GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16906, 4 December 1922, Page 8

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED. QUERIES TO CANDIDATES FROM R.S.A. The Christchurch. Returned Soldiers’ Association recently forwarded four questions to all local candidates lor Parliament. Following are the que« tions. and a summary of the replies received : (1) War Pensions.—lf the liar Pensions Commission's report is favourable to the returned soldier?, will you. 11 elected, vote in favour of legislation to give effect to it? <2) Housing Do you favour the full re instatement of rho provisions of the? Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act. enabling advances to be made for the building of houses for returned sol(3) Repatriation Do you favour the extension of Repatriation Act benefit-; for at a further twelvo months iron. December 31. 1922? (4) Land Are uni in favour ot the revaluation of soldier settlements, iu all -n-es where it can be shown the.the land was purchased by inflate! prices ? The following candidates hav-* answered all four questions in the affirmative: Mr-'. A. E. Herbert. l.icut.-CoL A. F T/oach. and Messrs D G. Sullivan. MT. J. A M’Cul lough. E. II Andrews, W R Devcreux and E. I. Hownr4 and Rev -1. Iv Archer Tlw> Hon G Russell answered the first three questions in the affirmative, am! with regarrl to No. 1 stated that he was of the ojnnion that evorv section should be revalued. Mr H. S Kyle answered tbe first throe questions in the affirmative, am! with regard to No. 4 stated: 1 believe that the board now established to go into the soldier settlement, question will see that the soldiers are well looked after, and if they consider that the land has been purchased at too high a value, then they would recom mend in the direction indicated. I can definitely state that I will support the soldiers if legislation is brought dow n to that effect, i e . if it be proved that the land was purchased ui an inflated price.” Mr H. C. Lane answered the first three questions in the affirmative and with regard to No. 4 stated : “ Tn m; opinion returned soldiers should havo the land .it a valuation approximatin' that on August 1. 1014.”' Mr I. M. Tsitt, M.P . replied a> follows:—*‘l am stronglv in favour of all the suggestion* in your questions, and will support them as far as I am able ” Mr G. Witty. M.P.. replied stating that he made it. ? mile to answer ail questions from the public platform, and it i-- understood that he answered all the four question* in the affirmative at hie meeting at F* ndalton. Replies have not yet been received from ihe following candidates: Messrs IT. 0 Ell. H T. Armstrong .1. M"Combs. M.P R Macartncv. J. C Freo Dr H. T. J. Thacker. M.P an t Sir Heaton Rhode?.

THE PRIME MINISTER. SUFFERING FROM A COLD. (Pv.R PfF.S* AsbociatiowA WKiLI J NGTON. December 3. Mr Massey returned from his southern tour on Saturday night. He spoke at Kaikoura on Friday night. On Saturday he motored to Pieton and caught the Wainui there. He was to speak at Pahiatua. Dannevirke and Woodville to-morrow night, but develoi>ed a bad cold, due probably to wet v.father. Acting on medical advice he cancelled his engagements. He row is confined to bed. His condition is not serious, but he has a slight tori.THE LABOUR PARTY. GOOD WISHES FROM BRITAIN. (Pfr Prf.ss A&*ociatio.i<..> WELLINGTON. December 2. The following cable was received todav by the National Office of the New Zealand Labour Party from the British Labour Party:— “ Nash. Labour Party. Wellington— British Labour Party, now hia Majesty's Opposition in Parliament at Westminster. sends fraternal greetings to New Zealand Labour Party, and cordial wishes for a great triumph at the general elections pending. World peace, national freedom and economic justice are tlw corner stones of Labour’s policy in all part« of the British Commonwealth. and a powerful Labour Party in New Zealand will help to advance the cause of international peace, economy, reconstruction and social well-being. On behalf of the cxecu ne of the British Labour Party,— SIDNEY WEBB, M.P . Chairman, ARTHUR HENDERSON. Secretary.” ELLESMERE. Tim cordial receptions that lie ha r met with wherever he ban addressed meetings have proved very gratifying to Ml- .1. ( . Frey, tho Libera! Labour candidate for the Ellesmere seat. There is abundant evidence that in inativ parts ot the electorate Mr Free should not only poll better than his Reform opponent, but -hould score decisively. Many farmers, particularly the sma\i tarmer> wh<» cm past- occasions hav. given lifted to Reform promises and boasting, have come to the conclusion apparently that thev hare been foilontng a rainbow, and are turning now the less ostentatious but much niory > material benefits of Liberalism. Mr Free has had evidence in n number * places that a revuUiou in public feeliim is going to operate to his advantage on j polling dny. and among those who hav* | remained always faithful to the Libera! ; cause there is a feeling of quiet optimism and a conviction that a( last. Ellesmere is going to turn to Liberal ism. When laet Mr Free offered him >«IF to the electors—in 1914—-he polled only 2£>7 votes less than his opponent. Even the Reform supporters in th* Prebbleton district are predicting that Mr Free is going to capture many new votes in that area alone, an area that IjtPt time returned a majority tor ihe sitting member. Prospects in th Spring?tou area, are equally bright-, aqd Mr Free’s meetings at both places hare beep unusually large and enthusiastic The purely working class vote will be practically a certainty for the Liberal and has been made more solid by the tactics of some Reformers among the emplovers iu the district, who have let i- be known, ns a hint to their employees, that they prefer to have work ing on their farms men who will vote

for the present Administr* cion. Theee tactics have naturally caused a great deal of resentment and indignation, and have destroyed any slender chances that Sir Heaton Rhodes may have had of securing support from the working MR FREE AT SPRINGSTON. Air Free addressed a large meeting ir» the Springs ton Hall on Saturday evening. Air A. Thompson presided. Mr Free said that the Liberals were accused by the Reform Party of wish ing to combine witfi the Labour extremists. That was a very unfair accusation. The Reformers had done the very thing they accused the Liberal Party

of doing, and it was through Reform combining with Labour that the defeat Of tho Liberals was brought about. The Reformers took the advice given by the Reform newspapers and voted solidly with Labour. Mr Massey had promised that he was going to bring about- reform. Well, it would be interin. The farmers had not had an opportunity- to notice any reforms in th:' matter of their taxation. The Government’s method of meeting the competition against the railways was to raise their charges and freights. \ They did not cater for trade as any ! business man would. Mr Free cited a J number of cases of gross mismanage J meat in respect, to the trucking of i good-5 from, country stations. The action. of the Government iu setting up I the Railway Board was merely a method -oi relieving the Minister of Railways tot his responsibilities, ft- was the Gov ] eminent’s duty to make a better effort ! than was being made to stop the drift ! on the railways. i The farmers were very disappointed j at the way in which the Massey* Govi eminent had disregarded the promises ; they made and on the .strength of which | they, were returned to power. Wher--1 ever he had gone, he had found that j the farmers were now opposing the Govj emmerit. Mr Massey had asserted that the ; country had turned the corner, it was | a pity ho did not toil the truth in this | matter, and not invite the people to I live in a fools’ paradise. Air Free cited ; Mr Massey’s erroneous estimate of rail | way revenue to demonstrate bow unrej liable were the Prime Minister’s statements. Since Mr Massey had lost the services of the Liberal Coalition Minister?. he had gone steadily back. The whole trouble seemed to be that Mr Massey had no initiative. Mr Massey was not in Parliament to break rings. He wa© put- there by the vested interests. The wealthy classes put him there to look after their inter- ■ eats. They thought he vras a very tine j fellow. 1 A Voice: Of course! j Air Free said that for Mr Massey to | say that he stood for the working j classes—well, he always thought he I stood for- the vested interests. The j Liberal Party was the party that stood for the poorer classes. Mr Massev could not have stood for the poorer classes when he, voted against every measure that would benefit those classes. Mr Massey claimed that he had raised pensions. Of course he had! He dare not. do otherwise. The farmers were swinging round again to the Lib- | eral Party that had done so much for i them when it. was on the Treasury j benches. The question every elector i had to ask himself next Thursday was. ; Is the Massey Government the best for |me ? So long as the people were con j tout with the present Government* just | so long would their conditions remain in their present unsatisfactory state. The farmers had had enough of the Government, and they would find that j to bo tho case when tho numbera vent | up. It was merely a. question of which ! party wa© going to do tho best for tlio country. Tho labouring man and the. small farmer should support the Liberal Party. Mr Massey was a good man for the wealthy people. It was for the people who had boon helped by th > Liberals to assist the Liberals to return to power. The party to put this country back to its previous state «»f prosperity was the party that, before the advent of Reform, had placed if in such a prosperous position. Mr Free was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.

ABSENTEES’ PERMITS. A HEAVY DEMAND. Electoral officers in Christchurch aro being kept- very busy with applications for absent voters permits. To dale the following permits have been issued.:--Avon .... 210 Christcburcu North . . 277 Christchurch South . .187 Christchurch East . 230 Applications are still pouring in, an 1 the final numbers will br> very much larger than those given. R ICC ART OX Mr J. A. M’Cullougb, Labour candi date, addressed a meeting ol electors on Saturday evening in the Glen tunnel Oddfellows’ Hall at 7.30, Mr J. Todd presiding. At 8.30 p.m. he addressed another meeting at the Coalga to Hall, when a very large audience assembled. A large number of questions were asked, and at both meetings votes thanks were carried by acclamation. AVON. Air D. G. Sullivan, Labour candidate tor Avon, addressed two well-a trended meetings on Saturday evening. The th*st was at the corner ot North Avon Kuad and Stamnore Road, Richmond, where Air S. Pentecost presided. Air Sullivan wa* heartily cheered at th/i conclusion of his address, and was at corded a unanimous vote ol thanks and confidence. The second meeting was Iteld at the corner of Harrow Street and Bordeslev (Street, Air T. C. Tvon presiding. Mr Sullivan was cheered both on his arrival and at tbe eouciu. sion of his adrjresa and was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. Lieutenant Colonel A. E. LoacF, the Reform candidate for Avon, addressed a large attendance at the Surf Club pavilion. North Beach, on Saturday night. fhe candidate gave an address ori the lines of his previous .sfieeches, and was accorded a very attentive healing. Questions were answered- and a

! vote of thanks and confidence was I passed. KAIAPOT. Air D. Buddo has been busy in j outlying centres of the electorate €>n \ Friday and Saturday evenings lie ad I dressed meetings at Tiritiri, the Marj ren, Ohopuka, Swannanoa ami East | Eyreton. At all these places he was well received; a.nd votes of thanks were j passed. CHRLSTCHT RCH NORTH. Air J. K. Archer, Labour candidate, addressed a large a nd enthusiastic ) meeting in the Young Men’s Guild Hall on Saturday evening. Air Jaa ! M’Cullough occupied the chair. Sev- | oral questions were answered and Air I A roller was accorded a vote of thanks i and confidence with one dissentient. RIOC AR T ON Air G. Witty addressed tbe electors :on Friday night at Charing Cross : Schoolroom. Afr Lent in the chair, i Though it was a wet night there was a good attendance. . Air AVitty had , questions and he was accorded a hearty j vote of thanks. Later he spoke in the : hall. Greondalc. There was a. large ; attendance., and Air AVavrcn presided | Several questions were askd and on the j motion of Air C Adams a vote of i thanks was carried. On Saturday night Mr Witty a d ; dressed a well attended meeting in the ! Orange Hall. Hornby. Air AY. Alanhire jin the chair. A rote of thanks and ; confidence was carried with applause TO-NIGHT’S MEETINGS. j CHRISTCHURCH EAST.---Dr Thacker-—Corner of Shake-speare and Wilson’s Roads. ' Air W. R. Devereux—Corner of Fitzgerald Avenue and Leeds Slreev. Afr H. T. Armstrong—Oomer of Grafton and Charles Streets (with Mr R. Semple), corner of Fisher j and Norwood Streets, j C HRISTCHURCH NORTH. S Air •L. M. I silt—St Luke's SchoolI room. ! Mr E. H. Andrews—-Corner of Rep- ! ton Street and AfeYivale Lane, coi- ! iter ol Manchester and Salisbury j Streets. The Rev J. K. Archer—Rugby StreetSchoolroom. j CHRISTCHURCH SOUTH ; Air H. C. Lane—Jellicoe Hall. Mr R. M". Thomson—Beckenham ' Hall. ; Mr E. »T. Howard—Coiner of da's rence Road and Dudley Street, cor. ! ner of Strickland and Barrie Streets. Air H. G. Ell—Leith and Strickland Streets, Coronation and Selwyn I Streets, Jerrold Street Reserve. ! AVON.— Hon G. AY. Russell—6.3o Til am and I Albert Streets; 7.4-5 corner Retreat Road. Patten and Streets ; 8.15 Hey wood Terrace and Draper Street; Richmond. A. E. Herbert—Joyland The- ! at re. New Brighton. ! Colonel A. E. Loach—South Brighton Hall. Air D. G. Sullivan —Corner of -Armagh and Rolleston Street?, corner of Tuain and Phillip Streets. I P. ICCARTON Mr G. Witty—White cliffs School and Homebush School. ' Mr J. A. M’Cullough-—Oddfellows’ Hall, Templeton. Mr IT. S. S. Kyle—Papamii Schoolroom. : KAIAPOI.—i Afr I>. Buddo—Summerhill .School and SprjngbaJik, Stoke. Afr R. D. Martin—Oust, Fern side Railway Station and R-angiora Institute Hall. Air D. Jones —Ka-iapoi Hall, j LYTTELTON,Mr J. M.’Combs—Cashmere Public j School. Afr R. Macartney—corner of Hill’s and AA’ilson’s Roads, corner of Hopkins and Parkes Streets, St Alark’s School room, Opavra. ELLESMERE ; Mr J. C. Free—Alethven. Hon Sir R. Heaton Rhodes—Lees-ton Town Hall. HURI7NUT.— Afr G. W. ForHefi—Kaikoura. Afr S. Andrew —Lobum Hall. ASHBURTON.Mr F. R.. Cooke—Hampstead.