to the chairman, who declared it carried practically unanimously, amidst a tumult of cheering and clapping. PALMERSTON NORTH. MR BUICK HITS HARD. PALMERSTON NORTH. Nov. 13. Mr Bulck, M.P., addressed a crowded meeting at the Opera House to-night, the Mayor presiding. In opening his electoral campaign and replying to Mr HaNaA, he said that If he (Mr Buick) did not do more in Parliament In the next ten years than Mr McNab had done in his thirteen and a-half he would be prepared to retire. Referring to the statement that Mr Massey had not been approached to join the Ministry, Mr Buick said he believed Mr Massey’s statement when he said that he was. He (Mr Buick) said that he hadn’t been,two months in Parliament when he was asked if he would join the Ministry—a coalition to keep down the working man. (Laughter.) He was approached by a supporter of the Government to ask if he would coalesce with the Government party to fight the Labour interest. (A Voice: "They were pulling your leg.”) 'He replied that he would rather ten times have a Labour administration than the present administration, for ho knew what Labour would do and he did not know what the present Government would do. Mr Buick criticised the Government in regard to the Macdonald case, Raratonga, and the employment of the Chief Justice, condemning 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 said ho wouldn’t object to fifty dreadnoughts if they were needed. Referring to Mokau, he said that Findlay and Dalziell had dominated everything: and there was a suspicion that Findlay and 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. ASHBURTON. ASHBURTON, November 13. Mr W. Nosworthy, M.P., Opposition candidate for Ashburton seat, opened his campaign to-night, when the Theatre Royal was comfortably filled. After setting forth his views of the necessity for an Opposition and for Party Government. and giving instances of the usefulness of Mr Massey’s followers to the country in' the past, he reviewed the Opposition platform, taking each plank in extenso, and criticising at the same time the Government’s policy or, as he preferred to call It, the Government’s lack of policy. He was always moderate in his condemnations, and at the close was warmly applauded and accorded the usual vote of thanks. OBEY. GREYMOUTH, November 13. Sir Arthur Guinness opened his campaign at Greymouth to-night before a large audience. He dealt at length with measures passed during the session and declared himself a staunch Liberal and follower of the present progressive Liberal party. He was accorded a splendid reception and a vote of thanks and confidence. TARANAKI. NEW PLYMOUTH, November 13. Mr H, J. H. Okey. sitting member and Reform Party candidate for Taranaki, addressed a big meeting of electors at New Plymouth to-night. In a speech lasting two hours, he reviewed the legislation of the past session and accused the Government of want of strength to carry on its policy in accordance with its traditions. He believed that the people of the Dominion were ripe for a change of Government, more particularly because of the failure of the Government to enunciate a satisfactory land policy. He believed in borrowing for public works, but he thought there was room for economy and better methods of expending the money borrowed. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried. MASTERTON. MASTERTON! November 13. Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., who has not yet quite recovered from a serious illness, opened his campaign to-night; when he addressed a crowded audience In the Town Hall and met with a good reception. He announced himself an independent candidate, and stated that he had lost confidence in the Government. He regarded the Opposition, however, as retrogressive. Ho strongly opposed compulsory training and advocated remission of duties on necessaries of life. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. A CLERICAL MANIFESTO. AUCKLAND. Nov. 13. A manifesto issued by the Auckland Ministers’ Association, dealing with the objects of the New Zealand Sports Protection League was read in all the Protestant Churches on Sunday. The manifesto states that the League Is fighting for the restitution of the bookmaker, the extension of the curse of the tolalisator and betting, and multiplication of racing days. The League, it is stated, would go even further, and extend tote permits to coursing matches. The manifesto adds : "Football, cricket, hockey, golf, and other amateur sports might easily follow in the extension.” An appeal is made to church people to vote only for parliamentary candidates who give definite satisfactory answers on the subjects of the abolition of betting and gambling, maintaining Sunday as the day of rest, and advocating the prohibition of prize fights. MR McNAB ON “MOKAU.” The following is the passage from Mr McNab’s speech at Palmerston (as reported in the Manawatu Daily Times): —Mr McNab dealt at length with the history of the 'Mokau transactions and Mr Massey's, Auckland charges. He traced the story down to the purchase of the leases by Mr Hermann Lewis,

who with the Natives, applied to the Government for an Order-in-Councll to enable him to purchase the Native interest. Finally Lewis sold to Mr Mason Chambers, of Hawke’s Bay, and then the speaker was asked by the agents to take shares in a company to buy the property from Mr Chambers. He quoted the innuendoes and statements in which Mr Massey inferred that it was a sort of family affair among Sir Jas. Carroll, Sir John Findlay, and himself, and Mr Massey’s statement as to their having purchased another 15.000 acres, making 70,000 acres. Mr Massey demanded an inquiry and proposed himself as one of tin; judges of .his own charges, but when it came to the Native Committee specially cjualitied to deal with Native affairs and including the Native members and lour members of the Opposition, Air Massey did a clever tiling. He had found out by this time that the awful McNab didn't purchase the land from the Natives at all, and that the man who purchased from Lewis was one of Mr Massey’s own best supporters and in partnership with two, a nephew of Sir William Russell and a man who had been a member of Parliament for the Opposition. It wasn’t McNab, but three of his own supporters! The whole position was dropped, and Mr Massey said the company had done nothing wrong. The “Dominion” had started to pitch into them till it found out that these men were its shareholders. Then it was all right. There was nothing wrong In it. Yet he (Mr McNab) was further off still—in a position once removed from these gentlemen. So Mr Massey abandoned all his Auckland charges, and simply submitted to the committee a formal statement which he (the speaker) could have agreed with except on three points, and those three points were unanimously thrown out by the committee, including Messrs Herries, Rhodes, and Dive in a report presented to the House by Mr Herries— (Applause and laughter.) Mr McNab then showed the difficulties that would have been in the way of the Government itself purchasing. If they thought he was going to make a fortune out of the company he was prepared to let them, Mr Massey included, have his tenth Interest for what he paid for his shares, plus 5 per cent. Interest.