ON THE HUSTINGS.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16626, 23 October 1925, Page 5

ON THE HUSTINGS.

SHOTS IN THE CAMPAIGN. POLITICAL GLEANINGS. FROM CANDIDATES' SPEECHES. “liubour seems to be a cross-word puzzle. It has tried to construct a political pianola that will play any tune.”—The Hon. W. Downie Stewart, at Dunedin West. * * * * “Mr Sullivan brought along the old Socialistic fiddle, but he played on it a lullaby. For this election the Red Flag has been hauled down, folded up and put away. And it will not be used again until after the election.” Mr W. E.’Leadley, Reform candidate for Avon, in his speech at New Brighton, criticised the opening speech of his opponent.

“When the Labour Party speaks of abolishing capitalism,” says the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, “it merely substitutes State capitalism for private capitalism. The consumer is not benefited.”

“What nationality are you?” a questioner asked’ Mr T. Lamont, Nationalist candidate for Takapuna. Mr Lamont, whose vtoicie /revives memories of nights wi’ Burns and the like, retaliated: “You try to borrow a fiver from me, and you’ll soon find out.” i

“ ‘Wage-slaves’ is Labour’s great catch-cry, but surely at is better to provide work at such wages as a country can afford than to reproduce the conditions in Russia, where they seem to have slavex-y w'ithout wages.”—Hon. W. Downie Stewart. * * * * History Repeats Itself. Referring to the antiquity of conciliation, Sir John Luke, during his address, mentioned that so long ago as the year 1812 Belgium had a Conciliation Act which was much on the same lines as the one' in existence in New Zealand. However, as time went on the workers broke the Act down by asking for impossible conditions. History was evidently repeating itself, as attempts were being made on the same lines by Labour hex-e. * * * *

How Sir Maui Pomare Became Scotch Sir Maui Pomare always says he is Scotch, remarked the Prime Minister at Kailtohe, and when asked to give his genealogy isays it was ,a process of absorption. One of his ancestors ate a Scotsman. # » * * Sir Joseph Ward.

He was not out for leadership or to replace Messrs Coates or Forbes, but was out for the country, because he was convinced that difficult times were ahead. He had never in his public career inti'igued with men on either side, nor would be do so now. His special knowledge, the l-esult of life’s work, would be given fully and unreservedly to help national progress and the prosperity of all classes in the Dominion.—Sir Joseph Ward at Invercargill. * * * * * What About Them?

Asked his attitude towards a bachelor tax, Mr J. J. McGrath said the other evening: “I will be careful. Being a married man, and knowing the happiness of mai*ried life, I think we should leave these unfortunate bachelors alone. God know, they have a miserable enough time now.” (Laughter.) A voice: What about the old maids? * * * * A Brain Storm.

“Somebody has described a Bolshe vik as a brain storm entirely surrounded by whiskers, but in this manifesto the litter ha shaken the place of whiskers. The Labour manifesto is a tribute to the colossal conceit of those of the delegates who compiled it.”--Mr J. J. McGrath (1.N.) /'# * * * In Favour of Fusion. Mr J. Bitohener, M.P. for Waitaki, in an address he gave at Ranfurly, paid a tribute to Mr Coates as Prime Minister. He said he was in favour of fusion, and stated that sooner or later it would become an established fact.

* * * * Can't Trust You. A Labour supporter at Mr Dunbar Sloane’s meeting had on several occasions jumped up and made a short speech under the guise of asking a question. When the candidate s address was concluded the man again jumped up and said: “Can I ask a question?” Mr Blair (chairman) “No, I can’t trust you. I will give a man a run, but I can’t trust you. Come another night.” “I want to ask a question.” The chairman: “Then write it out.” *** . . * 4 An Experiment Justified. “The Reform Party did a courageous thing when it selected Mr Coates as Prime Minister, but is there a man in the country to-day who can honestly declare that the experiment was not justified, and that it has not been a brilliant success?" —Mr Wright, at Wadestown. * * * * A Great imperialist. His opponent, Mr Mcllvride, had informed his audience that the Labour Party was following the policy of the late Richard John Seddon. Seddon, said Mr Mason, was a great statesman and one of the greatest Imperialists who ever lived. He was the first to offer troops to the Mother Country when war broke out in South Africa. He did not think that any Labour members supported the country in that way during the Great War. As a party they had supported seditionists and those who refused to go on active service. “Mr Seddon,” said Mr Mason, “was not a man who would support that.”—Mr J. Mason (R.), Napier.