THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16614, 9 December 1919, Page 7

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

TARANAKI SEAT. MR. BUCKERIDGE AT VOGELTO'WN Mr. G. H, Bnckeridge spoko at Vogeltown last night. Mr. W. Grant presided over an attendance of about 80. The candidate received a vote thanks, and confidence was expressed in the Government. , MR. SMITH AT MANGOREI. Mr. S. G. Smith had two splendid meetings at Mangorei last night. The first was at Lower Mangorei, where there was an attendance of about 30. , The proceedings were most enthusiastic, and at the conclusion Mr. Smith was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. One speaker remarked that he had been a supporter of the .Reform Party all his life, but lie was satisfied to have Mr. Smith as member now. Later Mr. Smith went to Upper Mangorei, where about 30 electors gave him an enthusiastic reception. He received a vote of thanks and confidence. THE STRATFORD SEAT. MR.. MASTERS AT WHAEEHUIA. The settlers of Wharehuia are keenly interested in politics as evidenced by the large crowd that attended Mr. Masters’ meeting on Saturday evening. The schoolroom was crowded, there being fully 100 present. Tho address was listened to attentively and questions answered. At tho conclusion of the meeting Mr. Sangster moved that the candidate be accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. Mr. V. Smith moved and Mr. Hamilton seconded an amendment that Mr. Masters be thanked for his address and that this meeting is of the opinion that be is the most suitable person to represent the small farmer and worker of this electorate j in Parliament. Tho amendment was j carried. Mr. A. Bretherton occupied • the chair. After the meeting a sit-down supper was provided by the ladies of | the district for all and sundry’ in the | school luncheon room. I

HON. J. B. JUNE AT TUN 4. At Tuna on Saturday evening -Major Hine addressed between 30 and 40 electors on the usual political questions of the day, the address being listened to attentively. Mr. Hathaway presided, and at the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks to the speaker and motions of confidence in him and the Government were moved by Mr. Aylward and carried. ME. MASSEY IN AUCKLAND. RECEIVES ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Dec. 8. Mr. Massey addressed two political meetings in Auckland to-night. The first was in Newmarket, in the Auckland East district, where Mr. Cluthy, Mackenzie, a blind soldier candidate, is opposing the Hon. A. M. Myers, and the second was in Parnell v where Mr. Dickson is the Government candidate. Mr. Massey was in excellent form and delivered speeches on the lines of his previous addresses. At the Parncli meeting a vote of thanks and continued confidence in the Reform Party was carried by a large majority. Both meetings were packed to the doors and many were unable to gain admittance. SIR JOSEPH WARD. MAKES SOME EXPLANATIONS. MARTINBOEOUGH, Dec. 8.

Sir Joseph Ward had an enthusiastic reception at Martinborough to-night. On opening his address he stated that he was there to explain the policy he had placed before the public of the Dominion, and as a supporter of Mr. Hornsby, the sitting member for AVairarapa. There certainly had been a difference of opinion between Mr. Hornsby, himself and other members, not in a personal way, but in connection with acts of the National Government. At one time it looked as if Mr. Hornsby would stand as an Independent. This forced him (Sir Joseph Ward) to look for another supporter, but the difference, happily, was righted and made up, and Mr. Hornsby wrote to him that he was prepared loyally to stand for the party. That being so, he asked all supporters of the original party to support Mr. Hornsby and stand together. Whatever differences there had been there could be no doubt /that Mr. Hornsby had loyally supported the National Government, and was never afraid to stand up loyally for the Empire. Sir Joseph went on to explain why he left the National Government. He urged the nationalisation of the more important of the coal mines, and the same superannuation scheme as was in vogue in the New Zealand railways. He held this would overcome any desire to strike. He touched upon the enormous public debt, stating that, in order to obtain liquidation, it was necessary to increase taxation on increase of revenue. He denied he was out for a general nationalisation of all industries, but he urged that coal mines and hydro-electric schemes should be nationalised. This would entail no tax on the ratepayers, but would rather tend to decrease the heavy burden of the war tax. He urged, as imperative, the establishment of a great State Bank on the lines of the French State Bank and German State Bank. He wanted to see the revenue going into the hands of the owners of the banks go into the general funds of the people themselves. These three schemes were in the best and truest interests of the people. He would nationalise the oil steamer ferry service between the islands, to work in conjunction with the railways. Sir Joseph Ward then referred to Martinborough railway, the first sod of which he turned years ago. There were only nine miles, and the line should have been completed in six to nine months from the time the sod was turned. He "urged speeding up all railway construction and finishing all authorised railways in this country within three years. The railways were earning per cent., and the new construction would cost the taxpayers nothing. The main roads should be administered by local bodies, the funds being supplied by the Government. He urged that the Government should import 500 motor chassis and put them on the road to carry men and women to and from tho railways in the backblocks. The Government should hold all petrol stocks I which came to New Zealand, unless the present holders allowed the people to have it at a reasonable price. It was Is 6d a gallon in America and 3s and 3s 6d here, and this was not to be borne. He strongly advocated closer

land settlement, and urged an increase of the graduated land tax to force large holdings being cut up. inferring to the housing scheme for people in receipt of £3OO or less, Sir Joseph said that 6000 homes were necessary to meet the shortage. The Government should build all the houses within four years, and these should be available for purchase by town or country residents at 10s 6d per week. There would bo no tax on the people, as the money would come from the £2,200.000 surplus in the Post Office Savings Bank, taken at the rate of one million per year and lent to the people at 31 per cent. The speaker condemned profiteering, and urged the necessity of the reduction of the cost of living by the Government, and making it possible to provide from two to four acres for men of towns to work on and grow their own food.

Moderate Labour must be recognised and represented in Parliament. Militarism, as outlined by the Minister, he was against, and did not desire the perpetuation of militarism. He favoured tho territorial system and cadet and physical training in schools. _ Ho strongly advocated the League of Nations, explained its workings, and expressed himself wholly against- onr local navy, and urged standing by tlic British Navy and carrying on the scheme submitted by Lord Jellicoe. In conclusion ho condemned the present system of election. When the second ballot was repealed, Mr. Massey promised something artier, but at present the old system ruled and the first past the post won Thu. did not ensure majority rule,, but allowed a third party to come in and ensure that the strongest man did not get in.

THE ASHBURTON SEAT. A CANDIDATE’S WITHDRAWAL. ASHBURTON, Dec. 8. Mr H. M. Jones, Democratic Liberal candidate for Ashburton and former secretary of the Protestant Political Association here, informed the Guardian reporter to-day that two weeks ago Mr. Howard Elliott camo to him and asked him to withdraw from contesting tho scat in favour of the Hon. \V. N'osworthy. Mr. Elliott said; - “If you will withdraw in favour of Mr. Nosworthy your expenses will bo paid to date, and your name will be lavourably considered and forwarded for a seat in the Upper House.” Mr. Jones replied that too oiler did not appeal to him and refused absolutely to retire from the contest. Mr. Jones to-day expressed wonder as to who was responsible for those easy entrances to tho Upper House. ASHBURTON, Dec. 8.

Mr. H. M. Jones, interviewed by a Guardian reporter to-day, re-affirmed the statement of an offer made by tho Rev. Howard LLiott. Mr. Jones saitl he did not know Mr. Elliott's reason for asking him to withdraw, although he did say that the request was made in the interest of Protestantism. Mr. Elliott added that lie had been instrumental in getting a candidate to withdraw from a North Island constituency.

Referring to Mr. Massey’s statement that his (Mr. Jones’) withdrawal was not likely to benefit the Reform candidate, Mr. Jones explained that the official support of the Ashburton brunch of the Protestant Political Association had been given to the lion. W. S. Nosworthy, for whose election Air. Elliott made a strong appeal at- r. recent public meeting in Ashburton. At: the same meeting Air. Elliott stilted [ ho had asked Air. Jones to withdraw and had boon refused. Air. Jones said to-day that as he had been interim secretary of the Protestant Political Association, it was likely ho would receive some Protestant Political Association support, which otherwise would have gone to Air. Nosworthy, if he (Air. Jones) withdrew. “They are afraid I’ll take votes from Air. Nosworthy,” added Air. Jones. Interviewed this afterno'i in regard to the alleged offer to Air. .Tones, the Hon. W. Nosworthy stated that as far as he was concerned he denied absolutely having anything to do with the alleged offer as stated by Air. Jones to have been made by him, and purporting to state that he had been offered a scat in the Legislative Council if he would retire in favour of Air. Nosworthy. Air. Nosworthy a need that ho had no interest whatever in any of the candidates, and was fighting the election entirely on his own merits, and further the Government with which he was associate!! would in no sense countenance any such move. Any statements to the contrary were , absolutely false. ! AVELLINGTON, Dec. 8. i Regarding the alleged offer fo a. candidate in the Ashburton contest, ■the Rev. Howard Elliott states that on behalf of the Protestant Political Association ho interviewed Mr. H. AI. Jones with reference to his candidature, as it was considered locally that Air. Jones might divide the Protestant vote. Ho urged Air. Jones on this : account to withdraw from the contest, i and he understood the Protestant Po- : litical Association would meet any ex- : pense incurred np to that date. Air. ! Jones requested a week lo consider the request, and pledged Irnself to treat it confidentially. He declined to stand down, intimating That ho he- : lievcd it to be a matter of religious i duty to stand. Mr. Elliott says the j suggestion of a sent in the Legislative j Council is so nonsensical that it is I unworthy of notice. Neither Air. | Massey nor Mr. Nosworthy was consulted, nor wore they aware of the intention to approach Air. Jones.