GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 81, 18 November 1911, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THE LIBERAL LEADERSHIP

HON. MILLAR EXPLAINS

(Per Press Association.) Timaru, November 17

Hon. Millar has handed to the Press Association the following:—“My attention has been drawn to the telegraphed extract from an article appearing in last night’s issue of the Wellington Post, with reference to a statement made by myself in a speech in the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, concerning the leadership of the Liberal Party. How such a construction can ue placed upon my words as indicated in the article in question is beyond my comprehension, and far past my knowledge of the local facts which caused the statement; otherwise it would have known accurately to what I was referring. My object in making reference as I (lid to the subject was to deny publicly the report which is being insidiously circulated in Dunedin, my constituency, that there was no need to vote for me at the coming election, because 1 was to proceed to London after the election to take up the position of High Commissioner for New Zealand. In fact, this rumour had gone much further afield than my own electorate, and I took the first opporutnity of denying that I intended any such course of action. In thanking my constituents for loyalty to myself, extending over a long period of years, 1 stated that the natural ambition of every man in such circumstances was to occupy the highest position, and that if the opportunity occurred 1 would be pleased to submit myself to the Liberal Party for selection. I never dreamt ray remarks would be distorted in the direction of prophesying that Sir Joseph Ward intended relinquishing his position as leader of the Liberal Party. In fact, I know of nothing which has ever pointed or which at the present time points to such a direction. The Prime Minister has the confidence of his colleagues and the Party, and I feel certain the coming polls will show he has the confidence of the people.”

MR. MASSEY AT WINTON. REPLY TO THE PREMIER. Winton, November 17. Mr. Massey held a meeting at the Winton Skating Rink this evening. The building was crowded, 2000 being present, and a number was unable to gain admission. Mr. Massey met with a great reception, the crowd cheering for several minutes.. On rising to speak again he received an ovation. His speech was on similar lines to his speeches at Napier and elsewhere. The speech throughout was liberally interspersed with applause, and at >ts conclusion the cheering lasted several minutes. In answer to questions, he said he did not favour the removal of restrictions on letters to Tatter sail’s;' he would remedy grievances of railwaymen ; he ,was in favour of the reorganisation of the management of the Railways Department; if the cost,of living "kept going up at the present rate, 9s per day was little enough for a man to bring up a wife and family; he was not in favour of State control of the liquor traffic; every union now had power to cancel registration, if otherwise it would be an interference with the liberty of the subject; an attempt was made three years ago to form a coalition Ministry, and he was one of the men whose name was included.' —' i .*.’l

The following motion was carried by a large majority: That a vote of thanks be accorded Mr. Massey, and that this meeting is of opinion that the time has arrived when every effort, should be ma do to remove the Ward Government from office.

A big Ward following was present, but Mr. Afassey had the birgsr majority with him. Mr. Massey '‘as cheered,.'anti “He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” was sting. . , ,T®E NAPIER SEAT. Napier, November 17. Air. Vigor Brown, sitting member for Napier, opened his campaign last night, addressing a large meeting at Port Ahuriri. He strongly defended the Government policy, especially those features bettering the condition of the working classes. The i.acting, which largely represented the waterside workers and other branches of Labour, carried a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate and Government, and broke up with cheers for Mr. Brown.

Henry Hill, Chief Inspector of Schools, and Labour candidate for Napier, opened his campaign this evening, when he addressed a very large meeting of electors in the Theatre Royal. He wished the electors to understand that ho was under no promise to the Conservatives or the Liberals, but simply stood as the working man’s candidate. Air. Hill had an excellent hearing, and was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.

THE AVON SEAT. Christchurch, November 17. Air. J. D. Jamieson has announced his candidature for the Avon seat as an Oppositionist. RAILWAY FINANCE. AIR. AIILLAR EPLAINS. Wellington; November 18. The Hon. J. A. Millar desires the following correction to be made iu the report of his speecli wired from Dunedin on Wednesday:—“ln the report of my speech in that portion dealing with railways, I am made to say that the railways did not pay. I never made any such statement, and the reports in the ‘Otago Daily Times’ and ‘Star’ will verify this. I have repeated both in Parliament and in the country that the railways had now reached a paying point and the railways statement makes this very clear. What I did say was that if the railways did not pay any deficiency would have to be paid 'out of the Consolidated Fund. 1 shall be obliged if you will make the necessary correction.”

MR. McCLUGGAGE’S CAMPAIGN. A correspondent writes :—Last night Mr J. McCluggage addressed the electors in the Parish Hall, Inglewood. There was a very good audience over which the Mayor presided. On rising Mr McCluggage said his reason for speaking at Inglewood was that the Borough boundary of Inglewood was also the boundary of the Stratford electorate. He could therefore reach those electors living just outside the borough much more easily from Inglewood than from any other centre. .Air McCluggage strongly defended the Government policy and equally deprecated the Reform Party’s tactics in electioneering, saying that this party stopped at nothing to belittle the good work done by the Liberal Government. He read a circa ■ lar issued by .the Engincer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, previous to the Liberal Government coming into power. This circular had

been sent to all District Engineers in New Zealand giving instructions that the rate of pay in relief work was to lie -Is (id per day for a married man in the country and 3s 6d per day for a single man. Town work was to bo paid at the rate of 3s Od per day married men, single men Us tid per day. The candidate mentioned that at that time the farmer got Id per lb for his butter, and 2d per dozen tor Ids eggs. He for one/*did : not wish to see those times again in New Zealand. He went fully into the bogus dairy regulations, the five milion man, and the Mokau block case. The Reform Party, he stated, were always on tlie lookout for scandal, no matter of how petty a nature, so long as they could use it in some way to injure the Liberals. Mr McCluggage had if good hearing throughout and was frequently applauded. At the conclusion he was asked several questions which he answered satisfactorily. Un the motion of Mr .Todd, seconded by Mr James, Mr McCluggage was accorded a very hearty vote ot thanks for his address. Tne usual vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.

NOTES BY THE WAY. A Whangamomona correspondent states that last night Mr. J. li. Hihe had a very good meeting in the Whangamomona town Hall, Mr. A. Coxnead, sen., presiding. Mr. Hine’s speech (wliicn was on similar lines to loose already delivered) was attentively listened to, and frequently applauded, and at its conclusion a vote of thanks to the candidate was carried.

The “Wairarapa Daily Times” is disappointed with Mr. Hogg. ‘‘He does not like the Ministry” (says the paper), “but he likes Mr. Massey still less; and, reading between the lines, one can have no doubt that, if forced to vote in a no-confidence division, Mr Hogg would be found with the Government supporters.” “When I first, went up to Wellington,” said the Hon. T. Duncan, in a recent speech, “Parliament was mostly composed of men with capital. The traditions of the Old Country were inbred in them. The man of capital monopolised the land. When first I came to Oamaru and directly afterwards the best of it w r as scooped up by companies and capitalists. We had the New Zealand and Australian Land Company up to the northern boundary of Oamaru; Holmes quid Campbell on the southern, John Reid behind us with 32,000 acres, apd the Land; Company again at Totara with another large block. Sir John McKenzie and I and Sir William Steward and one or two others were tlfe first representatives of the working clashes and the working farmers.” ' ' The Wellington “Post,” referring to the difficulty raised bv the Wanganui Education Boo,rd as "to the schools as election polling booths, shys:—“From enquiries in official quarters, it is understood that" the practice of having schoolteachers acting as deputy-returning officers ,ip the one generally followed thropebout Australasia; Further, the New**#ealand law provides that schopls shall be available, free of charge, for polling booths on election day. Tlje Wanganui Education Board appeapj-i tti be tiio only one in New ;Zoalapd that has raised any objection tj> thb practice. At the present time * iHe responsible electoral officers at headquarters are doing everything ip ■thfiffi power to facilitate a sottlernepf pf'tbb difficulty. The practice of appoifitipk schoolteachers ;as deputy-returnixig officers is due to the fact that* ih tjio country districts persons suitable for carrying out these duties are , ex'tremely limited in number. The W«■'bganui Hoard'- has nmdo similar objections before, but the difficulty 'li&s been successfully overcome in an affiicable way, and it is hoped it will bo on this occasion.” i--“Are you in favour of abolishing barmaids Mr Bolton was asked last evening. “I hope he isn’t,” said the chairman, Mr M’Grath, as he pageed on the question' (Laughter,) “Dqefj my questioner suggest that they should be electrocuted?” queried Mr Bolton. “Oh, Christmas,” said ah elector. Air Bolton contented himself with stating that, under registration, barmaids were gradually abolishing themselves. ”

Nominations for the House of Representatives close at noon on November 27, ten days before the date of polling (December 7). Between nomination day and polling day seairten are authorised to vote at any New Zealand port at which their vessels may call. Absent voters are entitled to record their votes at any polling booth in New Zealand. Absent voters should see to it when, they vote that their permits are returned, so that they may use them, if necessary, in a second ballot. In cases where a second ballot takes place, absent voters' may exercise their votes at any post office in New Zealand. The ballot paper to be used at the coming election is that it will contain only the surnames of candidates, This is regarded as enhancing the simplicity of the ballot paper.