GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 84, 22 November 1911, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THE PREMIER’S MOVEMENTS. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, November 21. Sir Joseph Ward arrived from tho south this evening, and, after spending three hours disposing of departmental work, left by the Alain 'lmnk express for Taumarunui. To-morrow morning lie is to open a new bridge at Taumarunui, and in tho afternoon lie is to turn the first sod of the branch railway from To Koura to Whangamomoua and Stratford. In the evening lie will deliver an address at Taumarunui, after which lie is to be bang netted by residents, leaving immediately afterwards by train for Pukekohe. * On Thursday morning he will be at Pukekohe, and in tiie afternoon proceeds to Patumahoe and Waiuku, and will speak at the latter place on Thursday evening. Friday and Saturday will lie spent hi Auckland district. * On Sunday Sir Joseph leaves Onehunga by Rarawa for New Plymouth. On Monday afternoon he will deliver a short address at Normanby, and will speak at Hawera in the evening. In the afternoon ho is to lay the foundation stone of the new district high school at Stratford, and he is also to speak at Inglewood. The Prime Minister returns to Wellington probably on Wednesday next.

Palmerston N., November 21. . The” Premier was accorded a hearty reception by a large gathering at the railway station to-day, being cheered coming and going. He said the Government would not only hold its own in the South, but also win seats from the Opposition. He condemned certain southern Press Association agents, who had discounted his speeches and receptions, while trying to uplift those of Mr Massey, referring especially to Mr Massey’s* Winton meeting, where hundreds wore brought from outside tho electorate to swell the meeting.

MR MASSEY’S MOVEMENTS. AVellington, November 21. Mr AV. F. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) arrives from the south tomorrow, and leaves by the Main Trunk for Palmerston North, at which town ho will deliver an address to-morrow evening. Christchurch, November 21. Mr Massey passed through Christchurch this evening. Though suffering from a bad cold, lie said lie confidently expected he will have recovered sufficiently to give his promised address in Palmerston North to-morrow evening. DUNEDIN CENTRAL. Dunedin, November 21. Mr J. F. Arnold, retiring member for Dunedin Central, addressed the electors at, Mornington to-night. He received a vote of thanks. THE TIMARU SEAT. ... Timaru, November 21. Mr'Jas. Craigic gave his first address; to the electors of Timaru tonight. There were probably' 800 or ,900 people present. Tie favoured the ’bare majority on all issues; ias a good democratic principle, and. favoured an elective executive to' minimise the party! system! 1 He 'received a vdte of. tmmks. i ' . , ■ 'k . i-:.m ■)' - !

MR HERRIES AT ROTORUA. Rotorua, November 21. Mr Herries delivered an address to a crowded and enthusiastic audience to-night. He accused the Government of vacillation and asked who was the friend of the “fat man” over the Mokau case—the Government, which granted an Order-in-Council, or the Opposition, which exposed the transaction.' ; Hc : ‘accused the''Government of 1 unnecessarily increasing taxation, seating that the extra expenditure estimated in 1909 had fallen £IIB,OOO below the amount raised. Ho elaborated the points made in the platform of the Party, outlined by Mr ’ Massey in Wellington some months ago, as regards native lands, saying the Maori should lie on the same footing as the European.

THE INVERCARGILL SEAT. Invercargill, November 21. Mr Fleming, Opposition candidate for Invercargill, addressed bis first meeting to-night. There wore about MOO in the audience. Ho adhered in toto to the Reform Party’s platform, and received a vote oi thanks and confidence. SIR JOSEPH AVARD AT TAIHAPE. Taihape, November 21. The Premier was accorded a most enthusiastic reception here last night, a large crowd meeting him on the platform. Replying to the Mayor’s welcome and good wishes, Sir Joseph Ward referred to the excellent reception he had met with throughout the Dominion, adding that the prospects of his party were never brighter than now.

MR. BINE’S CAMPAIGN. (From a Correspondent.) Mr. Hine is covering a good deal of. ground in his campaign, and is now holding two meetings practically every day, and although midday meetings cannot be expected to be as successful as those held at night, Mr. Hin.c’s day meetings are being well attended. At Denbigh Road on Monday afternoon a good number of farmers attended the school, to hear Mr. Hine place his political views before them. The speaker, as on previous occasions, placed the Reform Party’s platform before liis hearers, and severely criticised the administration of the Government. He received an attentive hearing, and at the close of his address was accorded a vote of thanks, and also a vote of renewed confidence in him as their member. Although the weather was far from fine yesterday afternoon, about thirty electors attended the school at York Road, including several ladies, to hear Mr. Hine’s address. Mr. Hine thanked those present for turning out at such an awkward hour and on such a disagreeable day, and then dealt with the various Acts brought down by the Government, and the wasteful expenditure of public money. The sneaker also gave the history of the Mokau case, showing where the Government had failed in tlieir duty to settlers of New Zealand by allowing this large block of land to pass into the hands of speculators, who, between thorn, hod already made a nrofit of about £50,000, and Mr. Fine stated that the settlers would have to nay the company this profit, whereas if the Government hod acquired the land, the settler could be pat on at a very much less cost. The candidate received a most attentive hearing throughout bis address, and at the close was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for bis address. A vote of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close.

MR. FINE AT MIDHIRST. A cnrrospnnflent writes The M i .1liirst Fall was packed to its ntnrst

last night (Tuesday) on the occasion of Mr. Hinc’s meeting. Mr. Alex Brown occupied the chair, and in his opening remarks, lie stated Unit >n introducing Dir. Hine lie felt lie was introducing a friend. No matter what shade of politics, one could not bjrt admire the nay in which Air. Hine had carried out his duties as member during the last three years. Ha certainly had the courage of his convictions, us was proved on more than one occasion. Mr. Brown said that we all admired a man who did what he reckoned was his duty, in spite of all opposition. On rising, Dir. Hine was greeted with renewed applause, and for an hour and a naif tho Government received strong criticism at bis hands, his remarks being apparently greatly appreciated, judging by the frequent applause which punctuated his address. On resuming his seat Mr. Hine was accorded a further burst of applause, and then the questions started. A number were asked by strong opponents of the Reform Party, in the endeavour to corner tho candidate, hut it had to be admitted in the end that these questioners came a had hist. A further number of political questions were asked and answered satisfactorily, after which the following motion was carried without a dissenting voice: “That a very hearty vote of thanks ho accorded to Mr. Hine for his able address, and that this meeting has every confidence in him as their me ruber.’'’

DIR. JOSEPH McCLUGGAGE ‘AT KAHOTJRI BRIDGE. A correspondent writes : —Owing to the courtesy of Dir Henry, Johnson in placing his' hall at Dir McCluggage’s disposal, the Liberal candidate war. able to address tho doctors at Kahouri Bridge last evening. Mr H. Johnson occupied the chair, and in introducing Air McCluggage stated that tho candidate wa well-known to them all and reonired no introduction at his hands. Mr AlcCluggago dealt with tiro principal political questions of the day. Mr AlcOluggage’s pithy civicism of the Opposition candidates’ tactics, was very telling. He mr t de reference to the fact that they were not giving the people politics, hut were going round the country making all sorts of inuendoes about the Liberal Party, and not substantiating them with direct evidence. The candidate, in referring to the Alokau land deal went exhaustively into this deal, and pointed out that the syndicate would not get any title to the land until they complied with tho conditions of the' Land Act. In oilier words, it must have to bo cut up into suitable areas to comply with the Land Act, and have it completely loaded inside three years, otherwise they forfeit all their interests in this block. At the conclusion of a very forcible address, the candidate answered several questions, and on the motion of Air J. Bonner, seconded by Dir McCracken, a l 'hearty vote of thanks for bis interesting and instructive address was carried, the usual vote of thanks to the chair concluding a very interesting meeting.

* NOTES BY THE AVAY. Mr. J. B. Hine spbaks hit’Ratapiko to-night. Mr. Joseph McCTuggage speaks at Douglas this evening. “ln_ defence matters the right of the State should supersede the right of the parent, and those who fail to register should bo fined and disfranchised.”—Mr. J. D. Hall, Christchurch North. “I have not troubled to discuss the suggested coalition of the Opposition and Labour, because you cannot make oil and water mix, and I know that the loaders of the Labour movement resent the suggestion as an insult to tlieir intelligence.”—Sir Joseph AVard at AVaimatc.

It had been urged that because Sir Wilfred Laurier had been put otit of office in Canada, that therefore the Government should be turned out here said Sir Joseph Ward at Palmerston ‘South. But Laurier had been fifteen years in office. He himself had only been five years Prime Minister, and if the precedent held good he should be given another five years before some antiquated people came in to take his place. “You can change Governments,” he concluded, “and commence to whip the cat after it is done. I am positive that the people of the country not only are not going to cnange the present Government, but {join what 1 have seen and what ! know, the tnen who support the Government are fully alive to the benefits of this Government’s adm mstration and of the laws-they have passed. They are not going to allow the affairs of the country to go back into the hands of Conservatives and reactionaries, and allow the administration of this country to pass out of their own control. I. am pretty confident that I will pass through here soon after 7th December still as the Prime Minister of New Zealand.”

Mr. Massey, when interviewed at Gore by an “Ensign” reporter the other day, expressed the fullest confidence in the result of the elections. “We have more than a fighting chance; an even chance of obtaining an absolute majority,” he said. “The people would listen to Sir Joseph Ward in the North, hut he wouldn’t make a scrap of difference to the vote.” A member of the audience at Mr. Pearce’s Normanby meeting wished the candidate to put up £SO in support of the correctness of figures u noted in previous addresses by him (Mr. Pearce) as against those quoted by his political opponent in reference to the same matters. To this Mr. Pearce replied that he would not, as it was in effect a challenge to bet, and willingness to bet as to the correctness of anything was merely the argument of a stablcbov, savs the “Hawora Star.” “Don’t run away with the idea that the Reform Party is composed entirely of rich men. Just think it over, and sec if you don’t know at least one rich man in the Government.”—Mr Bell, at Borhampore.