THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143646, 14 November 1911, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

MR. MASSEY AT EKETAHUNA. Per Press Association. EKETAHUNA, Nov. 13. Mr. Massey addressed a meeting of about 600 peonle in Eketahuna to-night and had a very enthusiastic reception. Ho claimed his to be the only party that had a platform before the country at the present time. The. Government bad no platform and no more backbone than an oyster, or a phonograph that would play any political tune. Referring to the five million .loan, Mr. Massey said that the details were not yet available, but some of tho items of the cost were known. There was £50,000 to the underwrit ".ns (30s per cent, discount), or on the whole loan, £75,000. These two items made £123,000, and with other items and concessions brought tho cost of the ’oan in Mr. Massey’s opinion co £300,000. Referring to the Mokau case, Mr. Massey said that tho Government should have purchased the block. There was a provision that tho leasehold interest could ho taken, at valuation. It was one of tho worst transactions that ever took place in the history of the country.

Dealing with the system of voting public money, Mr. Massey said ono man m bis (Mr. Massey’s) electorate went over his head and srer the head of tho Minister for Public Works to the Prime Minister, and the money was placed on the Estimates. No money should be placed on the Estimate excepts on the application or approval of tho local bodies.

It was resolved, "That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded Mr. Massey for his able and" lucid address and that this meeting is of opinion that in the interests of the Dominion the timo has now arrived for a change of Government.” There was only «ne dissentient voice, and the meeting concluded with vigorous (dicers for Mr. Massey and singing “For he’s a jolly good' fellow.” MR. HOGG AT MASTERTON. MASTERTON, Nor. 13. Hr. A. W. Hogg, M.P., who has not yet quite recovered from a serious illness, opened his campaign to-night, when he addressed a crowded audience in the Town Hall and met with a good reception. He announced himself as an Independent candidate, and stated that he had lost confidence in the Government. He regarded the Opposition, however, os retrogressive. He strongly opposed compulsory training, and advocated the remission of duties on necessaries of life. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. THE ASHBURTON SEAT. ( ASHBURTON, Nov. 13. Mr. W. Nosworthy, M.P., the Opposition candidate for the Ashburton seat, opened his campaign to-night, when tho Theatre Royal was comfort-, ably filled. After setting forth the necessity for an Opposition and for party Government and giving instances of the usefulness of Mr. Massey’s followers to the country in the past, he reviewed the Opposition platform, taking each plank in extenso, and criticising at the same time the Government’s policy, or, as he preferred to call it, the Government’s lack of policy. He was always moderate in his condemnations, and at the close was warmly applauded and accorded the usual vote of thanks. THE MANAWATU SEAT. PALMERSTON N., Nor. 13. Mr. Buick, M.P., addressed a crowded meeting at.the Opera House tonight. tho Mayor ..presiding. In opening hie electoral campaign, and replying to Mr. M‘Nah, he remarked that if he (Mr. Buick) did not do more in Parliament in the next ton-years than Mr, M‘Nab had done in his thirteen and a-lialf he would be prepared to retire. Referring to tho statement that Mr. Massey had not been approached to join the Ministry, Mr. Buick said that he believed Mr. Massey’s statement when he said he was. He (Mr. Buick) said that he hadn’t been two months in Parliament when he was asked if he would join the Ministry in coalition to keep down the working man.—(Laughter.) He was approached by a supporter of the Government to ask if he would coalesce with the Government party to fight tho Labour interests. (Voice:; They were pulling your leg!) He replied that he would rather ten times have a Labour Administration than the present Administration, for he knew what Labour would do, and he didn’t know what the present Government would do. Ho criticised the Government over the Macdonald case at Rarotonga, and the employment of the Chief Justice, condemning the principle of judges receiving more than their salaries. “For God’s sake,” ho pleaded, “let us have our judges pure.” Ho condemned the presentation of a Dreadnought by Sir Joseph Ward as bombastic hysteria, but would not object to fifty Dreadnoughts if they wore needed. Referring to the Mokau case, he said Sir J. G. Findlay and Mr. Dalziell dominated everything, and there was a suspicion that some people had worked a point. Mr. Buick denounced tho Budget as a conglomerated mass of verbosity, A vote of thanks and confidence was declared carried. THE TAIERI SEAT. DUNEDIN, Nov. 14. . Mr. Johnson, candidate for Taien, addressing a meeting at Mosgicl, favoured increasing graduated land tax as the time had arrived when large blocks must be cut up. If the State could not buv out the shareholders in the Bank of New Zealand a State Bank should be established. THE WAIRAU SEAT. BLENHEIM, Nov. 14. Mr. Duncan, member for Wairan, addressed a large meeting last night, and was awarded a vote of thanks and confidence. He declared himself still a Liberal Independent, agreeing with tho Government in some things, but opposing it in regard to extravagance of administration, closer land settlement, and other matters. MR. FIELD AT OTAEX

LEVIN, Nov. 14. Mr Field, the sitting member for Otaki. addressed the electors in Levin last night. He deplored the tendency to allege political corruption, and contended that all the charges against fhe Government had failed. He went back to show that allegations of tin., nature, had been made over a long period of years and always disproved. The first instance was that in which John Balance was accused of haying peddled inferior watches at big prices amongst soldiers in the Maori war. That was clearlv disproved, but there followed a long list of charges against other members of the Government and private members. Ho quoted the Bun Tuck charges amongst others. Once the libels” went so far that a notorious sheet was broadcasted containing libels not

only on members, but even on tbeiT wives. All these had failed, and the latest had been so ineffective that today the Government and its Party still stood firm and untouched. He said that if returned to Parliament he wanted an absolutely free hand, but .as long as the Government extended*' send developed its policy he would faithfully support tfio Government. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried, at} amendment of thanks only beingthrowu out.

A WANGANUI CANDIDATE. WELLINGTON, Nov. If The Post understands that MrVeiteh, engine driver, and president of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, has resigned from the service, and will contest Wanganui seat at the general elections. MR. BELLRINGER AT OAKURA. Mr. C. E. Bellringer, the Government candidate, addressed a good meeting at Oakura last night, Mr. G. A. Adlam presiding. The candidate had a good hearing, and at the conclusion of the address answered several questions to the satisfaction of the audience. The usual vote of thanks was carried at the conclusion of the meeting. MR. FORBES’ CAMPAIGN. Mr. W. Forbes addressed the electors at Tarurutangi Tuesday evening. Mr. J. Martin was voted to the chair. The candidate spoke on the same lines as at New Plymouth and received a most attentive hearing. Speaking on the comments of the daily papers Mr. Forbes said he was surprised at the Herald trying to frighten tho electors by saying that a split in the Opposition votes would put the Government man in, when the Herald must know that with the second ballot Mr. Bellringer would have'to get one over half the votes recorded, which everybody knew he would never get. With the second ballot whoever was returned would have to have tho majority of votes, which made the seat sure for tho Opposition side of the House. As to the morning paper he was not surprised at this subtle attempt nor at their utter failure to pull him to pieces. One thing the Press was not the people. Ho did not grudge his opponents the support of the two papers, it was the support of the people ne was seeking. Ho felt quite confident that he would get it. A , vote of thanks and confidence, proposed by Mr. H. Letts and seconded by Mr. J. Giddy brought a most successful meeting to a close.