HERE AND THERE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1304, 6 December 1911, Page 7

HERE AND THERE.

CAMPAIGN POINTS AND PRESS COM. MENTS.

Tho Town Hall To-night, What is to happen at.tho Town Hall to-aigbt i> Fitill "mopped in lni&try." Some time ago it was announced that tho hall had boon -booked for tq-iiiglit by a representative of J. C. Williamson' mid Co., the theatrical entrepreneurs.. . All kinds of rumours have been Hying round concerning the character of the performance to be Riven. It has even been susccslcd that the Prime Minister would doliver a speech, but this sußßCstiou ho> been attributed to tho had table of some wag. Another suggest ion is that the local Ministerialist'candidates will meet their friends is a soft ntid quiet rally. The main probability, however, is thnt nothing will happen at till.

Socular Education, Tho committee of the. Secular Education Defence LenRHC. recently addressed tho following question to the candidates for Parliamentary honours in the provincial district of Wellington:—"Arc you in favour of maintaining the present socular system "f Stnto education in all its integrity?" Satisfactory replies in tho ofUrinative, hare been received by the pre-sident-(Mr, .lohn Gammell) froiii the following gentlomon:— J. Brodio, Byron Brown. W. C. Buchanan, 11. J. Carey, C. l<. Collins, Dr. Couzcus, W..H. Field, It. Fletcher, F. Freeman, A. X. Hcrdman, Dr. Twrd. J. P- Lute, J. W. M'Ewan, D. M'Laren, F. T. Moore, O.U. Sylsos, W. A. Vc'itoh, W. T. Young, W.' H. P. Barber. W. H. D. Bell, P. M. 13. -Fisher, .1 T. Hogan, A. W, Hogg, J. 1\ M. Hornsby, C. E. Mackay,' C. , A: W. MoncWen, E. W.- Short,- and- fr Wv Tanner.

Broken pledges, It is satisfactory to note that the members, of- Rnrliiinicnt.jVlW; •'raited , ;',ion their freehold pledges to tlio electors, when llio question oi freehold versus parly was before Uia House, are exporiencins unpleasant times at thn hands of Ihnir constituents (soys the- "Farmers' Uuinn Advocate"). Tor instance, Mr. R. W. .Smith, who is now standing for Wniiuanno, has boon very uncomfortable whon questioned- about bis-, vote ■ aguinst . thn trochoid, after giving his pledge in its favour on tho platform before election. Ho has been asking that ho-bo sent to Parliament this time unfettered, ond Kiveii o. free hand to vote as he pleases. »011, hit voted as he pleased when he .voU:d. ; afeains.t';ihc freeh6ld, and. if his action,is endorsed -this',time it does not much matter whether ho pledges himself one way or other. At Obakime he gri very angry when the electors were in?i Ul -"i IVO i- ( '! , . lhia subject, Mr... Ilocklv, ■the freehold candidate, put it strongly when Jin was asked about it,., "If," "hi ho made at last election, how is he likely V, s V™ m \* if l>o is again electedr Mr. Macdonald, too, outhe East Coast nLT bc 'A ls allo ,T cd to foi, E ct Ms broken pedgo either., Mr; De Lautouiv who' ie pi casing him hard, is bringing this out on many occasions. Wo trust that thosn who bcievo intlio freehold policj will not be beguiled hy any specious causes, but. vote ngnmit anyone who deceived the electors last Parliament for they are liko ly to do it again.

Only Multiplied by Four. Tho arrival of Sir Joseph Ward at i'honidon Station on the day after his ll] t « little flock which, had been specially rounded up bv telegram afforded the Miiiifiterklist oress yet another opportunity of showing whit methods it is prepared to use in its entCwi°fUi ,1° ■hh e P "P thu 6 P'rits of "the faithful" The "fccw Zca i and Timc^. reported that the Premier was welcomed by over 200 representative Liberals o! Ucllint-tou." Tut Domision-, in its report, said that "about fifty peoplfl turned up, and tho accuracy of this rstimale is proved by independent testiniouy. The -Otago Daily Times" pub-' lislics a messa-sp from its Wellington correspondent, noting other instances of the noculiar methods of the Ministerial press, and continues: ".Similarly, the importance of the reception at Wellington was greatlv exaggerated; In the Government paper's they Mated that there were 2(10 present. As a matter of fact, tho nctual number addressed by Sir Joseph Ward was 56, and tnis number included tho expressmen, five reporters, and some civil eervauts of tho right colour."

A Stirring Incident. 'i'ho Leader of the Iteform party did not voto against the principle of one man one vote; nor did ho opposD the granting to women of the right to vote at the elections iov members of tho House'of 'Representatives. Ho made those facts clear at his meeting at Komuera on Friday evening. Behind tho courtesy of a question, a front-bencher in that big audionco challeuged, Mr. Massoy to deny that he had voted against the introduction of those democratic .principles, Mr. .Massey dealt with the one'inan one veto question first. He stated "Ko" in a loud voice ' three times, tho negatives being succeeded by loud, louder, and still louder applause. "1 was not in Parliament at tho time. It was finally adopted in 1893. I vai elected for the first, timo in .1891." Did he vote against woman suffrage? Again .canio tho three-fold denial, with its thundering ajMaitso." "l'\va*i not in Parliament- at. the time, .. The principle was adopted at'least seven or eight years bofore 1 became a member."

The People's Money. The money which the Government rofuses to an advertising medium that happens to be opposedMo its own views is" not tho Government's money, but 1 tho public's, and tho ■ public' ilicludes both sections of p'/lilicil opinion.—"Timaru Herald."', .

The Labour Man and Mr, Hofjan. ,j , During the election campaign Mr.,',Ho> gan, Government candidate, has frequently asserted that the present Uovermueut haa carried, out .the late Mr. John Balance's polidy.- At tho conclusion;, of his Opera House speech on Saturday night, a member of tho local . Labour party rose and challenged Mr. Hojan to debate tho matter nt any timo during the next three mouths, Loud cries of "Take .him, up" came from ilr. Hogan's supporters nil over tho hall, .bat h'e declined 'to accept tho terms offered. Ho said -tliafc he would discuss tho matter then and there. Tho challenger declined, on" accouut'df tho lateness of the hour, and said that .his oiler was for a properly-arranged debate on settled terms. p Mr. Hogan continued, to argue tho poijit with his challenger, and, on the latter saying that Mr. Seddon aud Sir Joseph Ward should;hovo takeu up.the Uallance policy at the point whore ho left it and continued it,'TUr. Hogan rejoined that Mr. Uallance's policy was not what ho. wanted...to do,,but .only what ho was able to get v passed; Finally the matter dropped without anything being settled.

Government Without Principles, ' Mr. Massey, speaking at Taumaiuhui'en Saturday, said that ho could respect auy man,. whether ho agreed with him or not, who was sincere, but he had , no -respect for a Government without principles. It was leasehold one day and freehold the next, protectionist one day and free trado the- next, Socialist one day and Individualist tho next, and democratic ' ono day and aristocratic tho next. (Luughtcr.) What is Wrono? ■ '' J,' ''"

"What is wrong with this Ministry?" asked Mr. l-'isher last night, in the Town Hall. "Mr. M'Nab left it because' he didn't get enough votes to allow liilii ta remain in it. Mr. Hogg left it. becauso ho had the courage when a Miuistei' to bo as honest as lie was when u member of the House. (Applause.) Uno mHit almost be inclined to belie.vo that that qnalitv was so foreign lo the Ministry Hint Nicy didn't like "it,. ami they turned him down, and put him out because ho declared for a State note issue. But within two years r.fler turning Mr. Hogg out, we liml the Cabinet itself coming down with tint very smuo proposition lor whicli thev sacrifice'd Mr. Hogg. Then we hail Sir' Vowlds going out of tho Ministry. Why did he go out? He declares Unit he 'went out because the Ministry was not up to his standard. There was j-oow for only one head in his halo, lho fact vomains that this Ministry is unable to hold together,.becauso there , arn no two members of it who are cemeutvd; together by any fixed principles ou any political subject."

What tho Government Will Not. Do, The Government refuses to set nu a Public Service Board; which would treo the Civil Service from-political control, it refuses to fmend tho degrading sy.totn bv which votes for public works aw allocated, it rfi'uses to construct its railways by methods' wl.ich: would get them llnis.he.-f, instead of kecpiug short luiea hangii'c; on far yeris as' an inducement to the pooplo to support the Government,, which claim;, credit for bcsimiing them, or for intending to begin them. All tho reforms aro offered/by ihe other parly, thoiigi they.arc obviously.refovms which, if it .who" into office, would vob it. immediately of the opportunities, which (Ji» present' Govern mont uses'to pvolong lie hold on. power.—"Tiniaru Horajd.'

Rumbling, Grumbling, Humbling. Two years ago, Sir John Findlay allowed Hansard to record his opinion that A neklaud was n liligo riitnbliltg, snimLling city. Mr. Massey oxiractcd that sentenen for the information of the I'lrnell electors at liemuora' on I'lidrfy , evening. "It is a grumbling city," said Mr. Mnssey, and 'his' andicn'ce iliil. not look■ particularb' well pleased, Then it realised the possiblo application of ,the term, and its' feet echoed tho jieform. lender's next remark:

"It is n rumbling city—but it will bo humbling to the city ■of Aucltlaiid if it has to go to Wellington for a man to represent it in the Parliament of the country." And the grumbling and tho rumbling swelled irito'V , nilghty roar as the l.ij audience, inmlo its agweinout manifest.

A Nursery for Noxious' Weeds. , Sneaking at., Victoria Moll last night, Mr. K. A. "WriKJit stated that- the Hire* million, jicros of, Naljyu,- .lands at jii-p----snnt lying idle were'nothing wore nr less than o imrtery for- noxious weeds. Ho contended" that the Goveriiment should proccod at-oucc. with .thfl .ecttlomimt of these lands iustoad of waiting uatil they had lrctn'groatlr iuoreaicd in value. Even' at the preSCut.'.f.al'ue.tiiJ , ,:.interest oiV'the Snrchase money would.Tjo. nuir^.tjian sufcient to' adciiu'atclj , " maintain all 'the Natives oi the Pqminion...

Misrepresentation. Speaking at I'ohanginn, on Saturday, Mr. D. h! Guthrio dealt at length with the report of his A'piti meeting, which appeared in tho "New Zealand Times" of recoiit date. Tho report, he said, statei: that tho'meeting was hostile to him. He gave that statement an emphatic denial. As a "matter of fact, the meeting was very enthusiastic, nnd was with him all along tho line.. At tho conclusion of his address (says tho '.'Mnnawatu. Standard'.') a, resolution wns passed with acclamation, expressing thanks to Mr. Gnthrie for liis address,'confidence in him as tho representative for tho district, and uoconildenco in tho present Government. Mr. M'Nab and the Settlers. Tho "'Farmers' Union Advocate" remarks that tho erstwhile Minister for Lands, Mr. Eoberfc M'Nab, has modified his views to the extent of agreeing to tho granting of the freehold to Crown tenants, anil tho maintenance of the option of purchase. , "Unfortunately, tho terms on which ho would allow Crown tenants to convert aro such that each timo ho':Utters them he flings a gratuitous insult at his henrers, by asking thorn' to support him in a scheme of legalised robbery. Wo can scarcely,imagine n moro barefaced suggestion than that of claiming the right to tho whole of the increase of tlio unimproved value attaching to Crown lauds, and wo venture to hope that tho people of l'almorston North will mark their disapproval as Mataura did ihi 1908. "Whichever party is returned, wo trust that tho majority will bo on tho side of tho_ freehold for Crown tenants, on tho basis laid down by the Farmers' "Union; and on■ the side of tho freehold tenure generally, as well aa being opposed to any further increase in land tax, or protective' tariff, and pledged to resist the tftnd .towards Socialism." Labour Man' and Socialists. t Answering hostile interjections from Socialists >«t an' open-air meeting in Post Ofiico Square, at-noon yesterday, Mr. K. J. 'Carey," labour candidate for Wellington North, said that if Labour's platform »:as not as perfect as the Socialists wished it to be they had tho optioa of running their own nominee in opposition. Ho had invited them to do so, but they had. not. been jfame enough to tackle his. electorate. Ho was prepared to leave it to the electors to; judge as to the- respective merits of the Labour versus the Socialist' policy. ■ . Office at All Costs.. . " , It is like levelling , an accusation at the present Government to say that it has any definite ideals. Desire for the country's : good' has been i displaced by a lov* for office. The one aim that has been apparent amid the confusion of issues has been tho determination to hold on to.office at all costs. And this is lite inevitable result of long continuance, in office. A party waxes fat on the spoils of long years in power. It discovers that power can be kept by au extensive system of patronage and by wholosalo bribing of electorates, and tlio result has been a substitution of tho pernicious "spoils to , tho'Victors" policy for an honrst endeavour to serve tho people. If tho present Administration has not kept its power by these methods, by what other methods has it kept in 'office? It has no policy and no fixed ideals. Its administration has been extravagant and in a great many instances inept.—"Jlanawatu Evening Standard."

Sir John Findlay and the Aged Spinster.

Tho following paragraph appeared in tho Auckland "Horald" yesterday-.—"Sir John Findlay, in the course of his speech, said that ever since he'had'come to AuckInnrl, and that Very day, he had been subjected to a persecution of such a shabby and contemptible nature as would almost: cause a man to drop clean out of- public life. People had come to his hoiiso that day antf had told him of the iidtinn o of a certain aged spinster, who T,-aa persisting in tho virculiition of all kinds of scandalous 'recriminations iigninst his character and against his )ipus9. Ho warned this woman that if she did not cease ho.should namo : her, and, if necessary, take further proceedings."

"A Complete Farce," Mr. Wright;, (Opposition candidate for Wellington South, is strongly in favour of a new Upper Chamber, tho members of which woujd bo,'chosen by tho electors, on a different'system,-of course, to tho Lower House. Ho stated last night that the Legislative Council, as at present constituted, was a complete farce. The members enjoyed- being there because it was a good place ,in which to be—no elections to fight, no heckling at meetings to contend with, and no ugly questions to answer at tho end of speeches. . . . Mr. Hogan and the Labour Party. -

Mr. Hogan declares bo is not wedded to the Government, eays the.-'Wanginui Chronicle." All we can say is that if ho has not been taken into 'the political harem it is not for lack of ardent'wooing on his part. Ho is fighting for the Government to the utmost of his ability, and fighting for it, mark you, gs against the Labour party. Naturally, he does not regard Mr. Veitch's candidature with favour, but tho reply ho attempted to make on Saturday night to tho Labour candidate was exceedingly larao and unconvincing. Ho did not venture to deny that, thoro is need for a change. His main argument was that it was useless to vote for Labour candidates because thero was no immediate prospect of a sufficient number of them beiug elected to m ike possible tho formation of an 'effective policy. That argument is completely met by the question propounded by Mr V eitch: How long will it bo bel'oro we get the new party if we are going to i fiifc down and wait for it to come along?" Th« truth is, as Mr. Veitch ■ declared, ttiat tho Labonr party has no confidence in the present Cabinet, and they are tirul nf the: argument that they must stick to the Government until the new party has been formed.

Second Ballots. Thres years ago 23 second ballots were required. Air. Massey stated last 'evening that there would be a second ballot in enoh of thirty districts. Ho belioved that in tho Auckland province there would certainly be second ballots in Raglan, Wuitemala. Ohinemuri, and Parnell, and probably also in Monukau and Kaipera. A Thunderbolt at Bluff.. A telegram from Invercargill to the Christchtirch "Press" states that Mr. James Allen's mceiing at Bluff was. the largest ever, hold there, and that the great bulk of it was in entire sympathy with the Opposition. "Like Mr. Ma.-i-' Rey's Winton meeting, Mr. Allen's reception came as a thunderbolt to those who maintained that Bluff wa.s totally in favour of Sir Joseph Ward, and Opposition stocks in Awarua may bo snid to have made a sharp rise."

The Plight of Ministers. Mr. W. H. Herries, in the course of a chat with a representative of the "Waikato Independent," gave his opinions regarding the probablo outcome of tho forthcoming elections. First of all, ho said, tho outlook for the Reform party was very bright:.' Tho increase of lieform support throughout New Zealand has, beyond" question, increased very largely, and gave promiso of converting the Ward Administration majority into n minority. The.very fact that it is now regarded as a Certainty that tho Prime Minister will have to run tho gauntlet of o semnd ballot shows how vastly public opinion has.changed during the past year or two. The Minister for Railways was h-iving a tremendous n'glil to retain his fv'l. and niisht not succeed. Another Jf : '"<tpr, the tfnn. D. Buddo, looked liko lfx.n- his srat, the quest of a third was vv- ■ d us a wry doubtful venturi—some *•■ ' Hint it ivoiild cortninlv fnil-an ex■cr would (very good infonnalion ') be retired in favour of the TCewhile the return to tho 'jfi'T ii three years' retirement) '•t.icr ex-Minister for lands was ■"Mrue;l as an unexpected event. ■ the prospects of the. defeat of, at fivu, and perhaps more,-'of the i rest of the Ministerial candidates, ■ .ii-ii every leading member of the Ecf r.i [.arty scorned qnito assured of ret'i'ctioii, indicated tho cluingo in^public opinion.

"A Trifle Unfair." Tho forty thousand Maoris in New Zealand ha-ro two representatives in the Cabinet. At this rato the rest of tho population should havo forty-eight Ministers. Hut it doesn't want them. Five or six of tho present sort nro too many. Still, the present representation of the two races seems a trifle unfair.—Christchurch "Tress,"

The Nation's Answer. At his meeting at Island Bay last night Mr. Bell referred his audience to some, lines which onco appeared in "Punch," apropos of Mr. Gladstone's defeat. -Mr. ]sell suggested that these line* might, with slight alteration, bo mndo to apply to the present situation in New Zealand. The. lines should run as follow:— Sir Joseph sputa unlo tho nation. If you wish mo kotp my station, Will you voto that .1 do so? To which request Xew Zealand nation Answered without hesitation. Dear Sir Joseph, you cau so.

Mr.' Hqgan and Mr. Hogg. Tho "Wanganui Chronicle" takes Mr. Hogan to task:—"Mr. llogan says that if lie had hirf way he would tnko the duty off flour to-inorrow. JFe referred to Mr. A. W. Hogg as the 'lino old gentleman of Masterton.' 'There was never a truer friend of tho workers in tho llouso than Mr. Hogg,' said Mr. llogan, 'and why 1 think you should vote for me on Thursday is that you will find I nearly nlwnys voted with Mr. Hogg.' And wliat does 'tho fine old gentleman of Masterton' say now? Only this:—'l have m> confidence whatever in the Government an' now constituted, and it would bo au.'advantage to New Zealand ■ if tlicv'were hurled out of office. . And this:—'What I blame tho Government for ir their ivenk administration. .Why, water-gruel is nothing to it. There is no backbono or genuine lifo or soul in it—not a particle.' Mr. Hogan's knowledge of Mr. Hogg's political views is scarcely up-to-date." ■ Several Axes.

, "Access to capital, access to land, access to opportunity, ays to grind."—Mr. I'isher's summary of tho Liberal policy as enunciated by Sir John I'indlay, lately Attorney-General.

Freedom of Speech Curtailed. "It is curious," remarked Mr. Herdman at Sydney Street Schoolroom last evening, "that under the legislation passed in New Zealand in recent years relating to libel or slander, freedom of speech lias been greatly curtailed." At the end of the session before last, Mr. Ilerdman went on to remark, tho law of libel had been so amended that cases could be dealt with by. a-magistrate, instead of being heard, .as previously, before : a judge and;jury. Tho magistrate had power to inflict a. penalty of fine or imprisonment. Not only so, but, under the amended law,-anyone ■accused of a libel could plead tnith"as ; a' justification only if., he could '■-' first ■ show - tho magistrate that-the-words.complained' of.'wero uttered in the public interest. The' ordinary citizen was thus left in a position infinitely more difficult than he occupied some time ago. There had been a serious curtailment of the liberty of tho individual. J.'o good reason had ever been given for the change in the law, but tho result sooner or later would bo that soma great wrong would be done, and an outcry would be raised for the repeal of these provisions. Shrewd Questioners,

A frank admission was made by the Government candidate for Wellington North (Dr. IzardJ at his Kelburne meeting last evening, when discussin" the position of his opponent on the land question. Referring to what he teraied the difficulty of getting Mr.-- Hcrdman to come down to a straight-out statement on this question, Dr. Izard said: "I have had to send , some .very, shrewd, questioners to him to get at what he means' on this 1 question."

The Waning of the Boom. .■■'.- _ The warmth of Mr. Allen's reception.at Bluff was not merely evidence ot' the wailing of tho Ward boom, it tss testimony to the ability with which the speaker dealt with the situation and to his own personal reputation i<s one of rli" leaders of the Reform' attack.—Christchurch "Press."