LYTTELTON ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1922, 3 December 1913, Page 7

LYTTELTON ELECTION

CANDIDATES OPEN FJRE. (By Tek'srapli—l'rcs Association.) Clirlstellisrell, December 2. Mr. J. 1!. Lnurcnspn, Opposition candidate for Lyttclton, addressed a meeting of electors at Woolston to-night. He advocated the Government, acquiring tho ferry service, that special inducements should be offered to young men. to take up back-country bush land, that si protective tariff should k* imposed to develop the industries of the country, that pensions should be given to widows and orphans irrespective of residential qualifications, and that there should bo no further alienation of Crown lands, He also urged the necessity for free education to tho uiiiversitivs, the.introduction of the Swiss legal system for the settlement of. industrial disputes, annual conferences between employers and workers, and special pensions for mothers with families of over four, lie stated' that ho was a. freeholder, provided the sizo of the holdings was limited. Mr. Laurenson was accorded a vote of thanks with the addition that only- a social-demo-cratic member should represent the constituency.

Dr. Thackcr, Independent Liberal candidate, speaking at Limvood, said he was a Liberal and the moderate workers' friend, lie advocated the elective executive, proportional representation, the initiative, the referendum, optional land tenure, a tax on exports to' reduce tho import tax on'necessaries. Tho strike, lie said, should be settled b.v arbitration. He urged that Harbour Hoards should employ permanent stall's to work tho wharves and also wjied tho nationalisation of the Union Company's service, State control of the liquor trade, a OTI per cent national option, and a tlircctifths majority for local option. Ho approved the Defence. Act and opposed the country quota in arranijiiip: electorates. Ho would vote against tho fllassoy Government.

Mr. J. Ai'C'ombs, the Social Democratic candidate, said the party wanted arbitration for the settlement of industrial disputes. A good business man should be president of the. Arbitration Court. Compulsory preference should he granted. The Government- should decide what was a a:emiino living wagewhich could not be reduced by the Court. The. land tax should be' raised and the. Customs tariff reduced. He maintained that the taxation .for the protection of industries was more than the ivajjcs paid ami that bcinc so it would he better 1o abolish those industries. Fire insurance should be made a State monopoly. A State bank should be established, and the eounlry should own tho shipping lines. He favoured a volunteer system as opposed to tho present Territorial system, and, supported electoral reform, proportional- representation, the referendum and the initia-; five. A motion of thanks and confidence was carried.

Mr. W. Hadcliffo another Liberal candidate, speaking at Lytteltnn, said"he was a firm supporter of tho Arbitration Act. lie had no sympathy with tho attempt, (o dcorivo the workers of their leual rights. He supported 'the freehold wiih a r.jiyjOO limit, the graduated land tax, bare majority, the, Defence Act, and road.-. nudVaiiways for backliloclters. The speaker was subjected to cuntinual interruptions. He .iiiswer'ed many questions. Tho meeting broke up without any vote.