ON THE PLATFORM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1297, 28 November 1911, Page 8

ON THE PLATFORM.

i MR. MASSEY AT WAIUKU. AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. (By 'reJocrapta.-l'rC'S Association.l Wiiiuku, November 27. Mr. Miifoy "ccntiniK-a liis campaign far the Franklin M-at to-day, ami received votes of tiiiinks and ccnlidence at two of the smalii-r mi'i-tings ndilmsed in the morning and afternoon. This evening lie delivered a vignrous ?i>ecth at WiUiiku, the hall being packed by over 100 persons, and many others were" unable- to enter tho building. The Leader of the Opposition was received with prolonged cheering. Dealing with the suoject of the proposed ciinlitkm, Mr. Mussey said the intention underlying the negotiations war, that .tlio two great politicul parties in the country s-liould be brought together through I heir representatives in Parliament. At that time there was very little ditt'eronci; between the numerical strength of the parlies. There was an organised movement to effect this result, the proposition submitted to him being that he should accept a seat in the Government and persuade another member of the Opposition to accompany him to the Treasury benches. He was quite prepared to prove his statements, for ho had written evidence that the proposal was made to him. (Applause.) Mr. M.'issey challenged Sir Joseph Ward to ask tiie Minister for Agriculture what part the latter had taken in the matter, and repeat the opinions expressed by- him with regard to the proposed coalition.' "If he drives me into a corner," added Mr. Massey, amidst applause, "Sir Joseph Ward will bear the whole lot, and when he gets it he will bo sorry." Mr. Massoy explained that after consulting his colleagues he refused to have anything to do with the negotiations, and had never regretted that decision. Unless he could select the men who were to .sit beside him on tho Treasury-benchi-s, ho would remain on tho Opposition benches for tho rest of his life. (Applause.) ■Mγ. Jlassoy went on to say that the Public Debt Extinction Act, of which Sir Joseph Ward was so proud, actually, provided for collaring the sinking funds of loans to local bodies, and the Native war loan amounting, to nearly a million. These sinking funds having been diverted, the loans had to be renewed, and the amount of them added to the public debt. The Prime Minister was careful not to mate any mention of this fact when explaining' the measure. Jlr. Massey gave- an tinqualified denial to Sir Joseph ■ Ward's statement that the Opposition had done its best to strangle the Advances to Settlers Department. Liberal applau?e followed the conclusion of tho speech. A vote, of thanks and confidence was carried by vi«"ir»!iis acclamation, followed by repeated cheering.

THE PREMIER.

A VISIT TO TAHANAKI. (By Tekeraph.-i'ross Association.) Hawera, November 27. The Premier and party visited South Taranaki this niorning, arriving at JCormanby by main train" from Kew Plymouth. Sir Joseph Ward delivered an address there to a largely-attended' meeting'of settlers, and was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Tho party afterwards came on to Hawera, visited the District High School and Convent School. The Premier later addressed a crowded meeting in the Opera House. He spoko for over. two hours, was given a cordial reception, and was frequently.applauded. His address was on similar lines to his previous speeches throughout the Dominion. He defended the Government's administration, especially its' finance, land, railways, ■ and • defence poiicy, and also its connection' with the Mokan Estate. At the conclusion of his address a' resolution of thanks and confidence in Sir Joseph Ward's party was carried by acclamation, cheers bein." accorded the Premier. The Ministerial party left by the afternoon train for Stratford. ' ■ Auckland, November 27. New;s received to-day concerning the Prime Minister's receiit country tour states that Sir Joseph Ward was well received by the settlers. At Matamata on Saturday morning he addressed a very large meeting near'the railway station, and delivered a speech on the lines of previous addresses. A vote of thanks and j continued confidence in the Government was adopted unanimously, amidst great cheering. 'At Morrinsville he addressed 200, and the meeting heartily adopted a motion of thanks and confidence- Sir Joseph Ward spoke at Te Aroha on Saturday evening. His audience was enthusiastic, and a vote of thanks and confidence was carried.

WELLINGTON NORTH.

MR. HBEDMAN AT THORNDON. " "There is more of the genuine liberal in Mr. Herdman than in any ten of those who now call themselves Liberals." Such was the opinion expressed by Mr. Thos. Orr, who Presided over a meeting of some CO or 70 electors addressed bv Mr. A. L. Herdman, Opposition candidato for Wellington North"at Cloak's Hall. Cottleville Terrace, last evening. Continuing, the chairman added that there had been more coercive laws proposed by the present Government in tlie past 17 years than there had been in tho previous hundred years. Mr. Herdman said his auditors knew exactly where he stood iu politics. He was a foe of the Government' and an advocate of Eeform. Nothing would convince him that the present Government was a satisfactory one, or that it was doing good for the country. (Hear, hear.) Ho was proud to be a follower of Mr. Maseey, a man who during the past six or eight years had performed magnificent service. Perhaps -some people did not agree with all Mr. Massey's opinions, but no ono could doubt his sterling honesty, his integrity, and great courage. He (Mr. Herdman) believed that the forthcoming election was going to surprise tho people of tho Dominion, although perhaps not tho people of Wellington, "bocauss of their mare intimate touch with matters political. Referring to the general condition of affairs, Mr. Herdmau asked, "Are we all right in Wellington now? Is business prospering as it was a few years ago?" (A voice: "No.") Mr. Herdman: 'ihat gentleman is quite right." Continuing, he said things were not as brisk as they were some time back, and the reason was that the business men had lost that confidence in the country that they had four or five years ago. There was ample money for investment, but no ono would invest it because of that lack of confidence- he had mentioned. To renew confidence, they must turn out the present Government. Jn order that the cities and tho country should prosper they must encourage the man with money to invest it. Tho more money peoole could be induced to invest the better for the working man and the community generally. Some fanatics held that, the nian who had money to invest should be jumped on and killed, nnd the Government'discouraged the man with money. 'Ho had figures which ho could quote to show, that men who would have invested money hern had been scared oil because of the conditions they had tc face. Jlr. Herdman proceeded to deal with the lack of ability the Government had displayed in tlio management- of the people's nil'airs. and dwelt on the various issues in an interesting manner. At the elo.=e of his address a vote of thanks and confidence was carried, on tho motion of. Captain J. T. King, seconded bv Mr. S. S. Patterson. The meeting concluded with three cheers for Mr. Herdmau. SPEECH BY MR. CAREY. Mr. E. J. Carey, Labour candidate for Wellington North, addressed a meeting of electors outside Kilminster's Hall, Tinakoi'i Itoad, last evening. Tho mwjting was held in the open air because tho number of electors who attended could not be accommodated in the hall. Mr. J. Donaldson presided. Mr. Carey, who had an attentive hearing throughout, said that as yet there had been no criticism of the policy be had been expounding for the past three weeks. All thai; opponents of Labour could say was that Carey was not a New KcnlandcV and that he had not corns on his hands. He ridiculed such pucrilo attempts to damage his candidature. Travel, said the candidate, broadened a. nmius mind and gave him a. batter outlook, and it would lift presi'iiUlay politics out uf the pnri.-h pump order if unnr of Hie cindidalcs had not vcgol-iilcd all their lives iu ojh> plucp. That his bauds were nut hard now was duu to the fact that be luuJ been elioeon by his fellow-workci.-: lo muufige their interests for them. His candidature was

due Id Hip fail tli.il, in (lie opinion of tin- niiiiiirily nf Hie Labour parly he w:iIhr lici-l. littrd.ol". Mm.'.- ;illVriii|j - t.i carry' Labour's Hag in WolMukluii North. After ii criticism nf the sentiments c.ypri'.-i-i'd by Dr. lzard in rnnneclinn with tinI'roclamaiiiiii ceremonies nnd i>l Mr. llrrdiiiiin'-i action during Ibc in cmiiiiiiltee, on lh<> Slnp- and- I Wire* ISill. Mr. 'Carey made ii special appoal for Labour support from tin: women cif the electorate. In answer l:> question* Mr. Carey t-l-Mci] that ho was in favour cf a l:are majority derision nn Ihe liquor quo.-! ion anil apiil-4 nny proposal in favour of Stale aid to doiioiiiiiiuliniiiil .schools. Tho meeting clc-i-il wifli :; vote nf thmik, and ciniidence anil cheers given for the candidal'.'. DR. IZARD AT CONCERT CIIAMUT.R. Dr. A. W. Twin), Government candidate for Wellington North, uddressul iu the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall la-t eveninj. Mr. J. M'L. Hoirben presided, and the hall was more than half full. Dr. Janr<l stated that he was going to deliver a fighting spefrh nn t.lio-* <iue.tions on which he differed from the Reform parly's candidate, Jlr. Hi-rilimin. The Liberal party had now Iwii in puwvr for twenty years, and neople were apt Ui. forget some of the. progressive- incisures that had bwu passed by them. Dr. Iz-.ird then enumerated measures passed in tlio interests of different eln?>.es uf the community, and declared that thn Opposiiion hud opposed all progressive legislation.- Referring to tho complaint that tiie Budget was merely i\n electioneering affair, he contended that; the nroiier time to place tho Budget before tho'peopln was on the eve of :>.n election, «> that the Government candidates may dilate on Hint Budget, and on it be judged. Dr. lzard then spoke approvingly of ililleient phases of tho Budget, and, referring lo the graduated land tax, remarked Hint tho object of th« measure was not so much to produce revenue as to compel the bursting up of largo-estates, mid «o encourage closer sottleinpnt. '(Applause.) As to Mr. Herdman's stalnnient that then- was .£81) per brad nf public <k«bl Dr. lzard submitted-that this was not" a fair way to put the position before thn people. Ho admitted that the population of.tho Dominion was about a million, and that tho National Debt was soinn .X'SQ - OOO.OfIO, but it had to be remembered that nearly two-thirds of this amount was selfsupporting, and part'of it was absolutely profit-earning. " Tlie Reform parfy, when speaking of. increased expenditure, forget to mention increased revenue and increased prosperity. To-day ono heard a lot about an extravagant Government. Last year it rs a corrupt Government, but. when these charees of'■ corruption weip brought—the Hine charges—much public money was expended in investigating them, and the Government emerged triumphant from it all. "The only charge that was proved was ; against a private member, and the Government had nothing lo do with it. Specific" charges of extiavagance would probably show the same result upon inve*tieatio'ti. The Reform party wero. .sending forth a lons stream of innuendo and vague charges of corruption, and the trouble, was that thousands of people throughout tho country believed, that there was corruption, und that members of tho Government were enriching themselves at the public expense. ■...'■. • • After dealing with various points on which he differed from Mr. Herdman, Dr. lzard referred to-.'a Dominion leading article of November 7, and stated that ho strongly objected to the paper damaging the credit of the country. He did not mind what they said about him personally or about the- Ministry on party lines. "But," he added, -"'i am. a New Zcalander, nnd in this country I hope to live and die But Ido say .this, it makes me very angry when'l-hear the Dominion injuring the credit of this country." Before concluding, Dr. lzard read an extract from tho "New Zealand Times" of November 3, .1909, as showing Mr. Herdman's views qii the franchise during a debate in Parliament. ' . When tho" candidate sat down, Mr. Walton, who had a motion already written out, moved: "That , we, as representatives of the electorate of Wellington North, irrespective of party, wish to place on record our emphatic protest against Mr. Herdman's use of the term of 'Tom, Dick, and Harry,' as describing the majority of the electors." The mover referred to what Dr. lzard had read from the Times s report of the debate, and spoko of the use of the term as an insult to tho intelligence of the'people. The motion was seconded, and declared carried. ■ t Dr. Izarit then answered a number of questions, in the course of which he announced himself in favour of the threefifths majority on thb licensing question and in favour of the graduated lend tax to burst up largo estatqs. • A member, of the audience then moved a vote of thanks and confidence in tho candidate. the country warted was young New Zealanders. He then went on to explain that he (tho mover) had been a Literal since the time of Sir Gco. Gray, and that ho. was an old New Zealander. * At the mention of "Old New Zealander" a section of the audience commenced a loud tramping of feet, which 10-mletoly drowned the voice of the speaker.' Tho latter_ increased his voice to u ~.h-mi, tut the din of feet,increased (-orrcspondinglv I he chairman called "Order," but he was only answered by a larger order of noKe Dots anybody second that motion''" askcd_ the chairiuta, "What is it?" was the answering query. b Tho mover lnado an effort to shout above the din, but, after a few mii.utes he had to give in, and then the motion was seconded. On being put to the meeting the motion was carried.. There was a loud response of No/' The chairman, however, stated that the "Noes" consisted of two only, but they were two very loud ones.

WELLINGTON EAST.

MR, BRODIE'S PLATFORM. Mr. John Brodie. Independent Liberal candidate for Wellington Bast, addressed a.- meeting of electors at tlie Library Hall, Newtown, last evening. Mr. Quarrio occupied the chair. Dealing with his platform, Mr. Brodie stated that it consisted of three main planks. His first plank was constitutional reform. He did not bflieve-in the party system-he did not believe in party Government. He was absolutely in .favour of an elective Executive and an elective Upper House. He believed in a Ministry composed of tried business men. The candidate then went on to explain his elective -Executive-pro-posals on the lines of his previous speeches. His second plank was tariff reform on business lines—there wero many anomalies in.our present .tariff which should be done away with. Our industries whore deserving should receive- adequate protection, but the interest-; of the working clashes should not be 10.-l sight of. and when this questiou was gone into the spending power of the people should Lave' first' con>iilcra'tian. Only by her people could Now Zealand become 'great and it. was the first duty of the Government to help the people. His third plank was land settlement, and" he mentioned this last not because it was the lea-t amongst the eiucstions of the da'v, for it was one of the most important ' Mr lirodie stated that he was in favour of the toniijiifsary nrrnii.si'Mon of agricultural laud and the settling of the-jropln thereon, not- by the ballot system, but bv classification of applicants, the man with the family bavin;} first consideration. Kach applicant should he given opportunity through our exnerimcntjif farms, etc., to octniire an up-to-date knowlpilne of scientific i-irmiui;, nnd every legislative help possible should bo qiveii him. Mr. Tlrodio also- dealt with taxation, the Arbitration Act, and other political questions of the dny. After answering ?qvnral- questions, lie was accorded a thanks and conh'denco unanimously, amidst applause. MR. F. G. BOIiTO.N AT ST. MARK'S. Mr. F. G. Bolton, the Government candidate for Wellington East, addressed a well-attended meeting of the electors at St. Mark's Schoolroom last evening. Mr. J. W. flendprson was in the chair. Tho candidate expressed himself in favour, of the Absolute Majority Bill, in preferouco to tho Second Ballot. Bill. He did not see how any .democratic elector could support the Opposition's pulicv, which, 'putting aside general terms of abuse of tbe party in power, consisted of the giving nf the freehold to the Crown tenants uf Hie original value-fa 'iribe of iilinut L'l.Oim.iliiO t-i i),000,(Ji)(l stc-i-ling), the piuviiig of 'ho expenditure of public, moneys in the hauds iif looil uodii-s. or ii nebulous public -work* board, .suit! taking away the control of the Dime from

J'.-irli.-iriUMit. mid. bi.-l and worst of nil, pi-.iiii'nal In repeal the Arbitration Act. fiv.-fiit: l<"4i-,liili<m was nil light, but the wniioiuic pn-.ilioii of llin consumer, from 1 lie Mandpoiiil of tin- purchasing power of hi* wiigo-i or salary, was now the importan; question. K» vbe:i dealt with his polity a- to mliictinn <it eci-t. of living. A'ffivat del! of iiiisn'pnv-eiiinli.nii w:i- t.'ilkeil- I'bout tin- Civil N-rviee. V.xci'pt :is i?.\p-.-rl.-. or as U-mpnrary clerks for a limited rhort jicrioil. it Wiis now lor anyeni- tn find hi.s'nr her way into the -crvico except through exiiiiiiiintiou. Nn persini cnulil remain in the public, rervice as :i Iciujioiary clerk for ninri- lli.-iii «,i.t inoiillis at any lim<-, hibo ri'.'ippointed temponirilv, until six niontlH had i-lap.-ed i-fter bis pievinu.-ly ceasing lo be employed. Tbe n-iiy t-afi , - Suarding thai would iippeiir !n b<- nef.essui'v wik a elnirer definition of the wer<l "fxperl." 'I'lio .Public- Scrvii-i- C!.r -if-iii-ti.,ll Apiicnl Board should tie an ii.deixindciif: body, and should not- cm-i.-t practically nf nn .'ip|ie:il to permanent, heads wh:i had already d<'i'idi'il (lie iniiltrr, or >houl<l, nt any rati , , include one reprcseiitalivix of tlio Civil Servants, from the Department in which the appeal is made. There .should be a special right to promotion for those pa>-ing SunimCivil Semeo and other examinations of :\ similar character. A voto of thanks and confidence was uccorTed (he candidate at. the close, of his meeting. MR. M'LAREN'S CAMPAIGN. Mr. D. M'J/firen addressed n meeting ye.iterday at the Match Factory, Newtown, during the lunch hour, dealing principally with factory legislation and other industrial enactments. He received a very attentive bearing, and was unanimously accorded a. vote of thanks and confidence. In tlie evening Mr. IPLsiren addressed a minting of elector? a , , the I'<i?«neath sf.-boolrooin, Mr. T. .lohnwn acting a.s chnirman. Tho. spoko of Imperial rdaj.ious frnni tbe Labour standpoint, nointinc out that tlie Conimonwca.ltli Priiiie Minister bnil occupied part of his time in England (in conjunction with Air. Ramsay Miiedenald, an<l other British Labour leaders) establishing a .Labour Secretariat, and alsii in inaking arrangements for Imperial Labour Conferences. Whilst upholding unity between the Mother. Country and the Dominion, Mr. M'Laren said, ho opposed 'tho form of Imperin.'iwi which' took a jingoistic cast, and which the Government of Uiis country was too prono to follow. - To Labour, Imperial unity meant attention to tho living conditions of tho peoples throughout the Empire, and providing for the opening up nf our lands in order that the people of Great Britain might como hero as immisr.ints. He found that, taking the years 1!KJ1 la 1903, income nssessinciifs on which income tax. was paid increased by U7 millions Merlins, but during the 'same period the wages paid per week had actually decreased by ,C3G,!)3S. .'Phis problem, the leading Labour men of the Empire were concerned about, and he held that, in future Tmneriiil Conference.-, tho people should be taken into full consultation on the subjects which-our representatives would discuss.From m.06 to 1910 CO-estates had teen purchased and divided-into-3236 sections, but a number of theso estates had been really subdivided into residential -properties, and not farms. For instance,"the Carroll estate was divided into thirty sections of one rood each. A return presented to tho House showed that nf properties over £50,000 in value there were 194 at March, iflOG. .and 2« at March, 1009. This indicated that much yet remained to bo done in-rciard to Ibc subdivision of these larsje properties, and the closer settlement of our lauds. That line, together with the encouragement of our local industries, was the policy he upheld,'and-. together with improvements to our educational institutions, it would lead -to the general advancement of the people of the Dominion. '. ■ ■ ■ >.o questions were put. A voto of thank* and confidence was- moved bv Miss White, fccond-d- by. Mrs. Barras, 'and carried unanimously.. DR. NEWMAN'S COMMITTEES. Last night Mr. Leigh Hunt presided over a meeting of Dr. Newman's joint committees in . Courtenay Place. The gathering was-large and very representative of the- whole of Wellington East. Hie .meeting was addressed by .Dr. and m t.eo The tenor of the reports was altogether satisfactory. All necessary arrangements were made. The members of I L CO H ln "J tM ™!' 0 VCI7 kcen !l » d had oidently dono a large amount of work. • \

WELLINGTON CENTRAL.

MR. FISHER'S CAMPAIGN. wuiifsh. p f eop i e , ac V ,a " 3 ' g , ot • into t,ie UUlis htreet bchoolroom ast nieht l-lT 3 ''■-V^- B V Fisl,pr - Reform ca I dilate for Wellington Central, was to deliver an address, and so many more tiiod unsuccessfully, to get in. that Mr. lishor yielded to a request to - address tae audience in the open air. The crowd to which Mr. Fisher finally spoke must have numbered some SOO people. Mr. Fisher began by disclaiming, on behalf of the Reform party, the reproach that it was the partv which had once paid wages at 3s. Cd. per day. If comparisons were to be mode, why not quote some of the good things the" "old Tory party' bad done? Who founded thn State railways of Now, Zealand? Who founded the Public Trust Department? Who founded the Government Life Insurance Department? Who passed the Truck Act which protected the wages of tho workers? Who wui it that first proposed the National Annuities Bill?— Sir Harry Atkinson. Who was it that first passed onu man, one vote? Who was the man to whom was attributed tho whole of the credit for female franchise?— Sir John Hall. If the party in opposition tc-ilav was to be shouldered with the mistakes and defects of any old party that mi"h't havo existed in this country, why was it that the "New Zealand Times'-' three years ago asked rlio people lo elect aman who had boon a Minister in thn party responsible for paying wages at 3s. Cd. per day? Why was it that a'young man like himself .should be asked to shoulder responsibility for things which happened while lip was in the cradle? As a matter of fact, the Opposition, and not only the Opposition, but any party that came into office now was bound to bo a progressive party because the people of New Zealand were progressive, and any party failing to carry out the people's mandate wa.s bound to go out of office. Was not that the very reason the people wero going to throw out the Government now—that they had departed from the principles they professed when they look ofiico? They had become mere'office-hold-ers. They said in effect—"Have any politics you please, but keep-us in office." Mi , . Fisher then qiitlinod some of tlie reforms the Opposition, if in office, would introduce, and criticised at sonio length .the Government's method of cnntrollinir the Civil Service. He also devoted som?' time lo a criticism of the lighting molhods of the two papers who are opposing him in his campaign. And hr> promised to "deal with" tbe "Evening Post", in tlio bis Town Hall next Tuesday evening. The meeting was orderly, as opon air meetings go, and the' great majority of those in the crowd were friendly, to' the candidate. There were interjections, but they came from a few. After Mr. Fis-hor hud answered a bunch of.questions, someone proposed a vole of thanks'and contiilence. The motion was received with, cheers and applause, and when it was put to the meeting there wns ■a leud chorus of loud and long-drawn "ayes," and a much less robust chorus nf loss certain "noes." The vote was declared carried, and again there were cheers, mixed with "For he's a jolly good fellow." ADDRESS BY MR. R. FLETCHER. Mr. Robert Fletcher, Government candidate for the Wellington Central seat, addressed a crowded meeting of electors in the New Century Hall last evening. The Hon. J. E. Jenkinson, M.LIC, acted as chairman. Mr. Fletcher .had a good hearing, though a small noisy -section. at the back, of-the hall became at times a little demonstrative. Mr. Fletcher said lb.it, although a certain journal bad accused him of having no knowledge of economics, he had made a close study of politics for many years. It would be a good tiling- if party" government could be abolished, but since it. could net, he liiid thought it best to ally himself with the party now in power.. Even its opponents endorsed much Hint it had done, ii fid now sniil on Ilin platform that tlif.v would not repeal its i>ii:iclmr'iil.s allhoiisli they had bitterly upiic.K-d llii'iii when they were being pas'ed. Ali-.-Flelchi-r cumpiaiurd that the. Government had been Mibjpcd'.l- lo .1. K'rral- deal of misrepresentation' throughout tho country. A

'farmer iii.Mi.l i>l , his from Ciiiilcrliuiy hud told him llial. he suppmledlh" Opposition l>ei:au<e Ihcr.. wii- «iirli :i lnl. i.l , dishonesty about (lie Wiinl Ailiriini.-.lr;i<i<lll. Voices: 'Hi-.ir, henr! So then, is! ill-.- r'blche.i- u.-iil 1111 I" siy llt-ii il. would In. iiinvi-r In return I hi' Opposition to power, lint if I lie. people leliiineil Komi stprlinjr men In ]'11 rli.i iticnl a new parly would lie evolved finiii (lie Liberal piirlya more radi.-al pin-ly 111.111 exiled to-day, lie ventured In siiy'lliiil Mr. Miis.-ey and liis parly would never rule tin- desliiiie* of till- Dominion. (Applause.) Mr. Fletcher eiimphiiiied that 'I'm: Dominion hud de-crilied him us ii noneiitily. All he rniil.l say whs dial Die paper hull devoleil ii lol'w , priMini.ihly viilunlilo. space In pniviiiK lluil Ii" was si nonentity. He liHik il that Tin-; Dominion was jjeltint; very anxious abuut iN own eainliilale. It would Ijo nioro anxious yet before next Thursday week. .'Applause/I A voiee: I let on to politics. Mr. I'leli-her »iiil "timt 7:2 shareholders in 1 hi? Dominion owned bolwicn them XJO.OIJfI.nnO Wfirtli of land. To .expect la.nii reform from such people wsis hope-lis-s. Seven per cent of Hie people ill New Zealand owned 21,00(1,000 acres "f land. •A voiw: Ifow much (lacs Joey 'Ward Jlv. Fletcher said the I'rimn Minister did not own luiylhing in th<" shapo of him]. The Koform parly included in its membership several lartfo landholdore, anil it was useless to c.xpret land reform from it parly of I lint kind. Mr. Fletcher then "piiko on 'he. linos of his previous addresses. II it villi? answered a number'of questions, Mr. Fletcher was unanimously accorded a. voto of thanks and confidence. The meeting terminated with cheers for the candidate, and for the chairman.

WELLINGTON SOUTH.

MX. BARBER AT HEREAMPORE. Mr. \V. H. ]'. rtnrber, the Government candidate for Wellington South, addressed a largely-attended meeting of electors in the Jlasouio Hull, Derbnmiioro, last evening. Mr. Devenport occupied the chair. At the conclusion, of the meeting a vote of thanks and confidence wiis carried unanimously on the motion of Mr. Brown. MR, WRIGHT IN THE OPEN AIR. Mr. E. A. Wright,-Reform party candidate for tke Wellington South seat, addressed an open-air meeting last evening at the corner of Tasman and Howard Streets. Thero was. a good attendance, and keen interest was displayed in the subjects dealt with by the sneaker. . interested did the audience become, indeed, that the meeting lasted from eight o'clock Miitil half-past ten. Mr. Wright dealt mainly with matters touched upon in his previous speeches, and answered numerous questions. An inte,rjcctor remarked that if Mr. Massey were returned to power wages would bo reduced to 2s. 6d.. and 3s. Gd. a day, at which rates they had stood in the old Conservative days. Mr. Wright gave this assertion an emphatic denial, and added that whatever people thought about Mr. Miusey, it was quite clear from his actions and statements that he would bo no party to reducing wages. Mr. Massey had stated recently that 9s. a day was little enough to pay to railway employees. Everyone who knew him, said Mr. Wright, would agree that jfr. Massey was the last man in the world to coiitomplato anything liko cutting down wages. None of the present members of the Reform Party had ever belonged to a Conservative Ministry, and only a few members of the party had been in the House in the days of. the Hall-Atkinson Administration. As a matter of fact, a majority of the members of the present Opposition had entered the House since The meeting concluded with a'vble of thanks. . p

WELLINGTON SUBURBS.

MR, MOORE AT KARORI. Addressing aa open-air meeting at Karori Inst night, Mr. F. T. Moore, Lr.bour candidate for the Suburbs seat, said that to-day every human being ond cv.tv material thing of value to man was'bein" sacrificed to the.greedy needs of modern commercialism. The lands of the country were being exploited for the sake of unearned increment'in. the interests, of commercialism, and the products of the lands were, exploited bo that manufacturers of wool and woollen goods -merchants should make fortunes, and so that dealers in nieat.Mid other primary products might also make imrueu&o fortunes at tho expense of the men who grow these commodities. This tendency to sacrifice every valuable thing and the interests of every mnn and woman on the altar of modern commercialism, Labour was out to fight, and it was offering the people of Now Zealand a beneficent sj-stem of nationalism in place of the selfish, greedy commercialism that now existed. Nationalism meant love of country and love of service for the good of one's fellows, while commercialism meant love of money, and the extraction of gold from one's fellow-beings by means of high rents, high prions for commodities, high figures for land, high values for every material thing that man wanted. To end the deadly grip of the political octopuses that now infested the commercial world of New Zealand with power to charge extortionate rales for all the moans of life was Labour's groat and patriotic task. He said that the declaration of the No-License party in favour of the bare-majority planlc'in Labour's platform would largely help his candidature for the Suburbs seat. MR. BELL, AT WORSER BAY. Mr. \Y. H. D; Bell, candidate for Wellington Suburbs and Country District, addressed a meeting of electors at Wyatt's Hall, Worser Bay, last night. Tlio hall was ful. Mr. V. R. Meredith presided. Mr. Bell received a splendid hearing throughout. Mr. Bell said that he had noticed that Government candidates, whether they described themselves as Independent or Government, said that they supported the present Government because that was the party most capable of improvement from within. As a matter of fact, the Government was going down hill backwards, step .by .step, ami'getting worse and worse day by day. • The alternative when one could not mend an article was to get another. The Reform party suggested that to the electors regarding the Government. Did that Government look iike one which most lent itself to improvement from within? Surely, it most lent itsclt-tp keeping itself in office-ami that was all. Mr. Bell went on to say that in the Tramway Act the effective clauses were retained for the Governor-in-V"li' , whlch mo!Ult t,lat l '"> Minister made the law*, ami advised tho Governor to sign them. The Government's object was to have a finger ,„ every pie. • (Applause.) ilie Goveriior-m-Couucil clause was no found m (lie English Acts, and ho did no think it appeared in the Australian Act? Owing to this clause tho principal points oi a measure could be p,,(. i nto i at flu; sM-ect will of tho Minister. The most important, thing of all was that of honest administration. It was so important that even people who disagreed .with the Kelorin parly on the land" question questions of economy, nny question,'.if they agreed that it was necessary to clean public lifr, should sink their dif. ferpil«y and vote for the Reform parhm> that a start in the direction of cleansing public life could be made. On the liquor question he wished it In be clearlv understood that he was in favour of a 55 per cent, majority—not. ;i fiO.por cent majority, as ho had-been misreporfed to have sind. As to tho. set Moment, ofiiidustnal troubles, he said that the profitsharing system had met with micco=s wherever fried, and he thought it was ■ worth a trial here, but he did not think it should be introduced conipulsorily. it was being tried in at least one instance in Wellington, and, while the wages woro the same as before, the employees were in addition getting a share of the profits. (Applause.) • Mr. 801 l was accordod'a.vote of thanks and confidence, amidst loud applause.

RANGITIKEI.

MR. NEWMAN AT MAKOWHAI. Mr. K. Newman, who lias been condtietiiig successful meetings in (ho Knngitikci electoralp, had an excellent reception lit Mnknwhni on Saturday night. The schoMruom was packed.' Mr. Hartley jircsidoil. . Mr. Newman admilM tlinl I lie Government, hud some $aa<l logifliitinn which tli« l.lppo-itidii, if returned, to IK)»|.T, would not repunl. But, Uo conteuded, there was au enormous amount of

bi.il ii()iniiii.,lriitif>n, ami the time had arrived leu' ii change 'I.iiuil applann-.) The rc-ignalions of fwn Minister-; of <'nb-iiii-l--.Mf.--r-. ll«ss iiinl Fuwlds-wa* n striking example llinl. something was vroni; with flic present .Administration. Mr. Keddon's policy ivhs to limit Wrowini: to I', million* a year—l.hi.-> was i]iiiti> dillerenf" from the altitude Sir .Itwrjili Wju-iI liskl taken up. On the subject, nf Iniiil, Mr. Newman told ln' n -lioarur.-? tlml il' they wanlcdllie freehold they should .support the Opposition. A vdiw: 'J'hiit is what we ore looking Mr. Newman dealt with tho Dreadnought oiler uml licrwlifarv lill'-s and explained (he altitude he'had InliOii up in connection with gamin;; legislation. At; the c.luM! of his nddres"-; ho was accorded ;> volij of tlilink? and confidence. To the motion was added: "That in the opinion of this meeting l.hc limn has arrived, in the interests of the country, for n change of flovermiifliit." Uolli resolutions were, carried unanimously. Clicors were jsiven for Mr, Newman.

MASTERTON,

MH. HERBERT AT MANGAMAIRE. Mr. A. 11. Herbert, one of the Reform candidates for the Masterton scat, addressed a largely-attended meeting of electors at the Mangamaire School on Friday evening. Many ladies were present. Mr. E. Hudmin presided. Tlio candidate said that sinco he had last: appeared at. Mangamaire ho hail visited every part of the electorate. Ho had met with a very cordial reception everywhere, and was very hopeful of the result. He admitted that the present Administration had done a lot of good, but it-was-not solelv due to the efforts of the Government, that we were in such a prosperous state. It was bocause we had a fertile country and eooil seasons, good prices were being realised for our produce, everything we touched seemed to him into cold. The present party had run tlio length of their tether, and ho believed the majority of the people were of opinion they should be turned out to grass. Power had been boiuht at the expense of the.people. .Mr. Herbert declared that not sutftcient encourascnient had been given to people to get on the land. There were five million, acres of Crown land unsettled, the cities were, congested, and greater facilities should he given workers to get on-tlio land. He himself .was α-fqriner and had bpen so for 23 years, and knew the conditions of the man on the laud. He condemned the present policy of uuttiug tho- peoulo on the land, and stated it was'impossible for a> man with small capital to make a "do" of it, although ho wight havo plenty of energy. He contrasted tho land settlement policy of New Zealand with the liberal land nojicy in force in the Com-' monwealth. It was the duty of the State to provide for Iho worker, who was land-, less, -ami not bother about. those who already had land. Out of .fc5!)l!,«)0 voted for- opening 'up the back-blocks only .fi!42.UOD had becn'.expended. ne thought the Land- for Settlement Act should be pushed, to its utmost. Not. one acre had been taken up in. the Masterton electorate since that Act came into force. He re : ferred to tho Matahiwi. Estate, which could have settled;TO families; but the Government :would not avail itself rvf the opportunity to acquire the estate. There was also the Naiigituniau Estate, which had since been secured by a private syndicate, big profits being made. Big estates at Pongaroa also required'opening up. The Government:had nower to borrow half a million per annum for land settlement purposes, but only spent a portion of that amount; "Give the man any' tenure you like," said the candidate, "but get him on (he laud.;' , Mr. Herbert also urged the rapid opening un of Native lands, and dealt with several other political topics. A. vote of thanks was carried by acclamation. ;, . '

WAIMARINO.

ME. HOCKIY AT FORDELL. Addressing a very largo meeting at I'ordeil on Saturday evening. Mr. Hockly, the. Reform party's candidate, dealt trcncliantly-wirb the calumny so industriously circulated, that if the party was returned to power, wages would immediately come down. Ho-characterised- the. statement by Mr. Bd] four's famous phrase' that it was "a frigid and calculated lie." So far from it being the truth, Mr. Hockly declared that he (and ho could speak for every candidate standing in the interests of the Reform party throughout the Dominion as.well) was in favour, where it. was proper and possible to do so, of a rise in wages; for the reason that-the cost of living had increased in a greater ratio than.the rise, in wa»cs, bo that man earning 9s. a. day now was not as well off as ho was some, years ago, when he was only getting 7s. a/ day, the purchasing power of the sovereign being so much less than it was then. The Government proposed to set up a Royal Commission to inquire into the cost of living, their usual couise when faced with any difficulty. Royal Commissions in the hands of the Wurd Government were merely the refngo of tlio shuffler, and the surest indication, in the speaker's opinion, thit thev intended to do nothing. He instanced the Land Commission and the Timber Commission as cases in point.- He asked if Labour had anything to thank (ho Ward Government for. or anything to hope for from them. Who were the strongest supporters of. the Government to-day f tho speaker continued. Undoubtedly the wealthiest section of the community, and why? Because .at its. head was* a titled'aristocrat, who proudly, boasted on the floor of the House that he was a wealthy man, nnd who was also a business man. The Kefcnu party were honestly and sincerely desirous of improving the economic lot of tho worker, and after December 7 they would have an opportunity of proving this. In concluding his remarks on the subject, Mr. HoeUly declared that I Mr. I'Wlds's statement that the Government had lost loiich with the country was truer of their relationship' to Labour than of any other section, and instanced as proof of this their treatment of the railway men. who had been compelled (o petition Parliament in order to get their wromp redressed. The service had been insulted by the appointment of spies to find out if the men were honest, iinjrasetl upon by n rigorous and unfair system of fines, and the curtailment of their privileges and concessions, and cajoled bv promises of a rise in wages which have not been carried out. It was not fo be wondered at that there was unrest and dis-.-atlsfact.lon from end to end of Iho service, and that ,-ilmost daily there were resignations from ..(lie service in order to lake private employment whero wages and o-Midirions of work n-prc m>. much bettor. -Mr. Hockly s. remarks, received the cordial approval of his large audience.

PALMERSTON NORTH.

MR. K. M'.XAI? ON MOKAU. (By Telccraph-Press Association.) • • Palmerston, November :>;. Mr. J». M'Nab,speakin? ai a. crowded meeting in flu- Opoivi Houjo l.liis cvrainir. relerrqd to 31 r. Jlnssey's statement* at 1 lus. .mooting here regarding the Mukau .transactions. He stated: that ho did. nut quite know where Mr. Ma.-soy was rcRo,n.iiug .Mokiiu—he Jmd madu 'and abandoned so many charges, but, referring to :Ims statement at his meeting here. Unit Mr. M'Nab hail gone , into the ' Moi;au f.'oiiipiuiy in the middle, of January, and that the Order-in-Council was not 'issued until the middle of March- (two months later), Mr. M'Xab .said that the innuendo was that: thii Government was induced, by his being ill (lie-company," to issue this order.' Mr. Massey. .however, had not bid them that, the Government had <i ( .. rided. on December I), to grant this Oi'iler-iu-Ccjuiieil. piul it; was six weeks after b:-foro he (Mr. M'-Xiib) was iinnrcached by anyone in connection with enliHiti;' tho company. If this innuendo .was that he used his inliiicnre ivilh the Ministry to jet that trnnsactjou ]iut tln-aiijrli—if "Hint was Mr. Jlasspy's su^estioii—he (Air. M'Nab) said that it was'au infamous (ref-lion against himself. He added:—"Mr. Massey liiighi be in Uiu 'h.ibit of ninHUi; 'these statements about thy public i:;on of this country. If -that k Mr. Massoy's innuendo it is that lam not fil. to repre-;-ei\t 'any poi-sou in tin- eouneils cf this rnunlry, or any other iftirt of the world, 1 iini a scoundivl if that is true. And 1 say that, if thiif innuendo is untrue, the man that made, it is in. the same way himself— a f-eomidrel for making it. (Prolonged applause- and cheering.) I am prepared to do this: If that is the innuendo, I am prepared (;o go before auy Court that can be appointed to examine the ch.ii'&c, Mr. .Mas>e,v to prove tho iniiueudn. and I to defend. If he proves the. innuendo, 1 will go out of the politics of (his-country for ever, and, if h<> doe? not prove that, then ho goes out of (ho ■politics-of ."this , country, for ever. (Great

applause.) J/'t. it be sudden death for the scoundrel, whoever he i:-." Mr. M'.Vab spoke for-two hours, questions occupying another' half-hour. . At flu he was , cheered ,and accorded an almost, iinniiimcus vote of confidence. Ho ■.utliiie'd ii delinite policy, including pro-' porlional renrc.-ontaiion, an Upper House elected by the Lower Houeo, reform of the Arbitration ('oifrt with n president acquainted with imlnstrv instead of a Judicial head, the right of purchase at present values to 1,.J.1'. tenant.s, increase cf lite graduated t-tx on properties-be-tween •.an.uoij and .£OO,OOO- on the unimproved value (the State to have the , power to take), nay'nient of dcal-b duties to bo taken in land al land ,tax .value instead of in money, nnd full political rights to all in Sliilu employ. ' On Snt urday Mr. 1). Buick (O.) was nominated for Uu'l'ahuer.stou scat, ihe nominators being .Messrs. U. H. H. Bennett, \V. G. '". Smith,.'!'. )!. irodder, W.'Kandell, A. I;. Clan-en, and. G. Allinan. Mr. K M'Nub (.M.)-Nominated -by Messrs. 1?. Edwards. W..T. Wood, 11. L. I".- .Nathan, W. Adams, A. Franco, iMi-jdiinies Wool house, and Gill. Mr. Milvcrlon (I.)-Nomiuated by MefMs. L. Voss, A. K. Mellor, C. A. OU »B- W. B. Harris, Merdames M. Cook, M. A. Barker, K. Dcnder. ir A i'iv ' J ' ho!nSoll (I.)-Nominated by W Gray, .1. Batchelnr, J. Smith, tV M.^^ 1,,c, ,, E^^!' e , or ' "• Rowlands. H. 1 . M'Cully ]'. Walsh, T. R. Attwooii, S. J , !^!!' \i ,9 !irtcr, W - riHwn - Afioldfinch, M. Hollier, and Un. C Rankins.

PAHIATUA.

(By TelcEraßh.-Prejs Association.) . Woodville, November 27. Mr. Itoss, Government candidate, tonight addressed tbo largest meeting yet held hero this election. The candidate appears to hnve recovered from his throat trouble, and niado a good speech. • He received a splendid hearing, and a vote of thanks and confidence.

NAPIER.

MR BROWN'S MEETING LIVELY, ,„, , Napier, November 27. The. Theatre Koyal- was packed to the doors this evening, tho stago being crowded, • and even the pa-sages blocked when Mr. J. Vigor Drown delivered his first address in the present campaign to the electors of Napier. About 300 people were unable to gain admission. • From beginning to endtho meeting was of au extremely.lively nature, but perfect good humour.prevailed. The interruptions were accompanied by cheers and counter-demonstriilions were frequent, but Mr. Brown's replies were always pointed, and seemed to meet with tlin approval of his supporters Tho speech was mainly a defence of dip Ward Administration, and a criticism of the Reform party's policy, especially ns affecting the workers. A motion of thanks was proposed, but, oiling to the uproar which ensued, it was not put to the meeting.

GISBORNE,

SIR J. CARROLL RETURNED ■■ UNOPPOSED. Gisborne, November 27,. When ho learned that Sir James Car* roll had been elected unopposed for Gi* borne, the Mayor (Mr. W. Pettie) called an impromptu meeting of Sir James Carroll's supporters to extend congratulations' to the successful candidate. Tho Mayor said: "I.feel sure that everyone here joins ino in offering Sir James most hearty and, sincere congratulations upon tho great honour of being returned member for this district in the coning Parliament. He has. the distinction ot being the only candidate iu all the electorates, as far as is known at present, who has been returned unopposed. I think you will all nsTco' that Sir. James thoroughly deserves tho high . honour. (Applause.) • lip fact that no other candidate had been nominated showed that they were all satisfied, with Sir James as their representative, and that he was the member iu whom they had tho greatest coutito whom they looked with respect, r<l. one who, they believed, wus at all t.iineo willing to do anything iu his Dower for the advancement and progress of their gerat district." (Applause.) Mr. Sheridan, who was rumoured as an opponent to Sir James Carroll, referred to the fact that be and .Mr. O'Dcwd, whose nomination was put in during tho morning and withdrawn, had stood aside,'said: "I think his Worship might Jiavo offered his congratulations to myself and Mr. O'Dowd for haying the sense to come in of their great district." (Applause.) Sir James Carroll, in reply, said: "I am keenly sensible indeed of the high, honour you have naid mo on this occasion—an honour I feel also extends over the whole breadth of our electorate, and also over the Dominion by tho incident of to-day in uy being returned unopposed. There comes into linkaso a lino of record which I may be, pardoned if I touch upon. Mv associations with this electorate e-o back to 1887, when I was returned as Maori member. I entered Parlioment in that year as Maori member. I sat in Parliament over two elections and was member for six years. Then my thoughts stimulated me in other directions, and I competed for tho Europeans' seat, which, with your hearty support and tho support of many others, some of whom have long gone homo, I succeeded in capturing." Continuing Sir James "explained (hat up to the present he was tho only man who had had tho two .representations. Ho also had a good deal to do with the administration of the countrv. but he added: "The crowning event is this incident that I should havo been returned unopposed for this district. (Applause.) During my Ion? term of office as representative .1 con's remembor any walk-over transpiring iu. this Dominion. Certainly 'since the introduction of licensing laws there have been no walk-ovors till to-day, so Gisl)orne puts up a record, and 1 am suro it will lie the only unopposed return. The. issue now is left for an election to bo fought out by thoso who advocate NoLicense and thoiti who prefer Continuance. It is well, I think, that that should bo because there is no doubt in my.mind that at next elections the two issues will be separated. Public feeling to-ilay is that the intensity of the miiiur issue" dwarfs into insignificance the greater issue, that is political. That being to, it is unique that Gisborno should have the first trial to acquaint itself with the battle on a distinct issue, while other districts will have to wait for another '\ree years. So arc ahead of other •Hstricts. We are the first to fuco the barrier." Tho leading Natives of Gisborne propose to meet Sir James Carroll to-mor-row in order to tender him their congratulations upon tho honour of knighthood, and also upon the fact of his return as member tor Gisborne unopposed. Subsequently Sir James Carroll nrccccdj by motor-car to Wairoa.

CIVIL SERVANTS AND THE GOVERNMENT.

"I have heard it said by men in the Civil Service that it was the bouudea duty of every Civil Servant to vote for tlio' Government, because ho was dependent 6u the Government for his living. But I would have you remember tliat employees appointed by the >Government parly are not employees of (he Uoversi-' meiit party, but of tho filate, Th<;y draw their 'salaries from tho State, and only to the Htftte are. they compelled' to. bo i'n i 111 fill. Would you Miggtst, for. in— slaiie.e, that• because a man is in privalo employ, that therefore he is bound to \oto for. his employer if ho should stand for a. public pos'ilioui , " Mr. Fisher went on (o refer to a class of public i-vrvant whom hn described as '.'Government touts s* n<l crawlers." "There are many men in Iho employ of the Slate," ho said, "who aro employed by the Government, not to render service to tho Stale, but to render political service to the party einp-loyiiiß them, and to render it as touts and spies. . . . There are men in the h'ervieo, and tho Civil Servants know them, who aro spying on people in the Service and out ot it. They 'sc encouraged to do it." And Mr. Visitor proj;os«l b (jet. rid of tlu'-.-c "1 ick-spitilers,' who crawled on Minister's doer mats to get promotion, by establiihins a I'ublic Sorvico Boa r<l, which would give promotion (o those deserving it. The New Zealand Government paid in wages to Civil Servants four millions a year, .smi that, was an enormous lever to put in the hands of anv party. Ho" proposed to take it out of liie. hands, not only of the present Ministry, but of those who would come afU-r thciu.