PARS ON POLITICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 819, 16 November 1905, Page 26

PARS ON POLITICS.

The Premier visited Huntly and Piikekbhe on Monday. At Huntly Mr. Massey, who was a passenger by the express to Morrinsville, exchanged greetings with Mr. Seddon, who jocularly remarked that he had come, up to give Mr. Massey a turn. After addressing a meeting at Huntly, the Premier returned to Pukekohe by the down express. Speaking at,, Pukekohe, he said that whilst every progressive measure of the present Government had been opposed by the Opposition, the latter party was now supporting them all and taking credit to themselves for so doing. It had been said that a strong Opposition was a good brake on the State coach. This was true when it was going downhill, but in tlia case of the present Government the coach-had been going uphill,- and the Opposition brake, had made it a terrible load to bear. They had' been told that the Premier should not travel round the country; but it should be borne in mind that there were 80 or probably 120 candidates in the* colony- who were taking every chance to say something against the Government. Mr. Massey had invited: him to come to the Franklin district and tb contest the seat with hiin. He therefore hoped that Mr. Massey would fully appreciate the consideration that was being shown to him. His duty was to go wherever- the people desired to see him.

In the evening the Premier was entertained at a largely-attended social by the members of the Pukekohe branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation.

Mr. F. Lawry, M.H.R., addressed a large meeting of electors in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Parnell, last evening.. The M"vdr of Parnell (Mr. J. Fitt) presided. The chairman briefly introduced Mr. Lawry, who, he stated, had represented the constituency in Parliament for fifteen years.

Mr. Lawry, who on rising to speak, was greeted with applause, said that for a time he was going to speak of the past. Fifteen years ago he was asked to contest Parnell, and was promised a requisition from his friends. He replied that he objected to requisitions on principle, be-

cause they were a direct violation of the secrecy of the ballot-box. He would even favour legislation to make requisitions ibegal. Requisitions either violated the secrecy of the ballot-box or made the person signing them tell a deliberate lie. It had been asked, “ What has Frank Lawry done for Parnell?” His reply was that he had done all that Parnell had asked him to do. He did not only represent Parnell, but he went to Parliament to represent people of New Zealand from the North Cape to Stewart Island. When he entered Parliament, in 1887, the whole of the flocks of the country were infected with scab. There had been great loss among the farmers through that disease. He had then assisted to bring pressure to bear upon the Government, and he had the honour of bringing a report down to the House in 1891 stating that there was not a diseased sheep in the colony. As the chairman of the committee set up to make that report he was glad to say that they had shown the world that it was possible to wipe the disease of scab out of their flocks. After that he turned his attention to the rabbits, and yet people said, “ Whas has Frank Lawry done for the colony?” After uring the electors to keep the present Great Liberal Government in power, he was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.

The Opposition candidate for Dunedin Central has discovered to his dismay that the roll of that constituency has suddenly been swelled by the addition of some 300 or 400 seamen’s names. Some of these seamen are on vessels loading in and out of Auckland, others a-e on the Island trade, and elsewhere. Mr. Adams, speaking at Waikari, claimed

claimed that seamen had a right to vote where their homes were. If they had no homes they should have the piivilegfl of being placed upon the roll of whichever district their ship was in the habit of calling at, but he protested against seamen being placed upon the electoral roll of Dunedin Central when their ships never called there, or their homes were not there. He had men put upon his roll who had no right L o be there. He asked the electors if they approved of such things, or whether they reserved to themselves' the right to choose their representative? The protest was loudly applauded.

Sir W. Russell addressed a large meeting at Wairoa on Saturday, and was well received. He denied that the Opposition would repeal any Government measures, but severely criticised the “ oneman Government,” condemning Mr. Seddon as a rail-sitter in his -want of policy on the laind quest’on. He opposed the compulsory expropriation of land. He favoured granting freehold tenure to every man willing to pay for it, as well as money to buy further land. He supported the alteration of appointments to the Upper House, by placing th m on an elective basis, and condemned the principle of letting railways pay only 3 per cent., taxpayers who had no railways being made to pay 1 per cent, for those who used them. As to the Na L ive Land Court, judges shou d not be rer’patetic, but remain in the several districts till their ■work was completed. The licensing question had passed from the members to the people. All could vote as they pleased in the interests of the country. He was opposed to Bible-reading in

schools. A vot of thanks and confidence was passed unanimously.

The writs, according to statute, will be returnable in twenty-one days, that is on December 13th. The elections will take place a week earlier.

The City Council have decided that where there are no public halls available in the neighbourhood for meetings during the election, no action will be taken in respect of political meetings held in Church halls.