ON THE PLATFORM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1295, 25 November 1911, Page 6

ON THE PLATFORM.

WELLINGTON EAST. . SPEECH BY MR. JOHN BRODIE. Mr. John Brodie, the Independent Liberal candidate for Wellington East, addressed the employees of the Victoria Laundry on Thursday at noon, and was listened to attentively. The chief points in tho speaker's remarks were the depression in trade in our largo cities owing to a want of vitality in our industrial pursuits, and tariff reform was urgently required a3 a remedy. Ho also said that we had too much useless legislation, and the liberties of tho industrial section of tha community wero considerably affected in consequence, and this in itself was sufficient to cause unrest and depression. In dealing with the land question and the urgency of getting people on the land, the speaker stated that Germany had 17 to 18 millions of people on the land, whilo Britain had under a million. We should foster in the rising generation a desire for rural life and occupation. The workers' home scheme was eulogised by tho candidate, who announced himself in sympathy with Labour, as he regarded the labouring community as'the backbone of tho country, and considered that they were . deserving of. all the, consideration that could be given them. Mr. Brodie also urged the necessity of amending the administration of the Arbitration Act so as to give, greater satisfaction'to both workers and employers. He y;as not a "fair-weather" candidate—by that he meant that ho did not sympathise with Labour just.to get their present voleshe had throughout his life always been heart and soul with Labour., as was shown by.his past actions both in private and municipal life. Dealing with .the remarks of oue.of his opponents who had described Independent candidates as "piebald" —a new breed of.. politicians—Mr. Brodio said that ho welcomed the epithet as showing that the old stagers regarded new blood as dangerous, to their chances of election. Piebaid ,or not, it was quite time . that, a new breed was evolved—Government or Opposition. They i\;ero played .out,:-and showed the painful results of "inbreeding.:" All knew the. value of new blood except tho.se people, ■: whose jaundiced vision would not allow them to Fee anything past their own party polities— who wore blind followers of party- whej ther such purty was in the right or in the wrong. . .

ADDRESS "BY MR. BOLTON. Mr. F. G. Bolton, the Government candidate for Wellington East, addreased . the electors at 'the' corner, of Antico • Street and Sutherland. lioad last night. He spoke for about half-an-hour, and received a most attentive . hearing. His remarks were mainly directed to the questions of the cost of living, and languishing industries, which he said bad an allimportant eil'ect upon thd marriago and birth-rat6s, and the amount of population, and the question of whether that population was contented or not. He considered that the removal of duties on all primary products and on imported timber would materially .improve the conditions of the general community, and that any small quantity of labour displaced by reason of the admittance into the country of timber duly , free would be immediately reabsorbed in other avenues of employment owing Io the increased development of the building and allied trades. He favoured Stain medical and dental inspection in the primary schools at staled intervals, and considered that any expense thereby occasioned would be -wi'll recouped by reason, of-the improvement in the general health of the community. He also favoured concessions in railways to those desiring lu visit the Thermal re-orts and the Consumptive

Sanatoria for medical purposes. He considered thiit tho parents of families of four or more in number, and in indigent circumstances, should in their old ago receive preferential consideration in the shape of pensions at tho bands of the Stale. The reason for this was that under present-day conditions a man who married at a reasonably early age and assumed-parental-.responsibilities had no opportunity if ho. brought his children lip under decent conditions to save anything as a provision against old age, and he feared that. unless thcro was some improvement in the purchasing power of wages or some assistance given by the State to those who had large families, the population.question would become a very acute one in this country, and the birth and marriage rates would materially decline. '. ■' Various questions were nnswored, and a vote of 'thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. .

DE, NEWMAN AT CLYDE QUAY. Dr. A. IC. Newman, Reform candidate for Wellington East, addressed a crowded meeting of upwards of 300 electors in the Clydo Quay schoolroom last night. The room was parked, and- about 100 people could uot gain admittance. Mr. Leigh Hunt presided. Dr. Newman was received with a hearty round of applause when he roso to speak. He stated that he had improved his position somewhat, in that he was now a nominated candidate, and he had deposited his ten golden sovereigns. On election day ho hoped the electors would all rally round tho Reform flag, and send him to Parliament without the necessity for a second ballot. ' The vital question of the day was whether the Liberal Government, which had held office for twenty years, should Iμ turned out, or whether'they should go back for another three years. (A.voice: "Go out.") Dr. Newman sincerely hoped they would go out. At anyrate, he did not think' the Government would bo returned with the same large majority. Too great a change had comeover public opinion, for that to happen. Our legislators had developed law making at feverish haste, as a bad habit. There were far too many laws, and they were far too hurriedly drafted, and they were passed,'most of them, at about five, o'clock in the morning. Thero was too much party.in New Zealand; there ought to be no need for much, party in this country, with, its population of a million. And the party system had brought about a method of one-man Government. ■ Ho condemned the Government's Native land administration, and .he. had ■ a little •to say . about. the kind of Order-in-Conncil which made the Mokau deal possible. Orders-in-Couucil as used by the.present' Government meant practically that the Minister administering an Act could do pretty much as he liked'. He again devoted a considerable amount of his speech- to the increasing burden of debt.and taxes. The first duty of a new Government, he said,, would be to reduce taxation..by .half -a' million annuallv, and this-could be done quite'easily. All this heavy taxation was...caused '.by Government extravagance, on our public works, oh entertaining themselves and other, people, oii'buying'Canadian' battlefields, on the electoral census, and oil Royal Commissions which produced reports nobody on God's. ..earth.. ever read. No proper chock'could,be kept on extravagance, because members of "Parliament, the people's "delegates,\oo.uld not inspect tho ac counts of' the countrv, as they ough't k be free to dp. Details were available onlj to'the Prime Minister arid two or three other, people, and the extravagance went on. . Towards the end of his address, Dr. Ne'.yman was. frequently interrupted by a I small 'faction in tho audience, who interjected irrelevant'remarks now and then. The reception'accorded him, however, was in the main extremely cordial. At the O3nclusi.onof.tlio address, ho was accorded a round of hearty applause.;

Dr. Neitman - answered a number of questions. 'He 'stated that he was in favour of tho-present free, secular education, and that he thought the present Labour laws might bo amended to replace the Arbitration Act by a system of wages boards. ; A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by a large majority on a show of hands, amid applause and cheers. Threr cheers were called'for the candidate, and the cheers wore given lustily. Then Fomeone called for "Three cheers for Bolton,' but booing nearly smothered the chcering. MR. JI'LAREN AT HANSEN STREET. Mr. D. M'Laren addressed a meeting yesterday in the lunch hour at the Victoria Laundry,, in Hansen Street. He spoke from the practical, experience of having been a factory operativo and described the Factories Amendment Act, 1910, whioh had received his full support in being passed through the House. The ;Act was designed to protect the workers employed in laundries. It fixed the weekly hours for males over 1C years of age !at 48 per week, not more than 83 hours per day, and not longer than five hours continuous work without three-quarters of an hour for.;a meal." For women and boys the hours were fixed at 45 per week, not longer than hour's in any day, and not over 4} hours' continuous work without a meal. Extension hours were allowed to meet omergency work, but theso were not allowed to cover any holiday or half-holi-day. ,Provision 'Was made for overtimo payments at a'quarter in addition to ordinary rates. Those earmiig up lo 10s. per week to Teceivo 6d. an hour overtime, and those earning' over lite, to receive ad. One purpose of the law dealing with laundries was to protect the Europeans against unfair competition with the Chinese, and ho held this was necessary, both in the interest of employers and employees. He explained the improvements made in the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, and the support he had given in order to protect the workers in . time of accident. The adding of domestic servants to ths class of workers covered b.v this Act had received his full support in the House. He concluded-with an appeal in support of direct Labour representation in the interest of. the whole people. The meeting concluded with hearty applause. WELLINGTON SOUTH. DR. COUZENS AT BERHAMPORE. Dr. Couzens,'. speaking at" Berhampore last night,, said that there was a great fermentation, going on at the present time in tlio political' world,., ami # .during the process how. parties, were being evolved. Take. for..instance the New Evangel advocated bv the Hon. G. lowlds. llus bubble would, he thought, burst and vanish into thin nir as quickly.as it had arisen, but tho new . char,ter would live because its foundations, were on solid groiiiul and. those who rallied to its banner would find safe anchorage amidst.all the poliiical storms' and tempests of the coining election. Referring to those brave men who had fought in the Maori war some half century ago risking their lives lo .protest the ' helpless women'and children, lie said he thought that these'warriors, had justly-earned .'the gratitude and esteem of. all loyal and patriotic New Zealanders,. and to quibble about a truinpsry nension of ion shillings per wi?ek was, lie considered, unpatriotic on the Dart of the Minister for Defence. Surely he who would defend our. shores from hostile forces should at least protect tlie-e hardy veterans, in the time of sore need itrid adversity. But why labour the mint further when the argument for relief, and Hint, speedilv. is beyond civil. The Town .'.Planning'Bill brought before the Hon=e was,.he considered, a good mea-. sure and well worthy, of support, as if lie.i.lthv citizens were to be reared it. wns absolutelv neees-nry to banish overcrowding. as fresh air and sunshine were indispensable. There were, he reg Totted to ■say. areas so congested, covered with buildin'/s s<* dilapidated, thaf thev rea'hconstituted slums. Tie would therefore r.unnort any good Pleasure to remedy theso evils. The candidate answered. a number of : questions. . . A unanimous vote of contidenco and thanks was accorded the candidate. MB, P. A. WRIGHT AT NEWTOWN. Mr. R. A. Wright, Reform party's candidate'for Wellington' South, addressed a meeting of tho electors of Wellington South at St. Thomas's Schoolroom last evening. TkVre was a good attendance, the hall being full. Mr. A. J. White pn>' sided-over the proceedings, which were orderly throughout, the candidate receiving an excellent hearing. Replying to allegations of inconsistency and insincerity, in Hint he had'spoken in favour of the Advances to Workers Act and th"n denounced the Government, Mr. -Wright declared that it was a perfectly straightforward and legitimate proceeding to support a good measure, and congratulate the Ministry uno-j introducing it, and yet oppose.the Government on other grounds for its general inefficiency aud iuconsistencr. To say, further, that he was in favour of

a policy of stagnation because he opposed excessive borrowing and agitated that it should,be tapered off was also a misrepresentation of his views 011 that question. Referring to tho Prime .Minister's denial in Auckland of his (tho speaker'?) prophecy that Sir Joseph Word would leave Sew' Zealand, Mr. Wright said that he accepted tint denial. The Prime Minister had not said that lie was not going to England, and he still believed it was his intention to leave New Zealand for (ireat Britain- There was bound to be a tremendous struggle between Sir .John Findiay, Sir James Carroll, and tho Hon. J. A. Miliar (.if they were elected), for tho Premiership. On the subject of defence, tho candidate said that he was not an advocate of waj—never had been- He had, always recognised that war. was a disgrace to modern civilisation. At the same time, unless a nation were prepared for war, its weakness would l>e an encouragement to a stronger nation to wage war upon it. Tho awakening of China, was a factor to be verv seriously reckoned with. How, lie asked, could New Zealand hope to enforce her laws against Chinese immigration nnle.-s she were prepared to resist nnv attempt which might bo made to break them down? The recent disclosures concerning the grave crisis which had been reached 'between Britain and Germany in September last was another factor which should bo taken irrto account. Great Britain's ski supremacy had not been challenged in tho past. It now: appeared. however, that Germany intended to build as many warships as Great Britain. These considerations warranted bis belief ill a policy of dcfence, not defiance. \fter a few questions had been replied to, tho candidate was accordod a vote of thanks and confidence on the motion of Mr. W- Higginbottam. WELLINGTON CENTRAL. MR. FISHER IN TARANAKI STREET. Mr. F. 11.' B. Fisher, candidate for Wellington Central, addressed a crowded meeting in the Druids' Hall, Taranaki Street, last night. The meeting was very enthusiastic, and concluded with "Cheers for Fisher." ' Mr. Fisher opened his address with replies to certain queries. Ie connection with the Wellington dock site, he had been asked if he had been tho cause, either directly or indirectly, of a certain question having been put to Mr. Fletcher. He gave the suggestion "a most emphatic "enial." Continuing, ho said: "I would publicly ask the person who put that question to make some form of acknowledgment, in order that I may be acquitted of any connivance in ,the matter. I have no occasion to believe that my opponent would be a party to the proposal, or that Blnmlell Brothers would, and I repudiate any connection with a ' prrson "vvho would suggest so, ntui I wriAO this statement in fairness to Blmidell I Brothers, to mv opponent, and to myself" Viinth'T question he had been asked was if he considered it in tile true and best interests of our Hefence force that officers who had tailed To pass the examinations for an Imperial course in England should bo sent 111 do: finance of the regulations. Mr. Fisher explained that the case was that of Major M*T)ouald. the officer m charge ot the cadets, who had been promoted to the Defence force because of his political service to the partv in power. "There is not anv doubt about that, is there?' (A voice: "No.") To be in conformity with the regulations. Minor M'Donald, should pass tho examination before leaving the country He had sat and failed. If the force was pmporlv administered this sort of thing could not happen, and Mr. Fisher was sorry to know that with the nev, Commandant such a condition of affairs should nrevail. . Mr Fisher read the following telecrram from Mr. R. R. Martin, the Opposition organiser:— . • ' "Since von joined the Reform Party in Parliament nearly three years ago we have alwavs recognised you as our official candidate for Wellington Central against; all coiners, including chairman of Harbour Board. .No overtures have been made by me to him or anyone else to contest your seat. Anyone conversant with even ■the most elementary methods of organisation will understand such must be tho case. Letters read by Mr. Fletcher are more misleading than explicit. Best wishes for your success." (Applause.) Why was it, asked the candidate, that with all our vaunted prosperity, people wero leaving the country? (A vo&c: "Tho wowsers.") People were tearing for Australia, and it was proposed that we should import other people to take the places of those who were going away, which would mean our subsidising Australia. It had been said of him that ho had stated in a speech: "Elect Massey, and there will be chaos." What ho had said was: "Elect Massey, and there will be chaos in tho Ministerial party." Was it likely ho would ally himself with a party, and then say that its election would bring chaos? A vote of thanks to and confidence in tho candidate was moved, amidst great applause.) "Does anyone second the motion?" asked Mr. Fisher, who was doing without a chairman. "We all do," shouted dozens of voices. Then, with one rousing shout of "Aye," the motion w ; as carried emphatically. "Three cheers for Fisher," called an elector. And the hall rang again.

ME. FLETCHER'AT ALEXANDRA HALL. Mr. R-obert Fletcher addressed a meeting nl the Alexandra Hall, Abel Smith Street, last night. Mr. Edwin Arnold was in the chair. The candidate traversed his previous speeches, and referred to the legislation of tho 20 years' regime of Liberalism. Mr. Fletcher dealt at length with the Hine charges. He pointed out that the ulterior aim of the Opposition was more.to attack the. Ministry than the members in connection with the charges. The Ministers were not responsible for the transactions of members who were by profession land agents, and some of these members paid tho penalty by being rejectod at the polls. Ho quotod tho late Mr. T. E. Taylor, who, Mr. Fletcher said, -summed up the position tersely.in'his condemnation of the Opposition's tactics to besmirch the Ministry. Referring to the allegation that he was in favour of.taking off all Customs duties Mr. Fletcher, made it plain that he was a Free-trader, so far as the foodstuffs were concerned, and a Protectionist so.far as the industries of the Dominion were affected. 110 always supported the industries, and strongly believed in a firm protective tariff At the same time ho definitely stated that outside of the necessary industrial tariff the laud should carry its fair and full burden. The meet mg was orderly, and after the candidate answered-a-groat number of question* a vote of thanks and confidence was ~'ac forded .toI Mr. Fletcher, on the motion of Mr. \\. Jack. WELLINGTON NORTH. MR. HERDMAN ON THE GOVERNMENT'S MALADMINISTRATION. ~ 'Mr. A. L. Herdman, Reform party candidate for the Wellington North seat, addressed a crowded meeting of electors in the Masonic Hall last evening. Mr. A. Lindsay presided. Mr. Herd man had a capital hearing and was often loudly ap. plauded. Speaking, at the outset, of the measure of commercial stagnation which at present obtains in the Dominion, Mr. Herdman said that the curious tiling was that there was any amount, of money in the hanks lmt people would not i'lvest. This had been attributed by Mr. Boaucliamp, chairman of ciir.-etoM uf the Hank of New .Zealand. to a lack of public confidence. Mr. Herdmali supported this view, ami said that hn believed the people had no confidence in the Government. In order to bring about a return"of prosperity the first tiling hecwarv was to i.nrn (lie' Government out of office. To do this would remove a hinre weight which was now pressim: on the commercial world and iipon tho community in _ general. Mr. Hcrdmcn proceeded in his criticism of the Goveniinenl. dealing with his subject under three main heads—Government imbecility. Government pusillanimity, and Government obliquity. The imbecility of the Government was manifested in numerous instances of maladministration which had come to light during IJie past few years. Discontent, was rife in tae public service. The inquiry into the state of the police force had shown that things were anything but satisfactory. Mr. Ilerdman instanced also the income tax inquiries end the nine charges, -and mentioned the purchase by the Government of the Nai Xai F.state at the Tlutt. They bousrht it for .£l.lO an acre, though it was valued by their own valuer at .CEO to t' e .i an acre, and now it was impossible to find out what was being done with tile

estate. Tlio ITiitt Road had cost about JM.UOO, after the Attorney-General had led the country to believe/that it would cost ,£IOO,OOO. Mr. Hcidman condemned tho extra payments to tins Chief Justice As, showing the pusillanimity of thu Government, .Mi , . Ilcrdinun mentioned its bucking and filling in connection with ginning legislation'. The. Government had also'gone back on its own decision in the Knyvctt case, and in regard to the Government House at Auckland. In railway policy the Goveruir.ent had similarly wobbled. Who knew what the land policy of the Government was? A voice: The Opposition! Mr. Hcrdniau agreed that the Opposition knew, hut remarked that the. present Minister for Lands was an interesting psychological study. He never know exactly where lib was, and his colleagues in their journeys about: tho country did not seem to know whether they favoured leasehold or freehold. The Opposition believed in a policy of encouraging small settlement: under the freehold.. There were hundreds and thousands of acres of Native' land unoccupied in tho North Island today, and the fact that it was unoccupied was due to the pusillanimity of the Government. Sir James Carroll was mi able man, but he believed in going slowly, "as the summer days went by." Meantime millions were being spent in the country. The laud, as a result of surrounding improvements, increased in value, and the Native idled away, his time. He did not want the Nativo lands settled on the plan adopted in the case of tho Mokau lands. The. issuo by the Government of an Ordpr-in-Council had enabled several speculators to make large profits and would greatly increase the burdens of settlers who would occupy the land. Was it right that the Government should have issued the Order-iu-Council ? A voice: No. As showing the obliquity of Ministers, Mr. Herdman instanced some remarks which fell from the Hon. E. M'Kenzio in a speech nt Opunake. The Minister said, inter alia: "If you require roads and railways, send men to Parliament who will vote for borrowing. If _ you don't support us you must do without your railway. If you belong to the 'stagnation party , you must do without your railway. . . People who vote for us, I am with them." Tho whole thing, said Mr. Herdman, was so utterly wrong, so utterly opposed to the traditions that British people were, supposed to reverence, that one scarcely knew how to. deal with it. If tho people wanted good government— government by trustees—this sort of thing must be stamped out. Mr. Herdman was loudly applauded as he concluded his address. At question time he was "heckled" by a small section of his audience, but sustained no damago in the encounter. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by. an overwhelming majority, after a hostile amendment had been decisively rejected.

MR. CAKEY AT SYDNEY STREET. Mr. E. J. Carey, Labour candidate for Wellington North, delivered a political address in the Sydney Street Schoolroom last night. Mr. E. Tregear was in the chair, and thero were upwards of 200 electors present. Tlio candidate received an attentive bearing, and was frequently applauded. His speech was briefer than usual, as Professor W. T. Mills was to follow him.

Mr. Carey stated at the outset that he was not self-announced, but was Hie selected representative of the Labour party. He was not asking them, and he never had asked them, to consider the personality of-the candidate in this election', but to vote for him on the platform of tho party. If, however, it- camo to a selection on personal grounds, ho considered that he was as well fitted .to represent them as either of his opponents. Mr. Carey then referred to the.fact, that, in election contests, it was almost invariably the personal qualifications . of the Labour candidates, and not. tho Labour platform, that was criticised. If there was anything wrong with' tho platform, it should bo tackled by the Liberals and the Opposition, and the fact that they left it alone was proof that there wero not many Haws in it. It had been said that tho only thing that the Labour candidates were after was the .C3OO a year that attached to the position in Parliament, but he could assure the electors that such a consideration did not weigh, with him. He wanted to get thfire bocauso he felt that ho had that in him which would enable him to do ever so much moro for tho workers than he could do outside. (Applause.) Instead of having to sit on the doorstep outside, and ask for what ho wanted, he wanted to bo .in a position whero he could demand it. If any man thought himself better able to carry the Labour flag, ho was welcomo to como along, do the work which the candidal had done, and then, in 1914, ho (Jlr. Carey) would be willing, not only to .give way to him, but. to offer him every assistance. (Applause.) Tho candidato then went on to refer to the platform of tho Government, remarking that even members of the Cabinet wcro divided in their views. Tho Liberal Government, which pretended to stand for tho interests of tho workers, was composed of. the very men that tho workers had had to fight'to get their rights—tho very men whose money went into the Liberal fund for tho purposes of having tlie Liberals elected. Tho workers had long enough taken, with open mouths and shut eyes, whatever tho Literal party offered them, and now they should no longer give any of their allegiance to the Liberals, but should vote for the workers. (Applause.) After referring to oilier matters, .Mr. C'arey stated that tho policy of the party which ho represented was directed towards tho extinction of monopolies. Ho asked the electors to give the Labour party a chance, for, if they could not do better than the present Government, they could certainly not do worse. Professor Mills, who followed Mr. Carey, devoted somo time to a criticism of the policies of the Government and the l Opposition, and claimed-'that'neither party had a platform to compare with that-of the Labour part}-. Politics, in this country, ho said, wanted, reorganising in such a way as would make the solution of political problems possible. The Labour men, who had been able to organise trade unions, had a business experience that would be of servico to them in Parliament. Ho hoped that electors would vote solidly for tho candidates selected to represent tho party. No questions wero asked either of the speakers, : and Jlr. C'arev was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. WELLINGTON SUBURBS. MR, W. H. «. BELL AT WADESTOWN. Mr. Bell addressed about 50 electors at the Club-room, Wadestown, last night. Mr. E. AVyiie took the chair. The candidate pointed out that at election after election the country had been fooled with promises of progressive land settlement ■and of ..economical finance. Ho a.sked the electors to consider whether after all these years either of those promises had been fulfilled. Venting with the Imperial Conference, Mr. Bell drew attention to tho fact that, although tho conference had . been deemed sufficiently jmportant to warrant Parliament being adjourned while Sir Joseph Ward went Home, yet Parliament had not been given an opportunity of discussing what Sir Joseph AVard was to say. Nor had the Prime Minister kept his promise to allow time for the discussion of I he official' report of the conference after hi? return. Tt was obvious that tho Prime Minister had determined that if his proposals were a success he alone should have the kudos for their introduction. r l'h; official report of the conference had given such i. full account <if (he ridiculous position in which I lie Prime Minisier lliul placed himself, that Sir.loseph Ward had e-dcavoured !o smother the report by preventing Parliament from discussing it. Mr. Bell referred to the confusion which existed as !o the electoral boundaries, and he asked his hearers to ascertain before polling day whether their names appeared upon tho Suburbs roll or on the "Wellington North roll. After answering several questions, Jlr. Bell was accorded .1 unanimous voto of thanks and confidence, on the motion of Jlr. F. Larkin. SPEECH BY Jlfi. MOORE. Addressing an open-air meeting at Berhamporo last night Mr. F. T. Jloore, La bour candidate for the Suburbs seat,- sai< that his ehivf plank in tho country parts of the electoral 0 was the advocacy of a State mercantile and financial agency that would prevent-the work of the-mnn 011 the land from exploitation. This proposal was winning him a. very solid pleasure of support from farmers and farm workers, and his object ill addressing ope.n-air meetings in the working class suburbs of Wellington was to oe-,

nicnt in unity tlic whole of tho workers in tho political interests of the Now Zealand Labour jiart.v. Mr. T. Y,. Taylor had saiil, prior to his fat*] illness, that Labour's programme was (ho only policy of any use to Now Zealand, and when on his' dying bod had sent a message lo tho workers of this country urging them to recognise the divine, chances before them. The voles of every worker should therefore be solidly cast , for the nominees of labour, and a deaf car turned towards both Government and Opposition candidates who are strenuously endeavouring to capture Labour votes. The worker who did not staml for and by his own party was a Judas Jscariot selling his brethren for a muss of pottage.

MR. J. E. FITZGERALD AT'SEATOUN. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, the Government candidate for Wellington Suburbs and Country Districts, addressed a large meeting at Ventolin last night. Tho choir was occupied by Mr. A. Grieg. The enndidalo stated that ho supported the present Government not only because of its past record, but because of the fact that it offered the best material for improvement. It was no argument that the Reform Part)- was better thau tho present Government because the Reform Party chose to say they were better. Acts spoke louder than words, and until tho Reform Party coulrl prove otherwise he did not regard them as'anything moro than a re-hash of the old Tory party. He was especially struck with the threat of Labour to support tho Opposition, but that could be only a symptom of Labour's dosiro to form a |xirty of its own. They had only to recall the resistance shown by tho Opposition to every Labour measure to decide on the wisdom or otherwise of such a step. On tho other hand the present Government had improved the conditions of labour, and regulated both hours and wages. And it had provided for tho workers in the old age pensions, national annuities, and the advances to workers' scheme, while tho ..future promised n great relief for them'in the matter of taxation, as the Government intends to placo moro of the' burden on the large landholders. Dealing with the land question, tho speaker declared himself in favour of bursting up large estates by means of an increased graduated land tax. He also declared himself opposed to tho. alienation of any. moro of our. Crown lands, which should lie. set aside as an endowment for old ago pensions, hospitals, and'education* Mr. Fitzgerald strongly advocated tho rating and taxing of Native lands. Ho was sure all would.agree with him that the old veterans of this Dominion should have justice dealt out to them, even if it was a little late. Any other country showed its appreciation of its defenders by granting pensions to them in their old age, and it was time thosamo was done here. Jlr. Fitzgerald advocated a much more general system of technical education classes, arid tho medical examination of school children. A vote of thanks and confideirce in the candidate was carried unanimously, on the motion of Mr. F. de ,T. Robiu, seconded by Mr. W. H. Ewings.

MR. LUKE AT BELMONT. Mr. J. P. Luko, the Independent Liberal candidato for the .Suburbs, addressed a meeting of suburban doctors in the hall, Belmont, last evening. Mr. W. Niool presided. . Mr. Luko stated that there were great possibilities in store for. the Dominion. The' wonderful productiveness of tho soil, and the favourable climatic conditions' produced results that could not be equalled in any other countries, Ho went on to' state that we required unity in aim and co-operatiou in action to onablo tho resources of our land to be truly develop/ od. Much had been done in opening up secure markets, providing experiment farms, and now.the proposed new financial scheme of co-operative batiks would enable'the wan with limited opportunities to improve Iris position. 'One sphere that: offered opportunities was the fruit fanus, 'which were now to bo obtained at a reasonable rental. With initiation and energy, much could be got out of these farms. Tho Dominion- people should encourage, a consumption of this country's grown fruit, and thus lessen the importations. Secondary industries claimed,the attention of. all that, had a desiro to see the, country's':good'' promoted. The Patents Act (now become law), the exploiting of our natural mineral resources, and tho hydro-electric scheme would bring about enormous benefits to tlie Dominion, and put us in a state of self-reliance and national stability. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed, on the motion of Mr. J. Mitchell seconded by Mr. Baker. ' OTAKI. MB. MONCETON AT AKATARAWA. Mr. Monckton, the Reform candidate, met with a very cordial reception at katarawa last night, when ho delivered an address, strongly criticising tho Ward Administration. In tho course of his snecch ho drew attention to: tho fact that during tho 13 years of the Seddon Administration tho public debt had increased by 21 millions sterling, but Mr. Seddon, during his term of office, had carried out very many excellent public works, chief of which was (ho .Main trunk railway. But what do wo find '" connection with (he Ward G'overnmi A ''? s ,)een in office five years and tho public debt has increased liy ail additional 2ft millions. And' where.nc the results from this expenditure? Mr. Monckton said we had a Dreadnought in the China .Seas, which represented the million, and the country was now "fossicking" for the balance, and until tho present party was forced out of office wo would continue to "gropo in the dark." The Government land policy came in t'oistrong criticism from Mr. liforickton, and the candidate pointed out that at Levin Sir James Carroll had stated that Uie freehold was no policy. If, said Mr. Monckton, the freehold was no policy, how could the leasehold be considered such? The Mokau deal Was touched upon, and, said the candidate, this business stood out as a standing advertisement against the present Administration. The address was listened to most attentively, and with much appreciation. At the conclusion, a hearty vote, of thanks was accorded to Mr. Monckton, on the motion of Mr. A. J. Gordon, who stated that the electors would show their confidence at the ballot-box. HUTT. Over a score of electors assembled at Whiteman's Valley Schoolroom on Wednesday night, when Mr. R. W. Shortt, Reform candidate, addressed'the electors of the Ilutt. Mr. Russell presided. Tho' candidate dealt trcnclnrmtlv with tho Government's lock of backbone in all matters of serious moment and severely criticised its administration. At the conchnicn of his address, .Mr. Shortt was accorded a hearty and unanimous vote of (hanks and confidence. . CLUTHA. ADDRESS BY MR. A. S. MALCOLM. (ISy Tolccraph.-I'reFS Association.' Balclutha, November '2-i. Sir. A. S.. Malcolm, candidate for Clutha, addressed a large meeting to-night and received an attentive hearing. He criticised (he Government's action in regard to the laud question, and regretted (hat there was no reserve fund in connection with (he land for settlements schemf. He denied that the Opposition wished to sell endowments, and deplored the breaking of promises by (he Government, mentioning (ho requirement of a ftrry service, tho expenditure of a quarter of a million ixninds a year four years for roads and bridges, and (ho introduction of a Loral Government Bill. He believed that the public of New Zealand had been "hud" over tho Dreadnought business. Sir. Malcolm received a unanimous vote of thanks and continued confidence. NOMINATIONS. Dr. A. K. Newman has been nominated for the Wellington East seal. The following are bis nominators:—Mrs. SI. C. Kcane, Messrs. Allen, Anderson, T. 11. Ingrain, J. G. W. Aitken, Henry Jenkins, and H. Glover. 'Br Telegraph.—l' r<?ss Assoc'atlon i . Cliristchurcli, November 24. Sir Geo. A\. Russell has been nominated for the Avon seat. Further election news will be found on Page 11 of this issue. ' I