THE ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1274, 1 November 1911, Page 5

THE ELECTIONS.

PROGRESS OF THE CAMPAIGN. SETTLING DOWN IN EARNEST. SPEECHES AND J.OTTINGS. Mr. Masscy, Loader of llio Opposition, intends visiting the south, but date have not bceu definiioly fixed. Ho is at proson t in Turannki, but will leave immediately for his own olectoiatc, Franklin.

It is stated that Sir John Findlay has rented a furnished house in. the Piirnell electorate for a period of six weeks. He is apparently not taking any risks.—This item comes by way of Hie Pa tea "Press."

There is one question (insists the Christclmrcb. "Press") which ought to 1)0 put to every Minister and every Government supporter in the coming General Election, namely, "Why did the Government issue an Order-in-Council which enabled a land speculator to put ■£35,000 in his pocket as immediate profit on a Maori land transaction?" That is the main point in connection with the Mokau land transaction which «> far has not been satisfactorily answered.

Mr. Jas. Allen has been spending n busj- time in tho south since the session ended. "The prospects of tho Reform party," he told an interviewer in Christchurch, "were never brighter. There is universal dissatisfaction with t'lic present Government. Tho party has candidates for nearly every electorate, and there are evidences of a great revival of interest in politics, and of a general desire for a change in \he Administration. Tho long continuation in oflico of one party always brings its evils, and the pcoplo are beginning to recognise (his."

"Politically the state of lS T ew Zealand is most desperate. havt in power nn ateolute autocrat—not a. man of powerful will and great executive, ability, but one wiio has learned a few tricks of the trade which euablo him to hold his position. Wo see hero a man who, without any consultation widi Parliament or Cabinet, has saddled the country with the cost of a jy,000,OOl) Dreadnought of date before it is built, according to the Navy League), and has placed on the pcoplo a thing that practically 'amounts to conscription."—Mr. M/Carthy, Labour candidate for tho Chalmers' seat.

'It is well known," tho Christchurch Press remarked in a recent editorial, "that any popularity which the. Ministry has possessed in tho past has very greatly declined throughout the country. It is n<i doubt in consequence of this fact that the Government have deemed it advisable' to increase the bribe? to the constituencies to an amount hitherto unprecedented. The amount of money 'splashed about' in tho Estimates this year and last year reached high-water mark, and tho Supplementary Kslimatos this year are far heavier than on any previous' occasion in the financial history of New Zealand. Evidently the Government feel that their position is becoming desperate.

Mr. G. W. Armitago, tho Opposition candidate for Teniuka, referring to the question of local government, said that on thirteen occasions tho Government had promised to deal with this question, but so far it had done absolutely nothing. A district had no right to bo dependent upon tho goodwill of the Government or the wire-pulling of its members. The system was a vicious and degraded, one. The' Government realised that to abolish tho present system would deprive it of one of its most subtle and effective means of turning the balance- in' a' hard-fought contest, A great step in advance would be made if, in allocating its money for schools, roads and bridges, the Government would have regard to tho wishes of tho local autnority, instead of the clamorous wishes of self-spoking individuals, who enlisted tho support ot their member without first cousilEing the. local authority.

Although tho date of tho general elections has not yet been officially announced, it is rumoured that Wednesday,' December 8, will be the day of iho battle. Tho Legislature Act directs that the Governor shall issue writs for nn election not later than seven days after tho dissolution or expiry of a Parliament. Tho write are returnable in twenty-oight days. Registrars, upon receiving the. writs, are required to give not less than twelve days' notice of tho date of tho polling. Thesetwelve- days oro jnclusivo of that upon which notice is given and of the polling day. The term of the present Parliament expires on.November 21, so that the earliest date upon which the •elections could be held would presumably bo about December 5 or 6.

The Settler and tho Land. Opening his campaign at Temuka Iho other night, Mr. G. W. Armitago (Opposition candidate for Temuka) declared that it was impossible to ascertain where tho present Government stood on the laud question, hi the meantime settlement was being delayed, confusion increased, and tho genuine settler was retarded in his efforts to make a homo and increase the production of the country. Tho Opposition held clear and progressive views which it was prepared to carry into effect. It believed the interests ol tho community and of tho individual would bo best promoted by maintaining tho optional system of tenure. A man should have tho right, to purchase a limited area of land, and if u poor man had not the ready cash .to. purchase the land he should havo tho option of taking it on lease and converting it into d freehold as soon ns he was able. It wns under a system of this kind that countries like Denmark had risen to great weaitli, with a happy, prosporous and contented population. (Aμplauso.)

WELLINGTON EAST. DR. NEWMAN AT ROSENEATH. _ Dr. Newman, Opposition candidate for Wellington Last, addressed a well-attended meeting of tho electors at the Koscncath Schoolhonse last evening. Mr. Exley presided. Tho speaker said that the first time he addressed a liosenealli audiencu was when ho and Dr. VaJintino wero raising funds to build a consumptive hospital at Otaki. Tho ltarcncath people had liberally helped to carry out that reform. Ho appeared nj?ain tlint nicht to ask their help to remove from office a pernicious Government. It was a reform that was sorely needed by the Dominion. Dr. Newman said that all Premiers had too much power. It was not a rule by Parliament, but rule by ono man—a new form of despotism. All (rood tilings went to favourites. People of the wrong colour did not always get justice. Tho .speech was frequently applauded. Mr. Frank Hill, in a snort speech,- eulogised Dr. Newman as Mayor and as a sportsman, and moved a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. Hodgson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Mr. F. G. BoHon, candidate for Wellinj;toii East, met his committee ni tlio Clyde Court Hotel last ovenins. and delivorcd an address, at tlio conclusion of which various wero set up, and ilio organisation for the camnaiffn complnted. Mr. Dollon is to deliver a political addrcts ai the Victoria Hall next week.

WELLINGTON SUBURBS. ME. W. n. D. BELL AT NGAHAUKANGA. A well-attended meeting of olectora was addressed l>v Air. W. 11. ]■), Ijji), Opiwsition candidate for AVelliiiqUm Suburbs, at the Schoolroom, NRii.liau. raiißa, last night. Mr. H. Stafford occupied (ho chair. Mr. Bell dealt with the iwlitiral situation from th o working mane point nf view, nnd sliowed how the extravagant administration ol the present Government had inoi-eascd (ho cost of living. Ho apreed with the principle that taxation .should be borno by those best able to Iwar it, but no systeni of taxation had yet been discovered which would carry this principle into effect, since every form of taxation eventually hit the working man. i\<* ■snly practicable solution, was tlio reduc.

tion of taxation by more economical nd. ministration. At (ho conclusion of his address, Mr. Bell was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr. laurcnson, seconded by Mr. Woods. lIP. LUKE AT ISLAND BAY. Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., candidate for (ho Suburbs and Country electorate, nd-dres-ed a well-attended meeting in St. Hilda's Hall. Island Bay, last night, Mr. H. Pearson being in the chair. Tho candidate, who mot with «. good reception, stressed the point that, in eonnoction with the State enterprises that had been brought info existence, large borrowing powers had necessarily been exercised. He wont on to my that, of the total debt of tho Dominion, no less a sum than JMS.OOO.OOO was intorost-pro-ducjiip, and a large portion of that returned a profit, in addition. He was convinced that further boiTowing must 1)0 confined to works of a reproductive character. In connection with taxation, ho stated that, by means of a land and income tax, the Dominion eonld distribute direct taxation on an equitable basis, and relieve (ho domestic necessities of tho people. Another matter dealt with was the land eetUcment that had taken place, during the past year. He was of opinion that the opening up of Crown lands, and the acquisition of surplus Native lands was the direction which the Slate -should take, leaving the large estates to bo cut up by the system of taxation now operating. He expressed pleasure at having assisted in (he passing of the recent licensing legislation, together with tho gambling prevention legislation. He was in favour of Dominion prohibition on a bare majority, and also of the abolition of tlio totalizator.

After a number of questions had been answered, he was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, on the motioa of Jlr. (j. Heron, seconded by Mr. .T. J. la«e. At the close of tho meeting a. strong committee was formed.

MB. MOORE AT LYALL BAY. Mi\ !"■ T. Moore, Labour candidate for the {suburbs scat, addressed, the electors of Lyall Bay in (ho Maranui Hall last evening. Mr. Bedford prreided. During his address, Mr. Moore, in regard to thb loan "pickings"—commission and brokerage paid on the large loans annually Moated by New Zealand—said that ho was prepared to ask who got the commissions on (he huge purchases (made with borrowed money) of goods required for the railway, telegraph, postal, and. other public services. Nowadays it was next to impossible, to buy goods a"t bedrock prices from any manufacturers, because, agents stipulated that all such goods ishould be solid through them, consequently tho State would bo fortunate if it gets 15s. worth of value for every £1 expended. Whenever and wherever public money was being spent, quite an army of toute surrounded tlie Government, csicli looking for a r.haro of tho "pickings" to be obtained. Tho opportunity to change the present Administration should' \iot be lost at the coming general elections. Ou the motion of Mr. Ravfn, seconded by Mr. Simpson, a vote n£ thanks and confidence was carried unanimously,

MB, FITZGERALD AT PLIMMISRTON. Mr. J. 13. Fitzgerald, tho Liberal candidato for tho Wellington Suburbs seat, adthe electors at Plimmerton last evening , . Mr. \V. Galloway presided. Tho candidate staled that he would sign no party platform. He was out for the good, of all classes of the Dominion, and claimed that he stood for progressive measures. Mr. Fitzgerald thought that tho present Government was doing all they couid to advance the progress of the Dominion, and as far as tho Opposition party was concerned they brought forward no progressive policy. Ho insisted that tho taxation on necessaries of life tshould bo reduced to a -minimum, and sUwngly objected to the. ramifications of any combines or trusts; if elected to Parliament ho would favour a Royal Commission into the question of tho high price of living:. He suggested tho necessity of tho Government owning its own colliers to facilitate the cheap transit of coal, as at tho present time a large sum was paid to tho Union Steam Shin Co., who had tho efttire monopoly of same. He was in favour of giving the people easy and prompt access to their homes. My. Fitzgerald dealt with many other subjects, and, after answering questions, was accorded a vote, of thanks and confidence, on tho motion of Mr. Lackio. A committee was pet up to forward the candidate's interests.

THE HUTT SEAT.

MB. REARDON ADDRESSES TOE ELECTORS. Mr. Jf. J. Rcardon, Labour candidate for tho Hutt scat,. addressed an audience of 350 persons in tho Town Ilnll, Lower Hutt, last evening. Mr. J. Ball presided. My. Itaardon said there was a growing fading in this country that tho Liberal party bad outlived its usefulness. Tho electors should sec to. it that the move which was imminent should bo made forward, and not Kick. Uo dealt at length, with the land question on tho lines of recent addresses. Touching upon (ho incrensed cost of living, Mr. Rcardon denied that it was due to the rise in, wages. People who worked in bake-shops, lio said, wero paid only £2 Bs. a week for 52 hours' work. While the local price of butter was raised to Is. Od. per 1!)., owing, ho stated, to tho manipulation of the butter ring, employees in dairy factories got an average wago of about £1 15s. per week of seventy hours. There was a great deul of lalk about capital leaving the country, but foreign insurance companies were making very lnrgo profits out of workers' compensation business, and were paying out very small turns to those who were injured, in comparison with what tho Government Department was pnying. Mr. Kcavdon advocated that employers mid the Labour party should work together in resisting the incubus of the foreign capitalist, who Was exploiting both. Mr. Eoardou was accorded a vole of thanks and confidence ut tho close of his meeting.

MR. FOWLOS AT GREY LYNN.

SINS OP OMISSION' AND COMMISSION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) . Auckland, October 31. The Hon. George I'owlds addressed tho electors of Grey Lynn to-night, nud in the coursa of his remarks retorred to his resignation from the Ministry. In regard to this matter ho had little to add to what ho had previously stated. Tho Government did many things of which ho did not wholly approve, and omitted to do many things which he thought they ought to have done, but not one of these, acts of omission or commission wore of themselves sufficient to warrant his leaving tho Government. Tho administration of (he Government had been, on the whole, both efficient and honest, but it had failed to grasp the spirit of Ihn times. It was mainly for the purpose o£ having a freer hand and thereby give a fillip to Iho reform forces of tho Dominion that he had resigned from tho Ministry. If he had believed that bis resignation could have resulted in tho return of a majority of members willing to follow Mr. Massey he should havo felt it his duty to remain where bo was. Mr." I'owlds referred fci u number of other matter* - , and advoc-atcd tho baro majority in local option polls, a campaign against slums, the introduction of. proportional representation, and tho reform of the Legislative Council. Tho candidate was given nn excellent roMolion, and received n vote, of thanks and "confidence.

HAWKE'S BAY;

(Dy TolccrapU.—Press Association.) Gisborno, October 31. Mr. A. L. D. Frnscr, who it was ruim oured. mipht contest the Gifhorno wit, now state that ho has definitely decided to stand, for llawlce's Hay, thoiißh not as tlio nceoptoil Government candidate. TO-NIGHT'S MEETINGS. Dr. Arnold \V. Izard (Wellington North), at Sydney Street Schoolroom, at 8 p.m. Mr. W. 11. D. Bell (Wellington Slurbs), at Mukani Hall, at 8 p.m. Mr. W. 11. Field (Otalci electorate), at Town Hall, Olaki, at 8 p.m. Mr. K. W. Short (Hutt electorate), at Oddfellows' Hall, Trent'ham, at 8 p.m. FUTUKF MEETINGS. Mr. W. H. D. Bell (Opposition c.iiuiidate), at Tftwa Flat, Thursday, November 2. Mr. W. It. Fiold (Otflki electorate), at Old Srhoolhouso, Waikanac, Tlmmiay, November 2. Mr. K. W. Short (llutt electorate), nt Town Hall, Upper Hutt, Thursday, Noyeruber-, 2*