THE ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1301, 2 December 1911, Page 8

THE ELECTIONS.

NEWS AND NOTES. SPEECHES BY CANDIDATES. TO-NIGHP3 MEETINGS. Mr. A. Ik Herdman (Opposition, W«l----lington North), at Kelburno Tea Kioek, at 8 p.m. ' Mr. .W. H. D.' Bell (Opposition, Wellington Suburbs), at Publio Hall.'Poriru*, at 8 p.m. Mr. A. H. Hindmarah (Labour, Wellington South), at Green Street, Newtown, at 8 p.m. Dr. Couzens (Independent Opposition, Wellington South), at corner Wallace and Howard. Streets, at 8 p.m..; Mr. E. J. Carey (Labour, Wellington North), at Pipitea Street and Kelburne. Mr. P. G. Bolton (Government, Wellington East),- at Courtenay Place East, at 8 p.m. Mr. J, P. Lnke (Government, Wellington Suburbs), at Judgtford, at 8 p.m. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald (Government, Wellington Suburbs), at Paremata, at 7.30 p.m. Pahautanui, at 8.30 p.m. Mr. E. A. Wright (Opposition,- Wellington South), at Vogeltown, Mrs. Roger?!, •tore, at.B p.m. ..--i .Mr, M. .J. .Reardon .. (Labour, vHutt electorate), at Upper . Hutt, at B!p.'m.. ; Mr. W- H. P. . Barbor (Government, Wellington South), at, Wilson Street; at 8 p.m. '■ - ' ' -, ' ... - . Mr. W. • H.Field (Government, ! _Otaki electorate), at'the Hall, Paraparaumn, at 8 p.m. . 'Mr.-D. Mliren (Labour, Wellington East), at-Drummond Street, at 7.30 p.m.; Courtenay, Place, at 8.30-p.M.: - Mr.': W. I'.: Young- (Labour,. Wellington Getntral), at. corner Cuba and GHuznee Streets, at 8 p.m. . .. r, MONDAY'S MEETINGS. . Dr. A. K. Newman (Opposition, Wellington East), at Town Hall.' Mr. A. L. Herdman (Opposition, 1 Wellington North),- at Town HalL Mr. F. M. B. Fisher (Opposition, Wellington Central), at Town Hall. Mr. K: A.-Wright (Opposition, Welling-ton-South), at Town Hall.. _ Mr. -W. Hi -D. Bell J OpposiHon, Wellington Suburbs),' at Town Hall. Mr. John Brodie (Independent Liberal, Wellington -East), at O'Donnell'i Hall, Kilbiraie," at 8 p.m. Mr.' K. E. Martin speaks at. Foxton,' in reply, to Mr.; Byron - Brown's attack on Mr. Massey. Mr. It. ' Fletcher, (Government, Wellington Central), at Mount Cook Schoolroom, at 8 p.m. ■'.' : ' Dr. Arnold Izard (Government, Wellington North), at Masonic Hall;; Boulcott 6treet, at 8 p.m. -;Mr.' F. G; Bolton (Government, Wellington East), at Eoseneath Schoolroom, at;'7,3o p.m.; Victoria Hall, Adelaide Eoad," at 8.15" 'p.m.'Mr. Byron Brown (Opposition, 1 Otaki electorate), at Hall, Wereroa,; at 8 p.m. Mr.' D. M'Laren (Labour, Wellington East)," at St; .-Mark's,, at' 8' pirn. '< • Mr.. E.- J. Carey (Labour', Wellington North), at Cloake'a Hall, Cottleville Terjraoe,' at 8 .p.m.,

FUTURE MEETINGS. ' ■Mr. C. A., W. Monckton; (Opposition, Otaki electorate), at Broadbislt's sled; Koputarua, on Tnesday, December; !5, at 8 p.m.- "■ : Dr.. A. K. Newman (Opposition, Wellington East), at O'Donnefl's Hall, Kilbimie, on' Wednesday, Deoembor 6, at 8 p.m. : ' ! . Mr. E. Newman' {Opposition, Rangitikei electorate), at Carnarvon, on Monday,. December 4, at 8 p.m.

Th# Han of Twnomr ' "Our country, compared with Australia, is small, said Mr. Herdman at Wadestown last evening. "Compared with tho United States or Canada it is an insignificant part of'tho world. Revertbolcss it is rich in products and has one of the best climates in tho world. With its great natural advantages lis people should bo as'happy as any in tho world."- He went, On' to remark that 111 his viow New Zealand should bo populated by settlers folding small areas of freehold. The great holdings of the present day would ultimately be settled by people ,liko tho yeomen in tho Old Country. Developing on such linos as these, iSew Zealand would be a prosperous and a happy country. ' Its legislators . should ■aim, not at encouraging tho buildpg ot largo cities like London, Liverpool, and Glasgow, but at eiicouTaging tho settlement of the country by men who would work . hard to make themselves independent, and free.. Tho!only way to do this was to open land, in 1 small freehold areas. A lessee from, the Cr6wn-'would_ never work as if he held'ft small'area in freehold. The Government should prevent aggregation, and the great estates of today most bo gradually cut .down, but it should not bo foTgotten that their ownere had acquired them in a perfectly legitimate way. In the early days of the colony the Government; had been anxious to get it settled, and had. encouraged the raking up of these holdings, but in the future New Zealand would be populated from end to end by small freeholders.

What Indeed? ■. ; . - ; Mr. Clark,' who w Mpinf to prop up a orumbling . Administration, by ; bidding for votes on its'behalf in, Chalmers, is of opinion -that' if the press reporters wero- excluded from- j Parliament the work would'be ..done-in a'fow. weeks! -But what; would prevent the people and the taxpayers being done even moro completely than they are at present?— Christchurch "Press." ■' Unkind to the Late Mrs. Eddy* . la a lettor to the "Taranaki Herald," Mr. -James Fortune writes:—"The Prime Minister has said that the prospects of his party wore never brighter than now. llo'.v does that statement comport with tho general impression gathered from all jsources ? Does it look truthful, The Prime Minister ia adopting the principle of the late Mrs. - Eddy, the Christian Scientist, by denying the thing he does not want. The Prime, Minister makes capital by means of his cheap money, but in my opinion the cheapest thing going to-day is tho confidence placed in Sir Joseph Ward." .. Sequel to That Danneyirke* Meeting. • In consequence of ejectment from the Prime Minister's riieetin'g at tho Drill Hall on Tuesday evenings a well-known' Dannevirke citizen-is reputed to be taking legal -action against' his local ejector and aspirant for. tho Hawke's Bay seat.— 'Dannevirke News/' "Liberal". Political Economy.

Why grumble'about taxation? said' Mr. L. M. Isitt in/ ohe of his latest speeches., "Everything the working man possesses he owes .to the Liberal Government.",- Before ;Mr. lsitt spoke, niost people thought the working man earned his own living (to say nothing of the wife and family), and owed-his savings to his own industry and'thrift.

The Outlook in Wairarapa. As the day for the election draws near, it is becoming-increasingly evident (says the "Wairarapa Age")'that the contest for tho Wairarapa seat will result in a win for the sitting The electors are not unmindful of the work that has 'been done by the Government candidate in'the way of securing land for closer .settlement. . They are, however, quite: satisfied that.'Mr. Buchanan has worked energetically in the 6ame direc-, tion,' and they have not forgotten the neglect of tho Government to act upon his advice. Wairarapa, in common with other electorates in the Dominion, i 3 impressed with the necessity for a change in the Administration, and it is hardly likely to return a man who will assistjia.'keeping in power.'a party which '•has "surrendered every' claim to be regarded as either Liberal, or. democratic. Whitewash v, Facts. The whitewashing certificate given by Mr. Isitt to the Government, after he had been some two or three weeks in Parliament, is being circulated for their benefit all over the country" :(says the ■ Christchurch "Press''). A resident of Winton, however, replying to-Mr. Isitt's statement'that there, has -been/no, political corruption on the part ;of the Government,. sends us particulars of grants amounting, to i 4750 .'fqr' the .benefit of supporters'.''.of,- the. Government in the Awarud .electorate. : -He inyites'Mr. Isitt ..to visit the district, and se« for himself the works oh which the money is being spent., Ur.-'Hamilton, thoiOppoßition: candidate for Awsrua, stated during one of . his election speeches, that "hundreds of pounds , had been spent in piping and cleaning ditches that were of benefit only to the men on whose ground the money was spent. He was prepared to show instances of this in his own district, and would retire from the contest if .it could bo shown to him that the money had been of use, to any but the ;inan : on' whose property the work had been carried out'' If this is true, does Mr.' Isitt still hold to the'_ view that there js, no political corruption in connection with the present Government? Contempt of Parliament. .

Speaking'at Waimate, Mr. James Allen! referred -to the fact that the House had been given no opportunity of discussing the doings of the Imperial Conference, and the Prime Minister had no right to disclose, to another country what he failed to . disclose to New Zeala,nd. He had promised a day in Parliament to discuss the subject, but the promise had been broken. The Prime Minister had a right to take the people's representatives into his confidence. Did they wish "to have their representatives treated with such contempt? .(No.) This ignoring/of the people's representatives was one of the .'evils 'of: twenty • years'' continuous Ministry; and'he. hoped the people would show on December 7 that they .disapproved of siich 'treatment,;. and that, recognising the tremendous responsibility upon, them, they would return to power a party which could be trusted to' do what was best in tho interests of all classes. Railways and Votes. In reply, to a questioner at Greytown, Jlr.' Buchanan said that the Wairarapa line had always been a verv profitable one.' It was the most paying line in New Zealand, except, perhaps, one or two short lengths of coal lines, before it was ■ connected up at Woodville. It would pay much better if they got rid of- the Cross Creek incubus and 6av«d two hours in tho journey between Woodville and Wellington; as' could :be' done if the lino was diverted. It had been urged time and again, but the Government spent , loan molley to buy votes. There were only. three. votes along tho Wairarapa railway, namely, Paniatua, Master ton, . and Wairarapa electorates, against all the city Seats; consequentlythey..could, not get the money spent on a paying wx>rk like this. ' Politics-as a Joke.

Writing of Mri J. V. Brown,; Ministerialist' candidate for Napier, the Hastings .'-Tribune" says:—'Mr. Brown's ignorance of politics is readily tolerated, cheerfully ficcopted, and looked for by the public, but when he attempts the role of political guide the feeling of the people can .only be'that of derision. Take for instanco-his wonderful: knowledge of tho land taxi . At his' meoting on _ Monday evening he was asked'if ho was in favour of an increase of the land tax by Id. in the £ and a corresponding decrease in the Customs duties. Mr. Brown's wide knowledge ' was ' displayed in hia answer to the question. Ho pointed out to a bowildered andionco that 'it was'the law now.' They'had. only to get a poll of the ratepayers'taken and decide whether or not unimproved rating was desirable. These aTe i not the exact words which Mr. Brown .used, bnt they correctly interpret his meaning. Is it possible for any other man standing before the electors to make such an open and convincing proof of hi 3 ignorance? What has tho system of unimproved rating to do with the question, and how-is it possible for. tho ratepayers by a: poll to affect tho Customs duties? Mr. Brown ought to know "that the question of unimproved rating had nothing whatever to do with tho question, askod him." The "Tribune" also says that "Mr. Brown's politics are a joko, and tl» ks"* * ooe P t >■» *** aansed

Absurd, but Still Repeated. The opponents of the Reform Party try to damage it by calling it "CoilM'rv.v tivo," intending thereby to connoct it with tho Opposition party of pre-Ballance days, of whom only two members were sitting in tho House last, session on tho Opposition side. It is obviously absurd to hold the present members of.tho Opposition responsible for tbo actions of predecessors who held office when Iho majority of them had hardly finished going to school." —"Timaru Herald."

Liberalism and "Liberalism." It is a simple thing (says the "Tirnaru Herald") to show that the present Government has departed a long way from the true principles of Liberalism. Ihese involve, first of all, government of the people by the people, and the present Ministry has worked unceasingly to get power of every sort into its own hands. Government by Parliament is far less congenial to it than government by Cabinet or by "Governor-in-Council,' which m&ins Ministers. In;the second place, Liberalism involves economy, and even Sir Joseph Ward can hardly claim that economy has been a feature of his administration. Liberalism involves equality for all, bnt that policy has been very largely succeeded by the principle that those who support the Government will bo best served. The more name of "Liberal," therefor®, may be an utterly delusive passport for the Government.

Sees Thing* Differently. Sir Joseph Ward Beema to have included in his numerous retinue ail official reporter, whose duty it is to furnish io the Ministerial journals , flowery, descriptions, of the Prime Minister's electioneering tour. As is shown by extracts from unofficial letters of residents in the districts traversed, which we have published lately, it is evident that the reporter is, like his chief, a genial optimist,_ . who . sees, things differently from more dispassionate observers who happen to be on the scene. —Christchurch "Press." "

The State of the Country. "The present Administration has :■ increased the cost of government immensely. It has increased taxation, and it is idle to eay that the bunion bears only on the few. It has not encouiagod private enterprise, and the condition of the secondary industries of' the Dominion those not connected directly with the soil —is one that causes | grave concern. Labour is profonndly dissatisfied, and there is more talk of general strikes than wa» over. heard before.' This' is- the' siate in which the country finds itself after a long succession. of good * seaaons, - and - the stimulus afforded by the-' introduction of millions' upon- million? of' borrowed money."—"Timaru Herald." The Premier's' Opponent. On Saturday evening last Mr. J. It. Hamilton, who is opposing Sir Joseph Ward, met the electors of Drnmmond.' It was perhaps the largest and most enthusiastic meeting any candidate for Parliament' has ever -faced there. ,'- There must have been close 0n.300 present. Mr. Hamilton, in a vigorous , and powerful speech, dwelt upon the financial position of. the Dominion and the land policy of the Government. It is almost superfluous to state, says the correspondent of the -"Southland Times,"-save as indicating the splendid reocption he received, that he faced the audience, amid <i storm of applause, and was loudly applauded aud cheered daring the course' of an address of an hour and twenty minutes. It may be worthy of notice that one of those gentlemen who (it Winton inter, rupted Mr. MasseyV address with interjectorv queries ' was also present -at Drnmmond, and fared fully worse in -Mr. Hamilton's hands than Mr. Masscy's, which the unrestrained applause of the audience clearly affirmed. A vote of thanks and confidenoe was unanimously carried.

The Spell Broken. A correspondent of the "Southland Times." who signs his name, asserts that at several of the Premier's meetings during his tour of his electorate, hostile demonstrations took place. At Makarcwa there were, he says, "questionings and deafening stampings on the flcor against Sir Joseph 'Ward," and the meeting "broke up in confusion." This supports the statement of another correspondent that'. "Sir Joseph Ward's mana in the electorate all to the north and west of Invorcargill is gone, and the spell his presence had when-he appeared on the scene in person is also a thing of tho past." . '

On Election Day. A correspondent Mka us to stute whether. it is against tho law to \i«ar odours on polling .day or to canvass 01 tside a polling booth. The Legislature Act, 1908 (Section 157 A), provides that every parson ia liable to a fine not exceeding .£26 who, at an election, "in any way interferes with any electoT, either in the polling booth or while on hl9 way thereto, with the intention of influencing him or advising him as to his vote." Exactly what constitutes interference must be left bo a court of law to determine in individual cases. As to the wearing of colours, it is illegal for 11 candidate to s-up-ply his supporters with badges or r'tbehs, but there is nothing, to prevent anyone wearing colours procured at his own cost.

Sir James Carroll's Escape. It was only at the eleventh hour that Mr. J. Sheridan, who had thought of contesting the Gis borne seat against ' Sir James Carroll, decided not to do 60. Nominations closed oh Monday, but Mr. Sheridan, speaking to a "Gisborne Times" reporter, stated that ■ ho had not yet decidpd whether he should contest the Gisborne seat. "The position at the present time," he remarked, "is that I have gone so far as to fill in my-nomination paper, but I can't say definitely whether it will go in." It appeared that Mr. Sheridan feared that in view of tho excitement over the licensing contest the fact of his nomination might be in some quarters wrongly construed. He added: 'If I don't oome out this Hme, I shall bo heard of on a future occasion, when perhaps the excitement oyer the licensing poll may not be so high."'■ Another aspirant, Mr. J. O'Dowd (Labour) wns actually nominated, but withdrew. He also mentioned complications concerning the licensing question as his reason for standing down..

An Expensive Excrescence. .. Says the "Wairatapa Age": "If there were no other good reason why the conntry ahonld rebel against the Continuous Ministry, sufficient reason is to be found in the wicked extravagance of the Government in maintaining as a part of the Constitution a Legislative Chamber which has become obsolete and inoperative on account of the system under which appointments m made. la there a man or a woman in the Dominion who has the temerity to assert that the Legislative Council is an effective Chamber? Is there one who can commond the composition of the Council, or who can regard it as other than an-expensive- excrescence Christchureh North Contest. There is no question among those who have attended Mr., Hall's meetings that, should-he'bo' elected,-he will speedily attain a leading position in the House, and that his views will always be listened 'to with respect. Not only are his audiences continually growing in numbers, but his hold upon them is increasing. There is a marked difference between Mr. Hall and the other candidates for. tho same seat. People go to his meetings for political information. and find in his speeches food for thought. They go to tho meetings of Mr. Isitt and Mr. Petherick for entertainment—and thoy get it. The more thoughtful electors realise that on December 7 they will be asked to elect a 1 representative to help' administer the affairs of the oountry, not to select the performers for a variety show. Consequently, Mr. Hall's ohanccs are now looked upon as assured. —Christohurch "Press." Farmers' Union Questions. Messrs. -Herbert and Sykos, the two Reform candidates for. »hc Mast.lrton electorate, have given favourable replies to the questions submitted by the Tarmeri? Union. Mr. Eobertson, Labour candidate for Otaki, hM mi edvurtioem-ent in this imua wtkitiajr tIM support <d Uu Otaki tbtrtaa ca Pecaate L

Compromises. I!oribwing the legislation of the past eight years Mr. W. T. Young stated last night that it was almost impossible to tracjtt any. specific princripV?. It was mostly made up of compromises between conilicling iiiteresta.