CAMPAIGN NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2321, 1 December 1914, Page 6

CAMPAIGN NOTES AND COMMENTS.

'I am touching on a lot of subjects; that seems to -be the proper "way. I see by the papers that Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Massey touch a lot ot subjects ill their speeches, and I am doing the same," said Mr. Turnbull in his speech last night.

"You touch a lot, but you don't go rory deep into any of them," said an interjector. Presently Mr. Turnbull found that his review had been so rapid that he had run out of his store' of subjects. "How lonr; h ave i been talking?" he asked. About half an hour," said a man in the audience, who had been chuckling during most of the meeting at the candidate's casual treatment of weighty mattors.( . "Go on," said another. "It's a long way to Tipperary." Mr. Turnbull (in tone:? of surprise): Do you want some moreP" He did not giye them any more, but he expressed this opinion 1 _ conclusively—"l believe that all political meetings should be short." Mr. Tumbull's remarks ' in chief occupied almost exactly half an hour. Questions occupied: perhaps ten minutes—say, eight minutes for the questioners and two for Mr. (Turnbull — and a little disagreement about a vote of confidence, say, five minutes longer.

-Mr. R. A. Wright, Reform candidate, ifor_ the Suburbs, speaking 1 at Johnsonville last evening, enumerated the new regulations which have been gazetted granting better conditions for the railway staff. Among them, lie noted, were an improvement in travelling allowances- in the case of the first division, additional provisions for enabling members of the second divsion to qualify for promotion to the first diviand the relaxation of restrictions previously in force debarring members from taking part in local politics. Mr. Wright also pointed out that 6ick leave had, been put on a more liberal basis, while leave may now be made cumulative for two years for a maximum period of 42 day?. Taking into consideration what the, Government had achieved, and having regard to the unprecedented opposition it had met with, he claimed that it had a right to the' full confidence of the workers as well as all other classes of the community.

Sir Joseph Ward's return to the leadership of his paTty, remarked Mr. R. A.; Wright, Reform candidate for the Suburbs, speaking at'Johnsonville last evening, was the signal for repeated stonewalls. In the first of these 70 hours- were wasted on the Estimates, and, in the last, over 50 hours wero spent by the Opposition in not discussing'the question at issue, but abusing the forms of the House, and by moving nil .kinds of ridiculous -amendments. This was Sir. Joseph Watd'i) idea of statesmanship;

The Opposition: The Public' Service is seething, with discontent.

The "Public Service Journal": "The phrase *6eetlring with discontent' as applied to the Public Service has been used so long and so often that it may be classified as an ancient gag."

The Christohurch correspondent of the Dunedin "Star" (an Opposition journal) considers that the outcome of the election in Avon in all probability will be that Mr. G. W. Russell will 1060 the seat. Which, of the other two —Mr. Sullivan (Social Democrat) nr Mr. Aclaiid (Refonn)—will gain the verdict is as . yet hard to say, but Mr. Aclaud (the correspondent, says) certainly has a very good chance.

"During ite first'session the Government admittedly put up a good record, placing 53 . publio' and general, Acts on the Statute Book, in addition to 31 kcal and personal measures," remarked Mr. • R. A. /Wright, Reform candidate for the Suburbs, speaking at. Johnsonville last night.' "In 1913, 80 publio Acts,: 23 local; and 5 private Aets were added to, the list, ono publio Act, the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Act, being, reserved for the King's Assent. And this." he concluded, "in spite' of unparalleled obstruction."

Formerly a candidate who had been nominated for a seat in Parliament could withdraw on giving to' the Returning Officer a notice to that effect five clear days before the day of. poll-' ing. Tho Legislature Amendment Act, however, altered this, and now a candidate" cannot" withdraw after the date of closing of nominations. If he does not withdraw before that date he must go to the poll.

Dealing vitli the strike, Mr. Herdman observed recently: "If the same conditions arose again, precisely the same steps would. be taken to check lawlessness." That (says the Christchurch "Press") is why the Red Feds, are anxious to see the "Liberals" in office. Lawlessness has no use for Mr. Herdman. i

"Never do to-dav what you can put off till to-morrow."—Opposition motto. For other version see below:

"I pledge myself to adopt some scheme of- compulsory insurance against Sickness and unemployment. . Ehave not got a scheme yet, but I am going to go into: the question."—Mr. G. W. Russell, Opposition candidate for Avon. • ■ 1

A meeting of the committee of Mr. J. P. Luke, Reform candidate for Wellington 'South, ■ was held at St. Thomas s Hall, Newtown, last night, Mr. L. Humphries wa-s voted to the chair. In a . short speech, Mr. Humphries . stated that he had come to the meeting because he had known the candidate in his business and public life for a number of years, and had a'great regard for him, and considered that in such troublesome times' it was absolutely necessary to return to Parliament only men who havo had experience, and have proved their worth. He waß determined 'to use. ■ every endeavour- to secure Mr. Luke's election. Several members of the committee also spoke nn a similar strain. Mr. Luke then addressed the meeting on lines similar to previous public meetings, and in conclusion said he stood for the advancement of those who needed most the benefits >' accruing from wise, progressive legislation and administration.

The Leader of the Opposition (Sir Joseph Ward) is to speak in the Town Hall on Friday next. The Hon. A. L. Herdman, Attorney-General, will reply to his speech in the same hall on Monday evening. 1

The Ward Government took no steps to prevent aggregation. At various time 3 attempts were made to fix a value limit to the land which any one man might hold.- But the 'Liberals" consistently dcclinfed to pass a measure making the' freehold of Crown lands subject to a condition effecting ■ a limitation- of area, although Mr.. Massey and others often urged this course. It is understood that the leaseholders of the party felt this provision would cut their, chief argument away,—"Hawke's Bay Herald.".

There was a time when tho policy of "spoils to the victors" obtained, but that. scandalous and iniquitious system has been effectively crushed by tho Massey Government. Public grants and favours are now. at the disposal of servilo party satellites.—Foxton "Herald."

Labour will find; it to its best inter est to attach itself to a party that is financially sound, for it is oil the' finances of the country that the prosperity or otherwise of the labouring class doponds. Let the workers consider the genuine benofitn conferred -non the workers hs the Reform Gov-

rnment in its short period of office and compare them with what was actually done for them during a similar period dating back from the resignation of Sir Joseph Ward.—"Grey River ArBUS."

At the annual meeting of the Wairau Council on Wednesday, . the chairman in congratulating the district on the practical sympathy received from tho Public Works Department, attributed it in a great measure to the untiring efforts of Mr. H. M. Campbell, M.P.

Mr. Massey has provided against aggregation in the Land Act of 1913; . The Massey Government has therefore kept its word to legislate against aggregation. It has done vastly more than the "Liberals" did in their twonty years of office."—"Hawke's Bay Herald."

The West Coast knew the late Mr. Scddon better than most communities knew him. This is what a West Coast paper says of the present election campaign: "Tho late Hon. R. J. Seddon liad no use for agitators, and would not truckle to them in the slightest, It was when his strong.band had been removed from the guidance of the Liberal Party that the Scruples, the Hickoys, and others of that ilk began to spring up like mushrooms. - From the tune of the death of Mr. Seddon the Liberal Party began -rapidly to decay, and instead of going ahead with the progressive policy which lie had outlined it was content to live on the glorious traditions of the past and han" on to office. ' ° .

On November 16, 1909, the late Mr. 1. 11. la.ylor said in Parliament "The country has been gradually led away from high political ideals during the last eight or nine years, until we have -a leader of the Liberal Party' and. no programme for that Liberal Party. There is no reform or principle to wh'ich a Liberal candidate is now pledged at the general election."

" The following "appeal to the faithtn{ . i? quoted by a contemporary:— t Friends desirous of helping the •Liberal Party, and the issues for which it startds, are invited to contribute to , f.part.V fund. Money is required for holding, public meetings, the preparation and distribution of literature, and for propaganda work generally. At present the great bnllc of .the election campaign is being borne by the leader of the party. This is neither fair to the leader, who must make , tlie greater .sacrifice in other directions, nor to ,the other members of the party who are entitled to share the burden of the fight, as well as the satisfaction of victory. Contributions may be sent to the honorary treasure;-: of the fund, care of Sir Joseph Ward, Wellington."

, They (the workers) have now before them the long promised, policy of Sir Joseph Ward, and they can compare it with the programme outlined by Mr. Massey (says an exchange). The prin-cipal'sugar-coated plum that Sir Joseph offers for the delectation of the workers is the £5 baby bonus; but the time that the bonne'is to be paid is so far ahead that it offers little charms to a struggling worker with a young family. . . . Compare the £5 baby bonus, scheme with Mr. Massey's scheme of insurance against sickness and unemployment—a practical measure that will appeal to every worker: We are confident that genuine labour will not bo led-astray by the blandishments of'the Lib.-Lab. alliance. '

A West Coast paper considers that the present position has been well put by an Auckland candidate who said that the Ward Party was playing a sort of political cut-throat euchre. -

That tail (the Red Fed tail of the Opposition Party) would be very likely to wag tho dog if any trouble promoted liy agaitators had to be dealt with by those in office. What would havo happened if during the recent strike those in office had had any political sympathy with the agitators?—"Manawatu Times."

"The (Ward) Government put out its feelers like a snail, and when it touched something solid' it drew them back; When remonstrated with, the Government retorted that a living dog was better than a dead lion."—Mr. L. M. Isitt, November 13, 1911.