THE GENERAL ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2320, 30 November 1914, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION

CAMPAIGN POINTS. ' NEWS NOTES AND ADDRESSES AND PRESS COMMENTS. ■

Mr. J. Hutchison, secretary of the Wellington Bootmakers' Union, writes contradicting the- paragraph which appeared on Saturday to the effect that the iinion had carried a resolution regretting tho alliance between the Liberal and Labour Parties and advising its members to support the. Hon. F. M. B. Fisher for Wellington Central. Mr. Hutchison adds that no 'meeting of the union had been held to discuss the political situation.

"The profits of the' State Fire Office for two years and four months under the Liberal Administration were £16,248, and for the same period -under Mr. Fisher's control £38,331, a result which has iucreased public confidence in jlrv Fisher's business capacity." —Mr. Edward Newman at Kairanga. ■In connection with the AVestland seat the names of Messrs. Ralfe (Eokitika) and Guinness (Greymouth) are mentioned as likely Reform candidates to oppose Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon. It. is certain that a candidate will be nominated in the Reform interests. .• The Prime Minister will speak at Dannevirko this eveiiiug. "Thore are certain peoplo going about purposely making interjections, and if they think their party is going to get into power in the next twonty years they are making a mistake." (Cheers.) '—Mr. , J. S. Dickson, Pa-rnoll; to Opposition ihterjectors. A contemporary illustrates exactly whal Sir Joseph AA'ard meant when he said that his party had turned, Hβ back mi land monopoly:—On November 14, 1908 (election, manifesto), Sir J. f*. AVard epoko of "eighteen years ago": "AVe. turned our backs (he said) upon land monopoly, then unrestricted and rampant, as witness tlio fact that 584 owners held no less an area than 10,400,000 acres." He repeated- this statement on .December 6, 1911, quoting the same figures as evidence of the "land monopoly," which, he said, he had "destroyed." The Year.Book of 1911 (pp. 525-6) shows that 490 persons held 16,037,828 acres. 'Comment appears to be unnecessary.

The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. AA r ._F. Massey), when interviewed by a Dominion representative, said that he was perfectly satisfied with hie southern trip ' ' •': ' '

"It was,?-' ho stated, "a- success in every possible jivay, and I am quite satis-: fled from whnt l-.havo seen and heard that the Government is coming back from the South Island after the election very much stronger than it is at present.

"The Southland meetings wore most enthusiastic, and tho'Christchurch meeting' (though the Red Fed element ivas conspicuous at times), was a great improvement on-any meeting I had held there. . ■ . ' . ...

"With the Opposition it is another instance of 'No case, abuse the other 'eide'.' And.in furtherance of that policy they have raked up the Hnntly alleged scandal, the Ostrich Farm alleged scandal, and a few other filings of the same sort. -I. know tho people of New Zealand, however, and know that they aro too intelligent to be misled in that way. "I,have no hesitation in saying that as far as 1 am able to judge the outlook for the Government is very' good indeed."

Interrupters were played at thoir own game by Mr. J. S. Dickson, ' when he spoke iu Parnell a few evenings ago. At one stage hooting was indulged in by the section-at'tho back of the hall. Mr. Dickson: I am very glad you did that, gentlemen; it is going to get mo hundreds of votes. Just imagine handing the business of tbo country into, these people's hands! Mr. Dickson (a little later): "All 1 can say is this:. If we are going to put back into .power a party supported by a few of the representatives that are hero to-night, then God help the coun-j try!" ■' ■ . ' *■"' . ■

If the Leader of the Opposition believes that the Government has tampered with the <rolle it is. his duty to givo the names arid state.. the circumstances. No such attempt was made. On the contrary, Sir Jjbseph Ward went on to a more glaring aud more mischievous case of assertion without effort to substantiate or shadow of proof. —Auckland "Herald."

Tlie lion. Mr. Fisher, said Mr. Edward Newman, speaking at Kairanga, has proved himself as an able administrator of the Departments. under his control, and has gamed the confidence ofmany . members of both sides of the House for this rea6on. i .

It is a. regrettable, phase of public life in New Zealand that such tactics should be 60 often resorted to.in order to damage the good name- of public men, but when theso unjust methods aro so fully met, as they were in.Mr. Massey's case, they. do.more harm to those who employ "them than to those whom they are directed against. This will certainly bo the result so far as the AVaiuku railway is concerned.— ■'Manaw'atu Standard." '

A voice (svt Mr. Dick'son's Parnell meeting): "What about the 'specials?'" Mr. Dicksoii: "As far as the 'specials' go, I am hero to-night to stand up for them. It is a good thing for tho country and tho people who wanted to work that they had tho 'specials.' .'The 'speciab' will bo hero when they iwe wanted^"

It is astonishing, in view of the completeness with which the figures respect ing the electoral rolls disposo of tho uncandid criticisms of the Opposition, that anybody should have tho hardihood to repoat those criticisms.—Cbristehurch "Press."

We remember that this .time three years ago he (Sir Joseph Ward) was holding a sories of meetings of an impressively enthusiastic character. Bands, crowds, delirious chosrs, and admiration —these attended him from Auckland to Bluff, and led him to declare, with evor-increa-sing gladness and assurance, that ho would return stronger than over, with a majority'of nearly thirty. AVo all know.what happened —the bands and crowds and ovations and delirious enthusiasm were unavailing to stop the "Liberal" rout, and wore, no indication whatever of tliri votes to bo cast. — Christclnirch "Press."

It had been said that the Reform Government, had shown favouritism in aDDointin? Mr. 0. B. Morison to draft a Native Land Hill: In 1890 Mr. Seddoii employed the same gentleman to draft tlio Native Laud Kill of that roar. "I will now give you what the Ward Government paid some of their lawyers," said Mr. Field, "and the names will enable you to form an opinion whether they were staunch supporters of tho Liberal Ministry." Mr. Field then read a long liet of Davme» l »

that had been made to Messrs. D. M. Findlay, Findlay, Dakiol, and Co., 11. M'G'allum, and others, for services rendered in connection with the acquisition of large estates. "You will see," said Sir. Field,- "that one firm alone received between £6000 and £7.000."—Mr. T A; Field, Reform candidate for Nelson. Mr. J. D. Mathews, Opposition candidate for Pahiatua, is described by tho Pahiatua "Herald" as strutting before the electors as the chivalrous champion of the small fanner. . A Christchurch paper adds that Mr. 'Mathews can plead good company and good precedents:—• (1) Sir J. G. Ward, who is so poor that he naturally feels for the worker. (2) Mr. Russell, the .enemy of the land monopoly that allows him only 64,000 acres. , And so on. . ; .■ . lit 1911, my opponent wae looking for sticks to beat Sir Joseph AVard with, lie used tho' payment to the Chief Justice, the Mokau case, and the Pawelka, case as sticks. He said that the Minister of AYorks in Sir Joseph Ward's Government had said, at Stratford, "How could they expect to get money for railways if they did not vote for the Ward Government." He eaid that the AVard Administration left much to be desired. To-day- it seemed pori'ect in his eyes.—Mr. T. A. H. Field, Reform candidate ior Nelson.

One evening last week Mr. W. P. Storey declared to an overflowing crowd in the Newmarket Town Hall that lie was first in the field as the "Progresaive-Liberal" candidate, for I'arnel), that no other candidate bearing that description was genuine, and that he "blushed with ignominy and shame" {p think of the aotions of those men who had denied his claims to contest tho election as the official Opposition candidate. ■ A chairman was obtained from the assemblage, ■ aud .be added to the entertainment by frequently hiding hie face with his hat and laughing into it., Loud cheers greeted the announcement that the candidate would expound. Ms political platform. "This policy, ladies and gentlemen, I wrote myself," declared Mr. Storey. "I am proud of it, not only as a literary effort. Applause.) I have been where the early pioneers hewed their homes cut of the wilderness. I have taught school—(cheers)—l have seen the monster kauri felled on the banks of tho great Wairoa. I have helped to keep Hi order the fences to bar the sheep and oxen. 1 have been where the mud was • 3ft. deep— (cueers)— -and have climbed mountain tops. I have worked on the banks of great waters, and have seen engineers carrying the railways and bridges over the valleys. , ' (Loud and continuous applause.) ', ~'

To an Auckland audience there was a flavour of death-bed repentance in Sir Joseph Ward's, promise to give the North Island at least half the'port- ; folios iii the Ministry "which he alleges he hopes to' form after the election., Ou this > point- (says the "Herald") Aucklanders will be inclined to judge the present Opposition by their past rather than by their leader's promises for the future.' .'

." At Grey Lynn this week, Mr. Fowlds supplied a footnote to his famous denunciation of the Wardist Party as a party no longer entitled to be called Liberal. ■ The Auckland "Star"-thus reports the point:—"ln reply to another questioner, Mr. Fowlds said that .he was. guilty of no breach, of faith.with his constituents in leaving the Cabinet. Ho did not leave the Liberal Party by so doing " Ho merely left the Wardist Party, which is another thing altogether, says the Christchurch "Press." And his audience saw the point, and agreed. '

■__ "During recent years the Liberals of New Zealand have suffered by allowing (ivery wobbler that came into Parliament or stood for election—every opportunist and rail-sitter who came here ■'—to'tack himself on to the tail of the Liberal Party." "

. Wellington. Wardists, and other Wardists, will be really, interested to know that the author of this eulogy is tho Hon. R, M'Kenzie. . ■ ■ .

"You , have better industrial peace in New Zealand , to-day than you 'over had under the 'Liberal' Government. I fully endorse everything Mr. Masscy did iii connection with the strike."—Mr. J. S. Dickson, at Parncll. '

Mr. T.-A. H. Field, the Reform candidate for _ Nelson, said at AYakeh'eld that a.. fictitious charge had been laid against the Reform .Government, to the effect that they encouraged land speculation. •He pointed out that if a successful applicant at a ballot sold his selection under the 1908 Act he was debarred from participating in a ballot again- for fivovyears; under the ReformGovernment the time was increased in 1913 to-seven years, and in 1914 to ten years/ ■ ' " ' . ' ■

There were more than sixty strikes during Sir Joseph Ward's Administra-tion.—-Timaru "Herald." Most of the Opposition writers and speakers have refrained for some time from repeating their story that the presentiGovernmenthas caused a rise in the prico of money (says a southern paper). They .found-that the argument could be .turned against them. At Ashburtoii on Tuesday last, however. Sir Joseph Ward quoted a table relating to mortgages "as showing how, under the'present Government, the rates of interest had advanced." His table showed a decreaso in the number of. mortgages at from 4 to 5 per cent., and increases in the money lent at higher rates. His table showed only, of course, that the worldwide financial stringency from .1910 bo 1913 had its natural result here. Ho did not mention this, however. He did r.ot mention that in his own term of ollice a similar thing happened. Here ie a table which he might explain. It shows the total of the mortgages registered at the various rates of interest:— 1907-8. 1908-9. . ■ •' ■ & . . £ 4 per cent. 133.600 84,094 4J per cent 2,565,525 1,492,136 c> percent 6,928,027 .5,307,438 Si per cent; 1,585,335 . 2,812,729 6" per cent 2,067,555 3,124,815 7 per cent 532,236 • 667,160 5 percent 229,809 510,848 9 per cent . 24,208 38,426 II) per cent 147,528 '" 149,325, ■ Mr. C 4. W. Russell,. the Opposition Party's first, lieutenant, appears to" bo in hopeless trouble in Avon. His latest <:ritic is Mr. D. G. Sullivan, Hie Labour candidate for the scat. Mr. Suk livan said, the other evening, ,t). at lie! started the campaign with the determination to avoid personalities, hut he had been'wider the necessity of depart-' ing from that determination'owing to the action of Mr. lluesell who, as boou

as ho had , mounted the platform, had made a grossly unfair attack oiy him (Mr. Sullivan) regarding his position in respect to tho Defence Act. Mr. Sullivan exposed Mr. Russell's wobbling on the Defence question, and continued: "Mr. Russell's attitude in respect to the Defence Act was not tho only instance of his political inconsistency. Threo years ago ho stood as a leaseholder, and said that to give Crown tenants the freehold would be a great political steal; yet he (Mr. Russell) voted with Mr. Massey's party on that point. On March 6th of the present year, speaking in ""the . Phillipstown Schoolroom, Mr. Russell stated that proportional representation was undesirablo and impossible to apply in Now Zealand; to-day, after Sir J. G. Ward incorporated it in his policy, Mr. Russell was found supporting it. On the licensing question Mr. Russell first stood as a, throe-fifths majority man, then he, gave his adherence to the. bare majority ; now he was back to the threefifths position. Ho (Mr. Sullivan) felt sure that the electors of Avon did not want a. representative who displayed such a flexible political conscience." (Applause.)

The Wairarapa supplementary roll contains J2BO names, which makes ' a total of 7099, being an increase of 69 electors on the 1911 roll. There are 66 electors holding absent voters' permits.

A telephone message received at this office last evening stated that Mr. A. Aislabio, an Opposition candidate for the Suburbs seat, had decided, to withdraw from the contest.

It is generally known that this election entails a very hard fight -upon Sir' James Carroll, the Opposition candidate for Gisbprne. The following from the Gisborne "Times" gives an idea'of the trend of public feeling:—"The meeting which was held by Sir James Carroll at the .Opera House last night must certainly be regarded as an event of considerable, importance in connection with the_ local political campaign! It Bad previously been the position that the electors of this town had had tho opportunity of hearing onlj; Mr. de' Lautour. What was necessary,' howfiver, in order that further indications of tho feeling of the town might .be available Was that Sir James Carroll also should take . the . platform here. Now in making a contrast as between tho two meetings, we believe it would bo only fair to say that < Sir James Carroll was favoured with perhaps a slightly larger ■ attendance at his meeting. But as regards warmth of fooling—and this is the main thing— the honours, it will be agreed, must bo awarded Mr. de Lauteur. It is no doubt the case that Sir James Carroll had , a kindly reception; yet by no stretch of imagination could it be remarked that his political views met ■nith very general approval. On the fither hand Mr. de Lautour was throughout his address greeted with much encouraging applause in which all classes seemed to join very heartily and very generously."

The Opposition candidates who are now so vigorously condemning the constitution of the Public Service Board and all its works evidently forget that two or three years before Sir Joseph Ward left office he declared, tnat he could retrench the Civil ■! Service and save £250,000 a year without impairing its efficiency, Surely no stronger argument in favour of the appointment of a Public Service Board could have been adduced by even the most oxdent Reformer. The statement iwns tantamount to an admission that £250,000 a year was being wasted under-the system of political- patronage which flourished, under the long regime of the Continuous Administration. The fact that large savings were possible in the Service has been demonstrated by the fact that the present Commissioners dairing their first term of-office were able to effect economies estimated at £65,000 a year. And this notwithstanding that the salaries of : officers, particularly in the lower, grades, have been considerably improved, whilst, a minimum wago for married- men has also beon established.—"New Zealand Herald." ' -