THE GENERAL ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2323, 3 December 1914, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION

■"•: CAMPAIGN POINTS. ■? NEWS NOTES AND ADDRESSES AND'PRESS COMMENTS.;;';'

Tne ooject of the Industrial Disputes Investigation Bill," said Mr. Fisher last night, "is to do away with the intimidation that has taken, plaoe in strikes in the past. There.is no one who 'can deny that in. the big strike in Wellington many men were intimidated and forced out on etrike, and held out on strike,against their will.. (Hear, hear.)' And when you ask me who paid the burden of that strike ." A voice: The workers.' . Mr. Fisher: Yes, perhaps you are right. Directly the burden was borne by the State, which spent £100,000, and indirectly part of the burden was borne by the workers, to whom the loss of wages was enormous. But the real burden was borne by the women and children who were dependent upon the men who were driven out on strike against their will. (Hear, Lear.) • A voice: How anxious you are about the workers! Mr. Fisher; Yes, that is why I taie no interest in.you.' (Laughter.) The meeting addressed in the Danneyirko Town Hall'on Monday evening by the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister, was (says the, "Newe") the biggest and most successful political gathering ever held in Dannevixke. The visit of the popular Reform leader had long been looked forward to throughout Southern Hawke's Bay,' and country people were especially anxious to see and hear him. People were everywhere. The circle was a sea of faces. -I Men were standing four and five deep down, the passages •of the ground floor, while the stage was packed, and'many were .standing in the ■ wings. ■: It is estimated that there were 2000 people present. The audience greeted the appearance of the Prime Minister with a deafening roar of-cheers and applause.. Under the people's greeting there was some attempted hooting, notifying the presence of a small hostile element, but their feeble demonstranion was no sooner observed- than the cheers laug out louder to impress upon ihe visitor the cordiality of the audience..

Extremist , interrupters have been making themselves a nuisance at the meetings of Mr. J. H.Bradney; Reform member for Auckland West. The other evening Mr. Bradney told the interrupters that, although he waa a much older man than any one of them, there was not one of the interrupter? who would stand up to him outside. (Loud applause arid cheers.) Mr. Bradney proceeded with his speech in an atmospnere of comparative calm.' \ ; >■'■."■. "Oh, he's a political, rat," was the contemptuous reference made to a Social Democrat at. Mr. Fisher's meeting last night to the Hon. J. A. Millar. ' Mr. Fisher :\ A 'political rat! I wi'l guarantee that Mr. Millar did more for Labour in five niimites than you have done in all your life. And like, most worthy representatives of Labour, he is turned down in his old.nge.. (Applause.)

' The members of tho Expeditionary Force now on, guard, duty in the city, were given an Opportunity lo record ■their votes , yesterday. The poll of the men in canip had been taken the day previously, so that now every suldier in the contingent has had an opportunity to vote. -.- ; - "It seems as if our critics expect the Reform Government to accomplish in a few days what the Wardist Government failed to accomplish in sis years," remarked Mr. R; 'A. Wright, Reform candidate for the Suburbs at his meeting at Wadestown.last night. From the critics of the Government they got a good deal of sound and fur}', and wellsimulated indignation; but they got no facts:' In its advances to settlers, as .the country districts would show on December 10, the Government had been very liberal, but it was a liberalism characterised by prudence. That was the difference between' the. Massey arid. Ward Administrations; the. one was sound and practical, the other was the policy of plungirig politicians,

The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, referring to , the Huntly disaster last night: "You say that the workmen's inspectors failed in their duty because of the formation of the , bogus union." A voice: "Yes." Mr. Fisher: "Well, I say in reply to that, the bogus union would never have been formed but for that infernal strike you started. (Applause.) It only goes to show how tho 1 burden of your own errors has to bo borne by your own people." The. men who paid for the strike are the men who sat on the wharf spitting on their hands watching other fellows do their work—The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher. ;■ ' . "Captains! We don't want captains," .said a Red Fed at Mr. Fisher's meeting, in reply to a statement that more captains went to sea in. ships at the time of the strike ■ than ever' before. On* ship had carried five. "Of course, I know you wouldn't want captains," retorted Mr. Fisher. "You would want the steward all the time if you went to sea." (Laughter.)

There wae some plain speaking for a snort time at tho open-air meeting held by Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald at Berhamporo last night. The candidate was frequently interrupted b.v the question whether , lie was a, special constable during the strike, and one man went so far as to declare that lie saw Mr. Fitzgerald in the streots of Wellington as a special- constable. The interjecter was ' brought to the front of the, crowd. Pointing to him, Mr. Fitzgerald said: "There is nothing like- hitting straight and hard. That man is a, liarl ,, , Tho accused: Will you deny that you were sworn in as a special constable?" . Mr. Fitzgerald: I will deny that I was ever seen in the streets of Wei-, lington as a "special." you over sworn in as a 'special, "■? Mr. Fitzgerald: As a City Councillor I was prepared, and would be prepared to-morrow, to see that your typo of man was not going to run tho country. The candidate was continually interrupted, and was not able to finish his explanation. Later tho question was asked again, and he was requested to give' a straight-out "Yes" or "No" answer.

Mr. Fitzgerald: Can you always answer "Yes or "Mo"? ■ The questioner: Yes. A supporter of the candidate: Then have you stopped thrashing your wife yet? (Laughter.) The questioner: You shut up. 1 never had a wife. (Kenowcd InuglitnMr. Fitzgerald said that he was never seou in the streets as a "special," but as a City Councillor he was prepared to come down every time, if necessary, against disorder, lawlessness, and 'riolcre , . (Applause.) What he had done was to endeavour to bring about a settlement. i • An intcrjector; "With a baton!" ?.Ir. Fitzgerald: I would never take a baton to. that man. 1 could deal with him comfortably otherwise. A voice: With a saavin?.-brush, (Loud lawyer.).

The test of Time has found out ono more of the mare's-nests the Opposition critics were perpetrating a couple of years ago. At about the timo the Massey Government took office the excess -of deposits over withdrawals in the Post Office Savings Bank showed signs of decreasing. The Wardist critics afe once said that this was due to the advent of the Government which had displaced the "Continuous" Party. If the advent of the Massey Government had any bearing on the position, the critics will be considerably perplexed over the point' made by the Hon. A. L. Herdman last evening, when lie showed that the excees of deposits over withdrawals had risen from £212,000 to £1,020,000. And Mr. Herdman, added that he had been advised by those who controlled the: operations of the Peopfe's Bank that whatever the causes affecting the position in 19121913, they had now disappeared, and that the current year bade fair to show a greater excess of deposits over-with-drawals than any year eince the inauguration of the People's Bank in 1867.

Sir Joseph Ward presented a statement to the House' on September 9, 1010, showing that 1041 hands had been dispensed with, 600 of these being employed in the Railways Department, and 156 in the Public. Works Department, , the latter principally on the roads, but m every case the more poorly paid workers. being the victims of the Wardite retrenchment policy. There was then no war, no industrial c'isturbance. There was only one thing wrong with the country, namely, the. Govern-ment-in .charge of it.—Chris+.church "Press." -' ■ . "•"■. , . ' .

He allowed the hostile element in his audience full play in order that he might roveal the nature of their opposition, and show , its-worth. The statesmanlike and maiily ring of Ins speech went home witli appealing force. To those,who have followed politics intelligently the speech delivered was not now, but it was an invigorating refutation of time-worn slanders, and a refreshing exposition of the cleaner side of our na.tiona) life. The people of this country are realising, with awakening gratitude, the worth of the man who has served them unflinchingly in a great crisis, and they are giving to Mr. Massov the honour that is due to a man of great human qualities.—"News," after Mr. Massey V Danncvirke speech.

A monetary payment is now made in-' 'stead of "time off" being allowed for all telegraph duty performed by officers on Sunday at places at which there are chief post offices. This fact was mentioned by Mr. R. A. Wright, the Reform ( candidate for the Suburbs at Wadestown last evening, when he was enumerating a number.of useful Acts that the Government had passed in favour of the workers, and for which they deserved credit. . Will you give the general division direct representation on tho Public Service Appeal Board; , This question was ashed the Hon. ,A. L. Herdman last" evening. Mr. Herdman replied that the whole question of the right of appeal under the Public Service Act had to be gone into, and fresh legislation would be brought down.

"Is ittrue that the wireless system in New Zealand is German ?" was a. question- put to the Hon. P. M. B. Fisher last .night. "Yes," said Mr! Fisher. "It is truethat the wireless system of New Zealand is German. "It is also true that when .t/he wireless was being erected, people who wont to see what was being done could not ask questions bocause the men who wore . erecting it ■were also German.", Mr. Fieher stated also'that tho German wireless system had been'.introduced, presumably becaus o it ,w«s cheaper, by the .Ward Administration. . ' '. ■ . Wβ are inclined to think , that the most shame-faced individuals in public life in New Zealand, after the general election will bo those Opposition candidates who throughout the election: campaign have been going up and down , through the 'constituencies trailing tho .muck-rake.—Dannevirke "Nows."

Mr. R. A. Wright, Reform candidate for the .Suburbs, speaking at Island Bay, said tho reckless extravagance of the Liberal v Party was shown by the fact that the Reform Government had had to go on the London market, for several big loans in order to meet obligations entered into by the previous Administrations, a total of £10,000,000 having to be met during the financial' years'; ending March 31, 1914 and 1915. It was here wheTe they saw the hopeless confusion into which the Wardist Party forced.the country. They borrowed without making any searching investigations, and having obtained the money they straightway proceeded to handle it as though the people would not have to repay it. As he had said ■before the Liberal Party had no Seddon to lead them; they had a man whom they honoured for certain : Departmental work he had performed, but as a leader of men he was a failure. If the Opposition had a statesman as leader, whoso past performances warranted a certain amount of cortfidence in him,, then the case would.be entirely different. But when thoy found a powerful party in the State led by a politician who was weak, its case was hopeless. >

Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman was speaking last evening of the opportunities New Zealand offered to willing workers. A voice: AVhat about tho "specials'?P i Mr. Herdman: Oh, the' "specials" dealt with people who were not working men. (Loud applause.) . Tho Hon. F. M. .13. Fisher last -night, trying to show tho diffovenco between the Socialists and the Government, said that the Government believed that the interests of employers and workers were linked together, while the Socialists lieved that tho interests' of the employers and the -workers wore widely divergent. -Mr. Fisher argued that tho interests of workers and employers wero inseparable. A vcico: The boss gets the butter and the worker gets the bread. •

Mr. Fisher: Very well, but we all know that tho two go much better together than they do singly. (Applause and laughter.)

Tho Wardist sporting instinct is described by a contemporary: "One of the most interesting of Sir Joseph Ward's election promises is that ho has undertaken that his party will accept the result of the election, whatever it may be, like sportsmen. -This, is .good. It shows tho sweetness of the. uses of adversity. The sporting spirit has been lacking in Sir Joseph's party. It has been accustomed to win, and wficn it lost it lost ungracefully, which is not tho sporting way. At the last match Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues selected the pitch, marked off the crease, and appointed the markers.. They have ever since been complaining that Mr,

Massoyi.bowled 'no balls,' and their efforts to count and re-count the score bavo been enough to make any decent sportsman weep. They also incidentally altered the rules of the game, giving every batsman who made a low , score a second chance- at the wicket. These rules were tried, and both teams condemned them, Mr. Massey went back to the old rules—the rules of the Marylebono Club —and Sir Joseph Ward, though he claims to be a sportsman, is still trying to convince- the onlookers that the game ought to bo played according to some new code. If the Opposition really mean to Lβ "good sports,' why not begin now?"

"If you put the Government back and go on with the same games you will fet the samo treatment," said Mr. '{slier at Aro Street last night, in reply to some noisy people who clamoured that the Government had not dealt fairly by the strikers. "Don't let there bo any misunderstanding about that,", he said. "If that is what yotf are going to vote about on election day, you put Massey back and you will get strikes dealt with in a proper way." The speech as a whole was plain and straightforward, not floridly bedecked, it may be true, but by its general character likely to appeal to people who take their politics as the serious publio business of an intelligent democracy.r"Star's" opinion, of Mr.- Massey's Hawera address. Mr. W. H. Field's meetings up to the present have in every case been a decided success, notwithstanding the unfair practices of 'his opponents. Hβ iias been received with enthusiasm by the great body of moderates throughout tho constituency. The real question before the electors 13 whether or not they are satisfied with the efficacy of the national administration at this time of 'extraordinary emergency. . . . There can be no question as to the steady loyalty of the Reform Administration .and of all its supporters. —Auckland. "Herald." .'

Scene illustrating how Mr. J; Payne, §ocialist, fares in Grey Lynn:— ■ "Order,, ladies," said the chairman. When order wae regained a gentleman accepted .the crowd's invitation to eten forward,, and began to make a' statement.. This the chairman, objected to, stating that,.the gentleman must only ask questions. - : ■ . . The gentleman proceeded to say something when ho was grasped by the chairman, who tried to induce-him 1 to go up. to 'the table.- •■. ••• ■'■. . "It's air .right,"- pleaded the questioner. '."I- I—-,'.1—- , '. '■:■ ••,' "It's not all right,".'warmly replied' the chairman,- with his .arms round the" otber, who, smiling, had taken a seat on'tlie edge of the table. "Mr. Payne——" remarked the gentleman in an endeavour to speak. "Hero, who is running this meeting? You or 1?" queried the chairman hotly. The' Gentleman: It's all right The chairman: Ask a question! Voices (to the chairman): Go on, let him speak. , . _ '.'..'• The Gentleman: I shall put two questions; but 1 really want-to explain • The Chairman: You're not going to explain! Ask questions! . ' ■ Voices (to the chairman): 800 l Have you got a bludgeon up your sleeve? You don't want to hear him because he might blow Payne out. ■ . ■A slight struggle ensued, between, the chairman and:-the gentleman, as the latter persisted in speaking, and the. crowd was somewhat amused by several wordy skirmishes which took place between the- two? - - Jiixoitement began to grow amongst the crowd, and cheering and hooting followed. An egg of inferior quality dropped. at the roar , of the gathering caused aihasty dispersal in that quarter, and many of the crowd showed a disposition, to leave. . ■

: finally the chairman- and the gentleman repaired their differences. ■ ■ Another enthusiaetio and appreciative audience greeted Mr.. A. M.'Samuel, the Government nominee for the Hutt seat at'the Oddfel'ows' Hall, Trentham, last evening. Mr. E. Edwards occupied the chair. The candidate was listened to most attentively throughout by ,tho hundred odd persons present. At tho close of the meeting the usual vote of thanks to the candidate and confidence in the Massey. Administration was proposed by Mr. Balcombo Brown, seconded by Mr. John Pearce, and carried unanimously. As'the meeting dispersed three hearty cheers were given for Mr. Samuel. . ■ ■■'■•'.. An Interjector: What about the second ballot" . •.-"'• Mr. J.H>Bradney (Reform member for. Auckland West): Tho second ballot was made in Germany and is, therefore, no good'to a British community. (Laughter and applause.) He believed in "first past the post,",and he believed he would be in that position on the evening of the election. ■ ,

> "I will make an offer," said Mr. Massey/ replying to an interjection at his Dannovirke meeting, "if any of my opponents are game to take it up. Wβ want money for the Belgians. I am quite prepared to submit the whole question to an impartial judge, an unbiased man, a Judge of the Supreme Court, and if ho says that I have used my public position to benefit the property to tho extent of a single farthing, I will contribute another £100 to the Belgian Fund. But there are two sides to this. 1 want at least one man who has been saying that this line has been constructed partly for the purpose. ofbenefiting, this property, to put down £100, and if 1 am proved to be correct to pay the money to the Belgian Relief li'uncL I am not a rich man, but I will etaud by that."

Let us glance back to the time when the Ward Government was in power and see what "effective steps" were then taken to deal with land aggregation. Tiie recording pages of Hansard may be called upon to bear witness. In September, 1911, an interesting question on this point was put .to Sir Joseph Ward, who was then' Minister iof Lands as well as Prime' Minister. He was asked in Parliament' by one of his own supporters "whether his attention had been called to the aggregation of areas that is taking place by .private sales,, and if ho will give' close consideration to the matter, which, if unchecked, will nullify tho legislation and efforts of the Administration to seciiro close .settlement." ''.'.-

In connection.with tho coming elections it is interesting to note, says the Auckland "Herald," that tho present numerical strength of tho Houso of Representatives is exactly double what it was when the first Parliament of New Zealand was called together sixty years asp The number of members was 'Originally .fixed by tho New Zealand Constitution Act, passed by the vniporial Parliament in 1'852, as not moro than 42 nor less than 24, and the firstParliaiiient, which met iu Auckland in May, 1864, .consisted of 40 luembors. Legislation ■ passed iu 1858 fixed iho number at 41, in 1860 at 53, in 1862 at 57. iu 18G5 at 70, in 1867 afc 72, in 1870 at 74, in 1875 at 84, in 1881 at 91, this being the highest number of European members that the, House has ever contained. In 1887 the number ivas reduced to 70, and in 1900, when tho last change was made, it was fixed at 76. By the Maori ■Representation Act of 1867, which is still in force, as embodied in the Legislature Act, of 190 S. four Native members wero added, three for the North and one for the South Toland. The North Island at present '-returns'! 42, European members, and tlio-South Island 34. The system of triennial Parliaments has been iu force since 1879. Prior to them quiuQu'eimia 1 Parliaments, as instituted under tho Constitution Act, were in forco.,