WELLINGTON NORTH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1305, 7 December 1911, Page 6

WELLINGTON NORTH.

MB. HERDMAN AT KIRKCALDIE'S. Mr. A. L. Herdman, Reform candidate for Wellington North, addressed a crowded and enthusiastic meeting at Kirkcaldic's Tea-rooms last night. Mr. Ilcrdman gavo a trenchant criticism of tho despotism of the Ward Ministry, and was applauded heartily throughout. Ho expressed a hope that there wv.ild not bo a second ballot. lie thought that every possible effort should bo made by those who were supporters of the Reform party to decide tho issue at the first ballot. He referred to the holding-up of The Dominion's election issue, and a report of his remarks appears under another heading. Proceeding, Mr. Ilcrdman stated that the Government was despotic and autocratic, not democratic. Democracy meant government of the people by the people, and for tho people. Wardism was government of the people, by tho Government, and for tho Governraont. First it was Mr. Joseph Ward; then it was tho Hon. Joseph Ward, Minister for Railways; then Sir Joseph Ward, IC.C.M.G.; then tho Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, P. 0., Iv.C.M.G.; and now Sir Joseph Ward, Baronet. And when Sir Joseph Ward entered the hall at Winton the local band played tho National Anthem.

At tho conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Herdman was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence; the audience sang ior Hcs a Jolly Good Fellow"; and > three cheers for the candidate were given. SPEECHES BY. DR. IZARD. Dr. Izard met Wellington North electors at two meetings last evening. The first was held in the Sydney Street Schoolroom, which was filled with a friendly audience. The speech was on familiar lines, a.Tid the candidate declared that he expected to be able to call the Wellington North electors his constituents when he spoke to them to-night. No motion was put to tho meeting, but cheers were given for the candidate and the chairman. Dr. Izard described the meeting as tho most enthusiastic a.ud encouraging he liad ever addressed.

Tho chairman at the second meeting, which was held in the Masonic Hall, was the candidate's brother, Mr, C. H. Izard, formerly member for the district, whose exhortations to supporters to work hard and so avoid a second ballot were applauded and cheered. The candidate, in his address, repeated his declaration that he would vote for the Liberal Government and against the Conservative Oppasition on a question of want of confidence, but on other matters, local or national, he would vote as he thought proper. Necessary reforms should be made from within tho party, not from without.

A motion of thanks and confidence, when, put to the meeting, elicited an approximately equal volumo of "aves" and "noes," but was declared carried. Cheers ■and some hoots followed, and the candidate was again cheered as ho left tho building.. Tho hall was nearly full.

ADDRESS BY M*R. CAREY. Mr. E. J. Carey, tho Labour candidate for Wellington North, addressed four open-air meetings at different parts of tho electorate last night. As a final appeal he urged the soundness of Labour's platform proposals iis tho main reason for support of his candidature. The activity of the Labour party had livened'the campaign and forced into prominence many issues, which would be legislated upon during tho next Parliament, irrespective of which party, occupied tho Treasury Benches. Ho had met with splendid support since ho had taken the platform and he confidently anticipated that ho would get into- the second ballot. He had shown the electors that Iho Labour mail was not tho "thick-head" some of his opponents would havo them believe. He could not boast a college education, but he claimed that his experience and his record of work, done for tho benefit: of his fellowmen and women, entitled him to the wider confidence he now sought from tho electors of the district. Totes of thanks and confidence were carried at each meeting and cheers were given for Labour.