THE ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1276, 3 November 1911, Page 6

THE ELECTIONS.

, NEWS AND NOTES. TO-NIGHT'S MEETINGS. Mr. A. L. Herdman (Reform party, Wellington North), at Sydney Street Schoolroom, at 8 p.m. Dr. A. K. Nowman (Eeform party, Wellington East), New Century Hall, Kent Terrnco, at '8 p.m. Mr. W. H. I). Bell (Eeform party, Wellington Suburbs), at Maranui Church Hall, at 8 p.m. Mr. Byron Brown (Opposition, Otaki electorate), at Schoolhouse, Moutoa. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald (Government, Wellington Suburbs), at Schoolroom, Tawa Plat, at 8 p.m. Mr.,lt. ~VV. Short (Opposition, Hutt electorate), at Schoolroom, Epuni Hamlet, at 8 p.m. Mr. D. M'Larcn (Labour, Wellington East), at Victoria Hall, Newtown, at 8 p.m... ... Mr. J. P .Luke (Government, Wellington Suburbs and Country Electorate), at Nugenfs Store, Miramar, at 8 p.m. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald speaks to-night at Tawa Flat Schoolroom. Paparangi and Newlands to-morrow night.

MEETINGS TO-MORROW. Mr. W. H. D. Bell (Eeform party, Wellington Suburbs), at Ohariu Valley, at 8 p.m. Mr. J. P. Luke (Government, Wellington Suburbs and Country Electorate), at Wyatt's Kiosk, Worser Bay, at 8 p.m. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald (Government, Wellington Suburbs), at Newlands Schoolroom, at 8 p.m.

FUTURE MEETINGS. Mr. W. H. D. Bell (Roform party, Wellington Suburbs), at Normandale, on Monday, November 6, at 8 p.m. Mr. R. A. Wright (Reform party, Wellington South), at Masonic Hail, Borhampore, on Monday, November G, at 8 p.m.

JOTTINGS Electors will bo well advised to remember that tbo writs may be issued any day, so t' at there should be no procrastination about getting on the roll. The Political Roform League notifies that, for tho convenience of the public generally, it has placed in its office at Boulcott Street copies of all the electoral rolls for the city and suburbs, together with a supply of enrolment forms.

A list of the various places where the electoral'roll for. Wellington South may be inspected appears elsewhere in this issue.

In connection' with Dr. Newman's candidature, Jlrs. Newman invites the ladies , of Hataitai to meet her at the Bowling Pavilion this afternoon at 3.30 o'clock.

Mr. 6. Livingstone, of Windsor, has announced himself as a candidate for the Clutha seat. Ho will stand as an Independent Liberal.—Press Association.

The Hawera "Star" describes Mr. Massey's Eltham meeting as the most enthusiastic held in Taranaki in recent years. '

Mr. C. A. C. Hardy, sitting member for Selwyn, in the Reform party's side, intends," he announces, to have neither committees nor. scrutineors acting for him during his election campaign.

Mr. Andrew Martin, of Gore, who has been asked to contest, the Clutha seat in thb Government interests, has definitely decided not to stand, as the time is too short—l'ress Association.

The member for Mastcrton may bo laid by the heels physically—he has been oonflned to his bed for some weeks—but mentally, remarks an exchange, ho is full of fight. Thus he wrote tho other day to a friend ,in Eketahiuia: "I have no con-fidence-whatever in" the Government as now constituted, and it would bo an advantage to New Zealand if they were hurled out of office."

An infcerjector at Mr. Massey's Manaia meeting, by way of expressing disagreement with a statement made : by . the Breaker, ejaculated: "I don't think!" Like lightning cam etho reply, "No, my friend, yon don't think. You have not got the brains to think. Your brains be put in a hazel nut and then leave room to spare." Tho audience applauded and laughed, and the interjector collapscd into silcncc.

The Waimato Witness" understands that the Hon. T. Mackenzie is negotiating for the purchase of a superior residence in Manaia. "WhafFor?" asks the "Taranaki Herald." Tho other day it was alleged that Sir John Findlay had leased a house in Parnell for a term of bix weeks. ■ Perhaps' the answer to tho question put by the Taranaki paper is that Mr. Mackenzie's negotiations represent _ another version of: "How to be cautious though a candidate."

Mr. Allen Bell, Opposition candidate for Raglan, according to the Auckland "Herald," is conducting a vigorous campaign ill the northern portion of his eloctorate, and is mesting with splendid receptions. On Monday night he spoko at whangarata to a large audience, presided over by Mr. Ewing. A vote of thanks was carried with great enthusiasm.

Briefly describing on Wednesday Mr. Massey's recent political excursion to 'Taranaki, the "Patea Press" remarked:— ''Mr. Aiassey addressed five meetings during, yesterday, winding up'with a wellattended meeting at Manaia in the evening. Mr. Massoy had a splendid reception at each placo, the meetings being described as exceptionally enthusiastic, tho audiences appreciating the plain and straightforward manner in which Mr. Massey laid his cose bjfore thom. In tho course of conversation with a representative of this paper this morning, Mr. Massey expressed himself as delighted with the receptions he had met with during his visit to Taranasi. He was more than gratified with the attendances at his various meetings, which went to show that the peop.e were taking a keener interest t'nan ever in the management of this country's affairs."

Mr. Wright was asked at Newtown last evening whether he had fulfilled a pledge, made during last general election, to support a reduction in the salary of members of Parliament from .£309 to .£2OO a year. The momber for Wellington South replied that he had done what, lie could, but that ho had been unable to secure the co-operation of any other member, and ra had been • unable to divide tjie House on the question. He was still in favour of the reduction. "What was 'the cost of the new Hutt road and of that beautiful bicycle track?" was a question put by an elector at Mr. Wright's Wellington Soutli meeting last evening. Mr. Wright replied that the aggregate cost of the road and railway works was somewhere in the vicinity of .£330,000. It was impossible to discover the proportion that should bo paid for the road, but the Government said that it had cost ~£IOO,OOO. "All I can fay is," said Mr. Wright, "that I don't know where tho money went."

Mr. Massey Sprains His Ankls. During the journey to Auckland by the Main Trunk train last night, Mr. W. F. Massey was unfortunate enough to sprain his ankle in alighting from the train at one of the wayside stations (states a Press Association telegram from Auckland). Dr. Mnrsack, after an examination, stated that Mr. Massoy's health, through overwork and tho additional troublo of tho sprained ankle, made it absolutely necessary that he should tako at least two or three (lays' rest, and in consequence of tuis it lias bccome necessary to cancel the engagements at Patumahoo for Friday night and Papakura on Saturday. Mr. Massey expects to bo about again by tho end of tho week.

Opposition Candidate Withdraws. Mr. W. J. Walter, Opposition candihato for Avon, announced hist night that ho was ■withdrawing from tho contest. (states a Press Association telegrain from Christchurch). Mr. Walter explained that when he was asked to contest the seat ho did bo on the assumption that ho would havo

the support of a number of persons who had since intimated that thoy ( could not work for him on account of his views on the licensing question and his opposition to tho totalisator. Under the circumstances, ho had decided to ask his committee to relievo him." A long discussion onsued, in tho course of which members of the committee, who were themselves suppottera of the three-fifths majority, urjjod Mr. Walter to rccousider his decision. They stated that they were prepared to sink tho licensing tiuestiou, and they thought that despite his adherence to tho bare majority ho had a good chanco of winning tho election. Mr. Walter, however, was not to bo persuaded, and tho committee had no alternative but to accept his ■withdrawal.

Democracy a By-Word, <( Writing on the political situation, tho "Wairarapa Ago" says: "Nearly everybody recognises the necessity for an investigation of the finances of the country and for a cleaning-out of the pigeon-holes. A vast majority realises that grave abuses have grown up through the prolonged retention of power of the Continuous Ministry. The only question-which is agitating the minds of the peoplo is as to who can be most advantageously entrusted with the task of straightening out tho crooked paths. On tins point there should be very little difficulty in arriving at a conclusion. The Reform party has fought valiantly and consistently for years past in tho interests' of clean administration. It has done much to prevent the privileges of Parliament being usurped by autocratic place-seekers, and it deserves to be given the opportunity it seeks to-day of effecting reforms in administration" which have long been sought, and which are absolutely essential if the prosperity of the country is to continue, and its future is to bo assured. It is idle to say that tho Opposition,-, if returned to power, would repeal those democratic measures which have assisted in ameliorating the condition of the people. No Administration would dare-do such a thing. It is absurd, also, to suggest that a party which offers a progressive policy such as that outlined by Mr. Massey is a party of negation. The fact is that no more Liberal and humane policy than that of the Reform party has been evolved during the past decade. The people have the opportunity now of redressing those wrongs which are known to exist, and if they do not avail themselves of this opportunity they will have only themselves to blame if the credit of the Dominion continues to sink in the eyes of tho outside world and the name of democracy becomes a by-woTd and a reproach."

THE KAIAPOI SEAT. ADDRESS BY HON. D^BUDDO. (By TeleyrapU—Press Association.) Christchurch, November 2. Tho Hon. D. Buddo, who is seeking reelection as representative ot Kaiajjoi, addressed a meeting of electors to-night at liaiapoi. He replied at length to Opposition charges against the present Government. The demand for land, he said, would have to to satisfied, and Native lands should be settled as rapidly as possible. Ho claimed that the Government had treated labourers well, and would continuo to do so. A Local Government Bill was wanted, to prevent multiplication of local bodies and to give to local bodies an assured finance. At the close of tho address Mr. Buddo was accorded a vote of. thanks and confidence.