GENERAL ELECTIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14241, 16 December 1919, Page 5

GENERAL ELECTIONS

LEADERS' ACTIVITIES. SIR J. WARD IN THE CAPITAL. ( THE PREMIER AT NAPIER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Sir J". G. Wlard addressed a crowded meeting at the Town Hall, when he had" a most cordial reception, and he spoke in good form on the lines of his previous speeches. Sir Joseph was repeatedly cheered, and at the close a vote of confidence in the Liberal Party was declared carried unanimously. xMAPJEK, Tuesday.

The Premier addressed about 2000 people in the Municipal Theatre last flight. Mr Massey was well received by a large section of the audience, and a .few gave him a mixed reception. He ■was Subjected to considerable interruption; and occasionally found it necessary to pause during the temporary uproar. However, he was frequently and loudly applauded, and cheered at the conclusion of the meeting. A vote of thanks was carried amidst overwhelming cheering and applause.

THE POLL TO-MORROW.

The polls for the election of candidates to Parliament and on the liquor question will take pla,ce to-morrow, the hours of polling being from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In view of the interest taken in the election, it is anticipated that the voting will be particularly heavy. The results will be exhibited, as they come to hand, in front of the Waikato Times Office to-morrow night. The Mayor (Mr P. H. Watts) notifies that to-morrow is a, public holiday after midday. That portion of Victoria Street between Garden Place and the Theatre ><oyal will be closed to vehicular, traffic between 7 p.m. and midnight tomorrow. ' . MR WATTS AT LEAMINGTON.

Mr P. H. Watts, the Independent candidate for the Waikato seat, spoke at Leamington last evening. There was an attendance of <SO people, Mr*-W. i .). White presiding. The candidate spoke principally along the lines of his previous speeches. He received a ve:yj attentive hearing, his remarks being | punctuated by frequent applause. At the close of his address the candidate was accorded a vote of thanks by acclamation on the motion of Mr J, Keeley. •■••• ,■ • MR YOUNG AT TE AWAIYIUTU. , ,*' - ' It Svas a packed house which greeted Mr JV A. Young, M.P., at Te Awamutu last night. His Worship the Mayor (Mr L. G; Armstrong) presided,,, and in introducing the speaker, said : the country to-day was in need of able and experienced men in Parliament, and Mr Young had shown that he possessed the right, qualifications to represent the people. j On rising to speak, Mr Young was I received with great applause. He was in first-class form and scored to great, advantage, much to the amusement of fcjs audience, when replying to the I usual interjections at the back of tho hall. He maintained that the political, promises of Sir Joseph Ward were not "dependable. During the last throe j years he was Prime Minister he pro-, mised to spend £750,000 on roading the backblocks,, while a* a matter of, fact his Government only voted £690,-1 000 or £60,000 short of his promise, but what was worse, he only spent £394,435, which was £355,565 short of his 1908 promise. Mr Massey from 1912 to 1914 did splendid work: He abolished the bad old financial system of placing to the credit of the consolidated fund the proceeds from the sale of Crown lands which had been purchased with borrowed money. The neform Government had always shown a strong finance. At the conclusion a number of questions were answered. Mr J. T. Johnson proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Young for his able speecn and confidence-in him as the man' *b represent Waikato in,Parliament. ..As a member of the Waipa County Council, he could say Mr. Young had ne.yir failed them, and by the great ability ,he had displayed in his public career he commanded respect and influence ia Parliament. (Applause.) • Mr Jas. Qliphant, president of the Te Awamutu Returned Soldiers' Assooiation, seconded with pleasure, and added that it could not be said that Mr Young was not a soldiers' friend. He, as president of the local Association, and hon. secretary of the Repatriation Committee, knew of the, valuable services given by Mr Young, who had kept him (Mr Oliphant) well \ posted in all Parliamentary reports j and papers bearing on soldiers' in- ' terests. The farmers say that Mr; Young was a good farmers' man, and as a returned soldier he could say Mr Young was a good soldiers' represents- i tive. (Applause.) Amidst loud applause the resolution was carried almost una- : n'mously, only two hands being held up against it. j The meeting was in every way a' -tcry successful and enthusiastic on*.' AT HAMILTON TO-NIGHT. ! Mr. Young, will address the electors ; in <the Theatre Royal, Hamilton, tonight, at 8 o'clock. Ladies are specially invited to be present.

MR JORDAN AT FAIRFIELD. Mr W, "7. Jordan addressed the largest political mectinng yet Iheld in Fairfield, nt the Schoolhouse, last evening. Mr C Sweet-man presided The candidate spoke of the necessity tor the establishment of Whitley Councils to settle industrial disputes and obviate the chaos of the present time. He pointed out the dangers to this country of its dependence upon shipping rings for getting produce away. Australia has 30 ships, and was building 31 others. "'We may fight the American Moat Trust," he said, "'but we wiTl be beaten if we continue to depend upon *thc Snipping Trust for teansprartation of 'goods. 'Our defences are weakened by the inattention o'i our Government to the physical needs of our growing people. If we, hnvc a healthy manhood, itnd line clubs (encouraged, wt can s o on form an array." A hearty vote of thanks for the :r.terestiutK " an d intelligent -address, moved 'by Mr Normwn, and seconded W Mr Chapman, wm carried unanimously..

ROTORUA "SEAT MR eOCKLY AT ROTORTJA. tßy Tefegraph. —Special lo Times). ROTORTJA, Tuesday. .Mr F. JF. Hockly, the Government candidate for Rotorua, addressed a crowded meeting in the King's Theatre last night. His vigorous and effective address was frequently applauded, tho large audience being undoubtedly sympathetic. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. The candidate's prospects for to-morrow are very bright.