GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 79, 15 November 1911, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

MR HOGG AT MASTERTON. (Per Press Association } Mastortcn, November 13. Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., who has not yet quite recovered from a serious illness, opened his campaign tonight, when he addressed a crowded audience in the Town Hall and met with a good reception. Ho announced himself as 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 the remission of duties on necessaries of life. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.

MU MASSEY ON TOUK. Eketahuna, November Id. Mr Massey addressed a meeting of about (iUO people in Eketahuna tonight and had a very enthusiastic reception., He claimed his to be the only party that had a platform before the country at the present time. ’Hie Government had no platform and no more backbone than an oyster, or a phonograph that would play any political tune.

Referring to the live million loan, Mr Massey said that the details were not yet available, but some of the items of the cost were known. There was £50,000 to the underwriters (30s per cent, discount), or on the whole loan, £75.000. These two items made £125,000, and with other items and concessions brought the cost of the loan in Mr Massey’s opinion to £300,000. Referring to the Mokau case, Mr Massey said that the Government should have purchased the block. There was a provision that the leasehold interest could be taken at valuation. It was one of the worst transactions that ever took place in the history of the country. Dealing with the system of voting public money. Mr Massey said one man in his (Mr Massey’s) eLctoraK went over his head and over the head of the Minister for Public Works to the Prime Minister, and the money

was placed on the Estimates. No money should he placed on the Estimates on the application or approval of the local bodies. It was resolved, “That a hearty vote of (blanks he accorded Air Massey for Ids able and lucid address and that this meeting is of opinion that in tlie interests of the Dominion the time has- now arrived for a change of Government.” There was only one dissentient voice and the meeting concluded with vigorous cheers for Mr Massey and singing “For he’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”

Napier, November 14. Air AV. F. Massey arrived in Napier by the main train to-night, and subsequently addressed a very large meeting of electors in the Theatre Royal, some being unable to gain admittance. Air Alassey spoke for nearly two hours on the lines of his addresses in other centres, and had an excellent hearing. At the conclusion lie was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. He leaves to-morrow for the smith, and speaks at Winton on Friday night.

THE ASHBURTON SEAT. Ashburton, November 13. Air AV. Noseworthy, Ai.P., the Opposition candidate for the Ashburton seat, opened his campaign to-night, when the Theatre Royal was comfortably filled. After setting forth the necessity for an Opposition and for party Government and giving instances of the usefulness of Air 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 Lick of policy. He was always, moderate in his condemnations and at the close was warmly applauded and accorded the usual vote of thanks.

THE MANAWATU SEAT. Palmerston N., November 13. Mr Bnick,'M.P., addressed a crowded meeting at the Opera House tonight, the Mayor presiding. In opening his electoral campaign and replying to Mr McNab, lie remarked that if lie (Mr Bnick) did not do more in Parliament in the next ten years than Mr McNab had done in his thirteen and a-half he would bo prepared to retire. Referring to the statement that Mr Massey had not been approached to join the Ministry, Mr Bnick said that ho believed Mr Massey’s statement when ho said he was. He (Mr Bnick) said that, ho hadn’t been two months in Parliament when bo was asked if lie would join the Ministry in coalition to keep down the working man. (Laughter.) lie was approached by ai supporter of the Government to ask if he would coalesce with the Government party to fight the Labour interests. (Voice: They were pulling your leg!) He replied that lie would rather ten times have a Labour Administration than the present Administration, for be didn’t know what the present Government would do. He criticised the Government over the Macdonald •ase at Rarotonga and the employment of the Chief Justice, condemning the principle of judges receiving 'more than their salaries. '“For God’s ■sake,” lie plyeaded, “let us have our judges pure.” He condemned the [presentation of a Dread nought by Sir ‘Joseph Ward as bombastic 'hysteria, but would not object to" fifty Dreadnoughts if they were needed. Referring to the Mokau case, be said Sir J. G. Findlay and Mr Dalziell dominated everything, and there was a suspicion that some people had worked a point. Mr Bnick denounced the Budget a.s a conglomerated mass of verbosity. A vote of thanks and confidence was declared carried. MR HTNE’S CAMPAIGN.

;; Mr tUgs.qiddressecl about 40 electors at Stanley Hoad on Saturday night, when lie had a real good meeting. His remarks were greeted with frequent applause,, and at the close of in interesting address* Mr J Weller moved, and Mr Guppy seconded, that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded Mr Hind; with renewed confidence in aim as their member. On being put oo the meeting, the motion was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman, Mr W. Saywoll, brought a most successful meeting to a close.

Mr Hine will speak at Ngacre tolight. ' A correspondent writes : —The last two days nave been very busy ones for Mr. Hine, four meetings having been hold on Monday and Tuesday. At Tututawa on Monday at midday a' meeting was held, and although the hour was an awkward one, over thirty settlors turned out to hear Mr. Hine’s views, hi- his remarks, the speaker criticised the administration of the Government, and placed the Reform Party's views before his hearers. At the conclusion of Ids address Mr. Hine received a vote of thanks and renewed confidence, and a vote of thanks to the chair concluded a most successful meeting. At 8 o’clock the same evening Mr. Hine held a meeting at Punewhakau, and, despite the fact that the elements were against it, a goodly number of settlers attended the meeting, when the speaker dealt with the political questions of the day, as on previous occasions. Here, also, Mr. Hine received a vote of thanks and renewed confidence, and at Makahn on Tuesday at midday a large number of settlers turned out to hear the candidate. A vote of thanks and confidence was moved, and an amendment of thanks only lapsed for the want of a seconder, and the original motion was carried by a large majority. The weather last night was very much against political meetings, but in spite of this, an audience of over sixty ladies and gentlemen attended the Strathmore Hall, a few coming from Te Went. At the conclusion of an able address a number of questions were asked, after which Mr. M. O’Neill moved a vote of thanks to Mr Hine for his address. Mr. Higgins offered as an amendment a vote of thanks to Mr. Hine but a vote of noconfidence in the Reform Party, but tliis amendment also lapsed for the want of a seconder. A further amendment of “thanks and confidence” was finally carried by a big majority.

MR .MACKENZIE’S CAMPAIGN. The Hon. T. Mackenzie's Omona meeting ’»\':: s most successful (a correspondent writer.i, and at its close the chairman, Mr McWilliams, addressed the meeting, and said that those present had been privileged to listen to the speech of a statesman. It was a speech that was calculated to raise hearers to a higher level of thought and patriotism by reason of the manner in which the different questions of the day had been dealt with. It took them into a region of thought to which they*did not often gain access. It was .especially valuable at the present time, as it went largely into the manner of improving conditions of cultivation, and the transit, distribution, and marketing of produce. Continuing, Mr McWilliams said he had observed, too, with satisfaction the entire absence of personalities—an innovation which was ap-

predated and which had not always been the case in previous elections. Air S. King, in moving a hearty■ vote of thanks to the speaker, said Air Alaekenme was the type of man the electors had been looking for. -. The motion was carried with acclamation.

AIR. AIcCLUGGAGE’S CAMPAIGN. A correspondent writes:—Mr J. AlcG lug gage addressed the electors at Kaimuta on Monday evening. Air Lopper was voted to the chair. Although a rough night, there was; a very fair audience. The candidate received a good hearing and at the conclusion of his address was asked several questions which wore satisfactorily answered. He received a vote of thanks for his instructive address, and a vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting. , On Tuesday evening Mr • AlcCluggage addressed a large meeting in the \Vaitui sehonlhouse, the building being Idled. Air L. Sattlcr was Voted to tlio chair. Mr McCluggage touched on the Alokau scandal, and said he was sure the very best tiling for all concerned in this "block had been done. He mentioned that the Reform Party never stated that tiiis block is to bo suitably cut up in areas to comply with tiio Act. The syndicate must road the block within three years, otherwise they forfeit their interest therein. The candidate also dwelt on the capital made by the Reform Party on the eve of the General Elections over the dairy regulations, and further, speaking on the noxious weeds question, said lie would urge the Government going in for scientific investigations as to the best methods of eradicating blackberry. This weed Is getting out of control in some parts or Central Taranaki, and it had got beyond the local bodies to successfully cope with the pest. He thought the Government should experiment in a practical way, to find some means of killing tins pest. He would support any measure in this direction, as tin’s question should be a national one, because it is almost impossible for a farmer to clear his farm if once blackberry gets a good hold, and nothing but science can cope with this pest. If returned to the House he would use his best endeavours to get tiie Government to take the matter up. At the condition, Air AlcCluggage was warmly applauded, and several questions were asked and answered. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the candidate, the usual thanks to tlio chair terminating the meeting.

NuTES BY THE WAY. “Now Zealand has an education system that is not equalled by any country in the world,” said Mr Barber during his address at Brooklyn last evening. “Oh!” said a listening elector. “You can’t give me any other country that has as good a system as we have here,” asserted Mr Barber. “What about America?” asked another member of the audience. Mr Barber, however, did nOt deal with America, but proceeded to dilate upon the merits of the New Zealand educational system. t.

Commenting on Mr McNab, thocandidate, the “Ekotalmna Express” says:—“His further statement-(as reported) that he was prepared to submit a referendum to the people as to whether they will agree that no land is to bo sold will hardly be accepted 1 with equanimity on the part of those on the land. It would mean that the people in the cities would have the power of decreeing a state practically of slavery to lie applied to the farming community. It seems quite conceivable that under a continued Liberal regime this might come aboiit. I for -one— object jo- the system whereby the lays by which I am governed are manufactured to some extent by the nominees of the Government, and not the elect of the people. Many of the Legislative Councillors have no claim to distinction other than that they sing the same tune as Sir Josenh Ward.”—Mr W. H. D. Bell, at Newlands; /.fg'; f

Under the heading “From the Elecddrates” the “N.Z, Times’Usays n-k. Mr P. O’Doa, the Liberal candidate for the Patea seat, is, meeting with • great success at his meetings.;,*. ■. . That the Opposition will losq "this seat is practically certain. At the northern end a part of the electorate which gave a Conservative majority has been cut out and a large part of the Wanganui electorate, including Aramoho and Mosstown, has been iri r eluded. Nearly a thousand names have been transferred from the Wanganui roll to the Patea roll, and as this part of Wanganui has always been strongly Liberal, the Liberal Party’s chances are correspondingly greater.

THE NEW VOTING PAPERS. AN ALL-ROUND IMPROVEMENT. At the coming general election' a now style of voting paper will lie used, designed so as to provide further security for secrecy, and to simplify, if it is possible, the recording of a vote. Previously the roll number of every voter lias been written on one corner of tbe voting •paper, and this corner has been turned down and gummed, so that the number was hidden. It was deemed necessary to have the number recorded in some way on each paper, so that, in the event of duplicate voting or personation, the returning officer could ide.nr tify any paper that ought to he disallowed, hut some people, when they saw their number marked on their ballot papers could not dispel the fear that someone might discover how they voted. The new ballot paper will not hear the elector’s roll number* at all hut it. will bear a number which will afford a less direct means of ascertaining the identity in cases where it may he necessary to do so. The voting papers will have a counterfoil, from which each one will be torn, and they will lie made up in blocks of twenty-five or fifty each. The counterfoil will contain the elector’s roll number, hut the voting paper itself will hear onlv a consecutive number, which will also ho minted on the counterfoil. There will he a device stamped across the perforation which separates the ballot paper) from the butt, and this ivill show at what booth the vote was recorded. The advantage of this feature is that if complaint is made as to the nolling at any particular booth, it will not ho necessary to examine any of the ballot papers from other booths. The stamp is also regarded as a precaution against bogus voting papers, because on cverv true ballot paper the two parts of the stamp must exactly fit each other. The .new system was ■used at the Christchurch North byHection. and it is stated that it gave every satisfaction. Another innovation consists in tbp fact that the yofm- will have to strike out the names of the candidates for whom he does not wish to vote, instead of putting a cross opposite the name of the candidate he selects.