HERE AND THERE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1302, 4 December 1911, Page 8

HERE AND THERE.

CAMPAIGN POINTS AND PRESS COMv MENTS.v ' - : Our Election Issue. Tho election issne of The DOMINION hail a record'circulation. Copies were ordered in large numbers from all parts of New Zealand. The Prime Minister will find it circulating in thousands in the Awarua and Invercargill electorates; it will give electors in the Parnell electorate food for thought; Hr' T. Mackenzie by this time will probably have learned that practically every household in Egmont has a copy, and so on throughout the majority of the electorates in which candidates aro.fighting the cnuse of Reform. The Postal Department had a very heavy task—probably the heaviest task it has over hud in the way of hiindliug newspapers in bulk—and got through its work remarkably well. Between 450 and 500 miles of paper, 20 inches wide, were.used in the issue, and the columns of news, if placed on end, ■would stretch from Wellington to Sydney and back again, and still havo a good many miles lo spare. It was a big issue and should help a little towards tho end of a bad Government. Not Likely. At his meeting at Porirua on Satnrdav night, Mr. W. H. D. Bell referred to the closing of the Porirua and Pahautanui hotels owing to the alteration of the elec-. toral boundaries. Ho said tho Government had-been requested. to. remedy this injustice, but had let tho session go by without doing anything. .Government supporters were now spreading the Teport that tho Government would put the mat-' tcr Tight, but Mr. Bell painted out that the.injustice could not bo remedied .except by Act of Parliament, and the: hotels'* would be closed before tho. House ''could meet again. He had heard that,tho'electors were being assured by some of his opponents that a soecial session of Parliament would be called to deal with this matter, but of course it was most .iraprol>ab!e that anything of the kind would be done. Tho electors should remember that the Government had had the opportunity of remedying an admitted injustice and had failed to do so. A "Spontaneous" Welcome at Last, T.ho "Bltham Argus" heads a Press Association telegram from Christchnreh— "Sir Joseph Ward:.' Spontaneous Weicome." It is nice to learn from snch an excellent authority that the reception- to the Prime Minister at Christchureh was spontaneous—whatovcr may have been the case elsewhere. Substantial Construction. "II was said by some that tho Opposition could not come forward with a platform and that, all, they were good for was criticism—they, wore not capable of conttuclivß work/ In his humble judgment he claimed that it \yas substantial construction if they put out the Government and substituted a competent one; or if better railway management was brougnt in; if the railway men were given better justice and the people :a better railway service—(upplansej— if ' the party eonl-l i fihov: dearly that they could put forward a better scheme for the managing of the imbliri .services, do away with political irißi'.npco, secure as. public servants better rneu and for tho .people a better service —(iipphiiisd)—if they could provide a bet-j ter scheme for. the roading and bridging of Hie !-ounl'ry, and stop tho spending of money f«r particular districts instead of for the frwd.of the whole country—(npplnnsi')—if they, could bring forward - botW N'i'.tive land policy and .provide also for lioltcr conditions for tho working men of the Dominion, but, above all, if they could, by the administration of tho Dominion, rai.-e the tone of tho country." i (Loud .•ippbuiio.)—Mr. A. L, Redman at j - — i The Baror,Efs Opponent. Writing of tho Reform candidate for Awarua, the Invercargill correspondent of t.ho Christchureh "Evening News" says: —".Mr. Hamilton is a man of peculiar gifts, before he bogan people were not iinprcfsind- there wero those who went tho iongt.h of suggesting that his candidature was humorous—but ho hadn't bren before the electors very long before it beeamo gonerally recognisod that tlrs quiot, doggod, good-natiircd, resolute farmer \\\m a man of purpose and determination. • He is tho antithesis of the Pro- , mier, in tho rospoct that ho never seems to beconio excited or unbalanced in his viow vi things. Ho has mndo his points qninllv buteffectively. Ho has gone about" his work methodically and wisely, and thoro is not Uio slightest doubt that ho.has gained ground enormously sinco ho began his campaign." ;

No-License, Labour, and Eggs. There was a lively interlude on the Haiti Road, Upper Hutt, on Saturday, evening- Tiro very earnest supporters of No-Licenso, who were addressing an openair meeting at 7.30 p.m., were treated to a fusillade of eggs that were neither "newlaid" or "fresh. They were not even "warranted." ' They were just eggs. As the open-air meeting had attracted such a crowd, Mr. M. J. Reunion, tho. Labour candidate for the Ilutt seat, decided to take advantage of it, and as the "NoLicense" sspeakers - , dripping with disintegrated eggs, retired, lie took their place, and commonced his remarks thus:-—"lf there aro anv more eggs to be thrown, I'll take them now, but 1 hope the thrower will not slink liehind the crowd, as I would like to see him, to make an appointment with him after the meeting. I promise him as lively a twenty minutes as ho lias had for some days!" Needless to sav, tho invitation was not accepted, and ifr. Renrdon was given a good hearing. The Opposition and Liquor. A report has been circulated in SMtue parts of the Dominion to the effect tin* the Reform Party is pledged to support the'liquor traffic, and if relumed to power would introduce legislation prejudicial to Prohibition. Mr. Massey was wired to on tho subject from Invercargill; and he replied:—"The statement with regnrd to the Honor party is untrue, and without the slightest foundation. There are three brewers among the candidates, all Government supporter?.—YV. F. Ifassey." As a party, tho Reform Party takes no 6ide in the liquor . Tho Sweetening of Southland, Much to the astonishment of the people of Southland provision was made in the Public Works Estimates this year for two new railway works (savs the "Southland Times")—the Heddon Bush-Winton line, in the Awarua electorate, and the Tnat.v pcre-Orawin, extension in the Wallace electorate. No one is likely to qAiarrel with the Government for authorising the extension of the railway facilities of the district, though it is impossible to regard the appearance of the votes almost without the asking without reflecting that so long as human nature remains what it is, and so long as tho public votes are absolutely within the control of the Gov-ornment-of the day. just so long will it be much easier to obtain votes for roads, ' bridges, and railways in election year than in any other year. Half-and-Half. "The Legislative Council is supposed to be a revising Chamber, and tree from party, but it has degenerated altogether into a partv machine, and that is quite wrong. The Minister for Internal Affairs admitted ho was dissatisfied withthe constitution of the Council, and he suggested an alteration, namely, that one half of the members should be elected and one half • nominated—a half-and-half sort of business, which I do not think would prove successful."—Mr. Moore, Reform candidate for Kaiapoi. Clean Bowled. At his Feilding meeting on Friday night Mr. Hornblow, the Government candidate for the Oroua seat, had a good deal to say about the "old hide-bound Tories." He also stated before concluding his speech that ho was in favour of free education, free school books, and a free course through the university. ■ When question time came, an inquirer asked the candidate ,who instituted free .education in this country, and was it not one of those hide-bound Tories? The chairman (Mr. W. J. B. Trewin) answered the question for the candidate. He said everybody knew it was tho Hon. Sir C. C. Bow-en, the present Speaker of the Legislative Council, who had introduced and carried'throrigh tho measure. In those days, of course, Mr. Bowon was a member of the "old hide-bound Tory party." A Naturalisation Question. I am authoritatively informed that Australasia is a portion of the : British Umpire, but I am also told that 1 if a person has resided...for five, ten, fifteen, or,'twenty -.years' "in as a naturalised British subject, and 1 then comes to New/Zealand he again becomes a foreigner on entering our territory, and cannot become a British subject until he has resided for at .least five'.years .with us. Although therearo certain'obstacles in the way this is one of many political pieces of machinery that require repairing, and I am right out to execute the job.—Mr. W. T. Young on Saturday night. The Baronet's Peril. "Sir Joseph Ward professes, contempt for those who suggest his re-election is not assured beyond the shadow of doubt. Whatever tho' ballot-box may disclose there is in the' opinion of two Cluthu men, both formerly Government supporters, who have spent three weeks in different parts of Awarua, no grounds for confident predictions." The above is from the "Clutha Leader." Further evidence is contained in the following letter, which appears in the Wanganui "Chronicle," signed "0. E. Hugo," and dated from Invcrcargill.—"l have been through the Barouet's electorate. There is intense hostility to him;. and I would* not be surprised to see him defeated. His introduction of hereditary titles into the country has not done him any good." Big, "Capacious, Loud. We have in New Zealand during recenc years acquired curious habits, and we have conformed to strange customs. We are taught to think that the rest of tho universe is standing still gazing with interest upon these islands of ours situated in a remote corner of the Pacific Ocean. ■Everything in New Zealand must be big, capacious, loud. U'e must havo a big debt.-' We must have a big loan., W< must have a big Budget and big taxation Speeches must be big and uttered with a big voice. The style of oratory must bo loud. If we go to England to attend an Imperial Conference it must be done in big style. We must have big proposed in a big speech after a big c!h_i_er. We must propose a big scheme and must make big donkeys of ourselves before the biggest men m the world. Tno French style this sort of thing "outre." In New Zealand we style it statesmanship. —Mr. Herdman at Kclburno. More Light on Mokau. Referring to the Mokau deal at his meeting on Friday, Mr. Massey said that the survev fees amounted to nearlv .£ISOO, and 6021 acres were set aside in payment. It was unquestionable that the area became Crown land. What had now been done was that arrangements had been made with the company to take over this area of 5021 acres on the understanding that it found the ,£ISOO which the survey cost. "By a certain amount of manipulation the land has been handed over to the company for ss. lOd. per acre," added- Mr.' Massey. "There will bo an inquiry into this l.atcr on, and then we shall obtain all tho facts." Mr. Robertson's Label, It is noticeable that tho name of Mr. Robertson, candidate for Otaki, dpes not appear in the official list of Labour candidates published in. the "Weekly Herald" of November 29. His name and portrait. are, however, given in the "Maoriland Worker" of December 1 as one of the nine Socialist candidates who are standing for different electorates, i para"raph just under the portrait advises tho electors to vote for Robertson "because ho is an industrial unionist and Socialist pledged to the platform of the Federation of Labour and the Socialist party." Two Strong Points. The "Wairarapa Daily News" rays: "Two points in Mr. Buchanan's speech ut Carterton last week were decidedly strong ones, and aro endorsed by public opinion. One was the slackness of tho Government in acquiring lands for settlement out of the funds placed at their disposal I by Parliament for the purpose, and the other was his criticism of the Hon. Mr. Millar's attitnde on the land question, especially as regards the freehold, end the treatment ho would mete out to the holdj ors of 990 years' leases., . . . Mr. Millar's out-and-out. opposition to freehold in I any shapo or form is also entirely opposed to the sentiment of the people generally, and a man with such .looso ideas of State obligations and such east-iron views of the leasehold is hardly one whom the pooplo would, care to see in a position where ho might be able to give effect to his opinions.. We do not think, however that there is any danger of tho lion., gentleman ever reaching the Premiership. His failure a-> MiiiistVr I'c'. Railways is qnitc sufficient to block that Uvenia of lus Mftiiations."

Enthusiasm for Reform. Mr. A. L. llerdman, one of the prominent members.of the Reform party, had a /{real reception at the Drill Hall last night (says Friday's ''Dannevirkc News") 'when he made a lighting speech in reply lo Sir Joseph Ward, who addressed n Dannevirkc audience two nights ago. Last night the hull was every bit as full as on Tuesday. In the building itself the seating accommodation was fully taxed, and all the passages and corridors wero filled by closely-packed masses of standing men. Many were standing on the footpath outside the big doors, being unnblo to gain admission. The meeting was very orderly throughout. Occasional interjections were hnppilr trealed by the speaker, and ended in the discomfiture of the would-be interrupters. On his appearance on the stage, Mr. llerdman was greeted with round upon round of applause, which continued unabnted till the Mayor quelled it by approaching to (he edge of tho platform lo introduce the speaker. Mr, Massey as Leader. At Grey Lynn on Friday evening, tho Hon. G. Fowlds said:—"Outside of the Auckland district Mr. Massey, so far i,s the question of imlilieal leadership is concerned, is regarded as more as a joke than anything else. It is common knowledge that after tho present elections Mr. Mnssey's own parly is prepared to turn him down as u leader. To (his statement, the Auckland i-.'xeeutive of (ho Political Reform League gives a lint and unqualified denial, and in a resolution asserts that "at the meeting ul which the statement was made Iho man who least believed in it was Mr. Fowlds himself." The executive points out thai tho triumphant success of Mr. Massey's meetings at Winton, Oamnrn, Timarn, Pal. morston North, Grey Lynn, lunmiera, and other places, is a distinct contradiction of Mr. Fowlds's utterances, and Hint if ever there was a political joko in this country it. is Mr. Fowlds's new evangel. "The Political Reform party from end to end of the Dominion, ' says tho resolution, "is thoroughly loyal to Mr. Massey. It esteems him- as one of Iho finest strongest, and truest characters in public life in New Zealand to-day. and in the history of New Zealand Parliaments there has never been a leader of any party more loyally supported, more sincerely loved and respected by his supporters, than Mr. W. F. Massey." "P.P.C." It is confidently expected, says the "Press." that, after Thursday next, Sir Joseph Ward, P.C., will be able to put P.P.C. on his cards. What He Did Not Do. A little trouble was caused at Mr. W. H. D. Bell's meeting at Porirua on Saturday night by a Maori, who disagreed with some of' the candidate's views on the Native land question. The interrupter was told by Mr. Bell that he would give him an answer at the conclusion of the speech if he put his grievance in the form of a question. Though Mr. Bell appeared unable to satisfy the Maori, he was very patient with him. He did not attempt to rival the methods of a highly-placed gentleman on the Ministerial side. Ho did not shout "Get out" at His interrupter, nor did he suggest that he should be pole-axed; ho did not liken him to a "harp struck by lightning," nor did he have him removed by the police. Mr. Bell simply endeavoured to answer the Maori's question as best he could, but he could not (liter his opinions so as to mako them coincide with those of the questioner, and ho frankly said.so. Mr. Ross's Claim. In his speech at Woodville on Monday evening, Mr. R. B. Ross, tho Ministerial candidate for the Pahiatua seat, declared that there was not the slightest doubt that he could have been one of the Reform candidates this election. They would only have been too glad to have got him. The statement was brought under the notice of Mr. W. F. Massey, Leader of the Reform party, who telegraphed to the editor of tho "Pahiatua Herald" from Drury as follows:— "I have never heard a suggestion that Mr. Ross should be Reform candidate, and do not believe that it was ever made seriously." How the Money Goes. The construction of the Hutt road and railway duplication was a further instance of incompetency. Members of Parliament were given to understand by Sir Joseph Ward that it would cost .£IOO,OOO to complete the work. In reality it cost the country .£325,1)1)0, and there they had a enso of gross incompetency. When Ministers made a statement that a work would cost J. 100,000 and it cost .£325,000, they were no longer fit to manage the affairs of the country. (Applause.) There was the case of thp Dunedin railway station. The Prime Minister, in referring to a speech of the Opposition organiser, Mr. Martin, stated that the latter had said that the station had cost' .£BO,OOO when only .£IO,OOO had been provided for. He further stated that as a matter of fact the cost had been £U,2tt 13s. 3d. At a later date, speaking on the same subject, he announced that the work had cost ,£120,000. One day he would say tho cost was a certain amount, and the next day it was different. "And mind you he gave the figures down to the merest 3d," added Mr. Herdman. (Laughter.) "There you aro, that is how the money goes and affairs are conducted in the Dominion." (Loud nnd prolonged applause.)— Mr. Hordman at Dannevirke. The Haunted Man. If the electors of New Zealand acquire an exaggerated idea of tho importance of Mr. Mnssey's meeting at Winton, Sir Josoph Ward will only have himself to blame (says the Christchurch "Press"). The incident seems to haunt him; in iamgination one would gather, he hears perpetually the tumultuous cheers that punctuated Mr. Ma«sey's address, ho has ever before his eyes tho outburst of enthusiasm amid which the great audience votod that the time liad arrived when th-; Government should be turned out. He talks about the affair at • his meetings until the public may be excused if they conclude that-he read his political deathwarrant in the reports of this historic gathering. The subject was, of course, dragged into the Premier's speech at Inglcwood, and he again remarked that Mr. Massey "put on a special train with a view of making out that ho (Sir Joseph) was in a bad way." He forgot to mention that a special train was also put on for his own meeting. But ho said that Mr. Massey's meeting "had not concerned him much, as was Shown by his being away from his electorate now." And also, we presume, by his projected supplementary campaign—unless we are to believe that he is visiting Awarua again to have a look at the crops, or enjoy some trout-fishing. Rubbing It In, Mr. R. Moore, who is expected to win Kaiapoi from the Hon. Mr. Buddo, dealt in a recent speech with tho Mokau block business, pointing out the immense profits made by private people after the Government had refused to have anything to do with the block. "I ask you," ho declared in conclusion, "whf.tb.er "a party who profess to bo Liberals, aro doing justice to the settlers who will ultimately, I presume, get this block, and who will have to stond the brunt of the profit loading which has been going on." Sir John Findlay Bitter. Sir John Findlay is evidently not finding his fight for the Parnell seat a kidgloved contest (snys the Auckland "Herald"). "I find," he said, rather bitterly, at Ellerslio, "that the man who stands for Parliament gives his reputation into the hand 3 of tho public, especially the street-corner public, and ho is a lucky man if he gets it back. I find that I have been credited with committing all tho crimes in the calendar, with the exception of bigamy, and that is yet to come. If one is to listen to these childish calumnies that are circulated about him, then he had better stand out of a contest of this kind. It is contemptible that a man cannot offer his sen-ices to the public without being defamed at the street-cor-ners," Their Precious Certificate. It seems a little significant, that a. Government which has been in office for twenty years should find it necessary on the t>vo of a general election to go tor a certificate of character to the newest and rawest—not to say most, innocent and unsophisticated member of Parliament, and should think it worth while to circulate this certificate throughout the length and breath o£ tie laiuL—Christchurcli "Pres,",