GENERAL ELECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12785, 31 October 1919, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTION.

POINTS FOR ELECTORS. Mr Frank Frans, Registrar of Electors for .Christchurch North,' who is in charge .of the electoral bureau in the Government Buildings,, mentioned yesterday afternoon that in the compilation of the roll for the Southern Maori electorate a few instances had occurred of the claims being sent direct to the Electoral Department in Wellington, instead of to the Registrar of Electors lor the district. The names and addresses of all registrars were published at the end of the roils, which were now deposited for public inspection at all post offices. Specially addressed envelopes were also obtainable at post offices, and, .using these when sending in enrolment forms, no postage is required. Mr 'Evans pointed out that it was specially important that all claims tor enrolment should be sent direct to the registrar for the district, because they could not he accepted in time for the general election if received after the •time fixed by the Government for the closing of the rolls. Where a voter spoils a ballot paper through inadvertence), he may obtain another one, hut. only if the spoilt paper is returned to the deputy in charge of the booth. At previous elections a. number of ballot papers were made informal through the voters writing.their names on them. Section 49, of tho Legislature Amendment Acu. 1910, provides that returning officers must reject as’ informal ■ "any ballot paper whereon anything not- authorised by the Act R written or marked by ■ which; the voter can be identified.” Provision is made in the Legislature Act to meet the case of claimants for' enrolments who cannot write. Such an elector may sign the form by making his or her mark in the presence of a Justice of, the Peace, postmaster or Registrar of Electors. For the purpose of recording votes the Act provides that : dennty-retumino' officers shall assist a blind or disabled voter, or one who cannot read or write, by retiring with him or her, in the presence of scrutineers, into an inner compartment, _ and marking the ballot paper according to instructions of tho voter, who may then reouest the clmyitv to, allow the scrutineers to inspect the ballot paper before placing it in the ballot box. Tliis provision is regarded as being of importance, as there may he some people who refrain from taking advantage of their voting facilities through lack of knowledge of the assistance given to them. ' Members of theatrical companies and commercial travellers have a special clause dealing _ with the 'qualification for a, vote. It is provided that if they ■ have resided a year in the Dominion continuously prior, to the date of application. and are otherwise qualified, they are entitled .to enrolment notwithstanding that they have not resided a month in .-the district. In the case of members of theatrical companies, the applicant will be enrolled in the district vhere ho hapnens to be at the time, hut in the case of commercial travellers the applicant will bo enrolled for the district in which the headquarters of his firm are situated. THE ELLESMERE SEAT. i Mr George Barclay, the official Liberal/candidate for the Ellesmere seat, opened his campaign last night in the Little River Hall, before a ci'owdod mooting. Air J. V. Chapman, chairman of the Wairewa Countv Council, presided. A FARAIER CANDIDATE. Air Barclay, who had a very hearty, reception, said that he had.opened his campaign, in Little River because t e was among friends, if not among political supporters, and as he wras a newchuln and ,green to public speaking, ho 1 hoped that allowances would be. made for his maiden effort. ’ In asking for the support of the electors, he'stood as an ordinary working farmer, and it elected he, would work for the good of the workingman, the farmer and the! country as a whole. Tie was the chosen Liberal candidate, and while he would vote for the party on any no-confidence motion, he would support measures, hot as they suited parties, but as’they appeared right and just for the people of New? Zealand. (Applause.) ■ He-was not parochial,,, but he hoped. to attend to the interests of. the electorate. He opposed the Reform Party because it stood - frir trusts and profiteering, and its fetish of private enterprise.and wellknown opposition- to State,-enterprise unfitted it to deal with such subjects as trusts,_ profiteering and -the high cost of living. He hoped, however, for as hlean and straightforward a fight as his opponent was in the habit of riving. LAND SETTLEMENT. ' _ The foremost question was repatriation, and while the Governnient might he sincere in its . present policy it was admitted, that- land aggregation’was .in evil, and. to provide for. soldier settle-.

ment a- limit should be, placed on the area or value of estates held by ope person, especially of. first and secondclass land; which, was moro ; suitable.for. subdivision than back country, All land should be classified; .and'the number of soldiers requiring land should be . ascertained. 1 : A; - ’ fair: valuation should,' be fixed,' - and the land should be dealt' with by representative committees, • rent being fixed on productive/value, .and', the right to. the freehold being granted after a number of years’ settlement. Revenue should not be .made out .of the soldier, and ; lie should be exempt at least from; stamp 'duty.' ' Values were now perilously high and still rising, yet Mr Massey proposed to spend fourteen millions in the open market buying laud for soldiers. "Will that money bo spent for the benefit of the soldiers,” Mr Barclay asked, “or for the benefit of the, man who has land to sell? V ill the high. prices not be a. mile-stone round the neck,of,those soldiers? We did not hesitate to conscript men,' and if it is necessary that land aggregation should stop, then stop it by limiting the area.” (Applause.) TAXATION ANOMALIES. . A fairer and more equitable system of 'taxation was urged by ’Mr Barclay, who favoured individual taxation in placo of company taxation, and the continuation of the graduated tax < on incomes above the limit of, £6400. Mr Barclay gave, instances of inequitable taxation of men carrying mortgages, and declared that if Mr Massev could not find any more equitable sy'stem than the present methods he should be swept out. The nationalisation, of the means of production and distribution was opposed by Mr Barclay, but he declared iu favour of- State railways, post and telegraphs, mines, shipping . and hanks. He believed in State competition with trusts, and in . a State bank. The nationalisation of the coal mines would get over the present difficulty, and State colliers and - depots /would give the people better and cheaper-supplies. He believed in a State , bank . and a State shipping line, for the New, Zealand Shipping Company and Union Steam Ship Compare had become partners in a.world-wide combine, and there was no’ control over freights. He would concentrate on main railway lines.' The South Island was not getting a fair share of-railway expenditure, and it was significant), that .75-per cent of Mr Massey’s party came from the ‘ North Island... Workers’ Homes should be provided, Mr Barclay stated, and an endeavour should be made to procure the cheapest materials.. He believed in local loans, because the money was kept in the country, but lie opposed tax-free loans. The fifteen million surplus accumulated during the war should be used to help to extinguish the national debt and repatriate soldiers. The Government should fix the price of wheat twelve months ahead so that the country should not be left* to the vagaries of an Australian drought. OTHER MATTERS. ‘‘ I am opposed to’ Sir James Allen’s military training scheme,” Mr Barclay .continued.”.,- Ho urged■ medical inspection and physical'training in the schools, and while opposed to militarism he believed in, training the elder hoys by properly-equipped teachers. There w 7 as no n’eecl to rush into any extensive scheme of naval defence until it was seen how the-League of Na-' tions would, work, and a moderate system of aerial and subniarino_ defence should he adopted. As. for 'increased ■ production, it would- not ■•■be’; achieved 1 by, strikes and. go-slow policies, and! ho favoured a - Minister . of Industry ’ and ’:

Commerce.'* It was necessary, However, that New Zealand should get a. hjgh price for its primary;, exports,because .bad times always liifethe workingman hardest.'. while necessary, should be' undertakenjfonly; rafter* Now Zealand soldiers were repatriated.!. Secondary, education should be free, fwith free books up to - a certain limit. 1 s,The jNatJoaabGovernmerit- bad railed rn;controlling the cost of Hying, and although 'Mr Massey was' pmhislng to' check trusts they already existed. ... Hf| 'objected to. farmer's : "being called | prefitcers, but. the woollen and leainCf merchants were ■■•making huge profits and the balance-sheets- of- freezing panies suggested profiteering. Ail ’for labour unrest, be , ‘ strongly . 'opposeustrikes and the gbrslpw policy.- bhtiumyersal superannuation- and profit-shar-ing would. do much to make for icon■tented workers. - I,= -'-'i.- - Mr. Barclay/ was very enthusiastically applauded on ’ concluding. ■ In replying to questions, lie’ declared in dayonr. of an improved land .’.valuation .system, the present licensing legislation l ' and universal superannuation. i-v ; .Mr Jacobson proposed a vote of confidence in Mr' Barclay ,: arid this-- was carried unanimously; oh v show ‘or . hands'. - - * ; , ' v ‘ ." c H RISTCH URC H E AST SEAT, A well-attended meeting ' of friends and supporters of, Mr Hiram Hunter, Labour' candidatefor Christchurch East, was held jini,the Leyden Strode Hall last:evening.y Mr E.' ijangley Resided. Progress., reports .of- a veryieii•couraging nature- were received from members ■ 6f.’ the; committee, and * arrangements ■ were; made for continuing the campaign. It was decided to left"* orally open the‘campaign in St Saviour’s Schoolroom next week. . RICCARTOH SEAT, At the Riccarten Town ; Hall ’ last evening Mr J. Robertson, the labour candidate for the Riccarton scat, addressed a well-attended meeting-of elector?. Mr Ford, the Mayor of Riccarton, presided.' . The candidate ,was frequently applauded durine His ,d----dress, and fit its close answered a number of questions. • A vote of thanks .and .confidence was. oassed .mnaninrou'- '!.*• Ma' Robertson will’ speak'• a'ii::Templeton this evening. ,-ar