POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 217, 7 September 1908, Page 3

POLITICAL.

illi. WAKE AX UAIiOIU. Tin; political campaign was o|i.'uud at llahotu ou Friday evening, wiicn Mr Wake addressed the clcetors (writes our correspondent). -Mr. Jesse I'liffliprf occupied tiw chair. Owiug 10. the luut.tliat )ii» address was insullieicnlly advertised (tflie notification 'Jul, being ill tlie "Uailv Xevv.-,'' which is largely taken hereabouts), there. was not a very large attendance. .Mi'. Wake, .who is 11 very fluent speaker, spoke at ciSii-idcntlile length oil tile various yolitical questions of the day, and particularly on the attitude 01' the present Government towards the farmer, showing Unit the (ioverninent by many of the measures it liad passed and lilt' facilities it hail given, had been beneficial to the farmer, lie. also spoke on till.- financial and labor aspects. The Government were not to blame for the labor troubles.. 'J.llicse were prevalent in France, Germany, America and other places, being far worse than in this Dominion. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act was in force when the Ward Government came into power, and they had carried it out. It was now proposed to amend it, and make it morn advantageous in its operatis*. I 11c 'thought every trades union on registering should deposit witfli the Registrar a sum of money as a glut rap* tee that there would be no breach of any award. In regard to the valuation of land, he admitted that some improvement was necessary whereby the value of improvements could lm properly adjusted. Ife did not believein lavishing expenditure on public buildings in the cities. .Substantial and serviceable buildings were all Wiat was required. In regard to the Opinake railway, lie was strongly in favor of the reserved route, and considered the district was entitled to the railway, which had been spoken of for over 14 years. It was time now to finish speaking and to act. ITo thought tilrere was a good chance of getting the railway gone on with if the proper steps were taken. He referred to the fact that a charge had been levelled against him of being a lawyer,, and tjlierefore not a suitable representative, but he asked those present to think of the number of lawyers occupying high positions in the governments of various nations, and to judge each candidate by his fitness to represent them. ' The address was most attentively listened to, and at its conclusion several questions were asked and ably answer- | ed. A vote of thanks, proposed be | "Mr. T. .1. Smith, and seconded by Mr. AY. T! Wright. was carried imaniinousl Iv. The usual compliment to flic [ chair terminated the proceedings.