GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 66, 1 November 1911, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

MR FOWLDS AT AUCKLAND

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, October 31. Mr Geo. Fowlds addressed the eleo | tors of Grey Lynn to-night. Therb i was a large meeting, and he received [an excellent;reception. Mr Fowlds | referred to his resignation, which was j caused principally by his desire to I hare a freer hand and thereby give* : a iilip to the reform forces of the j Dominion. If lie had believed that j his resignation could have resulted in ! the returning of a majority of memI:;.ts willing to follow" Mr Massey ho should have felt it his duty to remain where he was. After quoting figures, Mr Fowlds said lie believed he made out a convincing case for the first plank in his political platform, namely, an increase of one penny in the pound on improved land values. If the Liberal Party I wore true to itself it would abolish the absurdity of minority rule on the liquor question. As a private member he had always stood by the democratic principle of bare majority. As a Cabinet Minister he was compelled to stand by the policy of the Government. Me formerly acquiesced in the three-fifths majority without much protest, believing that it gave a certain amount of permanency to temperance reform when no-license was carried in any district. Another source of degration almost as deadly as the liquor traffic was the existence of slums and insanitary dwellings. Immediate action ought to be taken by alleged authorities to ensure the elimination as soon as possible of any slum condition which had already developed in their districts, and to prevent a. recurrence of these conditions in the future. The adoption of the proportional representation system was recommended by the speaker, who then dealt with the Legislative Council and local government reform. In conclusion, Mr Fowlds said : "The people of New Zealand have a splendid opportunity to strike a blow for freedom and justice; and I call upon you to rise in your might and help to herald the dawn of a new day of human emancipation. If you respond, your children's children will rise up and call you blessed; you will earn the gratitude and blessing of the children of the slums and gutters of every hind." ME HINE'S CAMPAIGN. Many Very kindly references to Mr 3. B. Hine's recent illness have been made, and we are glad to be able to state that lie is so far recovered as to announce an address in the Town Hall for next Friday. Mr Joseph McCluggage, who is contesting the seat with Mr Hine, forwarded a sympathetic telegram, which Mr Hine suitably acknowledged. The Wellington "Dominion" referring to the matter, says:—"The reported illness of Mr Hine, member for Stratford, is likely to interfere with the opening of his election campaign, and as the boundaries of his electorate have been materially altered since the last election the delay may make it difficult for him to cover the whole of the ground in the time available. This will moan that his supporters will require to bestir themselves energetically to make up for the lost time. Mr Mine's breakdown in health is not altogether surprising. 'No member is more attentive to his Parliamentary chities than the member for Stratford. Re is one of the few members tvho can be relied on to be in his place in the Houso at all hours, and it is no doubt to his constant attendance during the long sittings which have marked the close of the session just ended that his breakdown in health is due. It is really remarkable that, working as they do in an ill-ventilated Chamber, and at such outrageous hours, the list• of-casualties amongst members, large as, it is, is not larger."

Mr'; Hii'ie's health has improved greatly;;since his. arrival home, and im.now''-finds it possible to deliver an address this week, being advertised ' to, speak at the Town Hall on Friday evening. Meetings for every night next week in the northern part of the electorate are advertised in this issue. THE EGMONT SEAT. A correspondent writes:/—"Thero was a packed house to greet the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie at Kaponga on Mon.day evening. The candidate met with an enthusiastic reception, and was accorded a vote of thanks, one of thanks and confidence being declined by the Minister, who said ho preferred that the confidence could come afterwards." MR. JOSEPH McCLUCGAGE AT SALISBURY ROAD. (From a Correspondent.) The vote last election in this locality was very hostile to the Liberal candidates, so much so that when Mr Joseph McCluggage faced a large audience in the school last night to place before the electors his policy as the Government candidate, he little knew the great change in political feeling that, in common with many other centres in the electorate, has taken place. Mr William Hatha way, J.P., was voted to the chair, and, in introducing the candidate, stated that he knew Mr McCluggage for many years as a good settler and asked a patient hearing for him. Mr McCluggage spoke on.the same lines as at previous Meetings, and referred specially to an Act which the Government had placed on the Statute Book this last session. This was the Widows' Pension Act. He explained how, under this Act, widows who we're .left in indigent circumstances and with little children could now draw a pension from the State. Our country, said Mr McCluggage, was the first country in the world to recognise the claims of the old and feeble of our land by the adoption of the Old-age Pensions Act, and the Government, in extending their humanitarian legislation further to include the widows and fatherless little ones should receive the warm-hearted support of everyone. At the conclusion of Mr McCluggage's address Mr J. Bloxham moved and Mr William Skedgwell seconded, that a hearty vote of thanks be given to Mr McCluggage. An amendment, moved by Mr J. Groshinski and seconded by Mr George Parkes, that a vote of thanks be given to Mr Mcj Cluggage and and of confidence in I the present Government, on being put I to the meeting, was carried by a large majority. ' A rote of thanks to the chair concluded a very successful meeting.