THE ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 333, 21 October 1908, Page 7

THE ELECTIONS.

: * : ' NEWS AND NOTES. GANDipATEsj AND THEIR SPEECHES. ' Tho impression exists that Mr. C. Hall, the sitting member, will be allowed a walk-over fof-iho Waipswa sent, unless.the No-License parly nominate a c*ndidate to secure a local option poll. - The name of Mr; George Hunter has'been mentioned as-a candidate in the Opposition interest, but it is not considered likely .tliat he wijl consent to stand. How the Government Hits Back, r After'delivering an address at Alton, aproposed vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Major wa« defeated, "and a vote of thanks only' was carried.- The • Alton correspondent of ! 'iKor-Havrera _ "-Star ", reports: —" Mr. Mdjorj in replying, took: exception to the Vote, paying-it was the first vote of the kind, that had been passed in his political career, andj' filrthermore, he assured us that he was Burprisdid- and sorry for us, as- when a district hid no confidence in tho Government, they, wore' apt'to .find- that the Government hid nobonfidenco in them, and it would ho to their■; 1665."' This probably is tho first time euch ; a t declaration has been publicly ' mads from a. political platform." 6till Time to Repent. G. Witty, M.P._, reminded his constituents on Monday night that he had represented the electorate for six years, and he was' in rather a unique position in that be was the only member who had been returned for/Rictiarton twice in succession; There is yet time, however, for Riccarton to repent of .lts laok of judgment in this respect, and return'an Opposition member this year. It would hot merely redeem its blunder in 1902 and 1005, but would be doing something to atone for having once rejected Mr. Rollestoni in' favour of Mr. Russell. Mr. Witty declares, that he is the nominee of no class or .party. Possibly he made a mental reservation in favour of the "Roads and Bridges' Party."' At all events/, he went -on to claim that no. one had obtained, so much for the district as he ; had. . If returned he would do the" best he could for New Zealand, and Riccarton in particular. ■ Native Landlordism.

lii'a'speech at Waipawa, Mr. A. E. Jull, b candidate for. the Hawke's Bay seat, touched in an interesting manner on the work .of the Native Lands. Commission. He said that, with all deference to-the gentlemen: who composed the Commission, _ ~ the Chief [Justice and Mr. Ngata', he' considered that too large an- area had been set aside for the .purposes of .the. Natives. The Natives fhoiild bo given land where they showed a work and improve their areas for the benefit of themselves ; and ' the country, but fe. did'not believe in large areas being set-: aside to be leased 1 to. Europeans, and the : Natives then living on the rentals. If tiey %anted to make- a man of the Maori they'must: stop coddling him. > He.did not want '<to disparage the Native in any . way, but if; they continued to set aside land for his . tfse they would gravitate into a system cf Nitive landlordism which would be proroeativ# of great trouble in ; the , future. J

"Dodging Fences In the Dark."

AThe'Representation Commissioners, have done 'some, funny things :in Canterbury., The Biccarton electorate, according to the Government candidate,-stretches from the Port Hills toSthe r ranges,.alnd its shape certainly justifies thn conclusion''tliat the commissioners 'put up "dodging 'fences in the dark." Mlsndvonture or Design? "Justice to All" writes"Three months ago fit! stranger■ioalled at my.;.residence ■■ in Ivevrtown and. informed:'me that the object ?. f fee, Wellington : South.electoral roll. :L filled in the nsuilMorm,, signed my name';.,and .the signature !was ; witnessed, by .thei. stranger. At' the 1 gam6;!time'. I filled in a. paper, for. the regismy wife.,,.This.;was also properly. XHfew. days after, a young mail from the .Registrar's offioe called, me ,my application, and asked mo if it'was all right. I said 'yes,' and told him of Ay. wife's application for "enrolment. In du6'c6iirse I received a letter' by post, stating that My name had been placed on the roll. Nonsuch' intimation was received by my wife, whdfhad. made 110 secret of her views on a certain • burning: question; .My- suspicions were ?riot aroused, though' the young man frd&itho Registrar's office had hinted something about a Court proseotion. As;tne election>is drawing- near, I went to the Registrar's office on -Friday; last to ascertain, if my wife's name was on the roll. It waijnot. The official : did not seem the least lstiSnished' at the omission when I described tho person who had taken charge ,of_ the enrolment form. He oppressed tho opinion that ..many people mil find at tho poll on election day that they have no right, to vote through, their-names not being on the roll. If .'the thing has been-done. purposely, •, it is V'nefaripus trick; for .it virtually- means deprivation of the rights of oitizenship for three years. As a house-to-house visitation was made over Wellington South, it is easy tojisee that extensive injury result. Not ©n^- person in ten makes-any inquiry after siting the application form. The rolls close wßen'-the writs for tho general election are issued. Unless energetic and- systematic action be taken, a thousand people in Wellington So'uth may lose tho right to vote. I winter* in the interest of no political party, nor vin furtherance *1 any. particular principle; but merely injustice to all."

A Minister. •-Mr.'Buddo, who is one of the'four Canterbury members alleged to be in the running forV portfolio, has some ideas that are quite characteristic of the peculiar brand of demoertfcy'representcd by the present Government. He'does not believe in allowing drown tenants to acquire the freehold. S.t present they canjpurchase up to 90 per cent, of tho freehold, and they ought to be. content with that. IWgarding the ''gag" clause, ho said that the 'press had nothing taken away from it by the clause. Somo people have curious ideas ? of liberty. Mr. Buddo's peroration contained one sentence which is worth repe'Sting: "I want you," he said, "to judge th<S by what they have done during th&vpast eighteen years." That is all that the Opposition want the country to do." A Bare Majority Candidate. at Hurifcly, Mr. Allah Bell, a candidate for the Waikato seat, said he was in favour of No-License. Ho had always been' a.'Moderate drinker, but was willing to forefor the benefit of hundreds who'wero suffering. If the questioner had re&d the-paper? of the day he would know thit 'the workers—through their organisations—were in favour of .this great reform. Like][all reforms, however, it could not'be carried without perhaps inflicting some injufy'on a few; but it was wrong to say that the hotels would be left empty and the. employes turned into the streets. The former wfiuld be still required for the accommodatioh'of the public and the latter would find emjiloyment in other channels. There was ncftdoubt, were No-License' carried over extended areas, more happiness and moro prosperity would be the result. He was of opinlofi'that this groat social question should be settled on the bare majority and the Dominion 1 " Vote. But if the people were not prepaid to go distance at the present he favoured the question being decided on the bare majority and local option.' >• The land Tax. Inferring to tho increased receipts from the land tax, of which the Prime Minister spoke injliia'Palmerston North address, the "Press'* points" out Sir Joseph Ward said they are duu'Ho the fact that evi6i«ns have been itiipiml, and n««t year he prophesies there will tirytwhly be a decrewe, owing to the subdiviiisn »f I*h<l t'tet has b»on going on. "This iiiggMtioi," sajri tho "Preis," "is absurd. Thf.vkni tax revenue has been increased Biainly owing to the steady ana remorseless raiding of the valuations all over the country. It'is true that, except in tho case of the graduated .tax; there has been no increase in the rate of the land tax.' We are reminded of. the old joke that-lightning never strikes'twice in the' saine pldce 'becausa it

doosn't need to.' So when tho Government have been able to raise land valuations in some cases to nearly double what they woro a few years ago, it has not been necessary to increaso the rate of the land tax, but the farmer has had to pay more, and is fully awaro of the fact." Political Sorvltudo. Thero have been Parliaments in New Zealand that ruled the Cabinet and tho country, but they are fast becoming a tradition. Thousands of doctors have never known any other condition than tho political servitude in which they live, and that is why it is difficult to convinco them that there is a better • way, that the liberty they hear much. about is' non-existent, and that tho only method of . bringing it back is to support tho men with whom liberty is a religion/ Such men are not to bo found on tho Government side of the House. —Christchurch "Press." "Not Socialism, but Common Sense." Truth will out, if only by accidont. At the Queen's Statuo yesterday, in addressing a gathering 'of about 100 persons,. Comrade Bowdall, who spoke after Air. M'Laren's address, declared, and with emphasis: "This is not Socialism; it is common sense," at which even his comrades laughed, the speaker meaiiwhile endeavouring to right his analogy which had overbalanced somewhat. "I'm for the suppression of and will get th<! womeu folk to assist me in resisting them to the uttermost by not paying any rent whatever. What we Socialists intend .is to spread Socialism among the farmers, who .aro its bitterest opponents." Wants a Record Majority. Mr. Wilford,..'MJ?., in a few remarks to his committee at' Silverstream on Monday ovoning, said: "I liko plenty of opponents in this electorate, which-is composed of electors who will vote for Wilford, and thoso who won't. It helps my majority if those who won't have several candidates for whom to cast their votes. I intend to secure a record majority; It is often heard in Parliament, 'Oh, so-and-so had a narrow squeak; goodness knows how ho will fare next time ho puts up.' I'll fight fair, but I must have the added honour of a record majority. It helps a member very considerably." " A Ceod Old Courlo." As a Labour .candidate, Mr. D. M'Laron last night. likened the two principal political parties to "a good old couplo, of whom the old lady is in opposition to her husband until someone else interferes, and then sho tears the eyes out of the third party." Jottings. Mr. Chas. Izard, M.P., is suffering from an acute attack of laryngitis, but it is hoped that he will be able to be about again in three or four days. Meantime his committees aro working woll. One meeting, which was held last night in the Geisha Tea Rooms, Panama Street, was attended by over 50 people, and a great amount of useful work-was done. Mr. William M'Lean, Government candidate for Wellington East; invites his committee to meet this evening at the rooms, oprner of Elizabeth Street and Kent Terrace. • iMr. George Winder, who is contesting tho Wellington East seat, will address electors resident in the south end of the constituency in the Victoria Hall, Adelaide Road, tomorrow night. Mr. W. T, Young, Wellington Suburbs, announces the following meetings at which he will address the lectors:—Kilbirnie, tonight, at O'Donnell's . Hall jNorthland, tomorrow night, at Methodist-" Schoolroom; "Wadestown, at'.- State School. . Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, Suburbs candidate, advertises that he will conduct a public meet-' ing on Friday next in tho Miramar Hall. His committees meet to-night at Northland and Borhampore', and at Kilbirnie to-morrow evening. Mr. Wilford, for. the.,Hutt, makes announcement 51 cot-. ings :— ofMr. G. Pecfi ); .fo MmvavWmmifleeT'Htone, 0 Tuesday, Ootober 27, Oddfellows' Hall, address ; Taita, Wednosday, October 28, Cottle's :Hall, address. _ • Ladies favouring the return of Mr. W.-H. P.-Barber to • Wellington South -seatare invited to meet Mrs. Barber at her residence,103 Coromandel Street,-to-morrow afternoon. Mr. Field, whose interest is in Otaki electorate, has arranged to speak to the electors in the Hall, Manakau, to-night; in Wernroa Hall,' to-morrow; and at Shannon, oh Friday evening. 1 Mr. A. L. Herdman, the Opposition candidate for; Wellington North, will address the electors at Sydney Street Schoolroom, on Tuesday, October 27. • '.Mx, R. A. Wright, Wellington South candidate, will address the electors -at St. Thomas's Hall, Riddiford Street,, to-morrow evening. , •" •'.Mr. R. A. Wright addressed the Wellington South electors at Fnllford's Hall, Brooklyn, last'evening. Mr. T. M'Dqwellpresided. The candidate received a good hearing, and was accorded a vote of thanks. Mr. Wright will speak at St. Thomas's Hall, Riddiford Street, to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock. - At Brooklyn last night a questioner asked Mr. Wright if he favoured conscription. Mr. Wright said he did not like tho word conscription. He was in favour of.our young men being properly drilled and equipped to defend the country, espcciallyi in view of the a+.'akening of China. But our young men should ;not be called upon to suffer for the time they lost while training. TO-NICHT'S MEETINGS. Candidates' meetings advertised for this oveniug are as follow: — Wellington Suburbs.—Mr. J. P. Luke, State 1 schoolroom, Tawa Flat, 8 o'clock. , Wellington Suburbs.—Mr. W. T. Young, O'Donnell's Hall, 8 o'clock.' Wellington Suburbs. —Mr. F. T. Moore, schoolhouse, Khandallah, 8 o'clock. Wellington East. —Mr. W. M'Lean,' 1 corner Elizabeth Street and Kent Terrace, 8 o'clock (committee). Otaki : Electorate.—Mr. Field, Manakau Hall, 8 o'clock. Otaki Electorate.—Mr. Byron Brown, schooUiousG, Moutoa, 8 o'clock. WELLINGTON'CENTRAL. ADDRESS BY MR. FISHER. , A HEARTY RECEPTION. - Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., who i 6 seeking re-election' as- member for Wellington Central, addressed a densely-crowded meeting in the Druids'' Hall, Taranaki Street, last evening. Even-the stairs were covered with listeners, and many people were unable to gain admission. Mr. \V. Hale presided. The candidate, who was well received, stated, in his opening remarks, that the Government party, the Opposition party,, and the Dominion party, wnich was himself— (laughter and applause)—were all anxious to'do what'they thought would benefit the country. He was on better terms than ever before with the Ministers, and as individuals 110 had every confidence in them. He looked on them as straightforward and honest men, and trusted them implicitly. Ho deprecated cries of financial panic, but agreed that it could only be averted by sounder financial methods than thoso at present in vogue. Departmental. and permanent expenditure had been increasing very rapidly, and though tho might have increased commeusurately, it must bo borne in mind that our prosperity depended altogether on our exports, and the late fall in wool was a warning. Tho people should recognise that the candid critic was their real friend.

A Voice: What did you cost tho Government by your inquiries? Thousands. Mr. Fisher: Yes, thousands, and I admit it, and I saved the country much more. (Applauso.) I know you nro alluding to the voucher, and I'm never afraid of that question. But suppose we deal -jvith it afterwards. Continuing, Mr. Fisher declared that if wo were to have effective financial criticism, or better laws than tho "muck" that was put on the Statute Book under present conditions, there must not be n constant majority of CO against 20. It would be 110 use for a Demosthenes to speak 011 the minority side in the House, brcauso tho solid majority that would voto with tho Ministry would bo outside walking up and down the lobby, or sitting by tho fire, while 110 was "oeaking, and would como in and voto and

g6 out again without knowing what the question was. Coming to specific items of expenditure, Sir. Fisher ■ condemned the present of £1000 to Canada towards the purchase of the battle ground at Quebec, whiln great New Zealand battlefields were unregarded. He instanced nlso the "Dimedin Railway Palace." These things might bo details, but such items mounted up, until ono looked round and wondered where the money had gone. Excessive valuations. He held that our vaunted prosperity was partly fictitious. In this, city we were suffering from over valuation,- as shown by tho great'reductions made when the Government valuations were reviewed by the Assessment Court. It was tho s*mo in the other cities, and also in regard to country lands. Mortgages and other transactions had been effected on these fictitious values, and many people were naturally dreading a time of financial stringency. Ho urged that the valuing should not bo done with tho view of getting all tho revenue possible, but to make each man pay his 'fair share of taxation. He believed, in spite of deniais, that instructions had been given to the valuers to write up the values of different districts. It was a strange thing that the surplus should go on beating lialf-a-milliou year after year; yet tho debt should be - continually heaped up, and that in a period of prosperity. . Nobody could understand the Government system of bookkeeping. Mr. Fisher compared the finances. of Victoria with those of New Zealand, stating that only 7 per cent, of the loans of the former State were non-reproductive (i.e.* the taxpayers had to find the interest), against 34 per cent, in Now Zealand. Consequently, though Victoria was a highly-protected country, its people were paying less than, we in Customs duties. In other ways Victoria's finances were more wisely administered. If. our present system was to be continued, then, in a few years' time, "God help New Zealand." The Arbitration Bill. Passing on to tho legislation of last session, Mr. Fisher said he had been blamed for saying no more on tho second reading of the Arbitration Bill than simply that he was going to support it. He could not please everybody. Some would say he was'a very sensible young man to speak so briefly. He regarded Mr. 'Millar as an extremely, able Minister for Labour. • , • A voice: A traitor! Mr. Fisher: A traitor? You're treating John Millar in the samo way that tho Labour party in Australia treated Mr. Watson,and the English Labour party treated ; the finest-man tliey ever produced—John' Burns. (Applause.) It was a mistake, urged Mr. Fisher, for those who were treading on tho coat-tails of a leader to turn against him when he got into power.,- The workers in Now Zealand were better off now than ever before. (Applause and dissent.) Ho could remember when men did not know where to get their next meal. ' A voice: That's the position ,to-day. (Further interruptions and cries of "Order.") Mr. Fisher was proceeding to argue that the system of conciliation provided by tho new Act was superior'to the old Conciliation' Boards, but tho interruptions w«ro so frequent, and drew to many replies from the candidate, that the spoaking assumed the form of a lively interenango of badin&go betweon platform and auditorium. Mr. Fisher explained that after 12J hours' solid speaking by other members on tno Arbitration Bill he thought it reasonable to reserve most of his I'emj.rks for tho committee stage. Twenty-two divisions were taken in committee, and he voted on-.each-one. He could not discuss all tile details with intimate technical knowledge, but he -had .."done his duty; and supported a good Bill. He did not", however, believe in cftmpulsory education, but submitted his judgment to that of the Hon. Mr. Millar. Compulsory arbitration might interfere with the liberty of tho individual, but it was having its trial. r ; ' A National Danger. lie. The Dominion- , was-:. .paying ,3i million sterling a year in Salaries-rand wages, and though we all believed in some degree of nationalisation, we were putting too much power into the, hands of a few men. Wo should find by and by that half the country was being entirely • run by eight men, who would be so firmly seated in-power that they could not bo Ho had long foreseen this, qnd spoken against it. These eight men also had 2J- millions of public money to spend in the country every year. ,- The trusts ,in America were a cancer on' tho State, but' hero the cancer would be within tho •State, for tho State itself would bo a trust. '■ A Voice: What's the remedy? Another Voice: Nationalise the land.' Mr. Fisher: Tho remedy is the appointment- of. independent; boards : ofadministration. He believed' that:' :sepaia't» '-boards' wore as,. liable : to: coi ruption: as' the . central authority, but the plan would be to - transfer the power back and forth without:giving time-to allow either authority to get a monopoly of power.. The Second Ballot Bill. There was not a shadow of doubt that the majority of mpmbers of the House were opposed to the Second Ballot Bill. He and others had l.ong desired electoral reform, and had supported the Absolute Majority Bill. He realised, however, that the Government would not grant that, and therefore he voted for ,the Second Ballot Bill, though he did not believe in it,. but merely hoped that it would lead up to tho absolute majority system after a short time. In regard to the "gag" clause, he believed that tho Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and himself were the only members who were sufficiently awake t-o know just what was going on when the clause was put in the Bill. The newspapers had made a great row about tho "gag" clause. The press could ignore a lot of abuses, but "stick a pin in tho tail of tho newspapers, or. the Press Association," said Mr. Fisher, "and you would think all the volcanoes in New Zealand had broken looso at once." He had supported tho "gag" clause, on the ground that the election expenses should be kept down in the interests of candidates who were not wealthy. Tho newspapers would not have suffered any more than they now did through being forbidden to comment on Court cases that were subjudice. However, the Government arranged for the clause to be taken out, and so the newspapers Would bo able to say what they liked. Personal Achievements. He was "satisfied with his own work -in piloting the Wellington City Empowering Bill, the Town Belt Bill, the Municipal Franchise Bill, and the Destitute Persons Amendment Bill, and he was the means of getting a clause into the Old Ago Pensions Bill, permitting old people who liad purchased annuities up to £30 a year to obtain the pension. He also took an active part in regard to the Mental Hospitals Reserves Bill, introduced by the Minister for Education. The Minister proposed to have a part of tho Mount View site cut up for building purposes. He strongly resisted that proposal, with other Wellington members, and it was struck out of the Bill. (Applause.) Many Questions. Questions being invited, Mr. Fisher, replying to the first, quoted Hansard to reJFuto a statement that he had once declared himself against increasing tho_ old age pensions beyond 75., and had said the money should be spoilt instead on tho roadless North. Ho had voted for the Bill which increased the pension, but he had said that tho question of extending the - scope of the system should be deferred until the national annuities schcme, which was then understood to bo nearly ready, was before the House, and he had said that if they had money to spare they should spend it on the roadless North.

In reply to another question, Mr. Fisher said he had always been in favour of compensation tc. Meikle. He believed the men who were against tho voto of £5000, and who succeeded in getting it reduced by £4999, know-how it would go beforehand, though he could not provo this. He would be in favour of giving Meikle £3000. Mi". Fisher told othor questioners that 110 was strongly opposed to Chinese immigration. Ho voted for the graduated land tn x, but 110 did not believe that there shouk bo no exemptions. He was a leaseholder, and was prepared to provo it completely from Hansard. State-aided immigration was not wanted. The only kind of immigration wo required was what wo could not get, namely, nun who came oat to buy. farms.

and scttlo 011 them. He thought the salaries of Government employees should be paid moro frequently than once a month. He lield that positions in the service which did not require spocial skill should bo advertised, and disposed of by ballot. Ho did not npprovo of disfranchising State employees. He would deal with the defence, question at a future meeting. Tie favoured malting tho Legislative Council an elective body; the Government had made great mistakes in its appointments to tho Council, as thero were members who never spoke in. the Chamber, but merely used it as a club and drew the salary. He was not a prohibitionist, but a No-License advocate, and ho proposed to hold a- No- License meeting during his campaign. Thanks and Confidence. , The proceedings became" rather noisy and hilarious. Ono question was asked a second time, after being clearly answered. Ono or two nonsensical questions were asked, and tho candidate had to appeal to tho inquirers to speak only one at a time. A Socialist element was a good deal in evidence, but Mr. Fisher delighted most of his audience by dubbing the most frequent spokesman of this section "Chambers's Cyclopaedia." ' A resolution of thanks and confidence was moved by Mr. G. Thompson, seconded by Mr. W. Talbot, and carried 011 a show of hands, there being 110 visible dissent. Mr. Fisher, in acknowledging it,'expressed great satisfaction with tho meeting. The name of Fisher had been on the political shield since 1881, be himself having been a Member of Parliament for four years, and he felt sure they would again put him at the top of the poll. WELLINGTON SOUTH. MR. ROBERT HOGG AT NEWTOWN. Mr. Robert Hogg, Socialist candidate for Wellington South seat, addressed his first meeting of electors in St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown, Inst _ evening. Mr. C. A. J. Mumrae was chairman, and upwards of 150 peoplo attended. The chairman mentioned that this was the first time a Socialist candidate had como forward to contest a Wellington seat. Defence of Socialism. Mr. Hogg was cordially greeted. He said that ho came forward mors as a missionary than as anything else. Tho glamour of Parliament was nothing to him, but tho endea-vour-to get his ..fellow-workmen and fellowworkwomen to see eye to eye with him on matters concerning their mutual welfare was the all-important thing. One candidate in Wellington had said that Socialism was as foolish as it was dangerous. That meant nothing at all. Until Socialism was proved to be either dangerous or foolish* such a statement could not be believed. _ Another candidate had said that the Socialists did not agree among themselves as to what they wanted, and it would bo quite time for him to look into tho question of Socialism when tho Socialists agreed as to their aims and /objects. But Socialists wero in unison all 1 the world over. Capitalism was rampant, and thero was a great industrial uurcst. . The cause of this industrial disease, the Socialists said,. was surplus value brought about by tho capitalist ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. Thirty years ago, the worker owned, his tools, his raw material, and the finished product. Now the worker did not own his tools, and wis paid a wage for his labour. The Wage System. ; Socialism-pointed nit the futility of trade .unionism. Trade unionism acknowledged the wage, system, but Socialism opposed the "wage'system. His was an extreme Socialism, but that did not necessarily mean unsoundness. As for tho Liberal party, not a single law on the Statute Book of tho Dominion had not been tried in other places long ago. The threo things of which tho Liberal was, proud were the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, . tho Old Age Pensions Act, and the Land for Settlements Act. Any Concilation and Arbitration Act was a boon to employers. Regarding tho old ago pension, 110 would not, abolish • it, but the 'schcme; instead of being a dole to the'aged worker; bolstered up the profits of the capitalist. If the worker had his riglits from beginning to end,, there would hb no need for'a pension system. As for tho land legislation of tho Liberal Government, tho number of people on from an acre upwards had increased between 1902 and 1906 by 11 per cent., whereas the population in the same period had increased by 14.99 per cent. Tho policy of buying estates and cutting them..up had been ono of the most dastardly that any Government oould follow. --. The . holders of . big estates had-. ' increased ■ 114.2 per cent, and the uumb'elr.' of small estate holders had - gone up 7 per'cent. The graduated land tax :had increased, by £87,319, but during the same period the value of the land had gone up by £55,000,000. -, He thought that the Second Ballot Act was rather in favour of tho Labour man.

" Legal Looting." The paramount question for their consideration was the finding of the best means to put an end to the present system of legal looting. They had best look for a condition of tilings in which tho master class would have 110 part, and by which, the workers could retain the reward due directly to thorn, for their toil. They must abolish .the present capitalist system and inaugurate a co-operative commonwealth, in which every asset in the way of energy and intellect would he shared by thoso who provided it. All who participated in the work of production should sharo in the enjoyment of the fruits of their labour. The average wage of the New Zealand .worker was £94 10s. a year. Liberalism kept them poor. The Opposition cried: Repeat " ; Liberalism called out: " Halt, mark time " ; but a vote cast for the Socialist was a vote cast for the future. (Applause.) . Supplementary. In reply to questions, the candidate further remarked that the principles underlying trade unionism were based on selfishness, whereas Socialism meant brotherhood. The Socialist would fight for the whole of the workers, not for a portion of them. All that Capitalism would ever give them was, sufficient to enablo them to live, according to the-standard of living of the time, and allow them to bring up another gang of slaves to work for the capitalists. . Would Socialism destroy individualism? It was because the present system destroyed individualism that the Socialists cried out so much about it. Under Socialism mankind would be free to develop individualism; once the satisfying of tho needs 'of life were fixed the people would be free to develop their individuality. At present the fear of want was before 1 them, and many did not dare to be men, they were the creatures of circumstances. Ho was not in favour of any restriction of immigration. Ho had 110 objection to any man because of his colour, but he did object, to some classes because they cut down the standard of living. He would prefer to see the term of a politician's power reduced to one year, and was in favour of a bare majority in connection with the local option. State ownership, concluded the candidate, was a palliative, but it could not save from economic bondage until Capitalism was destroyed. Mr. Hogg objected to tho meeting passing a vote of thanks; he was not to be thanked for striving to do his duty. The speaker was accorded a round of applause.

WELLINGTON EAST. ■ ADDRESS BY MR. D. M'LAREN. Mr. D. M'Laren, Labour candidate for Wellington East, addressed a meeting *t Roseneath last evening. Mr. H. Wallaco presided. The candidate said ho thought that the Government and Opposition parties were only halves of the samo thing—representation exclusively of the propertied classes of the community. , The non-propertiod. classes should also have their share of representation. Tho Premier, in his speech of Monday last, had put forward a policy of "spread eaglcisrn." He had assumed that tho people were getting equal opportunities under tho present Administration, hut thero was 110 equality of opportunity between tho children of a wharf labourer in intermittent employment and a landed squatter or financier. Tho thing was a hollow mockery, 'I'lie Govctrjunoai t?m smog way. »tca to

step to the forces of Conservatism, reaction, and Toryism; it was giving away plank after plank of the democratic policy of Sir George Urey and ISallance. It had thrown asulo the policy of wise economy, and continued borrowing was now the rule. The people who borrowed always had to pay for more than they got. instead of depending for revenuo 011 borrowed capital the Government should depend more 011 the large incomes derived from the ownership of largo areas of land. The Liberal Government had been very liberal to the squatters and financiers, but it had been meanness personified to the agricultural, workers. He spoke in favour of laud nationalisation, and blamed the Government for conceding the principle of the freehold tenure. There were 145,188 landowners in the country who did not pay any land tax, and only 26,563 who did, the latter number including leaseholders as well as freeholders. The main weight of taxation fell 011 the masses —of the people in connection with the Customs duties, from which there was no exemption. Ho was credibly informed that agricultural workers were leaving the Taihape and other districts for the Darling Downs, because they could not get land, and it was an abuse of power, under those circumstances, to bring immigrants of this class from Great Britain. Many of the assisted immigrants brought more money with them than was possossed by workers who had been 20 years in New Zealand, and they should bo made to pay their own passage money. In regard to industrial legislation, the Ward Government was largely living on the old clothes of the Seddon regime. He referred at length to the amendments to the Arbitration Act, and stated that the Government would find later that it had blundered in that matter. Ho congratulated his opponent, Mr. Winder, on having advanced to tho position which ho held three years ago in advocating State farms that would provide work when there were unemployed difficulties. Tho speaker urged the practicability of a universal sixdays' working week, and also referred to the housing and other problems in Wellington. A rote of thanks and confidence was passed.

On Monday evening Mr. George Winder had a very large and enthusiastic meeting at Roseneath. Mr. Winder, who was well received, stated that he had announced himself as a Government candidate. He believed that the present Government had effocted such good work as would in time to come reflect lasting credit upon them. But ho was not personally going to be bound to the wheel of the Government. Ho stood for progress, and liberal - legislation, coupled with due caution. He was averse to class legislation. "The greatest good for the greatest-number" was his political creed. There was, he feared, a tendency on the part of the Legislature to rush important matters through at breakneck speed during the closing hours of parliament. Mattel's of extreme importance should bo dealt with with decorous gravity , for hasty legislation might cause injustice to untold thousands. The cost of living in Wellington was too high. Land speculation had brought this about. There was a distinct cvideneo of falling values in land, and this ho looked upon as a hopeful sign, for the values had been unduly inflated. He believed ovory man should have the right to work and the right to live. A vote of confidence was carried .by the motion of Mr. W. Light, seconded by Mr. W. Smith. OTAKI. SPEECH BY MR. FIELD, M.P. fcllOll OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Otaki, October 20. The first of Mr. Field's addresses for the coming election was delivered at Otaki last night, when the body and back portions of the hall were filled. Mr. F. 0. Jones occupied the chair. Mr. Field explained that ho had not the same chance as his opponent to address the electors, ho _ being handicapped by parliamentary duties _whilo\his opponent had already been electioneering. Ho surprised his hearers by announcing the fact that Levin woukl be the central polling booth in place of •Otaki. He was unable to deal with his opponent's politics, because he did not know whether ho (his opponent) was going to stand as an Independent, Oppositionist, or what.' He was, therefore, at a disadvantage." At any rate, ho himself !was averse to party politics when thero were three branches — there were at most only two, lobbies. Ho claimed that his past record was clean and creditable, and had borne good fruit. Mr. Field said lio was pleased his opponent was not going to indulge in personalities, but ho was .very near it in the .circular .ho had issued. .'Acauracy iwas not a strong point of his opponent. He'(Mr. Field) was accused of not being a hard-working man, as he was only 011 one coifimittee, . and that an unimportant one. Now, lie was decidedly averse to members being on too many committees, because they could not attend to various meetings, and, therefore, the work could not be done in' a proper manner. _ If any elector could say they ever found him idlo he would withdraw from the contest. As to lawyers being on. committees to hash up laws, this was only clap-trap. Relative to the expenditure of money in the Hutt, Otaki, and Horowhenua road districts," he contended his opponent was unreliable in his figures—due, 110 doubt, to ignorance. Mr. Field spoke in favour of the increase of tho National Debt, stating some 18 millions of the 27 millions had been reinvested profitably. The Customs duties had increased, but this was due to the fact that people nowadays went in for more luxuries than hitherto. The speaker said he could not understand why the dairy regulations had been introduced, but he was pleased to see they had been so amended as to now givo satisfaction. He contended that regulations were needed. The Government had special regard for dairying, and had no wish to stamp out tho industry. The Shearers' Accommodation Bill he did not approvo of, some provisions being unduly oppressive and unnecessary. The Bill was too stringent, and. no doubt when introduced again would be in a modified form. Touching the flaxmilling industry, the speaker said lie had been accused of saying 6s. per diem was enough for flasmill hands. He denied this, and said Bs. was a fair wage. What ho said was that during tho depression he hoped to see employees and employers pull together, and settle the rates amicably. He was against tho bare majority in licensing matters, and was a strong believer of freehold of a limited area. Large estates would have to go, and tho graduated land tax was compelling owners to cut up. Mr. Field said he took credit for helping to secure the Manawatu railway line, aud explained that if the local bodies lost £6000 a year in rates they would benefit by increased service and make up twofold. Tho purchase-money paid he considered fair, and he believed the Government would help local bodies by allowing a lesser rate until the improved services sent the value of land up. Ho believed that in many places the line would have to bo duplicated to cope with tho increased traffic,. and stated that far moro trains would run/ but it was improbable that the express train would stay at Otaki, but probably at Levin. Tho speaker said ho would endeavour to get an early morning train from Otaki to Wellington. Mr. Field also contended that tho district had received its fair share of loan money, and previous to him being returned to Parliament thero wero no roads or bridges in the district. He also took the credit of securing the Maori College for Otaki. In conclusion, Mr. Field said he did not want to force himself upon the electors, but he claimed to liavo dono his duty, therefore had a right to represent the district. On the motion of Mr. Warn, seconded by Mr. Freeman, a vote of thanks and confidence was accorded the speaker. Mr.- Frank' Ruinsey culled for an amendment, but was ruled out of order.