THE RANGITIKEI SEAT

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 612, 15 September 1909, Page 8

THE RANGITIKEI SEAT

}00& ;NdTES^«^^j/ : is:';'.': , S:.Ml'N;mfelAL\'icAN , "■•;:;.,. ; ,>' . ■>■'/-' ' :'¥' ; .'.-.'■'■- ''■'i'tfiZf.Zl:' : ::;Huntervillß,'/6e.ptembor--14;': ;.t.. :; ,-It ■ isiinfcDrestingpto.'iiote.'ithat; none of the :: ..'\ Ministerial candidates favour'the .Government's : .;; '; immigration .scheme, "'.''which,-[the-; Zoa. J. A. '■^;-;s;MiUMi; ; '^ceii^; ; into ;;f.V;Operk'tion'.again:thistsuminer'jv' ;.'.'. . '■'-. . '".,;. ''':'"■' 'Mf/iGieorgetti,' it' will■ bo' remembered, holds .;i : ";- that;'immigrants—and;;theh; only .thoso who : ,'"■ could help ;to. develop, the'country—should not' .';-. : :': : .be.' : enc6nraged.to'settle-inith'e' Dominion when. ■ : : : -J r - other': thiin 'prosperousY.tipes, ;are being ; ox-' y:;'.-: : -penenceil.\'-:;:/ y ; ;.:; : j:V'':: -■.■ ; ;->:...".^;> , V, •.. :■■,,;. •;, •.'-;' Mr.■ Sleldxnm.goes further ; than that—for.he ?1; ;; declares;,that ho :money at all should be 'spent '.'.'■ "?-.;.Jn 'this 'direction. '■',')':■,■: ■•.-'■ •:';,;■-:: ; '.' .■•.-;. .;■;'::Mr.; Hornblow: has 'also- condemned' the pre- <;■ ;; sent system in no ; uncortain'tones. ■ ' .' ■:'■' -. ,v.;;".':;At-Fordell, on iMonday Evening, Mr. Smith .:;;;; referred_to , the unsuitability; : of many of i the ', i'.phew arrivals. He said : he'was■ able to epeak ■ first,hand bn;the subject, for whenever ho'saw r;.-; : ;)a']cnot.of "new, chums'' together, he invariably ■.-; went'over and had a yarn ; with thbm. 'From ? ;■., ■what>.;he ;had: gleaned from immigrants, it v>;; appeared .that' : they .had ,;-been informed ■'■ at ;.-: ;.:;■. Home; that: New ZealandVwas literally a coun- .. 7.try- flowingVwith . milk and-honey.. They -ex- ;'., pected.ihe.had'been- told; to,find.npbn' their ".■:': -arrival trains/waiting: on; the wharves-to' bear :'.:■;'."■''them 'to- their:selections.' •.(Laughter.). Instead '■;-■ ■;■ v:oti' that, Mr.'. Smith, .numbers whom ;■, , he? had seen'.'were; after, delays' of one kind ;,'■..:' 0r..-auothor;: sent: up -to -public 'works near' the .:.'",:• snow. line,;.w&re-:-they .found 'only tents 1 ' to >.;, reside', in, ■ and. plenty :'of 'hard work: for hot' a k■-:-. great j-deal of, ;pay:;.: ; -,--'Mrj'■ Smith'..went. on to '.•:..; eay,. that .it. was. • pitiable, that numbers of im;.,.i.. migrants ;had been- imposed -upon : in the way mentioned. -Not longagohe had met a ..;.:,party;.:of,.. carrying their boxes ' .'away;from the. railway^station."You.'should \- ■SSI 8 ■ le " 'hem there,", he remarked to' them - ;■;; r., 01 ". we could not:do.that,",one.replied, "for 1,; : lt : :would.havo;..cost ;us tuppence." i.fLanghter.) ;■■.•. Hβ ; ;remarked: to. -.the •■ new-comers . that one ■■ ol v": ™° r . bo3es;seemod to \ be.;-nnusually' heavy for ■:-. ;.;, t3 i5 z f;',.Tf«s.itis heavy/.' replied the-owner, ;..'.and..the.worst.df:it;is'that:much oj.what is ;ir:'■■>?'• l *j' l ?/- I^., no.;yalue.?::li:mayi:teU you,".! con- •-„ ;,.tmued ; the immigrant, fthat before 'I left Home ~ ...1.-H'as.informed-that'as in'.tho.early days'you •''■' ■' -S";- 1 ;• tor/.beads■"■'andv similar articles." ■ ,; -■-'Svf^T ■Ki'be:added, V'actingVonSt :-.: -^γ? 6 -:': lispcnt,.the,;halance.,of my., money-in :..,;,nmbng wnat : have, proved to^^be : useless .pus|

PLATFORMS,

,:; ; OTWiS;;OJ! YABiotTS^ •;'- 1 -f : <SM;. J <i y^r^"^': 'riS e ' f P^n^'W iri;e 3'.of ■!the;i'politicaV ; tows ;of,the. i candidates ; .will.bo of:-interestsat ,;■■;;:?.,■;... :-i\: : >.:il :-;-i-'-:

/;/^Mr.;'Hotkly;:;^;':s''

v : f ■'■ ' : o\A ■WyOpfton';ofHbe freehold-'in \ respect i'bf'all = i->^ ?^ : °° f .basis.that..will conserve to ■;,::■.;,.the tenant-his,interest in the lease ■•--■■■■.. "S:? Native lands spolicy,Vhaving ' : .' ■■;■■■ t?r:it?, object, the' iadiyidnalisation. of ! all Nα-' ■:■?** : ? Te ' tl fe' and,;the- opening,np -of these lands' '-•'r- J? r; settlement',on\the., same: conditions as i,v.:.- -.v/Vrown'lands.■■;.''--\'' , i<' , 'j' t: .;'. , f''' v : , i: l, ''''''! 'i-i-;■■'■.■■ : ; A ; strong::desiref to':'-eee : tne : 'trSJe' ; of ! "the : ¥.:.. « ;conserved as .much' ;as possible witnin' '■;■..•■■: j^/,-.;. , ./' , ;.., P ' •(.>:.■, ,■■;<;'. \- ■-,-, i'K t& - i- ■W) i free;:educatioh- irorn" the" primaryTschool '-■ ■■>• •■■■•'- ; , andO.the extension oi 'the , :;? > >;:/: --e^BKia :■ of ■.rtechmcalveducationr ; i:' ;; •■*< .•: ■■ ?:;: :■:■:•:• %w -An; adequate ; systein- ;:! bf /defence -throush- :■■:,"::■ ■!■.-.;;one 'the': .'■''.'■■ ; ". ; ?" :; i": - , : :, ■-.!■.■ :•/ '•■:■■ ■*■:.■■■ ■ ; f >f'.fV.-iii''W'Be&im.-of thSCivil .Sertice;- and^iplacin? ' ": ■•; s: , .';- -"-^iS"™?-^ 0 contrt>l of Board.i:.f;V: ; ;'i"i;;W.-TM ..reform'Jof :the r legislative ;Co'anbili h!j ! i'- : ; 'Dy/aiakingiit ■',:;- *-''-'S-v-.-.' : r'',® A : reduction, in; , taxation.::as the "result , ' ; ;::v>"- ; -Viji-.(?)-I«BJslefaqj»'>'that ;will -restore the: confi- ■:-;:■ v:- ■ '■'.pence. , of .the. investing'-public; and 'so assist to ; i>; , make..work. : :.more-plentiful-.and the -country a{i : progressive/: ■«;:'•: '■■■*?• >■■•' ■/■-'■. ■ .short,; /ife.'HooUy,: wants; good, : :sorind; ;N. -administration.';;;:;- : ■%$:•?■; "'

Mr. Smith. • (1) Crown tonants should havo the right of purchase, but there should bo limitation '6f

'■;.'V:V :^rea.-\; ;. ; /;;U:;..■/''■■;;: ; ..;, ':-.■:■•'.'■::■ .- ■ ':■:■;■ y .(■;>>{/ '■■'' (2):Befom'-' 7 bf'/JJatiw-ieiiid.'laTrs'V;so- : as ;to ;■;i> Mf«"» lndiyidualisation; of;titles,-; and .Natives •;./."■> «>vSi9.)Mlpwed;to:.deali>fithUlieir;iaiidsVaS'they; {.!.■!-•:;-- -desire,- and.be subject: to the■'samVtaiatiori'aa y:;yt; : ;EnTowans.. J vV ;^--^-; i■>;■'■ ;'^-sW'::;,>'./■■.:.■:; :;i'*%'';.::-(B);l'ree':ddßcation'!f™m''tte''jprimary'-echool : '■■■■:"■:. .'.:-. to ..the: university. :',-;>'■.■' ::.; ■'.■.^"^■-■■--■■/.■■■ : ».-.-;. •.; ! ,;' shonld be. spent on the' Navy ■ ;.;':;..■,'.■• than on 'internal. defence.i-':.. T : ■,'-.!-/.'-,'.■'.-': : ; i- , .'i , *'. ; ■ I- V-"'f^:( s ).Opppsed/tb ;thejpresent ißysteni of • imrni--fcr*■•'' gianon;- , -:i v J'v.- , -- , -|V ; , :'^;^ , ;f/:/.-ii.i , ;. , . .i,;;.-■.•,..■■;,.;in~v ..■;.;.;,-.-. :,i -, ; :v J '>W) A'taijff/'-whiqh '.Would .give: ? protection';tb' :.; : -:,-i".i-:,;jr«nng , -indnstries.'-V: :",■ "••■:■>:'■). 4'><' ;■■•:;.-."t-'vV,, ?: :" ■'"■-■.■..(7) .ildre money to assist the: settlers and the ,V-fi';:'v;worl^?,^ -*■>-■<--;!-/ i -;'v^l'^V,: ;^v - ■-■•!&(;.■ .;-i'.! "''.'■' -v T & e : imposition"'of 'a, dnty' bn-'imported ■//■".'•.■r'pine.' , ;;. .■.■■">;■.:■.'.■■'•; ■/;':'••,.:'■;. ; ,Vi-.;. i- 5 .'.- - ■;-'*;^'':■■•:""»'■.-.--r..-.---;. ■ •:.■•: ,?L-®' : A:;Dominion , . , option;-poll^with , "a;.tnree-'' : ; Vi : v.':.-,'....fifths,! majority.'.-.V-.y-:/■-<:''; :: : 'i ■•■ < ; .'-.; :: .', ; ;V % lit.'y-. Mr;"Georgetii. ''-' : ;' s^^'' '■■ '''; ; '■'£•s Option^of;the-freehold to -Kβ-.given'.'to: all' : ■-),:.,:. Crown --y tenants,';': excepting;: those "' occupying l<:■■■ -7.' ;nigh-pricedglands;-, acquired,-foivi'clbeer 'settle-' ;•■;-.¥■■. • meht.;.'". --C'■';'-":' "■':■■ -:V;-. ■.'■i-. r :- ; 'j'-' ■'.:'■ ■:■;. ;./';; -..;:■ .<" ?rY/v { -A,:( 2 ) Utilisatioii;-of ali''Native ; land' : at : 'pTesent '..''-.;.; lying>idle--and-(Tinprodnotiye... 'r-:.v > •>.-;■-.;/■. .V- ,^'^'_ -'^i-^0)-waijririg-'. : thevhcensing ,l qnestion ! '-aa- ;, 'at , :'p're» ;, ;:. ' ;..'6ent'.in the hahds'pf the , people.'■••■:■;• H ::=, -~• .-■ 3'■i.-? , 'i-i':W);The;horrowirigipowers :Jof -local..;bodies ;.;. i.,;.,.; Bhonld: bg_ iDoreased.in>proportion-; to ' their fr!^v:,Talnation.v''-.. ; vU:.--:PV^';' : ;--7-'v,-i : v''\i.-.: r ■,;'•.■■;.•.'■,.■:.•■ V> jV- V-:,'.'j'■'.(*) Compnlsoryvmilitary- training.' .'; • .'■',,,

;;i^':^f;^^ ; iC;Mr^Meldrom;vA,:.-^'V-- ; :v\ ,*-. : (I).:Option:-:bf: the ifreeholi-.'-being:r'giveni as .regards ■ all .Ci'bwn'i lands;.- otherV than-thole :» acquired , .'fpr.'settlement,;:subjeo.t to fair eon-..oitions-being'granted to -lessees' ; . ■'■:■■. "■''■'■;■■'■ .., .(2) Entirely,opposed .to.anyialteraUon-in.the -.; present. system' of railway administration. ' ■ . :- '©-.Opposed-, to: assisted, immigration. ■ ''.:■•( ■ : s.i) Cpntribntion to • the, Navy insafllciehtj and , males .shonld/'deyote.some, pavtvof;their time .each year.to-'a-course of military training.-. •■'■. ..(5) Opposed ■;■ :> to ''the , -^aggregation' of large' -..estates, and/in., this/regard'in favour of the y Danish 'system '{it: graduated tax/' ■'■ .'■■;'.''.■■;.,' : ' ■•;•..

'■ : '&~-'t-J''-V. '■■•':•?'■■-'Mγ- ■■HopnWow.'- ; : , :''-.-,>'■■'?.: \ ':'/■-.\- . .:'_(i). Option :■ of':the.';.freehold .....to; ■; all:■' .Crown tenants,.,,' With limitation.' of ..area; 'and, strict provisions 'as' to residence, and improvements. ; (2)/AH .'Native lands,-excepting , .sufficient for reserves for. .the ..Natives,■: should. befsold either ,to ;the ■■; Government;or to.;the .private"individnals under;'the;.same jprovisions as ::-Crown V;^;.; : m';;\»>..V^.;'';".:.;\-. ; !;>;:. !. r .;,';"^.r

■''■;->(3) Opposed.,to .'the .'present ■ system; of;.'immi- ■'. 'gratioh.;..■'>-.;;■■:'*<■'/;':;- '■-■■ ;' : V\.-; : -*A;y ' : --,i.- : :.,. ;- •; {i) Greater J' assistance .' should . be: given.; in -'respect to.roads, especially.:.where'it ; is.'im- ;;•; possible for < the. local; bodies *to provide - the ;■'■ furidsi.-.'■'.".i-v.i'/.-,- 'I'.'-^i'.^S'-f''^ , ' '■-.-■/■>,",'•:;;' '}'■-'.■ -. ; (5) Against, .the /aggregation'':if, large *•' (6) Opportunities should* .be -;provided.,'for 'higher education, right, -throngh-.. t0 .the;univer- .;; eity,;;for -;all.; ';■<' -. .-/;■•- ''■'■'• ' : '.w? ; '-- -■':)■{ (7). A; Dominion 'licensing■■'vote,.on.-;the bare ymajbrifcy,;and'iiquor or-no liquor..!':! .■-''■ '~.

: PARfY/s}CANpipATE;;;:' :

: : . ; -;:-;THREE SUCCESSFUL : MEETINGS/' - ; :;. ■ '. ■. The, Keform- 'candidate... (Mr.' > F. ?IY Eockly); addressed three large meetinga to-day. In'the hlornin|' he-spoke at ,Upi>er Kawhatau, . ..where Mr.. Dpighton,- sen;V : . presided; 'in'. the afternoori-.at. r :liower.'Ka'whatau,. where 'Mr.' .'Jlaigwas.-m , the 'chair; and ,in.the evening'at V Ruanine, Mr.. .Gnthrie; M.P.; ; being- ohairmah. :' In the course , of his remarks at these meetings,' .Mr;-Hookly, -who'had- splendid receptions,■ de- :.'■'•; qlared , , that; ' igdging"; '.by,! the expressed' utter-■ances-of. the leaders ,of the' Government,: there , ;: w.as absolutely no hope of getting; ; the, freehold ."■ whilst;it'was In,power, V All Crown,tenants ■■;>. should, he .heldjvlje- given, the option of the. ' freehold : fair '■" and" etiuitablo 'terms,! nndor.' ■y , which! their .interests must- be conserved to' the ; '. last v fraction'; ; - One of 'tho -reasons 'why the ..'lease in perpetuity; tenants !were so '.uneasy. ,asi! '■ .'■ regards their. terniie and waiit; of :;;.. to obtain, the. fee. sinipje. oii fair,arid. equitable j. terms was partly, owing'to. the Hon. J. A. ' statementi.in the:Houso that.thp; death '.■• of the';tenant' , .should terminate the lease. . Mr. ; .Hockly described, that":statement ds : the most ■'■ scandalous .and .wjcked-.proposal v aver, made in ' any.ParliamenHn , the world, and said it was ~ tantamount i to "aT'propbsal 'to -rob* the .widows ■ • and tho , -children. He , proceededsto say that "..year 'after -year. _the : ;Govcrnmont : - had iput. off .the. whole, question ,of .Native lands by.;pro-.■-;''-Bjises, and had : oven set.up a Royal Commis- '-.- »ion on the. subject) but ltVwasjhis opinion A that, the questions would never be'tackled suci'Bessfnlly by'the present Government. He con- '.';" fended that all distinction between Native and gmkehashoold' , be ■abolished;, and. ihat- there ; should be one' law .for all ;the people in the "'.oountry. ■Hβ -wanted to see 'the public .ser■V'Ti'ce. fun 'on.proper, businesslike {line's ...by...men '~ : - »ppointed because; :;were .' •ary.raM'beoanse' they were capable'of' per- : : forming-the service >reattired'of them. It

VM-'his opinion that the public service should be taken frbiu under political control and placed in tho hands of a pnblio service- board. With regard to taxation, ho' considered that if any further: money ;wcre needed for the govorninent'i of the- country it should be provided, not from; extra taxation, butas a result of : careful and prudent administration! and the'cessation of the reckless extravagance that the country-had become accustomed to during the pnst few years. . In was apparent that any increase in taxation must fall upon the'shoulders of the men upon the land. The Hon. G. Fowlds's. suggestion that the cost of education should come from the rates was a clear indication that wh'nt ho had just eaid was correct. Mr. Hockly was, at the conclusion of each of the meetings, accorded a; hearty vote of thanks.

CANDIDATES AND THEIR CHANCES

■ , ;tbend op public feeling. . Signs aro not wanting: that interest, in the elecßon is becoming more intense. From all quarters ' comes word that Mr. Hockly, tho Itefonn paTty candidate,; is continuing to make his position still stronger, as a result of every address. That he will lead on the first ballot is expected by; all his opponents, and is generally anticipated. ' There are' some, however, who-think that : if ho does not secure a very comfortable lead on Thursday, he will have no easy task to gain the seat.' Those who doubt Mr. HocklyV ability, to capture the seat.are reminded that tho west coast, at tho goneral elections, decided strongly, against the present Administration. Tho electors of Manawatu, Palmerston, Patea,' and Stratford emphatically declared their distrust' of the Ward Government; by -replacing the sitting Government member m each case by a candidate "who had pledged ■ himself to do; his utmost to secure the , ,reforms which are so badly needed.. Then, Bgain, in the case of Oroua, tho Reform party won on tho first ballot. In New Plymouth, their candidate retained the seat for them;inEgmont (a now electorate) a candidate in their interest "was successful, whilst in regard to Otaki and Wanganui, great progress was made, and in-the.fqnner electorate the Government candidate was lucky in .being returned. That a .similar feeling existed in Eangitikei is well known, and would undoubtedly have shown itself had a straight-out candidate been ■ standing. To-day it is contended that the feeling of, disgust at the way .in, which tho affairs of tho Dominion are being mismanaged.:is unquestionably present ,in Bangitikei in an accentuated form, owing to what "has happened since the general eloction.' It must ■ not be forgotten, also, that on the occasion of the second ballot, if such prove ito.be necessary,; Mr. Hockly .will-..be supportSd by : many of those'; who have pro-mised-.to support one or .other of, the-Candi-dates who will bo defeated .at the initial contest;' if Mr. '\ Hockly "docs not. gain an absolute' majority.'at th'e first poll. The real contest on' that occasion will 'be .between Messrs. Smith and Meldrunv for the position of Government candidate in the final; till lately it has generally .been felt that'Mr.-.Meldrum, whose ' attitude towards both 'political parties has never been,in doubt, was-in most favour with Ministerialists, 1 but' for, some days the feeling,;ha3 been .steadily ; growing that Mr. Smith/will prove to have nearly as many, perhaps more, supporters than Mr. Meldrum. It isi .common , talk :.that, Mr.. Meldrum, has , not, strengthened hisjosition to any. extent by-his platform work..., Mr ., Smith, on the.other hand, is .doingi much more effective work in-that direcMpn.' than on the occasion' of .the general ■election, when ;the sitting member, the -late Mr.' Eemington.'only: defeated him by,a small ♦margin. ■■.'Another' fact ...which'is being overlooked';by.most people;is that Mr.,Smith'hae an'ndvantage : oyer.■ the'other Ministerial'candithat,- as'a result of his 'efforts' at the 'previous '.election,*, he. made, numbers ',of friends all over-the eome of whom have now: come'to , his assistance again.. Neither of the other candidates are expected to.reach thoi isecond ballot,"but;■ it•• will not 'be surprising if- both', of-..them,.- .and-'. especially ;■• Mr. ■Georgotti,: do' much better than is' generally :antioipated: '. ..i .... ■,■■•■■■■■■ ■• ;

POLLING DAY AND THE MARTON RACES

NO SPECIVI TEOM TAIHAPE AERANGED

■..-Much coram«nf;is tafcirig place inViewof the report ■ tho,b the'Eailway. department, do' no? intend. v to put on a special train for the-con,-venlonce.,of .Taihape and southern stations who'are desirous -of attending' on polling.;,day,. .the, - Eangitikei •; Racing AClub's-'meet-' ing,, .whiph'will ,be held this' tiine.at .Martbn, owing to the fact ; that'improvements are being made to' the course; at Sulls..' It; will be remembered" 'that recently. ■ a "specialV. was run in connection with the Marton races, ..but efforts.by,.tho.racing.authorities.Vto the sama, ■ ia'cuities extenSed :on the v occasion of the'; , forthpoming:'imeetrag ,! have, it 'is understood, ;not'\met mth success.. If:such 'a'train is..:hbt:|pUt on?it'''will 'simply mean: that elec-' ..tors'.who.-join the firsti'train,- in order.not to miss , anj/.pf not ordinarily have an /opportunity ~to record .their; votes.' .Then,: again, if these • electors wait for the second train.'.th'e result will; be. that they, will miss two: of the/events.; A "special" leaving Taihape.: at,; say,, 9.45. would prove a. sittirfac-tory-solution pf,tho'dinic'nlty,.for in that event all .Vthe" , passenger's 1 . wKo are '.electors . would have,.an: opportunity; to icast -their votes, and , would-reach :the'course in plenty of time for the Sficorid. rice on the. programme." It 'is understood ..that, in the eyentof the "special" not being granted,'friends.of Mr. Hockly will run motor-oars v to the course.'fronvPorewa, for the {convenience of'electors 'who alight'there to. vote. -, In.-the event of-a second, ballot, whioh i would bo 'held on September ! '23 (the dateof. the -.Wanganui'.J.C: races), less inconvenience would, be caused \to electors who attend^them.vif.there, is, .no'.special train from •Taihape .to ■■ Marion,, as they will. be ' less nnmeroiis; and-.will be,able to vote nf.Eastowri, and without having fceen greatly delayed thetf.prQceed'tb the'eourse by tram-car. „ , ...

AN' ACTIVE .CANDIDATE,

;■ : '■;-,....; JIB.-.SMITffS FOEECAST. ■'.v 'i .None-of the candidates has* worked harder than Mr. Smith,'who was' at Fordell yesterday. Jlr.■ ■Smith"'told Jhe Dominion ,representative Uiat' : lie'.had- addressed two or : threot.meetings psr day ; as;a;rule,- and 'on one day as .many as;fiye meetings..,On AVednesday he-proposed to; address meetings' from 10 o'clock in the morning:.till .10 o'clock in the evening.: With ..the exception'of a;few.outlying place's'he had practically. covered the iwh.ole of the electorate. Bethought, that'.Mr. Hockly >ould undoubtedly ■ tpp.-tlie" poll' on 'the occasion of the first billot,; because he. would have a psolid.Opposition vote behind him, whilst the Government 'vote -'\ybuld bo split up among the several Gbv ; e^nment;candidate^.''lf. Mr. Hockly did not get ; a large 'majority at , the -initial poll' , he could not-possibly hope to -win -tbe -seat.' Neither Mr,'. Hockly .nor. : ,ariy. of .the Government candidates would gain 'an,absolute majority 'oh/-Thursday.' .•.Hβ. (ilr; Smith) felt; quite confident that he must win- the election. Of the.'2loo. ydteSj ;or' thereabout*, that it was ■anticipated, would; be, cast in the" northern end of the. electorate; he. expected to gain over half the,number. With respect to the southern end —the Wanganurend-Hjf the -district, .about the same numbsro.f yotes would 'm all be cast, and jof:these he;would;get at'least ■ eyer. Government, candidate' reached the:second ballot, would;..secure .the solid backing of the Gpvernraeat party. ■ There 'was no -chance of. any differences arising between the ; Liberal candidates iu; a';result ,of the first ballot. It was his "firm opinion that the Government ca'n'didate who was left in the second ballot should beat Mr;. ■ Hockly.-Ho (Mr. Smith) would receive support, principally .-froriu the. .smaller settlers,.,the middle olasses,- and the workers. ,

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY.

i IMPORTATION ,OF OREGON PINE. ■: ■'As.to' Mr. Hockly's attitude"in regard to the sawmilling industry, it is interesting torecall Ihis.romarks on the subject at his Turangarere meeting on Saturday evening. On that occasion Mr. Hockly said: "The sawmilling industry in Now Zealand is in a'most serious condition at tha,,proseut time. . It has .been (he victim of sonfe very unfair competition, as'-"the result of the importation of Oregon pine in such huge quantities. ■ During two months of last year no less.than -7,000,000 feet -were landed in Now Zealand. , : A-Royal Commission had been set up to consider; r the matter,, but its report :hae not'yet'been ; 'c6nsidered,.owing to'tho doors of Parliament, haying been closed for three months at the instance of Sir Joseph Ward, il-'would also like, to mention something, on the question'of rates.- It costs over. 4s. .to tako 100 feet of New' Zealand timber, from Ohakuno to Wellington, : whereas the. saiffo qunntity. of' Oregon piiin ;can bo carried from Vancouver, GOOD miles. .awuyV'for' 2s. Cd. ..This is : a matter in which • thOiinillowncrs and .their-workers havoa very . senous '~ quarrel wi th the Government, ; ' owing to the fact that it has'not yet given corisidorn-, tion to the roport.of ..the commission,, and to the question of freights on. New, Zealand .tim-, ' beri'. The Government not- only, shut ,up Parliameiit, but it used Oregon pine in its own buildings, when it could have used New Zealand timber, which.was as good,.if not better, for the 'purple required. . All my life, I have Free-trader; but , I am- not going to allow'"any industry in which, a largo amount of capital is iuvested, and on which o- largo number of. men are deperident for. a living, to be subjected to unfair competition. If, elected, I wjll see that both ; the; sawmillers and the workers gat .absolutely .fare play." . i,.-"■'

"GOING THE PACE."

MB. HORNBIOW ON EXTBAVAGANT ADMINISTRATION.' The plain, straight-forward manner in which Mr.VHornblow has dealt with the causes which hnvo led up tg. the unsatisfactory state in which Now Zealand finds herself to-day is quito refreshing,- .especially, is this the case when it is remembered that-the other Ministerial candidates are cither attempting to deny that the Uovernment has been,a very extravagant Administration; or saying' very little on the subject, l'hro.ugh the pressure of the people's representatives,. Mr. Hornblow says the Government had been, going the pace ft spending tens, of thousands of pounds on huge public buildings in the different centres, and making other oitrnvagant grants, with the result, that it is: now forced into using the pruning-knife, and going in for. retrenchment. "There is," ho says, "no getting away from the fact that this country will have to go in for more rigid economy. I am hot foolish enough to attempt to deceive my hoarors by saying the Govern-' ment is perfect. They have made mistakes, and, I believe they are now trying to rectify them, .and, if returned, I for one will endeavour to assist in' getting them' back into the right .groove, which was so beneficial to the' people in the, days of. the late John Ballance, John . M'-Kenzie, and others. There can be no doubt we have been too extravagant in our Government and private expenditure, and the severe lesson would be a blessing in disguise." ■'••'.. . , '

MEETINGS AT VARIOUS CENTRES. Mr. Georgotti, the Independent candidate, addressed a lorge. meeting at Mangaweka last night. Mri C. J. Bennett was in the chair. The address was on lines similar to those of Mr.' Georgetti's previous speeches. On the motion of Dr. Turnbull, seconded by Mr. G. Thomson, he i was accorded a vote of thanks. Hβ was to speak at Taihape to-night. Mr. Meldrum, a Government candidate, tad a good meeting at' Wangaehu to-night, and will speak at"*Karewarewa and Buahine to-morrow. Mr. Smith, ano'ther Government • candidate, addressed the electors of Torere to-night, when he had a satisfactory reception. To-morrow he speaks at Taihape. ' . _ '. . , Mr. Hornblow; the Liberal-Labour candidate, will be at TJ.tiku. to-morrow afternoon, and in the evening: will address an open-air meeting at.'.Taihape.. ... ', .. .-,■/ . ;

A CHALLENGE,

Interviewed regarding' Mr. Smith's challenge to. the .Opposition organiser to explain the statement that his (Mr. Smith's) political opinions; had undergone a vast change since last'election,'Mr. Martin stated he was not at Mr. Smith's'Taihape meeting when the challenge was. made," "but,", stated Mr. Martin, 'I. told Mr.7Smith> that I would,be present-at his meeting at'-.tfie Mahgaweka • saleynrds -last Saturday afternoon,-.when I would be pleased to . accept. any; challenge respectiug • any statement I had'inade regarding him. I now desire .to say that there .is no doubt Mr.' Smith informed , several'.'of our best-Imoira represenfntivo.: supporters at: the : general election tliat his.isyrapathiesfwer'e, undoubtedly -'with the Opposition party,'and J am prepared to.mention the names .of several on the public platform whose veracity.is beyond'question."--.. .

:■".■■"■' .;'./•:. i V ".

■■ • If-'-Js understood that,.Mr. W. F. Massey, Leader of the ..Opposition; will visit, Hunter.Tills .on [Thursday night, but not with the object''of. delivering, any,.political address. ';.■ .There is reason to believe that if a secondFallot- is found, to be necessary,; the Hon..;J. Carroll,. Acting-Prime Minister,, will : actively assist the .Government candidate. .';./v '..'

...With - respect to : ,Mr: Smith's complaint'that one of.MiwMeldrnm's election cards might be read .as-, meaning that the latter claimed, to'be the',_ Government; candidate^, Mr. ■'. >Meldrum's; election secretary,' stages, that, it was,' certainly never intended to. convey sheh an impression. In addition,,.ho ,points. out-that at /the bottom of ■ another, oircttlar ' issued. on ■ behalf of Mr. Meldrura ■' are the..words:,. "Any : statement made-by: a ; .candidate.that u he has been pre? f erred by .the Government '"to any other candidate.worild be 'untrue.", :'/, . ../.-■•' .';.',; .

• The only/candidate ..whose: whole. ;career stamps him'as..ansidpal farmers' representative (says '.the "Farmers' Union Advocate") is Mr. F;. Hocldy; ■':■ Ho is a. farmer of many.'years' standing, and has; shown •his capabilities as a politician; in!local politics, arid we hope to hear or his success on'the 16th instant.'