CAMPAIGN POINTS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2305, 12 November 1914, Page 6

CAMPAIGN POINTS.

NEWS NOTES AND ADDRESSES

AND PRESS COMMENTS,

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER AT PUKEKOHE.

Addressing the electors at Porirua last evening, Mr. 11, A. Wright, Reform candidate for the Suburbs, made a telling point in connection with industrial upheavals during the Ward Administration. During tho hon. baronet's regime there were no fewer than 63 strikes. In Mr. Massey's time the general strike followed the Waihi, Reefton, and Oamaru strikes, all coming as the aftermath of the policy pursued by Sir Joseph Ward. The Waihi strike and the Reefton strike, involving 1219 miners, were some eight weeks in existence when Mr. Massey came into pawer, and had not been settled up to the time by any Liberal leader in "two days" or by "the heart-to-heart talk."

"Has Mr. Fletcher associated himself with the organisation which is running Mr. Turnbull for Wellington North?" Tins question was addressed by a well-known ' Social-Democrat to Mr. R. Fletcher at his meeting last night. Mr. Fletcher replied: I have had nothing at all to do with it. I knew nothing about it until I saw it in the newspapers. I am. running Wellington Central, and there will he fight enough there for me—the biggest°in Wellington before it is all over!

A wag at Mr. Flctcher'6 meeting made an apt rejoinder to a remark by the candidate. Mr. Fletcher had been saying that the workers would not support the Massey Government- at this election, stating in conclusion: "The workers, have had their eyes opened." A.voice: Their, heads opened, some of them. (Laughter!)

The question of naval defence has called forth some pointed comment from the "North Otago Times,'.' which remarks:—"The Scliarnhorst and Gneiscnau are speedy and powerful cruisers, arid had .tlie Commonwealth Government continued the subsidy policy, and en-' dorsed the policy of the New Zealand Liberals, the German cruisers would have been in the position of being able to enjoy a few hours' gun practice daily at the expense of the coast towns of New Zealand and our intercolonial and coastal shipping.".

Recent events in tho Pacific have evidently shaken the belief of some of the Opposition candidates in their party's paval policy'. 'As the Dannevirlce "iN'ew's" remarks, public. opinion has swung round in favour of the Government's wise proposals for self-protec-tion, biit Sir Joseph Ward and bis followers by their rash criticism committed themselves so far before the outbreak of war that they cannot retire from their untenable position. Mr. Jull, the Opposition candidate for AVaipawa, opened his campaign by following hotly on the Wardist lead, but ho found, our contemporary adds, that his leader had got him on unsafe ground. Ho therefore suggests that the question of naval defence should be discussed by six men from each side of the House, and a policy framed.

In Dunedin, • according to southern' exchanges, a working basis of co-operation was found .in the Liberals undertaking to stand, or lie, meekly back and take no part in the contest for two of the seats, leaving them entirely to the_ Reform and the Red Federation nominees. So far. remarks a contemporary, wo have not heard of any disturbance'of this arrangement, which is presumably quite satisfactory to the Social Democrats, whatever the old Liberal electors may feel about it in tho innermost recesses of their resentful bosoms. ,■ •

We do not remember at any time to have seen any Liberal speaker refer to the Reform Party's election platform. And the reason is not far to seek; it would bo too damaging to make any reference to a document which would remove some of their favourite grievances. The programme would show that in almost every case —Mr. Massey referred to two exceptions—the Government had kept its pledges. In the course of one Parliament it had carried nearly all the measures it set out to carry. Ic has reformed the finances, it has set up a non-political control of the' Civil Service, it has reformed the Legislative Council, it has granted the freehold option to Crown tenants, it has abolished the second ballot.—"Hawke's Bay Herald."

Never before the Massey Government had any Cabinet appointed six of its political opponents to the Upper House. In doing this the Government had relied on these men's known ability in preference to thrusting'in its own supporters. —Mr. Pirani at Gpnville.

The arrangement between the Opposition and the Social Democrats is the subject of some comment by tho "Hawke's Bay Tribune" :—"Coalition Governments are' at best but makeshifts, and are, at their very best, to be justified only by some gravo and specific and well-denned common object to be attained. At other times they .are merely matters of political compromise that are good for neither one party nor the other, each merely making use of the' other for the sake of political place. When a coalition has the prospect of depending for its majority, over its op> ponents on Paynes and Webbs, it is a distinct danger to the good government and prosperity of any country. That surely must be a self-evident fact to all who "have intelligently read the outstanding signals of the last year or two."

The Beform manifesto, the "Manawatu Standard" finds, is in marked contrast to the patchwork programme of Sir Joseph Ward. It adds that if the Reform planks be taken from the Opposition platform, hardly sufficient remains to justify its being recognised s as a practical political programme.

"When tho events of the past two and a half years are considered, it will be recognised by every fair-minded person in New Zealand that it is altogether unreasonable, and indeed impossible, to compare that period with any other period in the existence of the Dominion. Yet it is upon such comparisons that the opponents of the Government are mainly relying in their efforts to persuade the electors to restore tho former Administration to office—to be held by its members upon tho suffcranco of representatives of the disappointed party which was responsible for: the mismanaged striker, of Wailii and on the waterfront."—"Otago Daily Times."

Th"! extra rovenue which has lifted the taxation per head from £5 '3s. in 1912 to £5 10s. in 1914 has been paid mainly by the land-owner, the income taxpa'vor* and the beneficiaries under tho wills of deceased persons. The increases are as follow; — Land tax.

£120,446; income tax, £105,336; death duties, £252,365. The increase in the Customs revenue for the same period was £155,642. It is rather amusing, therefore, to hear some politicians, who have always regarded the land-owner and the wealthy testator as fair game for the tax-collector, crying out because taxation has increased under the present Government.—ChristchurcTi "Sun "

When the Prime Minister was expressing the opinion that the present Government would be returned to power at. the forthcoming elections a member of Ins audience at Papakura (says an exchange) interjected: "I don't like your chance." "Well," 6 aid Mr. Massey, "you can bet five to one,' and you will be picking up money at that." 'I will take you," rejoined the doubting one, and the jocular wager was nominally clinched by the Prime Minister's ready "All right."

Mr. Gordon Coates, M.P. for Kaipara, who is seeking re-election, opened his campaign at Ruawai on Monday. He pointed out that when the Government took office it found a bare treasury, but it was not responsible for the financial troubles of 1912. The country's expenditure had been increased by the raising of the salaries of the police, civil servants, . and teachers. He showed that the alleged increase in taxation had no effect upon the worker, and that the Customs taxes had really decreased.' The only peoplo affected wero those who could afford to pay. In regard to a State sawmill—a matter of considerable interest in the' district— the speaker said that experts had been appointed by tho Government to. go into the matter, and that the war had been responsible for the work not having been commenced. He hoped that it would be started shortly.

An announcement has been made by Mr. William Richardson, a candidate for Auckland Central, that he will support the Reform Party. 'For social, political, and local reasons," he states, "I will support Mr. Massey, whose term of office has shown that he is no popularity-hunter nor political adventurer, but a man desirous of promoting the best interests of the country."

Sir Joseph Ward proposed to inthe graduated land tax, but it was a" fact that the Massey Government was the first since tho days of Ballanco to actually do this. It had put more tax on unused estates, and under.that Government there had been more subdivision of big estates than for 20 years.—Mr. Pirani at Gonville.

"The Social-Democrats, the Opposition are explaining, are not Socialists, not Red Feds.—indeed, not SocialDemocrats at all, but good sound Liberals. We are asked not to'mention tho Rod Feds., and the public is assured that 'the handful of revolutionary extremists have been practically driven out of tlie Labour-movement.' Before they can believe this, the moderate majority of the community will wish to know why the 'Labour movement' is bqing entirely managed by the men who managed the Federation and aided tho ll . strike."—Christchnrch "Press." f

"Sir James Carroll declared at Takapau recently that Mr. Massey had not put a singlo settler on the land. Sir James is hardly a responsible politician, but one expects some slight regard for the truth of the facts from a man who offers himself for Parliamentary honours."—"Hawko's Bav Herald "

. He would not say the present Government was the best New Zealand'had ever had. Tho Ballanee Government was tho best and most fruitful, but the Massey Government certainly ranked next to it.—Mr. Pirani at Gonville.

Sir Walter Buchanan ' addressed a. largely-attended meeting in the Featherston Town Hall on Tuesday evening, when he vigorously defended the policy and administration of the Reform Government. He quoted figures to disprove many of the current accusations of the Opposition in regard to finance and land settlement, maintaining that the Massey Cabinet had been particularly successful in these departments. A unanimous vote of thanks was passed to the candidate.

The "Rangitikei Advocate" 'remarks that there.is one measure the promise of which would have given the most cenvincine proof of the reality of Sir Joseph Ward's democratic professions. "That is." it continues, ''a Bill for the suppression of hereditary titles in the Dominion. That Brobdiuagian landowner, Mr. Russell,- might second Sir Joseph Ward in his time of self-denial by embodying in his leader's programme a provision that nobody should own more than, say, twenty thousand acres of land. A programme containing those two pknks, with such practical evidence of self-reformation on the; part of the hereditary aristocracy and the vast land-owning interests, would be magically magnetic to the voters of the country." • - '

On. Tuesday Mr. C. K. Wilson held very successful meetings at Kopaki and Mangapehi. _ At the latter place a large attendance listened to the speaker with great attention, and at the close of the meeting a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried.

In his opening address at Waimate the other evening, Mr. John Anstey, the Opposition candidate for the Waitaki seat, said ho was sorry that the naval question was being made a party question to some extent. It was a piece of impertinence for anyone to lay down a naval policy for New Zealand, and say that it should continue, A naval policy would have to vary from time to time to suit circumstances. The arrangements made by Sir Joseph Ward for naval protection wore, the speaker contended, far better than the Hon. J. Allen's proposals for a local navy. What earthly use would Mr; Allen's Bristol cruiser be to New Zealand in the present crisis? She would bo blown to pieces at the first attack. New Zealand in the meantime should continue its contribution to the Imperial Navy. The submarine, tlio aeroplane, the minelaying indicated that New Zealand could do something in the way of protecting her shores, and lie thought the Government should start now to train a corps for working aeroplanes, and another for submarines. New Zealanders had lots of initiative, and they should make a big effort in experimenting with the two engines of war he had referred to.

Owing to the rough weather last night, Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald's 'J.'awa Flat meeting was postponed until Tuesday evening next.