WELLINGTON SUBURBS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1291, 21 November 1911, Page 6

WELLINGTON SUBURBS.

MR, BELL AT BEEHAJIPOEE. Air. W. H. D. Bell, the Opposition candidate for the Suburbs and Country electorate, delivered an address in the Masonic Hall, Adelaide Itoad, last night, tho building being comfortably filled. Air. F. Gale, who occupied the chair, remarked that the candidate needed no introduction after the excellent advertisement Sir Joseph Ward had given him in Parliament recently. Mr. Bell, who was received with appViuse, asked his audience, in viewing the political situation, to remember that the present Government had been in power, for 20 years, backtd by an overwhelming majority, and had "been in -a position to carry out any reforms they had in luitid, and to make New Zealand a country to bo taken as. a pattern, for other countries. Wlint had they done? How did wages at the present timo comparo with,(ho cost of living? Tho inhabitants were worse off today than ten or fifteen years ago, and yet tho Government came in with a profession .of doing- the working man good. The high cost of living was duo to high taxation, and tho high taxation was due to . the Government's system of finance. Ho would admit that some of the monej borrowed-paid interest and sinking fund, but on the whole tho country ought to get a much greater return than it did for its borrowed money. Tho people wore now feeliug the pinch of having to find interest and sinking fund for money that had been wasted. The railways—a wonderfully big industry with no competition—paid a very !>oor return,' and yet tho public were not getting cheap fairs—(A woman's voice: "Nonsense, we arc.")—or cheap parcel rat;s, and the railway servants were a most discontended body of men. Only last session 'hey had presented n petition to Parliament complaining of their rates of pay and hours of .work. The Ilntt Road,' which cost nearly a quarter of a million moro than it. ought to have done, was an instance of expenditure wasted. The Opposition did not complain of (ho construction of railways, roads, and bridges, but they pleaded for economy. Tho rate of borrowing had increased out of all proportion under tho War: Administration, and there, had not been a corresponding increase in the prospcrif.v of tho country. (The woman's voice again: "You are too young to notice it.'") After referring to the Government's weak excuses for not pushing forward its land policy, the candidate went on to outline tlio constructive policy of the Reform party. The pnrtv stood for economical expenditure of every penny that was borrowed. They wanted to olean out the Government pigeonholes and start afresh. They were not in favour of the aggregation of largo estates. They desired tho rapid development; of Nalivo lands, and were, in favour of giving Crown tenants the freehold at original value and this was a fair deal and all the Government could liopo to got if it auctioned its interest in t.ho open market. If the freehold wore sold, there would bo money to develop tho country withont going to tho London money-market— (applause)—the advantage to the tenant would lie that he would work much harder on his own land and so the land would bo much belter developed. Air. Hell contradicted the statement that tho Reform party was opjiosnd to old ago pensions. On the eonl.rary tlie party was in favour of reducing the age at. which tho pensions became payable. They mjn in favour of taking the uiaiivJ th.s Civil Service out of tlia

hands of the Ministry and placing it in the hiuids of a board that would be directly responsible to Parliament, "he candidate afraid that; if the lleience Act was brought 100 much into this clecliou if might embarrass tho excellent »li'loer tlu'V lind'at the head of the scheme and prevent him from carrying nut Die sv-teni, but Mr. Bell wished to s.late that lie thought the Act an admirable one. lie was iu favour of a !>■> per ci-iit imiioritv on (he liquor <|iieslion. In conclusion he said lie had tried to shmv thai the Government had not jn.-lihed lis It in -'0 Years, and while that Government stood for a system of political patronage, the lielorm party stood tar honest auininislration. (Prolonged applause.) In answer to questions Mr. Ilelt sanl that he was iu favour of anything that would ensure a milk supply well up lo tho standard. lie thought twenty miles suburban area ought lo bo introduced at oneo on the A\ clliitgfonManaw.nu line, lie was in favour ot preference lo unionists and thought that the wages of Government employees should be fixed bv Act of Parliament, lie would like to see tho Arbitration Act repealed and a svstem iniroduced making it illegal to pay 'a sweating wage, while employees should receive a sliaro in profits. Ito would increase the graduated land tax if if were necessary lo break up laige estates. He was not in favour of the Government entering into competition with private enlerprise unless to break down a monopoly. On the motion of Mr. \\. F. Nees, seconded by Mr. Campbell, a vote of thanks and confidence was accorded tho candidate. An amendment was moved thanking the candidate and expressing confidence in tho present Administration, but it was defeated by a great chorus of "Noes." The meeting closed with cheers for the candidate.

ME. LUKE AT WADESTOWN. Mr. J. I'. Luko, the candidate for the Wellington Suburbs seat, addressed a meeting of electors in the Club Hall at Wadestown last evening. Mr. Ncely presided. Mr. Luke said that to be true to the Liberal cause and to advance its policy was a sacred trust that ought not to bo violated by the introduction of Conservative system either of policy or administration. Twenty-one years of Liberalism had been marked by great progress and opportunity for the people and the fight for the. rights of the people was not conlined to years, but exlended from generation to generation. Reactionaries weie at times in evidence, as an outcome of struggle and competition, according to tlio period in olliee of an Administration. A lung period in office was apt to generate a disregard for the rank and file of tho party, which made for dissatisfaction and a slackening of enthusiasm. The outcome ,of the elections, Mr. Luko predicted, would be that a greater hope would possess the people. A well entrenched position would enable the Government to carry out legislation making for progress and happiness. Breaches in the ramparts would soon bo mended and the flag that had borne the breezes for years past would be stretched to the full 'in a mighly gale of strong public opinion. Mr. Luke dealt with what he described as tho social uplifting of the people during recent years, the system of taxation' in the Dominion, Customs taxation, and eduIndustrial benefits, he stated, were in store for this country if tlio people would only raise themselves to their responsibilities and privileges. Increases in the Savings Bank deposits indicated that we were upon the up-grade, and Wellington and its suburbs were now entering a new period of prosperity. On the motion of Mr. A. Swift, Mr. W. Swift seconding, Mr. Luke was unanimously accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Mi. MOOEE AT MAKAHA. F. T. Moore, Labour candidate for the Suburbs seat, addressed a meeting of electors at Makara last night. Mr. Bowler occupied the chair. In the course cf explaining tho aims and objects of Labour, the candidate said that ever since the advent of popular government, social reformers have been striving for the adoption of an ideal plan of administration that will 'establish harmony between Capitol and Libonr. To-day that ideal form of administration was 'in sight', because Labour teas determined to see placed on the Statute Book economic schemes for the definite separation of these two great factors in the production of wealth. In order to end quarrels between Capital and Labour, capitalists would bo given tho opportunity of handing to tho State their land, mercantile and industrial securities in exchange, for State securities beaming interest at 5 per cent, per annum, and the State would 'hen take oyer the ownership of such lands and industries. This, ho said, was the only way in which the problem of Capital and Labour could be properly solved, and resistance to this labour scheme meant industrial unrest ending in paralysing strikes. New Zealand had tried arbitration, and now saw no course open but tile takin? into li-'r own bands of tho interests of Capital and Labour, so that each may bo paid its fair and proper sharo of the fruits of industry. Tho growing demand for popular control of our large food industries, to reduce tho cost of living, tviis also a strong reason in support of Labour's proposals, and the statesmen who failed to grasp the situation were unworthy of election to Parliament. A. vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously, on tho motion of Mr. G. Monk, seconded by Mr. Henly.