THE GENERAL ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2319, 28 November 1914, Page 8

THE GENERAL ELECTION

CAMPAIGN POINTS.

NEWS NOTES AND ADDRESSES

AND PRESS COMMENTS.

The agility with which Sir Joseph Ward can throw a political somersault is well shown by his attitude on the defence question. Compare the following:— 1908. ' ' . 1011. "How were they going to estab- "It is truly cool, colossal impulisli a system which would pro- dence oil the part of my opponents vide against invaders coming to to deprive me of my just due in to New Zealand?- What noil- regard to universal training for sense! . . . They had to guard the country. .. . They try to disagainst any invidious system of count what I was solely responmilitarism in this country in the sible for."—Sir Joseph Ward, at shape of compulsory training be- Winton, November 16, 1911. ing driven down the throats of tho peoplo of the Dominion. They should be practical."—Sir Joseph •Ward, at Feilding, October 20, 1908. If Sir Joseph Ward becomes Primo Minister after the elections en December 10, it can only bo by an alliance with the Social Demo* crats. That party's attitude on the defenoe question is set out in plank No. 12 of its fighting platform:— "The repeal of the present inadequate Defence Act, and the creation' of a citizen army on a volunteer basis." Sir Joseph Ward, despite his declaration in 1908, somersaulted in 1909 after the movement for compulsory training led by Mr. Allen and Dr. M'Nab had gathered way. To-day he wants office, and his Red Federation supporters want the Act repealed. Tho question for the electors is where Sir Joseph Ward's next somersault is likely to land him.

A special meeting of the Wellington Operative ..Bootmakers' Union was held in the Trades Hall last evening to discuss the political situation. Mr. It. Milligan, president, presided. The following motion was carried: "That this union, being affiliated to tho Social Democratic Party, regrets the alliance between the Liberal and Labour Parties, and advises members to support the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister of Customs, in his candidature against the Liberal and Labour Alliance in Wellington Central."

"If a Government is to be enterprising, if it desires to avoid stagnation, it is necessary beyond question that borrowed money must bo brought-into the country for the purposes of development. The only duty - that a Government is charged with is to see that the money is a reasonable sum, that it in borrowed on fair conditions, and for a reasonable term."—Mr. Herdnian at Northland.

Mr. L. M. Isitt, the Opposition candidate for Christchurch North, is encountering very heavy weather. In Thursday's Christchurch' "Press" there appears a long letter from "R. L. Herps, Prohibition organiser for Kaiapoi and Hurunui." Extracts from it run: —"Sir,—Anentyour question to the Prohibitionists appearing in yesterday's sub-leader, 'What is the candid opinion of our Prohibitionist friends in regard to the conduct of Mr. L. M. Isitt in invading the Kaiapoi electorate to oppose Air. David Jones in the interest of Mr. Buddo?' Lot it be understood once for all that Mr. Isitt is not the official mouthpiece of the Prohibition Party. Further, Mr. Isitt entirely . misinterprets the 'political action' policy of the New Zealand Alliance. . . . Mr.

Isitt, regardless of, and in opposition to, the avowed policy of Kaiapoi, entors the electorate in the interest of the 55-45 .per cent., candidate. It is patent to everyone that Mr. Isitt's party bias has suddenly obscured his mental vision. . , . Truly Mr. Isitt was right when he said, he came to trouble Israel, but it has been to the detriment of Israel, and we are likely to remain in the wilderness until we can discover some 'Joshua —as in the days of Taylor—to lead us across this swollen,, passionate, political Jordan."

The Opposition Party have been very energetic, but very unsuccessful, in denying that there is kinship and sympathy between themselves and the Red Feds. Bat at tho same time they, have shown, in unguarded moments, _ that tliey share the Red Fed point 6f view.—' Christchurch "Press."

Dr. Newman laid stress on the need to make public the attractions of the tourist resorts of the North Island when speaking last night. He particularly mentioned Tongariro National Park and Ruapehu. "Wherever tourists go," said the speaker, "they drop a lot of money. So long as we can attract them to come through Wellington the public will do the rest. Tourists always leave a silver and gold.trail behind them."

The Prime Minister's North Island campaign commenced last evening at Hawera, where he addressed at the Opera House the largest public meeting ever held in the town, says our correspondent. The Mayor (Mr. Whittington) presided over an audience of 1800 people, and hundreds were unable to gain admission. Settlers from the surrounding district came in large numbers, and the theatre was densely crowded. Mr. Massey was in excellent form, and on rising to speak was greeted with an ovation which lasted for several minutes. At'the conclusion of a twohours' speech Mr. Massey resumed his seat amid loud cheers.

During the course of the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher's meeting at Feilding a small thin voice piped out, "Three cheers for Sir Joseph Ward." The feeble response prompted the Minister to remark, "Oh, we'll drown that lot. Three cheers for Mr. Massey," and the great audience fairly lifted the roof. The noisy ones had no more cheers left for anybody after that.

Our Opposition friends are still anxious to have the public understand that there is nothing so unlike Wardism as Red Fedism. As a first step towards helping the public to understand this, _ ihe Christchurch organ- of the Opposition ought to print an article taking as its text its, own statements, made in an editorial on July 31, 1013. as follows:—"The Liberals supported ■Mr. Webb because they knew that nine-tenths of his policy ivas their own." Christchurch "Press."

The political past of the Hon. G. Fowlds, one of the Opposition candidates for Grey Lynn, was inqaired into by some of the electors at a meeting this week. When question time arrived, the candidate was asked on what grounds he called himself "the only selected Labour candidate" for Grey Lynn. In reply, Mr. Fowlds stated that ho was nominated by the United Labour Party, and he was not aware that any other candidate had been nominated by a Labour organisation. The Questioner: Mr. Payne has been nominated by the Social Democratic Party. If that is proved to you, will you give up 'your claim to be called the only selected Labour candidate P . Mr. Fowlds: Certainly, I will. The Questioner: Do you- think the United Labour Party had any right to nominate you for this seat? So far as I know there rtre only eight or nino members of the party in Grey Lynn. So Grey Lynn is another seat where the alliance is chaotic. Speaking at Northland last smiing, the Hon. A, h, Herdman said that thoy

would have noticed that in every nook and. corner of New Zealand the Government had been stigmatised as being pledge breakers. "T want to say,", declared the Minister amid cheers., "that that statement is a wild and utterly-un-justifiable invention. Our planks have been securely nailed down, and wo take our stand at this election on our constructive- achievements. We have established a record which should satisfy every impartial critic."

The Eeform Ministry may, or may not, be as wicked as Mr. Semple and Sir J. G. Ward and their friends believe them to be, says the Christchurch "Press." At any rate, they are less expensive luxuries than "Liberals" are. At Waikouaiti on Tuesday night the Hon. Mr. Allen gave some figures regarding Ministerial travelling allowances :—

Ward Ministry—£2s6B per annum. Mackenzie Ministry (£1446 in 3 2-sth months) —£5100 per annum.

Massey Ministry (July 10, 1912— March 31, 1914, 20 2-3 rd months, £3297) —£1914 per annum.

"I think you will find, if the Reform Party has throe years more of office, that the same vigorous policy of land settlement carried cn during the last three years will be again pursued. Wherever it is possible to bring land into settlement. Mr. Massey will do it, and do it well." (Applause.)— Dr. Newman at Roseneath last night.

Mr. R. A. Wright, Reform candidate for the Suburbs, speaking* at Belmont last evening, declared that the receptions accorded to Mr; Massey in various parts of the countrv were proof that he had the people with him. The Opposition had engineered a most mendacious campaign, but their calumnies had Tecoiled upon their own heads. Important public opinion now thoroughly recognised that no Government could have averted the Huntly disaster. When nn Opposition had to descend to such low_ depths of abuse as the Liberal and Socialist Parties had descended, it was evident that they were suffering from a bankruptcy of practical proposals.

In reply to a question at liis meeting last evening, with regard to tlie ostrich farm, Mr. Herdman said that of all the wild and' defamatory statements that had been made against the Prime Minister that was about the worst. When ordinary fair criticism failed to penetrate tho Government armour, then some people invented gross ana contemptible charges. It was a right out charge ,of political corruption. These sentiments were heartily cheered. Mr. Herdman produced a plan from the Lands Department showing that the Waiuku railway only 'went through a very small part of the farm, and that the station could be nowhere near tho farm.

"Some people cried, 'Give us polities' when Mr. Massey spoke about war at Lower Hutt," said Dr. Newman to the electors at Ro.ieneath last night. "There never has been anything so important iu its effect' on New Zealand Solitics as the war, and if it had not een for the strength of tho British Navy things wouid be serious here. They were asked why they did not pht on a war tax? Ladies and gentlemen, the policy of *he Reform Party is never to put on a tax unless necessary; apart from taxes to put large estates on the market. There was 110 need to impose a war tax yet, and Reform decided not to put it on. There was no reason to pull long faces, 01 be anxious about finances in New Zealand."

"Mr. P. C. Webb, the Social-Demo-cratic candidate for the Grey seat, had an opportunity on Tuesday night of giving an account of his stewardship, but like tho counsel with no case he abused the other side."—"Grey River Argus."

Tho fact of the matter is, that the "Liberals" were ejected just in time to prevent the drift of the national economy from ending in disaster.—Exchango.

Referring to the reform of the Civil Service, the 'Hon. A. Lv Herdman at Northland last evening said that some adverse criticism had been passed upon the new system, hut he had been making inquiries, and he was convinced that the objections that had been offered came from politicians in the Service and from a few disgruntled servants who now recognised that no longer the possibility of advancement depended upon Ministerial favour. Salaries, conditions of employment, and holiday conditions were far better than in the past. (Cheers.)

An estimate of the Reform candidate for Nelson, Mr. T. A. Field:—"One word in regard to the candidates. I have worked.in the council and on commutes with both. The Reform candidate is a man with brains, who knows how to nsc thein; he is a straight goer, a good worker. If returned for Nelson, I am confident he will do good work in Parliament and in such a manner that will command respect from both sides of the House."—Mr. E. Webley, in the Nelson "Mail."

"You can hardly call them allies," said Dr. Newman last nifjjht, when referring to the Liberal-Labour alliance. Ho continued and said that the Red Feds, did not like the party with the titled aristocrat at the head, and the party was like the drunkiu man who said to the lamppost: "Divided we fall, united we stand." They were clinging together in the hope that they would survive the elections, but ho was confident iMorra would ha on top.