HERE AND THERE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1285, 14 November 1911, Page 6

HERE AND THERE.

CAMPAIGN POINTS AND PRESS COMMENTS. Mr. Fisher's Meeting. : Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, Reform candidate for Wellington Central, at his meeting at tho Alexandra. Hall to-night, will a .constructive programmo of the things ho counts necessary in New Zealand pofitics. It is expected that he will introduce into hia speech a good deal of mattor that is new.

A One-man Ministry. Tho statement'.mide by Sir Joseph Watd at Winton that he had been more successful in the development of the land than had been his predecessor is not vory complimentary to Mr. Robert M'Nab (comments tho "Wairtu-apa Ago"). At tho same time, it is characteristic of tho Prime Minister, who could not be otherwise than a success at anything—excepting building Imperial Councils. A copy of the last issue of Hansard, which is before us, shows the Right Hon. Sir Joseph George Ward, Bart., P.C., K.C.M.G., to be Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Postmaster-General, Minister of Defence, Minister of Lands, Minister in Charge of Land for Settlement, Income Tax- Electoral, Advertising, Friendly Societies, and State Advances Departments, and Minister in Charge of State Forests. A man who can do justice to the whole of theso Departments, and find _time to offer advice to the Imperial Parliament, must bo a born genius. The Legislative Council. "I for one object to the system whereby the. laws by which I am governed arc manufactured to some extent by the nominees of the Government, and not the elect of the poople. Many of the Legislative Councillors have no claim to distinction othfer than that they sing the samo tune as Sir Joseph Ward."—Mr. W. H. D. Bell at Nowlands. A Get-Wise-Quick Ministerialist. Many Ministerialist candidates—even the candidate for Parnell—have leaned heavily upon Mr. L. Isitt's declaratioa that the Goyernmeat is good and pure. Mr. Hine reminded an Inglowoed audience that Mr. Isitt had only been a member for a fortnight when he gavo his opinion-

Policy on a Post-card. • Speaking at Papakura on Friday, Mr. Masscy. said if the present Government ha« any policy at all it did not amount to much. Speeches had boon given by loading members of the Government in various parts of tho country, and have bwn used as a means of presenting 'the party's policy to the electors. . The Prime Minister had a splendid opportunity in his speech'».t Winton to make it plain what tlio policy of the Government really ivas. The principles of that polioy to far as it had been revealed, might be sot forth on a postcard with room to spare for new proposals. (Laughter and applause.) The most instructive explanation of the Government's policy was that given by Sir Joseph Ward to nn American pressman during his visit to tho United States: "The policy of the Government of New Zealand," tho Prime Minislei stated on that occasion, "is to find out what the peoplo want, and give it to them." (Laughter.) That was a very food policy to some extent, but. it .was not ei policy that would develop national strength and nobility of character, or make New Zealand respected among the Da lions of tho earth. (Hear, hear.) Is It tho Same Mr. Barber? "Aro you the samo Mr. Barber who voted in tho City Council against giving labourers an increase in wages of Is. per day?" was a question addressed to Mr. Barber at Brooklyn last ovening. The chairman objected to tho question, on the ground that it dealt with a municipal matter, but the questioner (Mr. Robbie) insisted that it should be answered, and stated that he desired to know whether Mr. Barber would use the same efforts to keep down wages if elected to Parliament. (Applanse.) Mr. Barber contented himself with replying, "No ono can accuse mo of keeping down the wages of the workers." (Hear! hear! and applause.) * Political Joss. The present Government was compared by Mr. Masscy (in his speech at .'apakura on Friday) to the private joss maintained in many Chinese honseholls ind subjccfed to summary execution if't failed to gratify tho wishes of tho proprietary' Chinaman. "I hope that n Dtcnn her 7," said Mr. Masscy, "the people of Nflw Z«ilaud will take this political jo-.s into the political backyard and cut olf )U w'itical head." (Laughter and prolonged applause.) Mr. Ross of Pahiatua, ha<l declared that the Government was absolutely departing from anything that one might be prepared to concide as Liberal principles, and Mr. Hogg had spoken of the ignominious climbing-down of the Government and of its abandonment. of ui Those statements of two sup-

porters of the Government indicated tlio opinion of those who were within Ihc inner circle of the Ministerial party. Mr. Clements moved a vote ofi'thanks to Mr. Massey .for his address, anil of.eonfidoneo in him, adding that t'lio electors aj; I'apakura desired to see Mr. Massey returned to' Parliament and to the position of Prime Minister. (Applause.) Ilio motion was seconded by Mr. G. 13. Smith aind carried unanimously, with-the addition of Mr. Clement's remark regnrdiag the Premiership.

The Tauranga Scat. A most enthusiastic meeting was held in the Katikati Hall last Thursday night to meet Mr. Herries, caudidato. tor tho Tauranga electorate. The cluur was occupied by Mr. Vcsoy Stewart. 1 following resolution was carried cnthiisins; ticallv:—"That this meeting of Katikati electors and of Mr. Herries's-former constituents not transferred to the Ohraemuri electoral district desiro to express their unabated confidence m him as their representative .in Parliament, . pledge themselves by every moans in their power to secure his triumphal re-election, awl also the election of Mr. M'Robie, the Reform Party's selected ca.ndidato for tlio Ohinemuri electoral district, with vhi;n a portion of Katikati is pow incorporated." The Heavier It Is the Lighter! Sometimes a reporter's condensation accidentally crystallises a fact in a bitiog way. Thus the "Taranaki Herald's" reporter, summarising Mr. nine's speech, condensed a fairly long possago of argument into tho statement tiiat the candidate criticised "the Premier's remarks re the public debt not being so onerous now that it amounted to 81 millions as it was when it was only 38 millions." A Queer Sort of Preacher. ■ In ono of his recent speeches Mr. M'Nab, of the Mokau syndicate, said solemnly that "the only way you can stop gambling in land is to stop selling it.' r The Art of Stopping Short. In !\n article defending the Government, nnd assailing the Reform Party, the Wanganui "Herald" quote, in the fear that "some are likely to be misled," that passage of Mr. Fowlds's resignation speech, in which the Opposition is abused and the Government presented with ft' sort of clean bill of health. "We may repeat here, etc," says the Wanganui paper, and it gives a ■ twenty-line quotation, which stops short just, as Mark Twain's boy said, when "the interest was getting red hot." It stops short just where Mr. ,Foivlds went on to say: "And now I havo only to express my thanks to the members of tho Government party and of the House generally for tho kindness and the courtesy they have shown to me while I havo been a Minister of the Crow-i, and to say that whenever a truly democratic party arises in this country, a party pledged to definite principles, principles which it believes in and which it is prepared to fight for, it shall have my wholet3oulod support, and if it should become numerous enough to enable it to form a Government and invites mo to join it, my services will bo available. In the meantime, 1 believe I can best servo tho country as a private member." (Applause.) Mr. M'Nab and the Small Farmer. Commenting on Mr. M'Nab, the candidate, the. "Eketahuna Express" says:— "His further statement (as reported), that he was prepared to submit a referendum to .the people as to whether they will agree that no land is to be sold will hardly be accepted with equanimity on the part of those"oh tho land. -It would mean that the .people in the .'.cities would have the power df decreeing a state practically of slavery to be applied to the farming community. It seems quite conceivable that under a oontinued Liberal regime this might come about. Special Payments to Judges. The Leader of tho Opposition, in his speech on Friday night, stated that the question of special payments to Judges in New Zealand had been discussed by tlio > 'XAustralasianf',,in, l a.. leading ,article in which that journal declared that it is indisputable that a Judge ought to have qnitted tho Bench before ho was eligible to receive money rewards of that magnitndo from the Government. It was nn underlying principle of tho British Court that no Judge of the Supreme Court should be placed in a position in which he could bo either rewarded or punished bv tho Government, and the-members of the Opposition would have failed in their duty if they had not drawn the attention of the public to the impropriety of theso payments, "Every time and for all time," declared Mr. Massey, "I shall stand for an open' court and an independent Bench." (Loud applause.) "A Candidate Named Hamilton." The "Rangitikei Advocate" discusses "a strange sight" :—"There is a candidate named Hamilton who is contesting Awarua seat in opposition to the Premier, and he was also a candidate at tho County Council election. The supporters of the Premier in Southland appeaj to have been tumbling over each other's heels in their keen anxiety to secure the election of Mr. Hamilton to tho council. This must havo been so, because Sir Joseph lias telegraphed to the press, and desires' it fo be specially mentioned, that 'a number-of my most active supporters throughout the district were with my- own knowledge actively helping Mr. Hamilton's return to the "County Council.' This is quite a novelty in political life. The. usual plan is to' make every effort to prevent a political opponent from obtaining any position whatever. The Premier, however, points out that this county election has no significance whatever regarding the generil election, and this deprives 'a number of his most active supporters' from being entitled to any praise for political generosity. With great haste, the Premier has pointed out that Mr. Hamilton's success at the county election does not bear on the general election, but why this haste and apparent anxiety? Is the seat in danger?" Pahiatua. Answering a correspondent, the Pahiatua "Horald" says, inter alia:—We consider Mr. . Escott's chances very hopeful indeed. It is true that the Ministerial party, following perfectly-understood and quite legitimate party tactics, have consistently exaggerated their strength and taken every opportunity of trying to persuade tho electors that Mr. Ross was certain of re-election. Tho value of these tactics lies in the fact' that there are in every constituency a number, nn astonishingly large number, of electors who like to bo on the winning side, and vote always for the side that seems strongest. Mr. Escott has bad remarkably good meetings, and has on many occasions received a vufce of confidence. On no occasion has such a vote been pre-arranged, and in several instances the candidate has been surprised by such motions being moved by electors he thought wero hostile. Mr. Escott will receive a solid Opposition and a very large No-License vote. It is reported that so far ho is not so strong in Pahiatua as other portions of tho electorate, but it is expected that ho will receive half tho votes cast in Woodville at both ballots, and will poll very heavily, all round Woodville. Ho is also very strong in the territory that was formerly in tho W.aipawa electorate. Committees ha<l heen organised all through it in tho interests of Mr. G. Hunter, and they are now working enthusiiistiwlly on Mr._ Escott's behalf. Tho consensus of opinion is that tho .second ballot will bo fought out between Messrs. Escott and Ross. The candidature of Mr. Hawkins is not taken very seriously.

Not a Title-Scatterer. "If I got to Parliament as your representative," said Mr. Goo. Hunter at Dannevirko "I cannot promise to make you all K.C.'s or K.C.M.G.'s. I won't even promise to make you J.P. s (laughter) but I proiniso this: That I will represent you faithfully, honestly, and to the best of my ability. I cannot make you any other promises." (Loud applause.) Mr, Isitt's Outburst. Mr. L. M. Isitt's Budget speech, of which the principal ■ features were . a warm eulogy of the Government arid n hot-headed 'denunciation of the Opposition, ho.' been industriously hawked up nml'down the country by Ministers and Government nominees. Last evening Mr. Barber tried its efficacy at Brooklyn, with vaults that were disappointim: from' his

point of view. When he mcintioned Sir. Jsitt's name the audience laughed heartily. Afterwards they listened ill chill silcnce while Ml'. Barber read a quotation from Mr. Isitt's speech, and they did not applaud as the reading concluded. Obviously, Mr. Isitl. is not accepted in Brooklyn as un authority on political morals.

Industrial Unrest. Faithful supporters of (ho Government have been accn.stnmcd umiil lately to I speak of Now Zealand as a country in which strikes were impossible, and industrial conflict unknown, but recent events ha.vo knocked, the bottom out of such assertions. A revised version was trotted out by Ml'.. Barber at Brooklyn last evening. "The Government have endcavoured io prevent industrial _ strife," he said. "Unfortunately at this juncture there is a good deal of dissatisfaction in that, direction. But it must bo admitted, 1 ' pursued Mr. in more hopeful tones, "that the Conciliation and Arbitration Act has done a good dea.l to allay friction between employer and employee." Mr. Barber did not propound any specific remedy for industrial ills, but said in general terms that ho thought a good deal should be done to re«tore harmony between masters and men. Leaving tho problem cheerily behind him, Mr. Barber was presently elcdaring with undimmod optimism that New Zealand had "led tho world" in industrial legislation, but admitted that some amendment would have to be made in tho existing New Zealand law. He seemed to find solace in t'he reflection that matters wero by no means so bsd here as in England and other countries, and declared that ho had learned from privoto correspondence that information conveyed to the New Zealand press in no way gave a correct impression of strife and troublo that existed in England. Asked whether he would substitute a layman for the .Tud.go who now presides over tho Arbitration Court, ho at first replied cautiously that ho thought there should bo some reorganisation of the Court. Pressed to give a definite answer, Mr. Barber sai<l tie thought it desirable that a person familiar with tho industry concerned should preside when industrial cases were being dealt with. Prima Minister to. Speak. The Prime Minister is announced to deliver a political address in Waimate next Friday evening.—Press Association. Candidate and State Employee. . It has been publicly stated that, ns a consequence of the announcement of his candidature at the general election, Mr. W. A. Vcitch has been' asked to resign his position as a railway employee, but on making inquiry yesterday, a Dominion' reporter was informed that the Department knew nothing of the matter. Headers mav remember that Mr. Veitch, who is president of tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and Labour candidate for Wangauui, has stated that he wished to test the rule against a Government employee going into politics, and, therefore, did not resign his position when ho became a candidate. Harassing Local Bodies.

That tho Government has been guilty of unwarranted interference with local bodies is recognised even by its own candidates. At Brooklyn last evening, Mr. W. H. P. Barber, Government candidate foi the Wellington South seat, said that he was against interference with municipalities by tho Government. "I am of opinion," he added, "that there has been undue interference. Personally, I am inclined rather to extend tho powers'of municipal bodies and allow thein to manage their own affairs without' interference by the Governrhont., I beliovo they are quite competent to do that." What About America? "New Zealand has on education system that is not equalled by any country in tho world," said Mr. Barber during his address at Brooklyn last evening. "Oh!" said a listening elector. "You can't give me any othor country thnt-has as good a system as we have here," assorted Mr. Barber. "What about America?" asked another member of tho audience, Mr. Barber, however, did not deal with America, but proceeded to dilate upon tho merits of the New Zealand educational system. Tammany Exposed. In his Kaiapoi speech, Mr. R. Moore, who is likely to beat Mr. Buddo, dealt very effectively with the Tammany methods of the Government: "As to Mr. Forbos's challenge to bring evidence in support of charges of the use of political influence, he would read what the Hon. T. Mackenzie had said at the openine of the new post office at Sydenham. That gentleman had said that tho people might havo waited a good while for their post office, but they did not have to wait ten years, like some post offices which were required more urgently than the Sydenham post office. He had added that the- obtaining of tho new building was largely due to Mr. Ell and Mr. Davey, and that residents of the district should show the utmost gratitude to tho men who had obtained the post office for them. That was speaking quite plainly.' . Mr. Mackenzie had said, and it was speaking plainly indeed. The Hon. R. M'Kenzie had told peoplo in Taranaki that they would get their railway if they supported tho Government. _ In another case, the Minister had denied that influence was brought to bear to get a prisoner out of Lyttelton Gaol, and then Mr. Laurenson, the member concerned, stated-that he had applied for the remission of the sentence in a certain case. Again, it had been found that public works were beiiii* carried on in Sir Joseph Ward's own district .to improve private property. When questioned, Sir Joieph Ward: and the Minister for Pablic Works said that they had dis*covered the mistake and had stopped the works. Ono involved an expenditure of JE2OO, and the other two .£SO each. It wa3 another instance of political influence, but as soon as it was found out, the Ministers were cute enough to say that they had stopped the works. In another case, the chairman of a local l»dy received a circular from the Government asking if the body, required money for works, and if so to send in an application. The local body applied for a bridge, and, to its surprise, found that ',£250 had been placed on . the Estimates. In that district tho same thing occurred. These were a few instances in which an attempt had been made' to bring political influence to bear on electors at the present time."