THE ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1297, 28 November 1911, Page 7

THE ELECTION.

NEWS AND NOTES, i SPEECHES BY CANDIDATES. TO-NIGHT'S MEETINGS. Dr. A, K. Newman (OppositioiL, Wellington East), at Victoria Hall, Adelaide Komi, at 8 p.m. Mr. K. W. Short (Opposition, Hult ■jwciarate), at Palaeo Theatre, Pfitono, at Si p.m. Ih , . Couzcns (Independent Opposition, H'uilington South), at Fullford's null, iitonklyn. at S p.m. Mr. ,)ohn tirodic (Independent Liboral, Wellington East), at Soaview Private r Hotel, South Kilbirnio, at 8 p.m. I Mr. H. Newman (Opposition, Kniisilikei oltT.loriilo). sit Otairi. Nt S p.m. Mr. J l . (J. Bolton (Government, Welling- ! ton East), at Methodist Schoolroom, North Kilbirnio, at 8 p.m. Mr. W. a'. D. Bell (Opposition,-' Wellington Suburbs), at Churchroom, Tainui Pcrraco, Mara.mil, nt 8 p.m. Mr. It. A. Wright (Opposition, Wellington South), at, Mrs. Bogers's store, Voscltown, open air, at S p.m. Mr. W. H. Field (Government, Otaki electorate), at the Hull, Paekakariki, at 8 p.m. Mr. Byron Brown (Opposition, Otaki electorate), at Koputaroa, at S p.m. Mr. J. P. Luke (Government, Welliugton Suburbs), at Melrosc, at 8 p.m. Mr. F. M. B. Fisbcr (Opposition Wellington Central) at St. Peter's Schoolroom, Ghuzncc Street, at 8 p.m. Mr. J. E..Fitzgerald (Government, Wellington Suburbs), at Ecuhen Avenue, Brooklyn, at 7.30 p.m. At Presbyterian Church, Ivelbnrne, at 8.30 p.m. Mr. W. T. Young (Labour, Wellington Central), at Taitville, at 7.15 p.m. Devon Street, at 8.30 p.m. Mr. J. W. M'Ewan (Opposition, Hutt electorate), al Oddfellows' Hall, Pctouc, at 7.30 p.m.. WEDNESDAY'S MEETINGS. Mr. A. L. Hcrdtnau (Opposition, Wellington North), at Wosleyan Schoolroom, Molesworth Street, at 8 p.m. Mr. C. A. W. Monckton (Opposition, Otaki elettorate), at Town Hall, Otaki, at 8 p.m. Dr. K. Newman (Opposition, Wellington East), at Eosencath Schoolroom, at 8 p.m. ;;•■ Mr. B. Newman (Opnosition, Eaugitikci electorate), at Grcatfofd, at 8 p.m. Mr:.-.-;"\y. H. P. Barber (Government, v\ellingUmjSouth), at Mrs. Eogcrs*s store, \ ogelton'i'i.'ioncii air, at, 8 p.m. Dr. ■AriioM/.l.zard (Government, Wel-lington--North)",,'at Social Hall, Wadestown, at' 8 p.m. Mr. 1\ G. Bolton (Government, Wellington East), at Mein Street, Ncwtown, 7.30 p.m. John Street, open air, 8,15 p.m, Mr. Byron Brown (Opnosition, Otaki electorate), at Coronatjo'n Hall, Paraparaumu, at 8 p.m. Mr. E. A. Wright (Opposition, Wellington., South), at tram terminus, lliddiford fatveet. at 8.15 p.m., open air. Mr. E. W. Short (Opposition,' Hutt electorate), at schoolroom, Taita, at 8 p.m. Mr. John Brodio (Independent Liberal) Wellington East), at Clydo Quay School, at 8 p.m. , , FUTURE MEETINGS. : Mr. R, W. Short (Opposition, Hutt dec' torate), at Upper Hutt, oii Thursday,, November 30, at 8 p.m. Mr. F.M. B. Fisher (Opposition. Wellington Central), at Druids' Hall, on Ihursday, November SB, at 8 p.m. Mr. J. B. Fitzgerald (Government, Uollin?ton Suburbs), at Watlcstwn and Uoldio s BraeMr. J. W. M'Ewan (Independent Liberal, Hutt electorate), at Taita (Welch's warn), at 8 p.m. M, r : C- A. W. Monckton (Opposition, Otaki electorate), at Town Hall, Levin, on Inday, December 1, at 8 p.m. Mi-. A.L. Hcrdmau (Opposition, Wellington North), at Wadestown Clubroom, on iriday, Dceomiier .1, at 8 p.m. Dr. Arnold Iznrd (Government, WclI i"«ston North), at-Methodist Schoolroom, 1 Northland, on Friday, December 1, at 8 p.m. . HOW TO VOTE. THi; ONLY CORRECT METHOD. Electors should note that the correct method ol voting in the election of members ot Parliament,is'to strike out the names ol nil candidates save' the one for n-lioru they intend to vote. Some electors appear to bo rather in 'doiibt on this subject, but the correct method of voting is clearly stated in the Legislature Amenunient Act, 1910. This Act contains the lollowing directions to voters:—"Tho voter is to strike , out tho name of every candidate for whom he decs not intend to void by drawing a line through tho name with a pen or pencil. Tho voter must tako care not to leavo uncancelled mo namo of nioro than one candidate °|: <?? Paper "ill bo invalid." In face oi this, explicit direction electors should disregard any suggestion that alternntivo m°, -i i°~ ?re permissible. Tho unmistakable intention of tho Act is hat the ballot paper shall be returned by dalo for whom ho or she wishes to voto untouched, and with all other names upon tho paper cancelled by hav"ng a hue. drawn through them. S FOR REFORM. NEXT MONDAY'S DEMONSTRATION. Particulars aro given in our advertising columns to-day of the Reform de,no,X°Hall on Monday night next. ,Tlip meeting has been arranged by the Women's Branch of the Political Reform Lelupio as a niiale to its vigorous campaign. All hve ol the local Morm candidatesMessrs. Uerdmau, Fisher, Wright, and Bell, and. Dr. Newman-havo bncfr invited to be present, and the meeting i s intended to. give them an opportunity to vmilo in speeches urging,tho importance-of nforming, our politics. The chair will lo taken by Mr.-C 13. Morison, and tho proceedings wilt commence'at 8 o'clock -No arrangement hns-yot been made for addresses to tho overflow- of the liuvo crowd that is certain to fill* the hall. Tho speeches will necessarily bo brief onesprobably of less than hjlf-an-hour each in length. . .

HERE AND THERE.

CAMPAIGN POINTS AND PRESS COMMENTS. Nineteen Feet six Inches. '•Take an end of this," said Mr. FMier to a member of his audience last night, and this .was a very long, narrow strip ot paper.. It measured precisely lilft £'"•; a ? d m on if: lvas Printed tlio "Xew Zealand Times" report of Sir Joseph Hard s speech at Winton. "This report," •Mr. 1-isher said, "is punctuated with an. clause. It is fully nnd carefully done. Mr. Jiassoy went into Winton and held a meeting, commencing at 8 o'clock, the same, timo os Sir Joseph Ward's, and what aid the 'Times givo him?—oue inch land he produced tho one inch cutting), 'When I raised this question .at rov Tory Street meeting, tho roporter of ' tho 'Tifines' turned to mo. told mo to bo fair, and said the speech had arrive;! too late '.'or publication. That must bo untrue, 1-n. cause The Dominion and tlio Christchnrch Press published it in full. If it arrived late for tho '.New Zealand Times' that morning, why didn't they publish it next morning-?" Would Like to Come Back. A resident of Ilawko's Buy lms handed the Herald; a letter just received bv him, which has a special interest at (he present, moment. It is from a former resident in ?\e\v Zealand, who. lil ;i > many others, was driven out of tlio country by the Governments land policy or want of a land policy. Ho settled in Alberta Canada, but he still prefers the little to the bij; Dominion, nml has retained his interest in our polities. lie writes"What :\ time the papers generally sp cn | to be Bivmc Sir Josoph AVnrd and his iKiriiiioley. 11. serves him vißht, too. Aro the eledious roiur to )m excilinj in Xo«/.ealnnd.- , .My wife and I would greutlv like to see the Opposition get: in in NewZealand. It would me;iu Rieut chiinges ior the. country in many .ways, and could hardly fail to be lor tho'belter. Ono tlnnc would be (.be- opening up of large !"ck of Maori 'and otherwise) land, and it thi- happens «;c shall be back to Now ieaJani by the first boat," That £sav S

! tho ' Herald") is tho opinion of a prnc- ; icaMnan. After twenty years of ollico, thoi Uovcrninnnl; with all its talk of lorn! I settlement, caimot keep such men in tho ! colony. Its land laws are devised ou such hues as to place obstacles in the . way of the genuine settler. It is .surely time the Opnosition had a. chancu to bi-o if they could not do any better than the [ Continuous Ministry. Cruelty to Candidates. A southern Government paper asserts mat wherever candidates havp. no heavier handicap than unreserved loyally u> Hie (loveriiinenl, their election is almost m-lniii." To our way of thinking it is simply cruel lo buoy up Die' hopes ?. f ..f?! ldld , a tra with such rash predictions. U'ltmn t lie next two or three weeks many Government, candidates will loarn to their cost what very slight importance the country attaches lo "unreserved lovallv 'Tie"' ,o tloverume " t -"-Christctiurcl» "They Won't Wash." „'* ,ro j'» I'indlay, w j(h characteristic(.milage, has come to the rescue of' his uiiei, and lias supplied thc Government Ith two aims and a platform. Tlio aims o has got irom Rousseau; tho platform lie has slo en from tho Opposition. Here kUmdard of comfort yet reached bv a nnintellectual, and moral well-hem" the world has soon.' Could anything bo move magmhccnt! My only surprise is that us party should havo boun in power for twenty years without «ver onco fcnline ttic touch ot so nobirs an nspiration. If they had only started with this sublime objective instead of waiting all those yoara or Hip, learned knight's cue, New Zealand by this time might havo been an earthly paradise. As it is, tho is alas! groaning under the incrcasod cost of living, tho increased load of tiixalion, and Urn enormously increased mountain of piiblw indebtedness. Sir John's platitudes aro beautiful, but as Uioy tay in the clast-irs, (hev won't. waih."-"Jltrcnlio" in the Auckland "Herald." Publicity, Writing of tho nred for publirilv ia jinance, the. "Hawko's Bay Herald" mvsIn any private business tho shareholders demand and get year by year lull detaili ol outlay and revenue. If a director wore to. refuse information ho would promptly b>l replaced. But tho Ministry habiliially roIUEC to givo information about the flotation of loans. They hold buck inrormiition as to public works expenditure, and they place their Estimates before Parliament aud rush them through under conditions which prevent any proper cod. sideration. All th«so arc abuses which demand reform. Tho Reform party if pledged to bring about a desirable chansi of method," Land Policy Possibilities. Advice to electors who are being asked to vote for Government freeholders h given by tho Pahidtua "Herald," wliicb has tho caso of Mr. R. B. Boss, M.P., beforo it. "For those who really wish for the application of a freehold policy," says thc paper, "there- is only ono courrsi open-to voto for tho Beforni party, which as a party is pledged to a freehold policy, and will not toy with tho l ail( } question as has tho hybrid Ward party. So far from-ever becoming definitely hold, tho chances are that the present, uovernnient party will become more and moro leasehold. There are many indications that Sir Joseph Ward will not remain long in New Zealand, end for tho Prime Minislorship thero aro two aspirants, Sir J. Findlay, who is contesting tho Parnell scat,, and is enunciating views on tho land question wheh musk h>: very unpalatable to farmers, and th« Hon. J, . A. Millar, whoso land policr would probably bo almost as unsatisfactory. An ex-Ministcr for Lands (Mr. M'Nab) whoso policy lias already boun rejected by tho people, is contesting the Palmerslon North seat, and if he is "elected, it is probahlo that he will assume tho portfolio of Lands, -which is obviously being kept warm for somebody.. Farmers are threatened then with the prospect o? a Findlay or Millar Administration, n'ith Mr. M'Nab as Minister for Lands and iW bably tho single-tax Mr. Fowlds holding a portfolio. The- way to make this vision matoriflliso is to vote for Mr. Boss, who Is a follower of all these gentlemen, aiid has assisted to keep thorn in power. Those who want to play with the land question may voto for Mr. Ross. Those who really wish to.have a freehold policy will vote for the candidate who represents tho Reform party, tho only party which is iu earnest about the freehold. Leaseholders will also vote for Mr. Ro?s, for ho supports an 'Administration which is balancing on tho land question, but is more likely to become leasehold than freehold." A Side-light. ' Mr. Fisher threw, an intoraliiit; side, light on methods adopted by tho Government in appointing men to State employment by reading the following letter which was received by a member of the Houso:—"Thero aro at present vacancies for two traUic labourers in tho AVellington district. If you can recommend mo two good men between 24 and 28 years of age, sft. Giu. in-height, anc , , with filth standard ccrtih'cates, I shall be plcasod to give them appointments. (higncd) J. G. Ward." That was tho kind,;of letter ho had received whea ho entered.' thc Houso, ho added He had replied that he supposed somo sort of a list won kept of men seeking employment, and if so the- Minister could givo the billets to tho first men ou tho list. The Voice of Experience. Mr. W. Fraser, who has sat in Parliament for 15 years, and has been in public life 40 years, said at Qucenstown that the one talk among all sections was that the time had coiup when thero should be a change in tho Government. (Applause.) lie felt confident, that before a year or so hud elapsed (here would havo to bo such i>, change. Such a feeling i\s lit proSent pervaded (ho Dominion never pervaded liny country without the Government being doomed, Not "Bogus." The notorious dairy.regulation. , :, though defunct, aro still pliiyiiig an active part in Tiirannki electioneering. Defenders of tho Government havo called them "bogus" but a correspondent writing to tho "DailyNews" says:—"l have before mo ns ).' write a copy of those regulations, and which arc not bogus at all, but arc ;is reported from the tiLock Committee of Hm !' Uouso of Representative's and laid on the table by leave and bear the imprint of John Mackay, Govornmout Printer. Now, sir, the identity of the author of thofo regulations is wrapped in mystery, for Mr, M'Nab, who held tho portfolio of Agriculturo at that time, has disclaimed tho honour, as likewise did Mr. Gilruth, who was (lien Chief Veterinarian, so also , did the office boy who was crnal'.y nml maliciously credited with thc authorship," Thc Curse of thc Country. Political influence is tho cur.'o of tliia country, according lo Mr. A. L. llerdmaii. Mr. Be-rdman proceeded lo quoto a caso iu which a ccrtaiu "gentleman" with a criminal record had been given a position in onn of the branches of tho Civil Service. An officer of tho police recog. nised tho man, who was dismissed, but political inlluencp was. brought to bear again, and ths criminal was reinstated in . another branch of tho public service. This political inlluciicc was one-of the blots on .tho public life of the.country. Merit aud ability should bo tho test for ad« vaucoment in tho public tervico. The National Endowments. As tho utterances of the Reform piirtj on (ho subject of the national endow* ments are. still being industriously misrepresented, the following extract'from a platform speech by Mr. A, ,S, Malcolm should be ni interest:— ''Uoferrinp (o (he question i'.i' 'endowments, the speaker said they were iilways iitclinr.l a lilt In to tjilto everything" at its face -yiiliio, and lip hud not tho least doubt that tlm pcoplc'iuidi-i , - stood when 8,000.00!) acres i were m'l iisiile as endowments for. Uu> 'upkeep nV cilncation, charitable aid, nml old pen. sioiis. Thoy "imagined (hoi; snm-'t liimj wonderful had boon done i'or Ihc-o objects, nnd < (hat their futures had beoa firovided for. These endowments existed argely in tho imagination. Thero were 8,000,000 acres set aside, it was (rui>, but they were wild lands, aud the amount of revenue they brought iu each year wae i£2;>,ooo. Anyouo drawing thc old age ]>ension would readily understand how hie tutiiro had boon provided by this miserable, paltry sum. Mr. Masseykuew the value of those lauds as-well ai nnyono did, nod thwo were pthei-6 who agreed witji

lili.i wheii'hVs'aid that it would bo simply imiiossiblo to settle these lands under tho pr<"saiir. tenure, and the only way to gi.t tn.'opln ito go on these wild estates womd be to, give them the freehold. On tins account it was said'that Mr. Mnssey wi'siii pi| to do away with tho endowments, but Mr. Massey did not wish to do anything of tho. surt. Mr. Massey would devote the wliolo 'of the money derived from the. purchase of theso endowment lands to the purchase, of city and suburban lands, which would bring in jjood rentals, and which were certain to increase in value 'in a way that present endowment land never, would do. Tluit was Mr. Massey's _,policy. (Applause.)" Labour and the Government. "It-was absurd that, because, the Labour party did not favour Sir Joseph "Word, ,its members must necessarily be-couip'-follow.eis.of Mr. Massey. Tho Labour "party had no confidence in thu present'('abinet, and that view was shared by many people. But they were tired of tho bogey that if they did not support Sir Joseph Ward they would get Mr. Massey. Tui-y were tired of the argument that they must stick to the Government ■until a naw party was formed. How long would 1 it be before they got the new party if they were going to sit down and < wait-'for it to come along? Ilio only thing: to do was to set to work now, seize tlio opportunity of launching the new party,-and help.those who were building it. It was not a.very courageous position for anyone to take up to say that he would, wait for tho new party, and then ' itep into it when someone had built it for -hiiii."—Mr. Veitch, Labour candidate for Wauganui. Remarkable! ;■' _ " . ' Among the many remarkable- claims that liavo-been, inado on behalf. o£ tho Government during the past few weeks (says tho Ghristcliufch "Press"), .perhaps the boldest was put forward by tho Hon. it. M'Kehzie the other day, when ho told a Tukalca audience that "tho, present Government was a freehold Government ! The Mastcrfon Seat. In replying to a vote of thanks accorded hilii at Ekctahuna, Mr. Sykes stated that everything pointed to tho fact that he. iwoukPbe-; in--the '.<*con'd ballot.. If, unsuccessful,--however, he pledged himself to do his utmost to further Mr. Herbert's candidature. .They wore determined to place a Refbrm" party-' candidato at tho' head of thVpoll, and if.it w'ns not him-'. «lf,.- then he hoped it would be Mr. Her-' bert. He felt positive theso sentimonts; were reciprocated'by .Mr. Herbert,-its;. they' wore both out'for. tho dn'e object—' to win the.seat for the Reform. Party. Posterity. After noting that, tho Into Mr. Setldon borrowed 23 million sterling in thirteen ' years, and that Sir Joseph AVard has borrowed eighteen and a'half million in fivo.years, the "Hawke's Bay Tribune" remarks:—"The generations who come alter Sir Joseph Ward has mingled with the historic dust of. Westminster Abbey will have a tidv sized millstone around their.necks, and if it should so happen that a period of depression came' to New ' Zealand, tho nebplo would have a pain- , ful struggle to kcop Dear Uncle supplied with his pound of flesh. Wo aro expected now to squeeze comfort from the statement that all loans'will ; be' paid" off by sinking fund in , seventy-five years. But it is a sure thing that if Sir Joseph remains, in. office for ...a ■:. further .period, and is followed by other Premiers of a like financial kidney, we shall have borrowed tho sinking funds as well as the principal by the ttmo liquidation is due. Putting off the payment for seventy-five yeai-3 eases tho present-day conscience, and. suits Uncle, but posterity will hold no 'great'lovo for .Ward finance." Waste and Bungling Somewhere. Mr. Bell said last night at Worser Bay that Government candidates wero offering various explanations of the increased cost nf running tho country. The neatest of the explanations was that of the Government candidate who said that the reason was that the population had increased, nnd that, therefore, it was natural that the cost should increase. The fact was that the cost of running tho couutry had gone up 167 per cent., and tho population had gone up 5t per cent. "There must be waste and bungling somewhere," he concluded. • Absolutely Necessary. Mr. J. H. Escott, Eeform candidate for Waipawa, declared at Maugatainoka that it wag absolutely necessary for the good government of the country that the present Administration should be turned out of office. The present party had become old, autocratic, and decayed, and should be replaced by a younger, and more, vigorous administration. ' Ho had not the slightest doiibt that a Ministry of capable nen could bo formed. (Applause.) First and Second. "Next to ousting Hie present Government out .of office,- tho land question is tho most important one of tho day," said Mr. Sykes, amid the applause of his hearers at Kuripuni. ■ A Surprise. -, Tho only incident of note iu connection with nominations for the Auckland district electorates yesterday was the-sur-prise' sprung upon Auckland Central electors by .Mr. Win. Michardson, the wellknown Prohibitionist. At tho last moment that gentleman has announced himKi'lf as a candidate in the field with Messr?. A. E. Glover, J. C. Glceson, and J. Savage. If: is expected that the candidates will now s-ettlo down to a 6trennou:< weet, but so far as Auckland is concerned the main interest centres around Piirnpll, where Sir John Findlay's chance? of election are insistently doclared to be dwindling. The Duncdin Central Contest. Mr. G. E.. Slat ham," the Opposition candidate for TJunediiL' Central,, had an en- • Ihusiastic meeting on.'Friday night in the' Mornington Presbyterian Chinch Hall. Long before 8 o'clock the hall was crowded, and numbers were unable to gainadmission, even after a great many < had been accommodated on the stage beside the speaker. Mr. Statham, who was greeted with a storm of cheers and applause, said he had come back to address them sooner than he had expected because ho felt he must reply to Mr. Arnold's criticism of himself and his party. He gave then the history of the Old Ago Pensions Bill in brief, and quoted refer-ences-in verification of his statements. After having criticised Mr. Arnolds speech, he asked why his opponent had not thrown nny lighton the Mokau land case, the details of the ,£5,000,000 loan, nnd the wasteful expenditure wiih which he (Mr. iSiai.hani) had charged Iha Government. After the candidate had answered a number of questions, some of. which provoked considerable mirth, a. -hearty .vote of thanks (proposed by Mr. Miraiiis - and K.!unntl(>(] by Mr. Lawrerico) was'.', carried unanimously with much-cheering..' Staggering Under the Load. The time has come when we must give Mirsf'lvcs pausv before wo unthinkingly v.ol'i for a (loveruimmt candidate. Every person who votes oil tho 7lh for a follower of Sir Joseph Ward's is either expecting a personal favour or is disinterestedly and >i!i:nl!y helping to perpetiutto the--system tliat i... even now making this Dominion sla???" under its load. —Mr. Byrc-a Brown nt llimataiigi. The Tongue-Tied Civil Servants. Mr. 0. Hutchison, Opposition candidate fov Wanganui, in a special address to Civil Servants says:—"l recognise that it iiMiild ')« Unwise under tho present Government far tho slightest expression of political opinion to bo given by any of vcu Hint iras not llattoring to the powers- ■-!■.::: -in.'. Thin is'an almost intolerable ji.-v.-i'.h.ii, and is, of-course, one to be rei;.;-di;'il at the earliest possiblo date." Unjuilifnbls Delay, The unjustifiable delay on the part of tho'Government in fulfilling tho pledges given four years ago, and evaded every year since, to legislate for the classification of the several branches of the Civil Service— including the Railways—calls for attention and action immediately on the assembling of Parliament. . . . There is too much reason to suppose that thn repeated delays aro'in some measure due to fear—for s'hamn is lost to tho present Administration—that n proper classification would disclose .the favouritism and injustice they have practised.—Mr. George Hutchison, Itefbrin candidato for Wanganui,, ; . ■ _ .._'__

Mr. Luke at Ngahauranga. Mr. J. P. Ltiko, Government candidate for Wellington Suburbs nddrcsscd ;i wellattended meeting nt the Schoolriioni, Ngahauranga, last evening, -Mr. W. Slitter, presiding. During the course of his remarks. Mr. Luke 'stilted that, ho was convinced Unit much of the work of tlio new J'arlinmant would consist in consolidating Acts which had been set up, piece by piece, in connection with land scttleniont and social advancement. After dealing with this anil other questions (including cheaper telephones to link ii]) the .suburbs and the centres) Mr. Luke stated that, .included in some of the work which he had done whilst ho had been a member of Parliament, was the bringing about of a good train service tn. Jolmsonvillc, and also ,i persistent attitude in urging that the suburban area privileges should be extended on the Manawatu line. This had resulted in success. A vote of thanks and confidence Tins carried unanimously. Farmers' Union Questions. • The secretary of the Ekctahuna branch of the Farmers' Union bus been advised by the Provincial Secretary that only ono candidate for the Masterton scat, Mr. A. JL Herbert, has replied to the questions submitted by tho I'nrmors* Union, ami asking that the questions be put-to tho other candidates from the public platform. Of tho six questions asked, Mr. Herbert replied in the affirmative to five, and considered tho remaining one t<x> vague to gi.ro any definite reply. .■:... ~ : The Value of a 999 Years' Lease. During the course of his address at the Concert Chamber last night. Dr. Iznrd criticised tho Opposition policy in regard to the I.i.p. leases. When it came to question time, the candidate was asked if the value of ; a Government, lease was .£2 per acre at; the" time of leasing and ,£\ odd per acre now, to whom did the increase belong? Tho rcjiiy was: "Pnrt to the, tenant and part to the Government." Almost immediately afterwards. Dr. Izard was asked if he had leased a. piece of land for 09!) years what would be his interest in the freehold? He replied that, when the land leased, was owned by an ■ individual, his interest iii'anything but the original' value waa practically nothing, but; if' th'eiand were owned"by a nation, it was different—a nation goes ■on for ever. '- ! ; .'. : i . !; VBliiff,".- " ■ , :'-;Al-the- "passing moment tho Eight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., is parading the country vainly' endeavouring' to "bolster up tho degenerate so-called Liberal cause. He has declared that Mr. Massey's speech at Winton did him more good than harm, which, of course, is merely the typical statement of the Commander-in-Chiof of a Government' whose motto is "Bluff."— "Hot Lakes Chronicle." ■ Where the Wealth Is. There are a class.of people who think that, because a candidate supports the Reform party,-■Lβ is supporting what is irreverently termed tho "Fat Man." Mr. G. R. Sykes effectually dealt with- the.se people in a recent address in the Forty-Mile Bush, :11c showed that there was absolutely no 'connection.' .between the Reform party .and' tho wealthy classes. If the wealthy as well as the poor want a change .in politics and support the Eeform candidates, so much the better for those candidates. But it is utter nonsense to surest that wealth is being arrayed against .labour in the present oontest. The only wealth which appears to be dispensed in purchasing support jtfst now is that which is being circulated throgh the national Exchequer.—"Wairarapa Age." Where Is' It? "I don't .know- what the .Government land policy "is/; The' Government say it is in the Statute Book. I am, in a modest way, a lawyer, and occasionally it is a lawyer's business ..to refer to the Statute Book. I haye'been unable to find the land policy there: I don't believe tho Government has one." —Mr. W. H. D. Bell at Worser Bay." h'is Label. Mr. Hogg, having treated his audience at Masterton the other day to the dear old "chestnut" about the. dog that had -,?aten all his labels, Mr. Herbert, one of the Eeform candidates for the Masterton scat, has neatly retorted that his own label is the House of Parliament, and that that is where he is going. After 20 Years. A questioner at Mr. Fletcher's meeting last evening pointed to statements by that candidate that 21 million, acres of land in Now Zealand were owned' by seven per cent, of tne population, and that land reform was vitally necessary. Was it not, asked the man seeking information, rather a lafco call on tho part of the Government? The-Liberal party had been in power for 20 years, and during that period had had unlimited opportunities of dealing with the land question. Was it not rather late in the day-to appeal to the people on tho land question? (Hear, hear, and applause.) Mr. Fletcher said he did not know that tho Government was appealing to the-people on tho land question. Ho (Mr.. Fletcher) was. , A voice: "What, is their land policy, Mr. Fletcher? Other voices: They haven't got one! Mr, Fletcher:-..We11, I have given you mine, and it's a-pretty good one. The original!questioner returned to the charge, remarking that Mr. Fletcher had given his personal views, but what were the platform proposals of 'ho Liberal party in regard to the land? Mr. Fletcher replied that he did not know what the mind of tho Government was on tho subject. He asked the support of the electors for a Liberal party that would Mvork for tho progress of the Dominion. An Absurd Institution. ' "The present Upper House is a ridiculous farce—it is an absurd institution. You knoiv- some'of tho appointments that have been made to the Legislative Council." Such was Mr. Herdman's brief summing up of tho Council when informing a questioner that ho favoured reform of the "Upper House. A Poser Put. * . When Dr. lzard read out one of the questions that had been handed up to him last night, it ran something as follows:— '.'You say that some ,£200,000 have been rcuuttod'from tho Customs duty on sugar. How do you account for tho fact that sugar is dearer now than before the duly was removed?" Dr. Izard stated that, as he had not sonio figures with him that lio would like to-glance at first, ho would havo to postpone'answering-the question until his next meeting. . Not a Model Employer. The State ought to be a model'employer, Mr. Fisher thinks, and to show that, in his opinion, the State as controlled by tho present Ministry is not u model' employer, ho said: "Hero is a .Government that has in its employ hundreds of men who arc disgracefully underpaid. You will find in Hie Govenunent Printing Office girls with 27 years' service behind them working for .C9l a year." Utopia, Unlimited, Mr. J. V. Brown, who is again standing tor Napier'in the Government interest, is even more "optimistic" than'his leader. Ho stated at a recent meeting that in seventy-five years all the loans would bo paid off by a sinking fund provision made by tho Govenunent, and there would bo no taxes. "You will have no taxes," added Mr. Brown, "and probably the Government will give you money for living here." (Laughter.) The Nominations. Tho nominations closed yesterday. A complete list of candidates appears on pago j of thi3 issue. Which Next World? Whilst handling the present railway system at his meeting last evening Mr. Hr-rdman recalled the statement of the Primo Minister that we would bo lucky if we found us good railways in the next world a.- , those in New Zealand. "Tho Prime Minister," said Mr. Ilcrdmau, "overlooked the fact that there are two:. next worlds. Which one did he ,-moau?" (Laughter.)