MINISTERS' TOURS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 252, 27 November 1914, Page 5

MINISTERS' TOURS.

. MB FISHER AT FEILDING. Press Association. FEILDING, November 27. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister of Marine, addressed a packed house last night. He spoke for an hour, during which time there was a good deal of heckling. He defended the attitude of the Government during the strike, and said they would stop the next strike much quicker. The Government naval policy was one flag, one navy, New Zealand to have a Bristol cruiser or two here manned by New Zealandcrs. Since Mr Massey tqok office trade and commerce had increased. Taxation had gone up at a lesser rate than under the Ward Government. Customs taxation had decreased, and the Government had increased the salaries of the Civil Servants, the police, the school teachers, and the railway servants.

All receipts of land revenue now go to the land fund account. The purchase of estates for closer settlement, the profits of the State fire insurance, and the Public Trust Office had inCreased under Mr Massey. He cleared the Government of any responsibility in the Euntly disaster.

If returned they would endeavour to arrange reciprocal tariffs with Australia and Canada. If Sir Joseph "Ward were returned to power he would require the support of the Social-Democrats, whose headquarters were at Berlin. There was an alliance between the Liberals and the Bed Feds.

At the conclusion of the speech a vote of confidence was carried by about three to one.

WHAT ABOUT HUNTLY? "What about Huntly?" shouted an interjector at Mr H. F. Toogood's meeting last evening. Mr Toogood replied that men like the late Hon. R. J. Seddon and the Hon. R. McKenzie could be trusted to leave the mining legislation safe. The law was sufficient, if properly carried out, to have prevented the Huntly disaster. That had been clearly and adequately proved by the finding of the Commission.

An old miner interjected: "Quite right! I have had experience of mines for many years, and I know that what these fellov/s at the back are talking about is absolute rot \" BASELESS INFERENCES. Press Association. WELLINGTON, November 26. Speaking at Lower Hutt to-night, the Prime Minister referred, after some interjections, to the subject of the Pukekohe ostrich farm, and made a full statement of the facts. He concluded by saying:—

"I want the 'New Zealand Times' to come out in the open.—{Hear, hear.) — It has been inferring and casting about the impression that I have been using the money of the State to build this railway for my own benefit. To say such a thing is a falsehood, or to infer it either. I challenge the 'New Zealand Times' to come out into the open money for my own personal gain, and and say that I have used the people's I will know what to do. I am just watching and waiting. If the, 'New Zealand Times' says that, then I will take the matter to the Supreme Court and fight them, if it cost me the last shilling that I own. —(Applause.)—l know the mud-slinger who writes these articles. I know he won't apologise, but I've taken the opportunity of telling the people the facts of the case."

TO-NIGHT'S MEETINGS. Dr Thacker (Christchurch East), at Railway Yards, Carlyle Street (noon), and at corner of Charles and Barbour Streets (8 p.m.) Mr Hiram Hunter (Christchurch East) at Addington Workshops (noon), and at corner Montrose and Huxley Streets (8 p.m.). Mr G. E. Whiting (Christchurch South) at corner Lincoln Road and Dickens Street (7.30 p.m.), and at corner Montreal and Hanover Streets (8.45 p.m.) Mr H. G. Ell (Christchurch South) at Y.M.C.A. Concert Hall.

Mr H. D. Acland (Avon) at corner Travers and Armagh Streets (7 p.m.), and at Jones's Store, Mile Road (8.15 p.m.). Mr BertranTßunn (Riccarton) at Burnham School.

Mr George Witty (Riccartou) at Aylesbury. Mr M. .T. Miller (Lyttelton) at Little Akaloa.

Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton) at Red cliffs.

Mr David Jones (Kaiapoi) at East Eyreton. Hon. R. Heatou Rhodes (Ellesmere) at Rollcston School (6 p.m.), and at Halswell Hall (8 p.m.). Mr J. 0. Free (Ellesmere) at Ellesmere (if school procurable). Mr W. A. Banks (Huruuui) at Mackenzie.

Mr Joseph Hamlet (Selwyn) at Lis more. Mr G. Sheat (Selwyn) at Methven.

FUTURE MEETINGS.

Mr H. D. Acland speaks to-morrow at Breeze's Road at G. 45 p.m., and New Brighton Band Rotunda at 8:15. Mr Bertram Bunn speaks at Riccarton Racecourse at 9.30 to-morrow morning, and at Charing Cross Schoolroom at 8 p.m.; at the corner of Church Street and Railway Terrace at Templeton at 7 p.m. on Monday, and at Hornby Druids' Hall at 8.15 p.m.; at Courtenay Schoolroom on Tuesday at 7 p.m., and at Halkett Schoolroom at 8.15.

Mr M. J. Miller speaks; on Monday at Governor's Bay at 8 p.m. Mr J. C. Free speaks at Lincoln on Saturday, Mill Road, Spreydoi/, on Monday, and Prebbleton on Tuesday. Mr D. Jones speaks at Chaney 's Corner on Saturday at 7.30 p.m., Springbank on Monday at 7.15, and Oust the same evening at 8.15. Mr F. B. Hughes speaks at the Church of Christ Schoolroom, at the corner of Durham Street and Moorhouse Avenue,J on Monday; at the Methodist Schoolroom, corner of Colombo and BrOugham Streets, on Tuesday; at the Oddfellows' Hall, Dickens Street, Addington, on Wednesday; and at the Christchuich West Schoolroom, Road, on Thursday. The Hon. B. Heaton Rhodes speaks at Prebbleton Hall to-morrow evening, Lincoln Druids' Hall on Monday, Ellesmere School on Tuesday at 2 p.m., and at Doyleston Hall at 8 p.m. that evening. Mr.W. A. Banks, Government candidate for Huruuui, will address the electors as follows: —Amberley, Saturday, November 28; Rotherham, Monday, November 30; Huruuui, Tuesday, December 1; North Loburn, Wednesday, December 2; Glentui (Rudd's Woolshed), Thursday, December 3; Stonyhurst, Friday, December 4. Messrs James McCombs and Hiram Hunter will address a joint meeting at the corner of Charles and Barbour Streets, Linwood, to-morrow at 7.30 p.m.