GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 94, 4 December 1911, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

MR. MASSEY AT TAUMARUNUI. £Per Press Associatio’i } Auckland, December 3. Mr. Massey, Deader of the Opposition, addressed a large meeting at Taumarunui last night, A yore of thanks and confidence was carried, amid cheers. CANDIDATES AT THE BLUFF. Invercargill, December 3. Mr. James Allen addressed a crowded audience at the Bluff on Saturday night, and received a good hearing, with some interjections. Mr. Hamilton (candidate for Awarua) also spoko for fifteen minutes, and was well received. A vote of thanks to Mr. Allen and renewed confidence in the Ministry was proposed; also an amendment of thanks to Mr. Allen and no confidence in the Ministry. The Mayor, who presided, called for a show of hands, and said that about thirty held up their hands in .favour of each motion. Therefore he declared neither carried. Q MR. McNAB AND MOKAU. Palmerston, December 3. The following communication has been sent to Mr. Robert McNab by Hawke’s Bay shareholders and directors of the Mokau Company, -all of whom are members of the Opposition. One of these (Mr. McLean )was a member of the Opposition Parliamentary Party. They intimate that he may make what use he thinks fit of it. “Although in politics we are supporters of the Reform Party and are opposed to the policy of the present Government, which you are supporting, wo enter our most emphatic protest against the action of our party leaders, and those who are supporting them, in the attitude they have taken np in reference to the purchase of the Mokau Estate by the Mokau Coal Company. We are shareholders in the company, and some of us are directors, and are all intimately acquainted with the circumstances connected with the purchase. We also know the circumstances under which you were induced to take shares in the company, and at our request to become chairman. Not one of those circumstances reflect in any way upon the action of the Government or upon yourself, and although the campaign of slander is being carried on by men of our own party, and by our own Party Leader, in order to strike a blow at the Government and to keep you out of public life of this country, our ideas of justice and fair play compel us to tell the people of the Dominion, for what our statements are worth, that the charges made against yourself and the Government are entirely untrue, and in our opinion are a disgrace to party politics. (Signed) Bernard Chambers, T. Mason Chambers, William Nelson, R. D. D. McLean, D. Whyte.”

MR. McCLUGGAGE AT MAKAHU

A correspondent writes :—Although the farming community are, without exception, very busy at this time of tho year, the settlers at Makalm turned out in force at midday on Saturday to hear tho political views of J he Liberal candidate. Mr A. Coyne was voted to the chair. Mr McCluggage broke fresh ground in dealing with an immense important proposal to benefit the farmers. Introduced by Sir •Joseph Ward in this year’s Budget. Ho referred to the suggestion to establish farmers’ co-operative banks, which would or ible small men to whom credit is not loathly, if at all, accessible under our existing banking system to obtain it for productive purposes, or purposes ensuring economy. Mr McCluggage, in a very able manner, showed how this proposal would help thousands of farmers, and render assistance to men and women who were placed upon land which the Government proposed acquiring for that purpose. At tho conclusion of the address, Mr M. Ford moved and Mr J. Manning seconded the following resolution; “That this meeting accords Mr McCluggage a very hearty vote of thanks and confidence, and renewed confidence in the Liberal Government.” This was carried unanimously. It is a very significant fact that Mr McCluggage has obtained spontaneous votes of thanks and confidence in nearly every place he has visited throughout the electorate. This has been done without resorting to packing his meetings. Most of these

resolutions have been proposed and seconded by farmers present who are now recognising that in Mr McCluggage they have a candidate who has gone through their trials and troubles and who is in entire sympathy with their wants and interests.

NOTES BY THE WAY. The Hon. T. Mackenzie will speak at Upunake to-night. Mr ,f. B. Hine speaks (it Ngatimaru this evening. Mr J. B. Hine finally addresses the electors before the polling day at Stratford to-morrow evening.

Mr Joseph McClugage speaks at Toko to-morrow night and in the Town Hall, Stratford, on Wednesday evening, the night before the election. At Balclutha the other day Mr J. Allen made a confession. “Are you in favour of Mr Malcolm’s land policy ?” he was asked. “I did not know Mr Malcoln had a land policy,” replied the candidate. “I am not, at all events, responsible for Mr Malcolm’s land policy. I am responsible for the land policy of the Reform Party.” Thus tiie “Lyttelton Times” :—“A southern journal which has been delving into history has discovered that twenty-four years have elapsed since a leader of the Government was defeated at the polls. It was in 1887 chat Mr James Allen defeated Sir Robert Stout, and the pessimistic member for Bruce, a young man untried in public life, according to his journalistic supporter, made his cr.fiy into Parliament. Because Sir Joseph Ward’s present opponent in Awarua is an inexperienced politician, tl .s faithful friend of Mr Allen mggCots that history may repeat itself. But, apart from all the other issues tbit tnero are at stake, is it conceivable that any constituency would inflict a second Mr Allen on the national assembly?” Mr W. T. Jennings, who left Waitara on October 31st on his electoral campaign, returned to Waitara on Saturday evening. In an interview tyith a “Daily News” representative, we learned that during that time Mr Jennings has addressed over 60 meet ngs at various places in the electorate, in whares, sawmills, public halls, and schools, and travelling by train, hciseback, coaches, and steam launches. Some seventeen days of the journey was' done on horseback, an average of thirty miles a day ocing ridden. The longest journey was from Ohura, through to Waitaanga, on to Kotare. A meeting was also addressed at OkaU the same day. The weather conditions during the greater part of the trip were very bad, heavy rain storms, thunder and lightning hail and heavy winds being experienced, but the very enthusiastic receptions accorded the candidate throughout wore most gratifying. A correspondent asks the “Dominion” to state whether it is against the law to wear colours on polling day or to canvass outside a polling booth. The Legislature Act, 19US (section 157 a), provides that every person is liable to a fine not exceeding £2O who, at an election, “in any way interferes with any elector, either in the polling booth, or while on his way thereto, with the intention of influencint? him or advising him as to his vote.” Exactly whdt constitutes interference must- >e f jvH* to a Court of law to determine- in individual cases. As to vne > ’.','3

of colours, it is illegal for a candidate to supply his supporters with badges or liooons, but more is nothing to prevent anyone wearing colours procured at his own cost. v V

It was only at the eleventh hour that Mr J. Sheridan, who had thought of contesting the GisOorne seat agamWt Sir James Carroll, decided not to ftp so. Nominations closed on Monday, but Mr Sheridan, speaking to. a “Gisborne Times” reporter, stated that he had not yet decided whether lie should contest the Gisborne seat. “The position at the present time,” he remarkr ed, “is that I have gone so far as tp fill in my nomination paper, but can’t say definitely whether it will go in.” it appeared that Mr Sher/4 dan feared that in view of the excitement over the licensing contest th'e fact of his nomination might be in some quarters wrongly Ho added; “If I don’t come out this time, I shall be heard of on a future occasion, when perhaps the excitement over the licensing poll may not be so high.” In reply to a questioner at Greytown, Mr Buchanan said that the Wairarapa line has always been a very profitable one. It was the most payable line in New Zealand, except, perhaps, one or two short lengths of coal lines, before it was connected up with Woodville. It would pay much better if they got rid of the Cross Greek incubus and saved two hours in the journey between Woodville and Wellington, as could be done if the line was diverted. It has been urged time and again, but the Government spent loan moneys to buy votes. There were only three votes along the Wairarapa railway, namely, Pahiatua, Masterton, and Wairarapa electorates, against all the city seats; consequently they could not get the money spent on a paying work like this.