THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143648, 16 November 1911, Page 7

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THE WAIHI SEAT. Per Press Association. WAIHI, Nov. 15. Mr. Nisbet M’Robio, tho Reform Party’s candidate for Ohinemiji, owned his campaign here last night. He addressed a large audience and was accorded a good hearing. SUB JOSEPH WARD. INVERCARGILL, Nov. 15. Sir J. G. Ward to-day addressed meetings at Groenhills and Alakarewa, and to-night at Waikiwi, where tho hall was crowded. He exioko for two hours, his speech following the lines of his previous ones. Votes of thanks and confidence were passed at all the meetings. Sir Joseph -Ward goes north in the morning express, and has great confidence in the result of the election. THE WESTLAND CONTEST. HOKITIKA, Nov. 15. The Westland election is being contested with an intensity of interest probably unknown in any other part of tho Dominion. Both candidates, the sitting member (Mr. T. Y. Seddon), and his opponent (Mr. H. L. Michel), are speaking nightly to large audiences. This evening Mr. Michel spoko at Hokitika, the Prinness Theatre being taxed to its utmost capacity, while large numbers were unable to gain admittance. It is estimated that tho gathering numbered about a thousand people. In the course of a vigorous speech of nearly two hours’ duration, Mr. Michel declared himself to be a straight-out Liberal, and while prepared to give tho present Government general support, he would not be whipped into line against his convictions. Tho candidate, who has always declined a vote of confidence at any meeting, was accorded a vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation. <

It is generally believed that the contest will be a very close one. Mr. Michel is contesting the seat for the third time against the sitting member. In the oyelection immediately after the death of the lato Premier, Mr. T. Y. Seddon defeated his opponent by 724 votes. Tho general election in 1908 was much closer, the voting being Seddon 2880, Michel 2720. MR. MILLAR AT DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN, Nov. 15. The Hon. J. A. Millar addressed a meeting of electors in the Garrison Hall last evening, when the building was packed to the doors. In opening his remarks, the speaker said ho had got to tho second highest position a man could get in this country, and it was his ambition if anything necessitated a retirement of Sir Joseph Ward from the leadership of the party, to offer himself to the party as its leader. He challenged the Opposition to bring forward any specific instances whore the Government had been extravagant in their expenditure, and stated that they must borrow money if they wished to open up their country. Ho answered the cnarge of alleged bribing of raihvaymen by increasing their wages, and quoted a letter from the secretary of the Now Zoaland-Locomotive Engine-drivers* and Firemen and Cleaners’ Association, wishing him luck in the coming contest.

Mr. Millar stated that the Government was tho first to make provision to pay off their loans, and stated that the sinking fund now amounted to a million and a-half, and was being added to yearly at tho rate of £150,000, and that in 75 years the accumulated fund would be sufficient to pay off their loans. Speaking for himself, he was in favour of a three-fifths majority on the licensing question. The Minister dealt at considerable length with the Acte which had been introduced by the Government to assist the workers, and at the conclusion of the address was accorded a vote of thanks aud continued confidence, amidst cheers and counter cheers. . Mr. Millar was not heard at his best, having a severo cold and having been in bed most ojr the morning. Ho was subjected to some interruptions, but on the whole had a very good nearing.

THE WAIPAWA SEAT. ■WAIPAWA, Nov. 16. Mr. A. E. Jull, the Liberal candidate, addressed a largo meeting last night. He strongly defended the Government policy. A a vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. ISSUE OF WRITS, DUNEDIN. Nov. 16. Instructions were given to-day for the issue of the writs on November 20. MR. HINE ON TOUR. Th© last two days have been very busy ones for Mr. Hine, four meetings having been held on Monday and Tuesday, At Tutntawa on Monday a midday meeting was held, and although the hour was an awkward one, over thirty settlers turned out to hoar Mr. Hine’s political views. In his remarks the speaker criticised th© administration ot th© Government and placed th© Reform Party’s views before his hearers. At the conclusion of his address Mr, Hine received a vote of thanks and renewed confidence, and a vote of thanks to the chair concluded a most successful meeting. At 8 o’clock th© same evening Mr.■ Hine held a meeting at Puniwhakau, and despite the fact that tho elements were against it, a goodly number of settlers attended tho meeting, when the speaker dealt with tho political questions of the day, as on previous occasions. Her© also Mr. Hin© received a vote of thanks and renewed confidence, and at Makahu on Tuesday at middav a large number of settlers turned out to hear the candidate. A voi© of thanks and confidence was moved, and an amendment of thanks only lapsed for the want of a seconder, ’and the original motion carried by a largo majority. The weather last night was very much, against political _m sp(t©.

of this an audience of over sixty ladies and gentlemen attended the Strathmore Hall, a few coming from Te Wera. At the conclusion orim able address a number of questions were asked, after which Mr, Cr Neill moved a vote of thanks to Mr, Mine for his address. Dr. Diggins offered as an amendment a vote of thanks to Mr. Hine .hnt a vote of no confidence in the Reform Party, but this amendment also lapsed for the want of a seconder. A further amendment of thanks ..and confidence was 'finally carried by a big majority. MR. M'CLUGGAGE. Mr. M'Cluggage addressed the electors at Kaimata on Monday eveningAltbough the night was very rough, a gqod number turned out to hear the candidate. Mr. Leppor was voted to the chair. The candidate received a good hearing, and at the conclusion was asked several questions, which he answered satisfactorily. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. M'Cluggage for his address, and thanks to the chair terminated the meeting. On Tuesday night Mr. APCluggage addi£ssed a largo meeting of electors in the Waitui School. Hie building was filled. Mr, L. Saddler was voted to the chair. The candidate touched to the Mokau scandal, and said he was sure that the very best thing had been done for all concerned in this block. He mentioned that it was noticeable that the Reform Party never stated that if this block is not cut up in areas to comply with the Act, and the block roaded within three years, the syndicate must forfeit their interest therein. He also dwelt on tho capital made by the Reform Party on the eve of the last general election over the dairy regulations. and further, speaking on noxious weeds, said ho would advocate the Government going in for scientific investigations to find the best methods of eradicating blackberry, which weed is getting out of control in some parts of Taranaki, arid has got beyond the power of the local bodies to successfully cope with the post. Ho said ho thought the Government would experiment in a practical way, to find some means of killing the pest entirely, and he would support any measure in that direction. He thought this question should bo a national one, as it is almost impossible for a farmer to clear iiis farm, n once blackberry gets a good hold. Nothing but science can cope with it, and if elected to the House he would use his best endeavours to got the Government to take the matter up. At the conclusion of his address Mr. ATCluggago was warmly applauded, and several questions were asked and answered. A vote of thanks was accorded to the candidate, and tho usual thanks to tho chair terminated the meeting. MR. FORBES AT OAKURA. Mr. W. Forbes addressed the electors at Oakura on Wednesday eveclng. Mr. E. Mace was voted to the chair. Considering the state-of the weather there was a good attendance, and the candidate got a most attentive hearing. Mr. Forbes spoke on tho same lines as at New Plymouth. He dealt with the public debt, Civil Service, the land question, and other vital questions, showing that ho had a thorough grasp of political questions, and in a speech which lasted over an hour he gave his hearers every reason to congratulate themselves that they had ventured out on such a stormy night to, hoar him. A vote of thanks, proposed by Mr. Adlam, and seconded by Mr, Morris, and a vote of thanks to the chair, proposed by the candidate, brought a most successful meeting to a close. MR. BELLRINGER AT BELL BLOCK. Mr. C. E. Bellringer, the Government candidate, addressed a meeting of 30 electors at 801 l Block last night. Mr. Horsup presiding. The candidate was in good form, and in the course of his remarks traversed a good deal of new ground, replying also to Mr. Okey’s New Plymouth address. He said he intended to hit hard politically during the campaign, but wished it to be understood tnat he would only hit Mr. Okey politically and cross swords with him over his political actions. Personally he and Mr. Okey wore good friends. Mr. Okey said at New Plymouth that tho policy of the Government was to rake up a past with which the members of the present Reform Party had no connection. Mr. Okey had said that personally he tried to forget the past and live for the future. “Let the dead bury tho dead.” Mr. Bellringer claimed that this was tho* most delightful thing that had fallen from Mr. Okey’s lips. The Opposition policy was simply nothing but raking up tho past. Charges of all kinds were being continually made by the members of the Opposition, and Mr. Okey with the words still hot on Ids lips proceeded to do tho very thing he professed to condemn. Did Mr. Okey expect to b© believed when ho said the members of the present ’Reform Party had nothing to do with the past of the Opposition ? 'When were Air. Massey, Mr. Allen, Mr. Herries re-incamated ? Every prominent man in tho present Opposition side had been amongst those who had for years derided and opposed tho humanitarian proposals of the Government. The Air. Massey of years ago was the same Air. Alassoy that led the Opposition to-day; his henchmen were* the same. Unitedly they had scorned and scoffed at tho Government legislation; there was scarcely a measure designed for tho good of the people that they had’ not opposed. Mr. Okey would like to bury that past, but ho could not dig a grave deep enough to bury such a record as tho leading Oppositionists—the Reform Party of to-day—had against them. Such puerile statements could not deceive the public who had benefited by Government legislation that the Opposition had derided. Mr. Okey further had been very ill-advised when he foolishly .asked the New Plymouth people to believe that Sir Joseph Ward and Sir William, Hall-Jones were ignoramuses and that Air. Massey was the enlighTenod all-wise legislator. It was childish; evidence ©apolitical incapacity and prejudice to allege as Air. Okey had jdone, that neither of these Government leaders could answer any simple question about land tenures in New Zealand. Sir Joseph Ward, as a business man, as an administrator, was undoubtedly one of the keenest and best-informed men in the Dominion, and the electors coold safely be left to judge Mr. Okey’s insinuations and foolish comparisons lor themselves. Referring to petroleum matters, Mr. Bellringer combatted Mr. Okey’s claim for all the credit of securing Government assistance for the industry. He had no desire that Air, Okey should not have his share, of the credit, but the truth was that Air. Ikaiy, Mr. .Carter, .and^the^peakerJiad^

as much, if not more, to do with the securing of Government assistance as the man, who appropriated all tho credit to himself. Mr. Okey introduced the deputation that waited on , the Minister of Mines, but failed to obtain for the deputation an interview with tho Prime Minister. Mr. Berry succeeded “on his own,” and the speaker also managed to get a private interview with the Minister for Mines. He corrected the mistake in the newspaper reports which mads him say that Mr. Okey was got present with the deputation ; he did not say so, and the facts just mentioned were the true ones. , He went on to show that during his term of Minister for Lands Sir Joseph Ward had settled a greater area of Crown land than during any similar preceding period. Air. Bellringer concluded with a glowing reference to the future opening up for Taranaki, in the establishing of which ho claimed to have done almost as big a share as anyone. Answering a number of questions, Mr. Bellringer said so long as tho liquor trade was a legalised ono bo would be prepared to assist hotelkeepers who desired to improve the trade in any way to do so. He had not an inside knowledge of the trade, aud could not offer, perhaps, the best remedies for its hotter control. He recognised that the trade was at present a legal one, however, and he would uphold tho law fairly. Mr. Connett proposed a vote of thanks to Air. Bellringer for his fighting address. Whatever side one took, all must admit he bad kept his end up well. Tho motion was carried.