THE ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1245, 29 September 1911, Page 6

THE ELECTIONS.

WELLINGTON SUBURBS. ME. J. E. FITZGERALD AT MIRAMAR. I' Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, one of the candidates for the Wellington Suburbs constituency, addressed a meeting of electors at Miramar, last evening.. speaker referred to his work on the City Council, Harbour Board, Technical School Board, and Charitable Aid Board as indicating his experience in public affairs. lie announced hituself as a Liberal, and stated that his policy was one of steady progress, combined witii careful economy. He thanked the electors for placing him in such an honourable position at the previous election three years ago. In dealing with the land question, lie advocated a heavier tax cn large estate?, which .would have the effect of placing land oil the market at a reasonablo price, and yielding an increased revenue from land-tax, whilst at the samo time relieving taxation on the necessaries, of life. Sir. Fitzgerald, in a reference to tho Defence Act, declared himself in favour of reducing the age .at which training ceased to ba compulsory from 25' to 21 years—lie believed that the training afforded between tho ages of_ 1-4 and. 21 years of age should be sufficient. The speaker, in dealing with the railway question, advocated the rapid completion of the Picton-Christchurch line, and predicted that as no other land was available 1 near Wellington, .tbo growth of Miramar as a manufacturing centre would warrant tho extension of the railway from Te Aro to that suburb in the near future. Mr. Fitzgerald strongly advocated the taxing and rating of Maori lands, so as to bring them into cultivation, and moke tlieni bear their share of tho cost of the roads, bridges, and railways which have improved thoso properties. He also advocated the extension of technical education and the scientific treatment of prisoners and mental defectives; also the medical inspection of school children/ Tho candidate was given an attentive hearing, and a resolution of confidence was moved by Mr. Stone, seconded by Mr. Williams, and carried. ■Vfter the meeting a committee was formed to further tho candidate's interest. MATISDEN SEAT. ' (By TelCKraph.—Press Association.) Whangarai, September 28. Mr E. C. Purdie will contest tho Marsden election in the Liberal interests. Tho sitting member is the only other candidate, Mr. Purdie resigned tho headmastership of the Whangarei School in OTder to engage in the campaign. Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., will address tho electors of Wellington Suburbs at the Parochial Hall, Karori, to-night.