CANDIDATES' SPEECHES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2307, 14 November 1914, Page 8

CANDIDATES' SPEECHES

WELLINGTON SOUTH SEAT

ROWDIES AT MR,. LUKE'S MEETING

The first teste of apparently organ- ■ ised "rowdyism" at political meetings in the present campaign was given last., night at St. Thomas's Hall, Newtown,; where Mr. J. P, Luke, Reform candi- •. date, opened . the Wellington South contest. The demonstration came from : a small section of the audience, which { numbered about'3so. ' What they lack- . ed in numbers, the rowdy section made ; up in noise,, but, the.majority of thosa present were prepared, to give the candidate a fair hearing. A vote of confidence in Mr. Luke and. tho Governmeet was declered to be carried before the meeting ended. Mr. -J. Gallie presided. • ~ -

Mr. Luke was applauded on "rising : to speak. He said that the great bulk ■' of the people of Wellington had endorsed his labours while he was Mayor. Ho did not intend to bring his Mayoral ' position into the contest, but he would - say that during his residence in Wellington he had endeavoured to do -hia best in the interests of the City. (Applause.) He went on to deal with the present war, and paid a tribute to the soldiers New Zealand had sent to assist the Empire. Party Must Prevail. • Mr. Luke said he stood for South ; Wellington because it was the request : - of the party he was associated with that \ he should contest the . seat. (Ap- ' plause.) During: his previous term of office in' Parliament he' had l ' promised to support liberal,' progressive legislation, ' and he' had', never gone back on that'. He'"' was then Independent, and several times voted for the Massed Government, because they proposed matters whioh lie supported. During his term' of office'tie made many friends, but now he said that 'there was no' use going to the House of Representatives ; at an Independent. If a member was - going to do any good he had to member of a party. Mr. Luke went on to deal with the fall of the Liberal ; Party, and the coming into power of ■ tlie Massey Government.' The present Government met many difficulties, -he' said, and what he liked about 1 them ; was their undoubted-honesty. . Applause and counter-applause greet- ; ed the statement. - "We don't believe' you," came from the back of the hall. "There Is nothing about the Massey Government that;won't stand;the light of day," said Mr. Luke. I Confidence of the Country, I "What about Fisher?" , ' ; I Mr. Luke: "We will leave Fisher ' [ alone now. I say no' member of the , Government has done anything to bring the blush of shame to anyone's face." '/ He ' admitted th.ey had made mistakes, but everyone made, mistakes," and ' lie 6aid the Government hhd 1 the 1 confidence of tlie country. A voice: Why did you change ■ your 1 coat?" Mr. Luke: "My"coat is all fight, and' I will give you an answer to that'qque- t tion at any time!" He wanted to' say ' that the Massey Government were seized with a full sense of their rosponsibili- . ties, and he did not believe one of them would remain on the Treasury benches ' for twenty-four hours if he felt he did ' not have the confidence of. the country. , A voice: They never had a majority. ; "Oh, shut up," came from another part of the hail. . . ■ I A voice: What about ( the ' Huntly miners ? ' ■ ' f ■" '' ■ - i Mr. Luke: "We will deal with'that later. ■It is always a fair deal to let • the man addressing the audience havo • his say. lam not frightened'to answer questions. I value getting into Parliament, but I don't value it at the price of giving away my liberty and my manhood, and I say that candidly to ,you." (Loud applause.) . He believed the Massey Government. were thoroughly competent, and in re-. ference' to their finances they had showed they could act for the best interests , of tho country., When Mr._ Massey , took office there was only £183,0Q0 for' him to carry on., ■ ~ ■ ' •

A.voice: Poor Mr. Massey. ; . . Mr. Luke: Yes, poor Mr. Massey. He v lad many difficulties, yet he closed therear with a- surplus of £426,900 :after • transferring "to Public AVorks £6/5,000, . £175,000 more than was transferred in 1912. - Mr. Luke went on to. deal with the question, of- loans, and quoted figures to show that the Massey Government >. was only responsible for £6,300,00. The' Ward Government's net increase of: debt averaged £3,610,631 per year, and the Massey Government only averaged * £3,165,508. Much of the loan money'' raised by Mr. Massey was to redeem' loans of the previous Administration.' Turning to the Public Works Fund,, he: said tliat Sir Joseph Ward'shest year-. 1y expenditure- was £2,190,713, while in Sir., Massey's first year it was £2,347,965, and in his second year £2, The Ward. Government's average expenditure oil roads' was £374,692, and Mr. Mrissey's average was £434,808. ■ Mr. Luke contrasted many • figures of the two Administrations. He showed that the Massey Government, had strenuously acquired lands for settlement, and -during the 1 last two 'years 2316 rural freeholders subdivided into 6196 lots. Subdivision, was still on the increase, and for the six months ended March 31, 1914, 865 holdings were subdivided into 2190 lots of a total area of 252,642 acres, a clear answer to the charge that the Massey Government did not favour private subdivision. (Applause.) The graduated land tax had brought about closer settlement, causing great increase in the I exports. The Government was. doing all it could for the small fanner, and , the'increased output by the farmer' meant more work for the man in the city. " (Applause.) The number of graduated taxpayers under! the Ward Administration was 1472, payitig . £14,038. while the number increased

under the. present Administration to 2808, paying , £60,218. "1 think the figures show," said the candidate, ' that the Government has the confidence of the people, and is going back to power.". (Loud applause and a hostile demonstration.) "They Were ; Too Slow."Mr. Luke said that the Massey Government had done a great deal for the workers. A cry:' What about Huntly? Mr. Luke: I will come to.that directly. just listen and be fair over these figures:—During the first six years of the Workers' Dwellings Act, <210 buildings were erected, and the Reform Gov ernment erected 315 . dwellings since they came into* office. .(Applause.) The Government had treated all the Publio Servants well, and had showed no favouritism. The Government's Social and Industrial legislation had been very beneficial, especially the reduction of the age for receiving the pension. A voioe: Tho Ward Government would 'have done that.-

' Another elector: But they were too slow. (Laughter.) Mr, Luke was frequently interrupted, and the chairman protested. "A real good-looking young man there has bad a pretty good 6how," he said. "Yes, shut up," shouted several of the audience io the disturber. The candidate showed how the Government ; had courageously tackled 1 all the conditions arising out of the warhad bought up all available : wheat in Australia, provided a Mortgages Extensions Act, - etc. When- the war came to an end-—- v.

A voice: They will get out. Mr. Luke: Get on with their progressiva policy for the welfare of the country. (Applause.) Mr. Luke's Views. Placing his own views before the meeting he said he advocated vigorous land settlement, the purchase of . esf tates, agricultural education, fostering trade and commerce, preference to British manufactures, etc. They ijad' had enough, ho said, of buildiiig up countries opposed to Britain'. They Bhould now foster trade relations with their Allies;' (Applause.) Ho favoured the' festering cf local industries,, ahd; contended, that locomotives should be built

ia New Zealand, and not imported. He also supported the idea that ship-build-ing should be fostered in this country; Ho also favoured the encouragement of the fishing industry: Further the candidate said ' that the / Government should go in for afforestation on ail extensive scale, . The frliit = industry "should be ' en- : couraged .in every way, by the settlement'of the fruit lands. -Dealing with local matters,, he favoured the construction of the ■ Rimtitaka deviation, and the building of. a central station. 'The citizens of Wellington should do their best to elect; a supporter of the Government.- He. believed the Government: Would, come back with a solid majority, and that would silence , the "heckling" the Government : got that they vie re not- occupying the Treasury benches by. the votes of the . people. . ■ ' Question Time. Mr., Luke was bombarded, with quen- , tkms about the Huntly disaster, Hawke's Bay land, etc. "What are the Government doing to open up the Hawke's Bay land, where the big Squatters are?' 1 askeda well--known Laboiir leader. f , Mr. Luke : "They , are doing as much to open tip .the Hawke's Bay lands 'as , they are doing to ojj&n up the lands of any . other tay—With . the Graduated Land Tax.'' (Applause and: laughter.). "Will'you reduce the hours of women: workers in woollen nlills?" V "Yes." Further, he said, he waV.in favour of a; local .Navy) tounder; the. control of the Imperial authorities in time of trouble. ■ Mr. Castle asked would the candidate support an increase for the lower grades of teachers. - Mr. Luko replied in the affinnative Questions of the "heckling'.' kind were being shouted at Mr. Luke from a section of the hall, and the .chairman again entered a protest. • Would Not CIV 6 Falf Play> i "One of the characteristics of the Britisher," he Said, "is fair play. ; There is a little ooterie in that corner which doei not' intend to give Mr. Luke fair play." (Applauso.) A minute later Mr. M. J. Lafaoy rose with a further, question. "I am not going to .take another 'question' from you, said the chairman. '.'I ani chairman of- this meeting and not you.'' Questions ranging from the quality of boots supplied to the Expeditionary Forfle to, a tax on bachelors poured in.

Mri Liracy atood up, aiid was greeted with cries of "Sit down, i sit down." The. chairman (to Mr, L&racy): "The" opinion of the meeting is that you : sit down;" : v . Mr. Larao? sat down. . The chairman ; suggested that they had enough questions, and a gentlenian mounted the platform to propose a motion.. .. . . Evotitually Mr. J. Tamblyn moved, and Mr. T. Castle seconded, a vote of thanks and appreciation in the candidate and the It was the signal for' a burst af applause, followed by an organised hostile demonstration, and in the din the chairman rose and declared the motion carried. ■ Cheers and counter-oheers for the party leaders were given, as the meeting ended. ;.,THE' SUBURBS SEAT.

MR. R. A. WRIGHT. AT SEATOUN,

The tea Mom at Seatoun was well filled last night when Mr. R. A. Wright continued his electoral addresses. Mr. Barnett was appointed chairman • and briefly introduced the speaker. . Mr. Wright, who was applauded on rising to speak,; vigorously defended tho Government against the reckless charges which have been' made against them. Ono charge was that the Government had ordered the valuers to reduce' the values of . large estates so that the owners would escape tho graduated land tax. This was characterised as a monstrously unjust and Wickedly untrue statement. The Government never interfered with any of its servants in this or any other matter.. An elector present stated that the Government had dismissed men from ono Department because they were-opposed to it in politics. Mr. Wright challenged this statement, and denied that anything of t'he kind had been done, Tho present Ministry had never been guilty of penalising men because of their politics. . In answer 'to a question he . said that-he would not vote for a measure brought, down by the Government if it were wrong or against the interests of the people, but lie would support the Government on any noTConhdenee motion. He was in favour of progressive measures. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried.

Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald (Opposition) addressed a meeting of over 100 electors at ICarori last evening. Mr. B. (J. li. Burn presiding. The address was mainly on tho. lines of former speeches, the landidata condemning the present Government and stressing the work done : >y the previous Government. Hie canlidate was accorded the'usual vote on 'ho motion of Mi. Hart, seconded by Mr. T. Campbell. A commit teo was set jy to further Mr. Fitzgerald's interests. Mr. F. T. Mooro (Labour) addressed a meeting"'at Lyall Bay last niglit, Mr. J. Castles presiding. The candidate outlined the objecuve of the Labour Party, which party, ho said, by Parliamentary precedence, was destined to freo the world from its economic wrongs and secure tho abolition of want and poverty, c A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. Mr. A. Aislabie (Opposition) address-

Ed a.meeting at Ngaio last evening, Mr. ,B'. Lynneberg presiding. The canaidate dealt at some length with his proposed tax on bachelors. On the motion of Mr. Chapman, seconded by Mr. Prince, he was accorded a vote of thanks.

BRUCE ELECTORATE. • (By Telegraph—P leEfl Association.) Milton, November 13. Mr. R. 0. Smith, Liberal candidate for Bruce, addressed a large meeting here to-night. He devoted much of his attention to pointing out how Mr. Massey's Government had not fulfilled its and was, at tho conclusion of his remarks, accorded a comprehensive and unanimous vote of thanks, the meeting recognising in him a fit candidate to represent Bruce. It was further resolved "that this meeting reaffirms its faith in the Liberal Party as the party that would give a square.deal to the mass of the population of .New Zealand."

MR. E. "NEWMAN AT MARTON, Marton, November 13

Mr. E. Newman, the sitting Government membor for Raugitikei, addressed d, crowded audience in the Marton Town Hall last night Ho referred to the assistance New Zealand had obtained from the: Australian Navy, and expressed the opinion that while retaining our connection with the British Navy we must have local cruisers. Ho stated, that every pledge by the Massey Government when taking office had been fulfilled, with , two exceptions. ; He dealt with the question 9f land aggregation, detailed the provisions the present Government had made to prevent such; also the Legislative Council legislation,- Public Service, and concession to workers. The speaker, received a hearty: vote of thanks and confidence in the Massey Government, which, was carried by. acclamation and cheers. .

MR. ESCOTT AT PAHIATTJA. ■ v Pahlatua, Novembor 13. 1 Mr. J. H. Escott, Reform candidate for Pahiatua, opened-hiß campaign here last night. * There was a large attendance and the candidate had an excellent reception. .He reviewed the work of .the Government in comparison with that of the Ward Government. In reply to a question Mr. Escott said that personally he was not , in favour of Bible-reading iii ' schools, but he was agreeable to a referendum on the subject. He favoured a trial of the Nelson system. The candidate wag accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.

LABOUR IN DUNEDIN NORTH.

Ounodin, November 13. Mr. A; Walker, Labour'candidate for Dunedin North, opened his campaign this evening. He accused the Massey Government of weakness on the question of the cost Of livirig, and said that at the outbreak of the war the Government's action was in the interests; of the HoUrriiillers. Referring to' the Huntly disaster, he would not make an accusation against anyone, but they l knew the Bill prepared by the Mackenzie Government contained, provisions which'might have prevented such an accident, and the Ma6sey Government did not push it. on until subsequent to the catastrophe. He quoted figures to show' thab the business of the State Fire Insurance- Department had fallen off since the present Government assumed office, and expounded at Some length the platform of the Dunedin' Political Labour Committee, which, he contended, was very similar,to that,of.the Liberal League. A vote of thanks and tho fullest

i. TO-NIGHT'S MEETINGS. l yjlr. R; A. Wright, at Nonnandale, Ifc'W. fl, Field, at Rieikiorangi, 8, p.m. .- i MEETINGS ON MONDAY. Mr. R. 'A. Wright, at Ngahatifanga, 8 p!m. ' . Mr. W. H. Field, at Paekakariki, 8 p.m.