THE ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 331, 19 October 1908, Page 7

THE ELECTIONS.

NEWS AND NOTES,

CANDIDATES AND THEIR SPEECHES. ; At the Thoradon Bowling Club's green oil Saturday afternoon the Prime Minister opened the green for the season, tho Hons. Jaines Millar and James Carroll " skipped " rinks, and half a dozen candidates for parliamentary honours acted an amiable part on ,tho bank. Politics became mixed with bowls. "Do you think he's got a chance?" said a spectator. "Ho's narror and he's no up," said an adjaoent bowler. Was it prophetic? " Ho may get through on tho second ballot," 'said another.' " Come up on the fore hand, '■ye might get in here," sounded like a reply. ("I'll givo him a run for it, anyhow," said a candidate.' "That's right, drive him into' tile gutter!" came from the green. " Between the two 1 might squeeze in," remarked a prospective M.P. "If you can come up a little firm and rest between 'em you'll get the sh'otl" shouted a skip. "What price G ss for tho portfolio?" ventured a chatterer. "Good for you, he's a touchert" yelled an irresponsible No. 3. "How about B——e?" said tho other. "Deadheadl" shouted an entire rink near by. .Earmarking of Candidates. ■ The branding and tho ear-marking of sheep was a very useful device when sheep ■ became "boxed" (said Mr. David Jones at Geraldine on Friday evening), but when tho practice was adopted by a Government in earmarking and branding its candidates, as had been done and was being done by tho present Government, he thought tho practice was an infringement of the rights and usages of an enlightened people. He dosired to tell them that he would not have consented to stand for the Ashburton seat had ho thought that that was the foremost desire of the peoplo of the electorate. One of tho unfortunate legacies left by tho lato Mr. Seddon was his practice in personally controlling the votes of tho people; and so much had this personal influence been brought to bear, that it had frequently led to the election of men who would not liavo' been elected had they been obliged to fight on their own merits. A reform in tho direction indicated was necessary, and it rested with tho electors of the Dominion to effect it. Were tho people of the Dominion going to follow in the wake of tho Government without murmur or rebuke they could not' ido better than re-elect tho members that at present occupied seats in the House. He was pleased to note ; however, that there was ,a strong and growing feeling which had as its object an entire change in the personnel ..of th? House of Representatives, and a putting aside of those members who in tho past had allowed themselves by thought and will to be dragged at the heels of tlieii party, and who had in that way sacrificed their'principles. Another Richmond in the Field. Tho Wellington correspondent of a southern paper has wired that in all probability Mr. Tom Mackenzie, member for Waikouaiti, will succeed Mr. Hall-Jones in the Cabinet, not necessarily as Minister for Railways, How many moro probables? CANTERBURY NOTES. BTJDDO-MOORE DUEL AT KAIAPOL (HI TELSQBArU.— Sl'ltCUl. CORMISI'ONDHNT.I

Ciiristohurch, October 18. There has been a dropping fire of political speeches throughout Canterbury for the past fortnight, but this week the fight begins in real earnest. None of the candidates for the three City seats has yet ■taken to tho platform, with the exception of Mr. Jas. Thorn, but meetings of supporters' are being hold, committees are beings formed, ana plans are being laid for. tho campaign. .By the end of tho week probably every candidate will be out on tho warpath. An Opportunity Lost, It is rumoured that Mr. Chrystal, ex« Chief Detective, who announced himself as a candidate with advanced Radical views for Christchurch' East, does not intend to come out. The' report is received with some disappointment by those who looked forward with cheerful anticipation, to his first meeting, conjecturing that it might have beea attended by a number of the individuals who had made the. acquaintance of Mr. Chrystal in his professional capacity, and who might take tno opportunity of "getting a bit back" by hcckling thoir former foe. Political, meetings; as a rule are painfully decorous nowadays, compared with what : they used to be twenty years' ago, and Mr. Chrystal's ■ candidature was looked to as likely to supply, some really interesting meetings,. A Straight-out Fight. • One of the few straight-out fights in Can-* terbury will bo that between Mr. Buddo amj Mr. Moore for the Kaiapoi seat. Mr. Moore ran his opponent to a very short head in .1905, and the feeling this year is that positions will probably bo reversed when the num» bors go up. The alteration of boundaries has placed Papanui. and Belfast in the Kaiapoi electorate, and it is doubtful how far this may affect, the result, though it is thought that tho freezing works votes —of which a good proportion may be cast for Mr. Buddo —may be .set off. by the Papanui votes, which will"" go for Mr. Moore. Some of the' Cust district, which used to bo a ■ Buddo stronghold, has been thrown into Hurunui, and all round Kaiapoi itself the sentiment in favour of Mr. ,Mooro is gratifyingly strong. Both candidates firo the first shots of tho campaigu on Monday night. ■ A Cricketer Candidate. In the "funny column" of the Saturday, "Star" a. correspondent is informed that Mr, C. Boxshall lias represented Canterbury "but lias nover yet represented Christchurch Eastand never will do so." Moro unlikely things, however, have happened. Tho well-known cricketer's candidature was at first regarded as.a joke by most people, but he has .steadily gained ground until a ; good many believe he will not be far from tho top when the poll is declared, and may pull off the second ballot. He has yet to make his first appearance on the platform, and a good deal will depend, of course, on how he tomes through that ordeal, but as a cricketer Mr. Boxshall has never funked tho bowling, no matter how good it was.. He can always bo depended on to give • the crowd something to watch before ho goes out, and it is pretty safe to argue that ho will employ the same tactics in the electoral campaign. '

Land Settlement—Experience or Capital?

A number of candidates are criticising the regulation requiring applicants for sections on resumed estates to have at loast three years' rent. Mr. ltowell, a Government candidate for Ellesmero, said tho other night that every class was enabled to compete at tlio ballots except farm labourers with limited capital. Ee valued a man's experience more than his money when lie proposed going on tho land. The farm labourer with £50 was lhore likely to mako a success than tho city clerk with his £1000. Mr. G. W. Russell, referring to the samo question, said ho was not in favour of tho ballot system at all. The sections should bo put up to public auction so that the State could got the benefit of any increased valuo. How this would benefit the poor man, the farm labourer with £50, Mr. Russell did not explain. Mr. Russoll objects strongly to tho Government of tho day having tho right to appoint tho Upper House. That Chamber should be elected for six years by tho people thomselv.es, each provincial district bein"- -a constituency. Men such • as Mr. "w Reeco had been passed over in favour a men who had been loss than five years in tha colony. The Socond Ballot System. During, tho doba.to on tho Second Ballot Bill, tho Premier expressed the opinion that not moro than ten second . ballots would take place under its provisions. It is of course, early to indulge in forecast, but' appearances a± present point veiy. strongly to

there being at least six second ballots in Canterbury alone, Jn Hurunui, where there are five candida.tos, Avon (five), Christchurch' East (four), Ellesmere (three), Ashburton (six or seven), Geraldino (four for oertain, and possibly five), and _ this estimate takes no account of possibilities in conncction with Christchurch and perhaps Lyttelton.'

The Lyttelton Contest. If the Lyttelton contcst is restricted to Mr. Laurenson and Dr. Thacker,. tho fight should; be an extremely interesting one, and the result is by no means such a. foregone conclusion as it appeared at, first sight. Dr. Thackor's strong point is not making a political address. Ho is in that respect a perfect neophyte, and has practically everything to learn about politics, but he is of Irish descent. He has a "way wid him" which appeals strongly to maiiy of the electors, and he is making headway at a rate that must give the sitting member, something to think about. Well-to-do Candidates. ■ It is curious to note that moro, than one Canterbury candidate on tho Government side is putting forward the fact .that he is well-to-do as an argument in favour of his election. Dr. Thacker has announced that he is!free from all worldly care or monetary considerations. "In fact, he h^d ; so 'much of this world's goods that he felt as if ho might bestow - some of them where they were needed." Now Mr. F. Rowell (a young man , who is contesting Ellesmere against Mr. Heaton Rhodes and Mr. George Rennie, the accepted Government candidate) tolls the. electors that ho felt he had enough of worldly goods to keep the wolf from the door, and now ho deemed it his duty to try to help his fellow-msn. What a lot we should hear about the domination of wealth' if these gentlemen happened to be Opposition' candidates, especially as their statements can only bo taken as suggestions' that ..the honorarium is of no consequence to them, and may be devoted to public purposes; Floating In on the Canal. Mr. G. 'W. Russell, at bis- opening meeting, did not quite explain why he, a Government supporter, has chosen to oppose one of the most faithful and conscientious Government members, Mr. Tanner. ' It is possible, however, that those critics who said that Messrs. T. E. Taylor and Russell would try to-float into Parliament on the proposed canal were, not far wrong. At all events, Mr. Russell admitted that it was largely on account of the canal that he had beon induced to como out for the Avon seat. Until the canal was made Christchurch would never attain to that position it. should with the other advantages it had. For the sum of one million of money a canal could be cut as far as the Heathcote Bridge, but he would bo in favour of continuing the canal for another two miles right into the city. The canal scheme was sound financially, and he did not think that one penny of rates would bo required.

The Licensing Question, Mr. Russell, (candidate for Avon) and Mr. Rowcll (candidate for' EUesmere) are' both 'open to conviction on the licensing question. Mr. Russell says he is in favour of the threefifths majority, but will hold himself freo to " vote for anything which would mitigate the evils of the open bar system. ' Mr. Rowell says that for the present at any rate he is a , supporter of the three-fifths majority. WAIRARAPA. (FEOlt OUB SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Greytown, October 17. Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P.,' addressed his. constituents last ' night, when : a fair number were present. The Mayor occupied the chair, and introduced the speaker: Mr. Hornsby claimed great benefit from the Second Ballot Act, as it would prevent men of straw being j)ut up to split , votes. Referring to education matters, he said that' children should'be educated from the primary ■ school to the University free. ' He justified' the existence of the Advances' to ...Settlers Department, and said that 5 after one more advance of'oni^'million - had been made the Department would be self-sustaining. This matter in itself had earned the Government its position in the House. The Industrial and. Arbitration Bill required amending, and he' believed the new Act . would benefit all parties. . He justified the £100,000 voted for naval defence, and advocated military training. Coming to local matters,' he referred to", the vote for tho new bridge ovef the Ruamahunga River. He urged the' people not to stop there, but to press for closer, settlement on the other side of the river. In concluding his address, Mr. Hornsby claimed that he was working for the peoplo, and would leave it to them ,at the ballot bos to say whether they thought' so or not. - ' Mr.. Wm. Udy moved a vote of thanks and ■ continued confidence • in the speaker, which was duly carried. . , NAPIER. BOTH SIDES PLAY A WAITING GAME. (BX TEUEBBAPH. —SPECIAL COREESPOIOXNT.) Napier, October 17. The buzz of political excitement has so far left the Napier public unruffled, owing, to the fact that both Parliamentary aspirants are playing a waiting game. The position iB peculiar: ' Mr. J. Vigor - Brown, Mayor of Napier,' has announced himself as- a Government supporter, and has been busily organising: He enters the field with the assistance of strong committees, but has announced that he will not address' - the electors 1 until Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, the sitting member, has given an account of his stewardship. Mr. Fraser,' on the' other hand, informs • your correspondent that ho has just finished the work of an arduous session, and ho does not feel called upon to take the platform straight away. Both he and his views, he considers, are sufficiently well known to tho -public,'ajid there is no necessity for him to be in a hurry to inflict a political speech on the electors. He intends to make himself acquainted with tho new portion of his electorate, and for the next' week or two his friends and enemies may take what action they think fit. In the meantime, the free and independent may think of what they are missing, but with the lively prospect a.hcad of a keen and exciting contest. . (BX TEI.EQIiA.rH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Napier, October 18. Mr. W. J. M'Grath has declined nomination for the Napier seat, and will support the candidature of Mr. A. L. D. Fraser. . WAIPAWA. (by telegkapu—press association.) Walpawa, October 17. Mr. A. E. Jull, Liberal candidate, ad-, dressed the largest political meeting held in Waipawa for years. He was well' received, and was given a vote of thanks and confidence. ' AUCKLAND WESTJ (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, October 16. Mr. Robert Thompson, Independent candidate, addressed a large meeting of electors of Auckland West last night. He regarded the Arbitration Act as an honest attempt to cope with the difficulty, but was not sanguine as to tho result. He denounced the second ballot, insisted on tho freehold tenure'; and asserted that unoccupicd Native lands should be acquired by the Government at a fair valuation, the proceeds to bo held in trust (or the Natives. He favoured borrowing for productive works, and the immigration of agricultural labourers and domestics. Ho disapproved any alteration in the licensing laws. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidcnce. SELWYN. ' ((I TBLSGEAPH—PEES3 ASSOCIATION.) Ashburton, October 17. Mr. C. A. C. Hardy, M.P., Opposition candidate for Selwyn, addressed a large meeting in-the Rakaia Town Hal] last evening. He expressed himself in general'agreement with the present educational system, declared himself a freeholder,' and generally ridiculed the Government's land legislation, (it the same time deprecating the land tax, and declaring for a imore complete income tax. He strongly condemned the Govern-

mont's borrowing and building policy, and' urged caution, though ho thought it would bo a wiso policy on the part of tho Government to lend rrioro liberally to local bodies. Ho complained that sottlors recently had been unablo to obtain oven small loans from tho Advances to Settlers Department. Ho believed in a modified form of protection, which he considered had run wild in New Zealand, advocated a more adequate defenco policy, and favoured increasing tho life of each Parliament to five years. Ho condemned tho socond ballot, and whilo not approving compulsory arbitration,'; thought tho Bill which the Minister for' Labour had put through this year a very useful and proper measure. DUNEDIN WEST. (bt tsleobaph.—special correspondent.) ! • Dunedin, October 17. Mr. J.. W. Munro,. who opposes Mr. Millar (Minister for. Labour) for Dunedin West, is a master 'baker, who a while ago made one of a firm to lower the price of bread and thereby fell out with tho other master bakers. In his maiden speech ho attempted no oratorical flights, but spoke very earnestly and seriously as to the need of tho Labour party trusting to themselves alone instead of depending, for progress upon, favours from others. Ho.was W.oll received by an audience numbering about. 300. WALLACE. [BT TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.) Invercargill, October 17. Mr. D, MacPherson; Liberal candidate for Wallace, addressed the electors 'at Nightcaps last --night. 'Ho announced that ho would support 1 the. Government in its main policy' measures'. "•'"•His reception was enthusiastic,. and ho was accorded a unanimous vote of 'thanks and confidence.

. JOTTINCS. Mr.'George Winder, candidate for Wel-lington''.East,-will'-'meet his committee at Roseneath' Schoolroom to-night. Mr.' Field will address electors to-night at tho Town Hall, Otaki; to-morrow evening at the School,. Waikanae; and on Wednesday in tho Manakau Hall. : Mr.: Byron Brown announces that,ho will address the:-Otaki' l electors at Jackeytown Town 'Hall:.'to-night,- at Motu Rimu Town Hall to-morrow evening, and in tho, Schoolhouse, Moutoa, on : Wednesday. Mr. W.'T. Young, the Labour candidate for the Suburbs-seat, will open his campaign with ah address to the electors in tho Town Hall, Island Bay, to-night. To-morrow night he will speak in' the' Parochial Hall, Karori, and on Wednesday evening will a.ddress tho electors in O'Donnell's Hall, Kilbirnie.

' Mr. R.' .A. Wright commences his campaign for ,the Wellington; South seat by addressing the Brooklyn electors at Fullford's Hall to-morrow (Tuesday) evening at 8 o'clock.

Mr. A, L. Herdman will speak at the Sydney Street Schoolroom on Thursday evening.'

Mr. TV. T. Young, who is contesting tho Suburbs- seat, will' address the electors at Island Bay Town- Hall to-night. Further meetings announced are Karori, Parochial :Hall, to-morrow,; Kilbirnie, O'Donnell's Hall, Wednesday/

The adjourned meeting of Mr. W. H. P. Barber's committee will bo held this evening in St. Thomas's Hall, Riddiford Street. A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that ex-Chief Detective TV. L. Chrystal has decided not to proceed further with his candidature for the Christchurch East seat. The seat is held by Mr. T. H. Davey, o.nd he has still three opponents left.

The Hon. T. W. Hislop, candidate for Wellington Central, will meet persons interested in his candidature this week. The meeting will be announced in the papers.