THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13797, 31 October 1908, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

ATTACK ON MINISTER OF LANDS. Per Press Association. GISBORNE, Oct. 30. This morning's issue of the Gisborne Times contains an open letter to the Hon. R. McNab, signed by Mr G. J. Black, a local station owner, who makes a trenchan£ attack upon the Minister of Lands in connection with the Government's attitude towards tho holders of grazing run leases. Mr Black declares his intention of having the facts fully circulated throughout the Dominion, and will in all probability take the platform. FARMERS' UNION QUESTIONS. ' FEILDING, Oct. 30. A meeting of delegates of various branches of the Farmers' Union was held here to-day to consider answers to questions submitted to the three candidates for the Oroua seat—^Messrs Pleasants (Government), Guthrie (Opposition), and Hornblow (Independent). All the candidates had answered all the questions in the affirmative, Mr. Pleasants adding with reference to Customs duties that they should be for revenue purposes and hot inimical to existing local industries. The meeting decided not to choose between the candidates, but to keep the questions as a check on them. SEAMEN'S VOTES. DUNEDIN, Oct. 30. Iv the Magistrate's Court at Port Chalmers to-day, Mr Widdowson, S.M., heard a case in which the chief steward of the New Zealand Shipping Company's Opawa applied tpj.bfe; registered as an elector. The application affected thirty-seven other seamen on' the same vessel, as well as a large number on other vessels of the same company. The Magistrate allowed the claim. — — — — , 'it'""^ PREMIER AT TEMTJKA. "tSuka Oci^ so. The Premier arrived at Temuka this evening and addressed one of the largest political meetings ever held here. He spoke for two and threequarter hours, devoting , most of the v time to replying to Opposition criticism and enunciating the Government policy. He received a very hearty welcome and was accorded a vote of, thanks for ■ his able address, supplementect by a ' vote of confidence in himself and the Government he represented. This was carried amid applause and cheers. MR. MASSEY AT TIMARU. TfIJfART; r Oct. 30. Mr Massey addressed a». crowded meeting ivt the. Theatre Royal to-night and found his audience attentive and sympathetic' No new ground was broken. Many questions were aiyswered. In regard to teachers' salaries, he said he was very much surprised to ' learn of the interpretation which the Department had put upon the Act. WRITS ISSUED; $HJ§ M ORNING. WELLINOSQN, Oct. £1. The Governor's- warrant, directing the Clerk of Writs to issue writs, f <Jßj'. an election, was received last night, v and the writs were issued,, this mornings The electoral rolls" closed to-day;^ THE THAMES ELECTORATE. 1 . ~ , . thames; \ftcC &. The Hon. J. McGowan Tiaa, commenced a tour of his electorate? includes the whole peninsula from Gape Colville to Hikutaia. The livery didates are : Messrs Frank Ifirtf, Oliver Mason (Socialist), and Ernes* Deebl* (Independent). ■ •"<[ MR JENNINGS' CAMPAIGN; QNGARUEytbct. 3J. After addressing meetings at Pirongia, Terauamoa, Oparau, and Oiigarue, Mr Jetfnings left for Ohura> this morning, # and from, therjk will gq to Awakino and Mokaii. He has had enthusiastic full meetings in over thirty places. . ' SUNDRY CANDIDATES. DUNEDIN, Oct. 30. Mr J. F. Arnold addressed a largs meeting of electors at Dunedin Centra? to-night. He was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks an confidence. WELLINGTON, Oct. 30. Mr F. G. Bolton, a candidate, for Wellington North, made his first speech to-night. He was given a vote, of thanks and confidence. > NAPIER, Oct. 30. Mr A. L. . D. Fraser, member , for Napier, gave his opening address in the campaign to-night. There was a large audience and the candidate was well received. He spoke in support of. the Government policy, and received a vtifce of thanks and confidences. _ WESTPORT. Oct. 3p. •Mr F. F. Munro, caudate for, tbto Buller seat in the liiberaKJ^t^riß^ts. addressed the largest political meeting ever held in Westpbrt. At the, close ne received a vote of thanks arid.ccsafi- - /< ASHBURTON, Oct. 30. Mr i ßa«. ll O'Conndr Brick has retired from the contest for the Selwyn seat, and »the> fight is now between Mr C. A. Hardy (Oppositionist) and Mr J. Ivess (Liberal). Mr David Jones, one of the three OpVosftion candidates for the Ashburtpn seat, has received an official letter from Mr Martin, the Opposition organiser, naming him on Mr Massey's behalf as the Opposition nominee, •