THE ELECTIONS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 234, 6 November 1914, Page 8

THE ELECTIONS.

NEWS AND NOTES. Mr H. D. Acland speaks at the Rolleston Street Hall this evening. Mr Bertram Bunn speaks at West Melton this evening. Mr George Sheat, Government candidate for Selwyn, speaks at Springfield tp-night, Glenroy on Saturday, and Dunsandel on Monday. Mr W. A. Banks speaks at Hundalee this evening. CANDIDATES' ADDRESSES. CHRISTCHURCH NORTH., Mr H. F. Toogood, Government candidate for Christchurch North, addressed a well-attended meeting-in the Winton Street Hall, St. Albans, last evening. Mr J. W. Beanland presided. Dealing with the Defence Act, Mr Toogood said he had no desire to take away from Sir Joseph Ward any credit for having passed the Act, but he pointed out that in 1908, when the JJon. Jas. Allen, with others, advocated that it was time to call upon every young man to prepare to defend his country, Sir Joseph Ward opposed the proposal. He ridiculed the theory that the country would have to organise to protect itself against an outside foe. Irf 1909 Mr Massey moved that, as the Volunteer Force had proved inadequate for the defence of the Dominion, it should be replaced" by universal training for defence purposes. This motion was lost, the Government Party, with Sir Joseph Ward at its head, opposing it. ! But, nevertheless, Sir Joseph Ward saw fit to change his opinion, and in the same session brought forward the existing Defence Act. After referring to other topics, Mr Toogood dealt with the Huntly disaster and the recent dramatic exit from the House of Messrs Payne and. Webb, after accusing the Government, and especially the Prime Minister, *of murder. He quoted from the findings of the Commission to show that the disaster was due to neglect to carry out the proper precautions for safety, and among those responsible for this being done were the workmen's own inspectors. It was a contemptible thing to accuse the Government of being responsible for the disaster, and he pointed out that other mining disasters had occurred in the Dominion, including that at Brunner, but no one had been base enough to accuse the Government of the day, or any individual Minister of it, of being responsible for the great loss of life that then occurred.

Mr Toogood received an attentive heaving throughout, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. CHRISTCHUROH EAST SEAT. A meeting of Mr Hiram Hunter's election committee was held at the Trades Hall last evening, Mr J. C. Ralph presiding. Progress reports were received from the various sub-eommittees, stating that the work of. enrolment of electors, and distribution of literature, was proceeding satisfactorily. It was arranged that Mr Hunter should deliver his opening address'in the Opera House on Monday, November 16, at 8 p.m. It is anticipated that when Sir Joseph Ward visits Christchurch, a definite selection of a Liberal candidate for Christ*church East will be made. Sir ;Joseph is expected to arrive from Wellington tomorrow morning. •A meeting of the Riccarton branch of the Liberal and Labour Association was held in the Town Hall last evening, when it was decided to arrango for Mr G. Witty to give an address at Riccarton shortly.

AVON, Mr D. G. Sullivan,* Labour candidate for Avon, addressed a large meeting of the electors from the band rotunda, New Brighton* last evening. Mr F. C. Sprott, who presided, referred •to the large amount of successful work whi«h Mr Sullivan had been able to accomplish on behalf of industrial workers in the Arbitration Court. Mr Sullivan spoke along the lines of his previous addresses, after which Mr B. F. Williams, organiser for the Canterbury No-license Council, addressed the meeting. Mr Williams dealt "briefly with the injustice of the three-fifths system on the licensing issue, and eulogised;Mr Sullivan as a consistent supporter ;of the bare-major-ity principle. Hi u?ged the nd-licehsje electors in Avon to concentrate their votes in favour of Mr Sullivan, with the object of eliminating from Parliament one of the most determined opponents of the temperance movement that there was in New Zealand. Answering a question in regard to the Bible-in-schools question, Mr Sullivan said that, while he found it impossible to support the proposals of the Bible-in-Schools League, he, nevertheless, had such a high opinion of the necessity, for giving religious instruction that he would be prepared to support any effective system of giving suelx instruction out of school hours. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously, amid acclamation.

MR BUNN AT HORNBY. Mr B. Bunn, Government candidate for the Eiccarton electorate, addressed the electors of Hornby on Tuesday night, there being a good attendance, over which Mr W. H. Manhire presided. Mr Bunn spoke on lines similar to his previous address, and in answer to questions he said that 5/- per bushel of wheat f.o.b. was not more than a paying price to the farmer. On the motion of Mr Brassington, seconded by Mr Westawav, a hearty vote or thanks was accorded the speaker for his address. AT .AYLESBURY. Mr Bunn also addressed one of the most largely-attended meetings held in Aylesbury for some years on Wednesday night, when Mr W. Harwood presided. The Government policy was fully dealt with by the candidate, who showed that by placing the finances on a sound basis they were able to face the 'present crisis without retrenchment in the public service, such as was found 'necessary in 1908. Mr Bunn made some comment on Sir Joseph Ward's policy speech, referring particularly to his baby bonus scheme. ; He

(cattle) £l3 3/-, D. Huinm £5 0/6, E. V. Adams £l, G. Moor £l, L. A. Adams 2/6, W. E. Phillips £l, Win, Pole 10/-, P. Vickery 2/6, Henisch; (potatoes): £l, E. Kennard 14/-, T. Hillock £l, C. Eilcy £2 2/-, Miss Muller 5/-, sale Of flowers £2 18/-, sale ef flag £36 15/-, proceeds- of concert £2B 3/6, half proceeds of Wad' dington Methodist Church bazaar £lB, J. Gillanders 5 wethers, A. and W. Gillanders (second donation) 10 wethers, A. W. Adams 15 -wethers, W. J. Jenkins (third donation), Southdown ram, Jas. Black, cow and calf, John Jebson (second donation) £l, A. W. Farmer (Sheffield) £l, W. Sleemau 5/-j[ total; £205

was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the nation of Mr A. H. Joseph, seconded by Mi: W. Conway, SELWYN, J Mr Geo. Sheat,, Government candidate for Splwyn, addressed a meeting on j Wednesday evening at Sheffield. Mr ' Geo. Wright presided.. The candidate I supported the Dominion naval policy, j which, .he said, was (essential from .» Dominion point of view. There was an urgent need to bring the railway system up-to-date, as recommended by M!r Hiley, and he regretted that some of tlio alterations to stations could not be put in hand just now, to provide work for carpenters and others who were unem-r ployed. At the conclusion of the address, Mr P. Compton proposed:—"That this meeting accords its thanks to Mr Sheat for his address, and has every confidence in him as a fit and proper representative for the electorate." This was seconded by Mr Chas. Gamble, and carried amid cheers and applause, the audience singing "He's a Jolly Good Fellow." SEAMEN'S RIGHTS. The Canterbury Trades Council lias dispatched the following telegram to the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister of Marine, in respect to seamen's rights':— "Ke seamen's rights, only chance seamen have to go to Customs House for rights is by sacrificing a good portion of their dinner-hour. Appeal to you to attach Government officer to Lyttelton Registrar's department, his duty to be to serve out seamen's rights between 12 and 2 and at 5 o'clock. This course has always been followed at previous elections."

THE BOLLS. The Chief Postmaster wishes to call the attention of the public to the fact that each and every letter carrier is at the service of those of the public who desire- to ascertain if their names are on the electoral roll. Each letter carrier has a copy, of the rqll for his district, and the public are requested to examine it. If their names axe not thereon, the letter carrier will supply them with the necessary forms and witness the signatures of applicants for enrolment. WELLINGTON NORTH SEAT. Press- Association. . WELLINGTON, November 5. _Mr W. H. Turnbull, a well-known city auctioneer, has been selected to congest the Wellington North seat against the Hon. A. L. Herdman in the Liberal interest. . MATAURA. Press Association. GORE, November 6. A large meeting of Liberal supporters from all parts of the electorate last niglit unanimously chose Mr W. G. Mehaffey, of Invercargill to contest the Matoura seat in the Liberal interests. Mr Mehaffey, who was present, accepted the Request.