THE GENERAL ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2310, 18 November 1914, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION

CAMPAIGN POINTS.

NEWS NOTES AND ADDRESSES AND PRESS .COMMENTS. Food for reflection on the subleot of Naval Defenoe Is provided by the two extraots which are printed side by side below. One Is from Sir Joseph Ward's speech at Winton on Monday: the other Is from Mr. Allen's statement on naval policy after his return from London In 1913:— .•'*■■ SIR JOSEPH WARD.. ME. ALLEN. "The situation in the Pacific will "I think ,every New Zealander be absolutely regulated by the decw was under the impression when the sions in European waters. Two or gift was made that the ship would three Australian and New Zealand be supplemental to the effortsof Dreadnoughts, if brought into line the British, Admiralty-an addiin'the decisive theatre, might turn tional margin of safety. . . .. I the scale and make victory not only am not able to tell the House that certain but complete. The same our gift does represent an additional three Dreadnoughts in Australian margin of safety; on the other ' waters would be useless the day hand,-it is certain that if the ship . after the defeat of the British Navy -were destroyed to-morrow it would in European waters. Their exist- have to be replaced by the British ence would only serve to prolong taxpayer. In my opinion it does the agony without altering the not provide an additional margin course of events. Their effectiveness of safety, and is not supplemental to would have been destroyed by events the British programme. Ine posiwhich had taken place on the other tiori of. the Australian Dattleside of the globe, just as fully as cruiser is different because it is if they had been sunk in the not on the Admiralty list, and is battle.' 1 undoubtedly supplemental and an :-■•'•' ' additional margin of safety to the ■ ' ordinary British programme. The difference between the two policies becomes therefore apparent. Australia, depending upon her own efforts, has brought into existence an Imperial Fleet beyond what the Admiralty would otherwise, have provided. New Zealand has paid .. - v for a ship, and has relieved the British taxpayer to that extent." ■ Sir Joseph Ward overlooks the fact, long since recognised, that whether New Zealand had given a ship or not there would to-day be Just the same number of battleships and battle-cruisers in the North Sea. Australia's ship is a real reserve, and, if need arises, can at a month's call go to reinforce the North Sea Fleet after the first crash of battle.

Tho Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey) .will speak in Dunedin South this evening.

Interesting rumour is current regarding Wanganui; it is said that Mr. Hogah (formerly member for tie.electorate) is about to take the field as a supporter of the Opposition. If Mr. Hogan enters into the campaign the prospects of a straight-out contest between Mr... Pirani and Mr. yeitch are at an end.

During the Massey regime the land tax had been increased from 13s. Id. to 14s. 3d;, the indome tax from Bs. to 10s. 3d.,- and tho death duties from Bs. 9d'. to lis. sd.—all increases upon those best able to pay. He felt they should go one bettor with the graduated land tax in order to force subdivision. Already as a result of the increased tax no less than 1,943,763 acres had been thrown open for closer settlement.—Mr. G. It. Sykes, M.P. for Masterton. '

The Opposition cry about the possibility of tlieir vote .being split in a number of electorates through a multiplicity of candidates taking the field is considered in Auckland to be a wail of despair from a party seeking excuse for defeat well in advance of the event. One Auckland journal analyses this excuse, and finds that the analysis shows "fifty-nine constituencies with only two candidates, and only, seventeen in which there can be any splitting of votes.

Mr. Jennings, who. is seeking to regain the Taumarunui seat which he lost three -rears ago, claimed' eloquently the other day' that he is, and always was, a freeholder. So he is, and so he was, but the electors of Taumarunui had to remove Mr. Jennings and put Mr. Wilson in his place before they got the freehold. Had Mr. Jennings, gone back and his party gone back the member for Taumarunui -would still have been an enthusiastic freeholder, and the farmers would still have had the leasehold forced upon them at every land sale—"New Zealand Herald."

One of the many shallow attempts to asperse the Government was dealt with By Mr. G. R. Sykes. M.P.. for Masterton, at Konini on' Saturday evening. The Government (Mr.. Sykes said) had been blamed for tho sharp rise in the price'of meat, a condition brought about by the heavv orders'received from the Imperial authorities.. It had been said the Government should have prevented tho wholesale exportation of.meat. Had tho orders been for' -private individuals this undoubtedly would have been done, but it was' impossible to refuse the Imperial authorities at a juncture when faced with, a grave orisis.

Referring to what he termed the "intrusion" of Mr. W, H. Turnbull into the Wellington North contest, Mr. H. Holland, the Social Democratic candidate, promised to make things interesting for the intruder. 'We shall treat him as an open foe ' 'le said, "just the same as we shall treat Mr. Herdman and his party: And I say now that Mr. Turnbull, m view-of his position and his past conduct, will have a bigger job to justify his entry into the contest than anv other candidate in the field. ... . I read a paragraph —and very subdued paragraph—this morning to say that Mr. Turnbull held a large and enthusiastic meeting last night? It was as large as two dozen people could make it, and it was about as enthusiastic as a funeral at Karon. (Laughter.)

An onslaught by Mr. Atmore on Mr. Mien was neatly turned to account by IMr Field, the . Reform candidate for Nelson. He alluded to the ■ statement that "the Hon. James Allen was politically so conceited that the safety valve of his colossal boiler was always fizzling " He said it was an amusing description, but it was applied to the wrong man. It should bn applied to Sir Joseph Ward, who had claimed m Parliament that he was never wrong. Mr Allen had asked him, 'Do you alwavs admit it when you are wrong?" "Always," replied Sir Joseph Ward, "but I am never wrong, and that is the difference between the honourable gentleman and myself."

During the past twonty-seven months (the Government's term of office) the Government borrowed, for- current expenditure,'close on a million less than the "Liberals" borrowed in the preceding 27 months.—Christchurch "Press."

"The squatters vote for the Reform Party all right, but it isn't the squatters that put the Reform Party into power. The "people who put the Reform Party into power are workingclass people. The Reform Party couldn't get into power unless working-class people voted'for them."—Mr., li. Holland, Social Democratic candidate for Wellington North, at his meeting last night;

Discussing election prospects in the south," the Duncilin "Star" says of Mataura:—Opposing the silting Government member (Mr. G. J. Anderson) is Mr. W, G. Mshaffey. For 30 "years he was teaching in Invercargill, being for

the greater portion of that time headmaster of the Middle School, but retired on superannuation a while ago. tt seems reasonably safe to predict that Mr. Anderson will win by a substantial margin. He has made many nersonal friends all over his electorate since his sensational defeat of Mr.R. M'Nab six years ago, and has a strong following, apart altogether from political issues. He enters with zest into the social life of the scattered country settlements of the constituency, and. follows a noncontroversial policy of easy-going geniality.

: Mr. Matthews, Opposition candidate for Pahiatua, complained that the Government had not taxed the land heavily enough. The retort'came from the Pahiatua "Herald," in thesowords: ,"It is pertinent to ask what the Liberals did when in office? Did they increase tho graduated land tax? Certainly not. The party talked noisily about it for yeaTS, but did nothing. On the other hand tho Massey Government promptly . levied ah increase, and between 1912 and 1914 the land-tax mounted up from £647,615 to £767,451, a substantial increase of £120,436. And .on top of this the Government proposes an'automatic increase of the graduated tax."'

"Mr. Turnbull forced himself into this fight in defiance of the wishes of the official Liberals," said Mr. H. Hollaud, the Social Democratic candidate, at his meeting last night. "We know that to-day. Everybody knows it. But the official Liberals would not dare to push' him out again because they feared it would be eaid that they were working with .the Social Democratic Party. That would have given them a bad name in some of the country constituencies. : They are willing to take the risk of ensuring the return of Mr. Herdman . .• . . in order to please

a few landowners up-country"

Of the Invercargill seat the "Star" says: "It was generally surmised that Mr. J. A. Hanari was going to have a walk-over for this seat, which he has held for 14 consecutive years, and up till'tlie beginning of this week none of the several gentlemen approached had the temerity to contest the nomination. Government supporters at last have the satisfaction of knowing that they will have o run for their money, as Mr. J. P. Lillicrap has consented to accept nomination in the Reform interest." _ Among the many scopes of Acts which it (the Reform Government) has passed there have, indeed, been very few which the Opposition Liberals have been able to oppose' in a division.—Timaru "Herald/ ■ ■"-..,

The hou6e-to-house canvass 'carried out by the Electoral Department for the purpose of enrolling votes has been completed all over New Zealand, with the exception of a few small areas. These have all been provided for and the enrolment will be absolutely completed in a day or two'. No possible arrangements, however, can be perfect, and all electors who have not already done so should satisfy themselves at once that they are on the roll. • The Prime Minister has already stated. that Parliament will be dissolved towards the end of the week. Within seven days after the dissolution of Parliament the Governor must instruct the head of the Electoral Department to issue writs for the elaction of a new Parliament, and the officer' must act upon this instruction within three dayß. The writs are returnable not more than 28 days after they are issued, and the date of the election must bo not less than seven days before the date for the return of the writs. On the day that the writs are issued, the rolls close at 6 p.m. It is highly improbable that there will be a delay of.a week between the dissolution of Parliament and the issue of the writs. It is much more probable that the two things will happen almost simultaneously. This means that the rolls :' will be open for only a few days longer.

The strength of the Reform. Government lies in the fact that the minds of its members and of. its supporters, in Parliament are agreed on definite views, and that the Cabinetis not a one-man concern, but a, Ministry of even strength. Mr ; Allon, Mr. Herrios, Mr. Herdnian, and Mr. Frasor are as well «ble to boar their share of the load as Mr. Massey is to bear his, and the wide differences of views and aspirations which Sir John Findlay found existing in the Opposition Party have no counterpart on the other side. —"Timaru Herald." •

Mr. Olcey, M.P. for Taranaki, paid a tribute to the members of the Cabinet when addressing his constituents. "Mr. Massey," said Mr. Okey, "was a man who had risen from a farm labourer to Prime Minister of the Dominion." He (Mr. Okev) had worked under Mr. Massey. for seven years, and he' was confident that he was a man thoroughly reliable. Anything ho promised a district or a 'member would be carried out. Whatever might be said about the party not having kept its -pledges, every promise that the Prime Minister had made. bo far as Taranaki \ras concerned, had

been kept. As for Mr. Allon, Minister of Finance, ho was a "splendid man for tho portfolio." The way Mr. Herdman, Minister of Justice, had handled tho wharf 6triko some twelve months ago showed he was a man of firmness, nnd ono who could ho relied upon. The other members of the Cabinet wero equally strong and able men.

Several important amendments in the eleitoral law were made during tho recent session. Previously three months' residence in ono electoral district was a necessary qualification for enrolment, but the period has now been reduced to one month, and the definition of an elector is now as follows:—"Every adult person who has resided for ono year m New Zealand, and who has resided in the electoral district for which he claims to vote for one_ month immediately preceding his registration on the roll of the district, and who is a British subject either by birth or naturalisation in Now Zealand or a half-casto."

Any member of the theatrical profession and a commercial traveller who has resided in New Zealand for not less than one year is entitled to bo enrolled, although he may not have resided in one district for a month. Special provisions were also made for the registration of seamen with a view to securing an equitable distribution of their votes.

Much complaint has been made by members of the Opposition that the names of electors who have been previously enrolled, and whose registration should have been preserved, had been struck off the rolls by tho operation of the postal canvass. Recognising that fresh claims for enrolment might not be made by all those persons so disfran-. chised, Parliament inserted a clause in the Act which provides that any person whose name has been wrongly removed from a roll; may secure a vote by, making a declaration. This provision has obviously no relation to the case of a person who has not previously been enrolled and has neglected to make a claim for registration.

American business men generally declare that figures talk. Mr. Sykes, M.P/ for Masterton, who is being opposed again by Mr. A. W. Hogg, delivered a few speaking figures at Kcnini in a recent address. Mr. Sykes said that during the three years he had. represented the electorate no less than £61,113 had been expended in the acquisition of estates for closer settlement and for workers' homes. During Mr. Hogg's 21 years of office only one estate had been acquired, though plenty admirably adapted for the purpose were offering. All the estates he had submitted to the Government, with the exception of one, had been acquired.

The weight of years ride lightly on the busy shoulders of Sir "Walter Buchanan, the veteran Wairarapa Parliamentarian. He is at present campaigning with the utmost vigour, 'and often covers a considerable distance froin day to day to address gatherings of his electors. On Saturday evening, says an exchange, he spoke at Te Wharau, and was given one of the most enthusiastic receptions accorded him in that district. The building in which the speech was delivered was filled to overflowing. Mr. M. M'Gregor occupied the chair, and hearty votes of thanks were accorded the sneaker and chiarman at. the conclusion of the address.. The Australian Navy had saved New Zealand from disaster. Next time, he honed, we would be readv to help ourselves. Sir Josenh Ward's ideas about the Navy were fossilised, and Mr. Allen's forecasts and policy had been amply justified bv the events of tho war."—Mr. C. J. Parr at Edendale. The abolition of the second ballot system was justified by Mr. Sykes, M.P., at Konini, who stated that for the return of one member last election tho system had cost the country from £700 to £1000. Before the last elections the people were told that if Mr. Massey was.returned to power public works would be closed down, and there would be stagnation of trade. The Liberals said the country would go back to the time when soup kitchens were introduced. Instead of this the conditions of the masses were better than ever before.— Mr. G. W. Venables, Keform candidate for Napier. Just now, when persons and prints are speculating as to the date of. the election, the public may be glad to know something of the formula which proclaims a general election. The writs are" returnable in 28 days, and a week is usually allowed to tho returning officers to complete their returns and forward the endorsed writs' to the clerk. The supplementary rolls are automatically closed at 6 p.m. on tho day in which the - writs > are issued. The date of polling day is named in the writs, and public notice of the date has to be given by advertisement at least 12 days before, including the day on which the notice is published and the polling day. Nominations of candidates have to be made not later_ than noon on the tenth day before polling day.

Mr. Fred Pirani, the Reform candidate for Wanganui, was last night paid the high compliment of one of the largest audiences which has ever assembled to listen to a. political address. The Opera Houso was packed in every part, standing room being at a premium even on tho stage—From yesterday's Wangariui "Chronicle."

The election programme of the Reform Party contained eleven' planks, and nine of these the Government have fully redeemed—a splendid achievement for a single Parliament. And this was achieved in the teeth of a persistent and determined attempt by the Opposition, who resorted to overy known method of obstruction and time-wasting, and also to methods hitherto unknown, to prevent anything being done.—Christchurch "Pross."

In short, the "Liberal" appeal for office amountß merely to a promise to do what they could easily have done, but did not do, in twenty-one years., Their "policy" is simply a large advertisement of the extent to which they neglected their opportunity—an opportunity such as has fallen to the lot of no other party in modern times.—ChristchiiTch "Press."

One of the planks of his platform would be an increase of' the beer tax by 3d., which would bring in a. revenue of £12,300 por year, and this could bo utilised for providing pensions for invalids and incompetents. —Mr. 6. R. Sykes, M.P.

Mr. R. F. Bollard, whom the "Liberals" envy on account of the safety of his seat, continues to be received with enthusiasm wherever he speaks. \ The farming and business communities of tho Raglan constituency are exhibiting great confidence in their member.

The Massey Government had' done more than the previous Government for the betterment of the condition of the classes and the masses. He could not point to any measures of benefit to the workers that had been excised by the Massey Government, but lie could point nut fourteen measures which had been improved and made better by them.— Mr. G. W. Venables, Reform candidate for Napier.

No greater calamity .could happen to this country than that Sir Joseph Ward should be returned to power with a majority composed of Red Feds, and it is certain th.it without them he cannot hope for a majority,—"Hawko's Bay Horald."