GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 82, 20 November 1911, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THE TAURANGA SEAT. Rotorua, November 20. Mr. Clinkard, who started his campaign as a Liberal and no-license candidate for Tauranga, lias retired in favour of Mr. King. MR. MASSEY AT TIM ARIL Timaru, November 20. Mr. Massey addressed a meeting of from 1600 to 1800 people last night, and was listened to most attentively. He was frequently applauded, and turned the few hostile interjections to account. Some questions were asked and answered. A motion of thanks was proposed, with the addition “that a change of Government was necessary for the welfare of the country,” was carried by a large show of hands, rejecting the amendment for a vote of thanks only. The deputyMayor presided, and the Opposition candidates for Timaru, TemuJca, Waitaki, and Oamaru were on the platform. The meeting cheered Mr. Massey on his arrival and again at the close of the meeting.

MR HINE AT WHANGAMOMONA

A correspondent writes: Mr Hine, the Reform Party’s candidate for Stratford, addressed a packed meeting at Whangamomona on Friday evening last. The audience was made up by both farmers and working men, the chair being taken by Mr Coxhoad. The candidate spoke for a considerable time, dealing with the various gditical questions of the day. Mr inc touched lightly on Tariff Reform, stating amongst other things that he would take tile' duty off flour, and he also made reference to the immense sugar trust at present in operation in New Zealand. Dealing with the cooperative works, he said that whilst the principle might be all right, the administration was wrong. He stated that more modern machinery should be brought into use in the construction of 'these big works and tunnel making, emphasising at the same time that this modern machinery would not do away with the number of men, as the various works could lie spread over a larger area and possibly a larger number of men would be wanted. The effect of this machinery would bo that we would lessen the heavy work for the men, cheapen the cost of the formation, and the mileage of railways built would be considerably greater. At the close of the address a large number of questions were forthcoming, all of which wore answered readily. In reply to the question re cost of the Hine charges, Mr Hine quoted the official figures, viz., £549, and in reply to a further question as to whether that was the full cost, he stated that it was not, as he had his own costs to pay, and if Mr McKenzie stated that the charges had cost the country directly and indirectly some thousands of pounds that statement was incorrect. At the close bf the questions, Mr Stockwcll moved and Mr W. Bacon seconded a vote of thanks to the candidate N for his address. An amendment was moved as follows: That a vote of thanks be accorded Mr Hine for his address and that a vote of confidence in the Ward Administration be carried. Matters were now getting lively, but on the amendment being put to the meeting on a show of hands it was declared lost by 39 to 36, a great number of people refraining from voting. A vote of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close. Some few days ago the Hawera “Star’s-” Te Roti correspondent stated that at the conclusion of the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie’s meeting a vote of no-confidence in the Government was carried amidst cheers. This statement lias since, been entirely contradicted.

NOTES BY THE WAY. Mr. C. A. C Hardy’s can lidahiro lor Set v/n i- lum-i.al in sevc •,! r - speeds. Tie never lias a committee or a scrutineer. He declines votes of conlidence. In addition, ho never employs an election secretary, and attends personally to all correspondence.

Mr. John McLachlan, speaking at Ashburton, bluntly asked the reporters to put his speech in readable order. 'they have been doing <o l'( r politicians in this country for years—and not even a thank you, says the “Hutt and Potonc Chronicle.”

Mr J. B. Hine speaks at Taraiki to-night. Mr Dive, speaking at Eltham, made brief reference to the alteration o 1 the boundaries of the electorate, and expressed the hope that the northern portion would extend to Mr Hine the same loyal support as they gave him at the last election. Mr McCluggage will speak at the Kahouri Hall to-morrow evening.

A correspondent writes from Otakeho: “The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie had a splendid and enthusiastic meeting on Saturday night last. The chairman of the meeting told those present that he had been a Conservative for years past, ‘but,’ he said, ‘I am

not going to let this man go past; he is too valuable to our district.’ ” According to a Whangamomona correspondent, at Mr Hine’s meeting on Friday night Mr W. A. McCutchan queried the correctness of some of the figures quoted in Mr Hine’s speech. Tho candidate said if Mr McCutchan could prove the figures incorrect, ho (the candidate) would retire from the contest. The challenge was accepted.