ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1255, 11 October 1911, Page 6

ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

FEELING IN AUCKLAND. SIR JOHN FINDLAY'S MEETING. CHAIRMAN DECLINES TO ACCEPT A HOSTILE AMENDMENT. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, October 10. Political affairs here have taken an amazing turn, and the strange experience of Auckland, if it is repeated elsewhere, opens up a new factor in tho campaign. Tho Government candidates aro preaching some of tho main planks of tho Opposition platform. On every hand the Government candidates aro openly disavowing any connection with tho nopolicy attitude o£ the Government on tho land question, and are confessing as articles of faith belief in tho freehold and tho optional tenure, belief in the necessity for the acquisition of Native lands, reform of the Legislative Council, and so forth. Before election day, no doubt, they will have adopted all tho remaining planks. Sir John Findlay, in his speech at Parnell, severed his connection with the Government policy sufficiently to say that after sufficient land had been reserved for tho Natives,. Iho balance of tho Native land must be compulsorily acquired and thrown open to settlement. 110 urged that tho special representation of tho Maori race would no longer be necessary in the immediate future, and would lx> dispensed with. Ho spoko of the immediate necessity for iho rapid opening up of both tho Crown and Native lands to the land-hungry settlers anxious to get land, and he talked of the defects in the ballot system, notwithstanding Mr. Buddo's recent defence of it. Tho Government candidate for Waiteniata is travelling through tho electorate advocating the opening of land both Crown and Native on the freehold tenure, etc., ctc„ and thcru • are other Government candidates on the same track. Mr. Massey has reason to cougratulato himself. Ho has presented n policy that his opponents consider so good that their only cliancc of election is to adopt it.

Reverting to Sir John I'indlay again, it is plainly evident that had the chairman of the" meeting, who is a prominent Government supporter, not taken the extraordinary course of refusing Jo accept; an amendment, Sir John Findlay would have been plainly told by a hostile resolution that his candidature is unwelcome to tho electors. All through his fulsome references to Auckland and his anxious disavowal of tho Government's attitude there shone tho special pleading of tho advocate ready to do anything, say anything, and promise anything, to secure votes. The big audience was not deceived. It was hostile at the start, and remained unconvinced. Sir John Findlay i will return to hia duties in the Legislative Council after his electioneering tour with tho hoots of hostile forces ringing in his ears. His love for Auckland, his great faith in the future of Parnell, and his hints of_ wonderful benefits to come if only he is returned, have come too late.

THE PARNELL SEAT. SIR J. FINDLAY'S SECOND SPEECH. (By Tolccrapb.—Press Association.) Auckland, October 10. The second spocoii delivered by Sir Jolm Findlay. in support of his candidature fcr the Farnell seat was listened to by a largo meeting at R-enniera to-night. Tho candidato received a very orderly hearing. His address was in most respects on similar lines to that given at Parnell last night. Tho only new matters dealt with at any length were tho public "debt, and liis scheme for tho establishment of fruit farms in tho north of Auckland. -As regards the former subject, his'.main argument was that criticism to be quite fair should look to the manner in wliich-bor-rowed money was expended. In connection with tho fruit farms, ho.strongly advocated his scheme as a means of providing chcap fruit for the people. Despite the opposition to tho proposal, ho had not given up hone of seeing it carried into operation. At the close of his speech tho candidate received a vote of thanks and of confidence, and the meeting broke up with three cheers for himself and Lady Findlay. . HAWKE'S BAY SEAT. (By Telegraph.—Special Corrcsoondcnt.) Hastings, October 10. Mr.' H. Lan Simson, who is conducting an active campaign for the Hawko's Bay seat, last night addressed a meeting at Clive. Mr. bimson claims to bo the only Liberal candidate in tho field, and announces himself as a whole-souled supporter of the present Government. The other candidates, Messrs. Hugh Campbell, G. S. Clapham, A. L. D. Fraser, ami Eustace Lane, are all working hard. At this stage it is very difficult to forecast resulte, but tho general opinion is that Mr. Campbell, tho Reform candidate, is safe to survive the first poll, with' Mr. Simson or Mr. Clapham as his final opponent. MARSDEN. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Wltangarei, October 10. Mr. E. C. l'urdie, the Government candidate for Marsden, opened liis political career and electoral campaign by an address in iVhangarei last night. Ho eulogised tho whole policy of tho present Administration, and declared himself wholly in favour of tho Government. In reply to a question, ho stated that lie knew nothing the Legislative Council had ever done to justify its existence. Tho candidate did not express any views on the liquor question. BULLER. Westport, October 10. Mr. John Dowgray, representing the Federation of Labour, will contest tho liullor seat with Mr. James Coivin. TARANAKI, New Plymouth, October 10. Mr. C. E. Bellringer has been selected as tho Government candidato for tho Taranaki seat. WELLINGTON EAST.

ADDRESS BY 5115, BOLTON. Mr. F. G. Bolton, who is standing in the Liberal interest for Wellington Bast, addressed a meeting of elector? at O'Donnell's Hall, Kilbirnie, last night. Mr. A. A. George was in the chair. The candidate dealt fully with the questions of the high cost of living and rents, and also the encouragemont of bona fide local manufactures, and pointed out that the affording of additional nvenues of employment would prevent the exodus of our most desirable citizens, and would improve the conditions as to both marriage and biTth rate in New Zealand. He also approved the stringent operation of patent laws in the direction of compelling an inventor to commence manufacturing within New Zealand within a limited period, with the alternative of losing his patent rights should ho fail to do so. With respect to better communication between the city and HaUiitai and Kilbirnie, the candidate suggested that the Government and the City Council might co-operate in a scheme whereby a tunnel available for railway traffic in the future, and also for vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the present, should bo constructed at joint cost. He pointed out that when the electrification of the Hutt railway lino took place an extension of tho same in the direction of Miramar would bo easy and exceedingly cheap, and that it was a clear financial gain to both. parties to join in the construction of such a tunnel, "rather than to have two separato ones, and also that tho institution of such a tunnel wonld guarantee to tho outlying parts of the city tho ultimate extension of the To Aro railway. ,Mr. Bolton stated, in answer (o questions, that ho was (ho Government candidate, and that lie was not in favour of a bare majorily determining (lie licensing question; nor did ho approve of (lie sale of Crown lands. On tho mot ion of Mr. T!ennio, seconded by Mr. Dillon, a vote of thanks and confidence was accorded'tho caadidate.

WELLINGTON CENTRAL. A SOCIALIST CANDIDATE. Sir. P. Freeman, the Socialist candidato for Wellington Central, addressed a meeting of t lie electors Inst night at tlio Druids' Hall. Mr. Medeima. presided. The cdndjdato stated that tho Socialist was not out to lucln tlio Parliamentary machino to grind out more palliations of capitalism. Tlio best-cducated poonlo today returned tlio greatest number of Socialists to Parliament. In New Zealand the workers were rapidly coming together on the industrial field to take and bold tlio means whereby wealth was prnducod, and to stick to tlio product of their labour. The meeting accorded the candidato a vote of confidence. Dr. Newman's supporters aro invited to attend a meeting to-night in the bowling club pavilion, Ilataitai, d'or tlio purpose of forming a committee. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsb, Labour candidate for Wellington South, will address tho electors at the Public Library Buildings, Rcvans Street, this evening, at 8 o'clock. Sir. Byron Brown will address tho Otaki electors as under: —At Paeliakariki to-night; at Koputaroa, on Thursday, October 12; at Waikanae, on Friday, October 13. Mr. Prank Preeman, Socialist, is standing for Wellington Central in tlio coming election.