ON THE PLATFORM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1303, 5 December 1911, Page 8

ON THE PLATFORM.

WELLINGTON SOUTH. MR. WRIGHT AT VOGELTOWN. Mr. R. A. Wright addressed an open air meeting at Vogeltown last night. Mr. Hewitt was voted to the chair. The candidate, after referring to the various reforms which he believed necessary, dealt with the To Akau land case. He stated that the Government had never answered the charge of unjust treatment to tho Tainuis. The facts disclostd made it clear that the Tainuis, who bad been declared the owners of a certain block of land, nnd who wero in possession, declined to sell to tho Government. A neighbouring tribe of Natives, who claimed ownership of the land, but who had no legal right to it, were, by a clause introduced in a "Washing-up" Bill, which set up aintlier Court, and practically ordered a certain course to be adopted,* deprived of tlint which lawfully belonged to them. This matter had been ventilated in the House,, but no answer had been made to tlie charge. A number of questions on the usual lines were asked, and tho meeting closed with-a vote of thanks and confidence to Mr. Wright. SPEECHES BY DR. COUZENS. Dr. Couzens addressed tho employees at the Wellington gasworks yesterday. He stated that the present Government had outlived its. usefulness and must bo replaced by a party who were prepared to govern according to the traditions which had always won respect and who would enforce and obev the laws and play the game honestly and conscientiously. When a patient lost confidence in his medical adviser no further progress could be made. This argument applied to tlie Government. Seeing that the present Government had lost the confidence of the people o radical change must be made instantly, and he believed that on Thursday next this so-called Liberal Government would be weighed in the balance and found wanting. A hearty vote of thanks and confidence was accorded, accompanied with cheering and applause. Dr. Couzens also addressed two wellattended open-air meetings yesterday, one in tho earlier part of tho evening at Berhnmpore, and later on at Newtown. A hearty vote of thanks was given in each ease. MR. BARBER AT BROOKLYN. Mr. W. 11. I'. Barber, the Government candidate for Wellington South, addressed the electors at Fullford's Hall, Brooklyn, last night. Mr. J. O'Brien presided, and there were between 00 and 70 people present. The candidate said that ho would have liked lo seo a larger attendance, but f'ere was of course a strong counter attraction at the Town Hall. Ho then nroceeded to attack the methods of Mr. Massey, Leader of the Reform K'ty, Mr. Wrwlit. the Reform party's camrdiilc for Wellington South, the Reform partyill general. He said that the nartv were abusing and misrepresenting the Government for the purpose of -retting into power, and asked his audience not to o!"et members of the Reform party, which would be represented quite stTongIv enough in the country electorates. Mr. Barber also devoted part of his sneech to an attack on Tnv Dominion, Which lie said had been established for tho deliberate purpose of defeating the Gnvernment. psliev. He claimed that tlie Reform party did not put tho position fairly when sneaking of _ the increase in the public debt and the increase in taxation, and he condemned members of the 'mrty for not supporting (he Public DebtExtinction Fund Act, although tli" sinking fund under this Act would wipe out the debt in 70 years. Continuing, Mr. Barber said he was not there to fight Sir Joseph Ward's battles. He was there this timo as an Independent Liberal, to defend principles, not individuals. TTe defended the Government's action iu the Mokau land deal, and commended the railway jwlioy. Lund for Settlement Act nnd Advances 1o Settlers Act. and oilier measures. Ho lxdicved, however, that the Government bad attempted too much in the compulsory training scheme. They should have ooafinod the scheino to school cadets. Ho

Ilinuglit thai. In interfere with llwsn who hud Ml solioul wns unroiiMinablc, and whs llih niu:-t! of tlm li'ii'tinn tii:it hud orKcii. tn answer to (jueitions, I'm sniil Hint, iiny jmtilir, work of uny mni!iiil.wd'! should be (limit l>y pulilie tfiif?*'*". 1141 I Ihiiii:!il flutl. the mere fae.l (Iml a mini lind ii homo n| liK own Ikiiii which hi' received no iiinimn hlioiiM imt dis((iitilil'y him from receiving tlie itltl a|;c. IM'iivimi. Il<i believed timi religions mid public, institutions (if (ill kinds uhouhl lie under in.iiii-clinn. lint lie wn.q nnl prepared l« nay iitt-linnd whether lift would supprul: n measure Id have a public audit (if llhi linnmiw of nil religion* institutions. ||r> would Imvo to consider il. M'.i could not nieunnl lor (lie lac! Iha I, tho worker wnS no better oil' to-day nan ten years lII'O, or why jieoiile were '"jiving tin? eountry in great numbers, or there were hi many enmty houses. I he Government were fipiKiintFtik a Royal [.■omiinssion to inquire into the cost <,f living, Certainly it v.hh not duo to increased taxation. A viiUi <if thanks ami confidence was accorilcd the. candidate.