CANDIDATES' SPEECHES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2324, 4 December 1914, Page 6

CANDIDATES' SPEECHES

WELLINGTON CENTRAL. HON. F. M. B. FISHER HOLDS A GOOD MEETING. The meeting held by the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher in the Alexandra Hall, Abel Smith night was in every way satisfactory to the Minister. There was the usual organised opposition by a section of the audience, but it was a small section compared with the numbers who filled the hall. The opposition .to ' tho Minister was voiced in the usual way, but as the meeting progressed the opposition gradually died away, and the greater number were enabled to listen attentively to the address, which was devoted largely to strike affairs. The arrival of Mr. Fisher at 8 pirn, was the sequel for an outburst of cheering, followed by booing from about 40 of those present. Then Mr. Fisher's supporters took charge, and by hand-clapping alono succeeded in entirely drowning the noise of the opposition. > Mr. W. ,H. Bennett presided, and, in a few' remarks, said that' the present Administration had shown itself possessed of ..administrative ability.' It was an honest, strong party, and for.that Teason he was going to givo it his whole-hearted support at the ensuing election. (Applause.)' Mr. Fisher dealt with various misrepresentations against the Government, <md was easily able to overcome the interjections, which lacked point for the most part.' He then went on to deal with the suspension of the Shipping and Seamen Aot, which was done to enable the industries of the country to be carried on during the industrial upheaval of last year. He quoted an extract from the Act of 1909, passed by Sir Joseph Ward's Government, which gave him power to suspend tho clauses of the Act. The impression had been created -that he acted under the Act passed.by Mr. Massey. If the ships had sailed, under the Act they would have carried 1308 officers and men,' but knowing that if any mishap occurred under the' suspension. of the Act, the Government' would be blamed, he took steps to efficiently man the boats, and they carried 1713 men. No accident ocourred. (Applause.) . - . • ■ . A.voice: The Union Company has raised the fares since, and you. promised thoy. would not, , Mr. Fisher: Where did I say that? The voice: It was in all the papers. Mr. Fisher': I will give you a pound note for ono of those papers. He denied the statement.' "Ladies and gentlemen," lie said, "you 'can understand what is being done when a man can stand up -and state what is infamously/untrue." (Apr plause.) Mr. Fisher went on to point out that the strikers tried to tie up the country. When they failed with the seamen and' wharf labourers the coal miners came out. A voice: The coal miners did not come out; Mr. Fisher: We will be' hearing next that no strike took place. (Laughter.) Everyone kno>s that, all the coal miners, with the exception: of the Kaitangata men, came out. He. referred to naval defence, in support of the Massey Administration, and said he believed that one day 'the Dominions would have a working fleet capable of looking after. Britain's interests in the whole of the Pacific (Applause.) At the conclusion of the meeting a motion of thanks and confidence was moved by Mr. E. J. Jones, and met with an outburst of support, and one of opposition. The support was more pronounced and no amendment was moved. Outside the hall Mr. Fisher was cheered by his supporters, as well as subjected to a considerable amount of hostility.

WELLINGTON NORTH. MR. TURNBULL AT TINAKORI ROAD. . Mr. W-. H. Turnbull addressed a meeting of about 200 people in St. Paul's (schoolroom, Tmakori Road, last night, rm v" Wheeler occupied t j, e c)]ajri tho candidate received a cordial hearing He pointed out that ho was not in tho field toi -split votes.-. What he wonted was'the Liberal vote, and the vote of those Labour mmr who-kupw that the Liberals were their best friends. Whether he won or lost his contest he was ceutain tho Liberals would come back to office. Mr. Massey hnd mado a point in his Town- Hall speech in 1911 of declaring that the cost' of living must be a first consideration, but nothing had been done. It was absurd to say thore had not been time. He advocated a freo table, and proposed .to make up the loss of revenue by increased taxation upon lanij, luxuries.-and incomes. After touching on the Food Commission Mr. Turnbull said the. rent question would have Ito be tackled by extending the number of workers' homes. He was in favour of the repeal of the Public Service Act, and declared that if Sir J.- G. Ward came in the .Commissioners would go out. He also touched on naval defence and the Huntly accident. He wag against religious instruction in sohools, and approved the Liberal education policy of education from the primary school to the university. They were not yet far enough advanced to have a Labour Government, said Mr. Turnbull. but Labour knew its best friend. He wanted the audience to vote for the Liberal Party whatever their opinion of his candidature might be; The speaker was applauded as he resumed his seat, and a hearty vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously, upon the motion of Mr.; M'Gavin, seconded by Mr. Fitzgerald, and the meriting olosed with cheers for Sir Joseph Ward. ' '

.MR. HOLLAND'S CAMPAIGN. Mr. H. E. Holland addressed a meet, ing in the Clubroom, Wadestown, last night. There were over 60 electors present, and the candidate received an attentive hearing, and was accorded a unanimous vote of confidence at the. conclusion. Mr. Holland said the members of the Massey Government had failed to answer any of the charges levelled against them. The Hxmtly disaster alone, he said, would prove to.be an overwhelming factor in bringing the present Government to an end. Proportional representation and the abolition of the country quota were an immediate task for the noxt Government • to shoulder, and this would only be possible if tho .electors ; placed the democratic power behind Labour's forces. The many -restrictions under which Civil Servants labour and which prevent them from having their full political freedom must be immediately tackled in all seriousness so that they with the women of Now Zealand shall no longer have a-barrier obstructing their rightful political -expression. A proposal for the more democratic control of legislation was- the referendum, initiative; and. irecall. .. Great interest, was shown in the candidate's explanation ■of the planks of his platform.

THE SUBURBS SEAT. MB. E. 'A'. WEIGHT AT EAEOEI. Mr. R. A. Wright, proceeding with his campaign, addressed a crowded meeting of the electors at the Karori Parochial Hall last night. Mr. C. Cathio was voted to the cjiair. The candidate received an excellent hearing, and was frequently applauded. In answer to questions, Air. Wright said he was in favour of separate classification schemes for men and women teachers, he was in- favour of a Daylight Saving Bill, he was not in .favour of an export:, duty being placed on New Zealand produce, he was in'favour of raising the salaries of teachers in the lower grades Mr. W. Tuatih_ moved a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Wright, whom he spoke highly, of, an amendment was moved of thanks only.. Tor the amendment only ten hands were held up. On the motion being put, it was earned bv about 10 to 1. ,r

I ME. MOORE AT PLIMMERTON. Mr. F. T. Moore (Labour) addressed a crowded and lively meeting of electors it Plimmerton last evening. Mr. W. T, Wood presided. At the outset a section of the audience - attempted to take charge of the proceedings, but the chairman overruled tho objectors. Tho statement by Mr. Moore that his success in other parts of the electorate was evidently causing anxiety in Reform circles was cheered by his supporters and counter-cheered by opponents. When Mr. Moore said that the Reform Government's promises to reduce the oost of. living, taxation, and borrowing, and to avoid political patronage, had not been fulfilled, another demonstration of party feeling resulted. The candidate said that Mr. Massey's idea of a square deal for Labour was the creation of legally-constituted bogus unions, oo that employers could mako profits regardless of the consoquenoaa to human Jifo, $a iaptaaggd, by tbe EtoUt, dijsas v

tor. At the conclusion of these remarks a vote of no-confidence in Mr. Moore was-moved, but it was declared dofeated ou a show of hands. MR. FITZGERALD AT NGAIO. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald addressed a large meeting at Ngaio last evening, Mr. Cbatwin occupying the chair. The present Government, ho said, had encouraged private monopolies and enterprises, and he instanced the attempts made to hamper the State Coal Department, the State Fire Office, and the Public Trust Office. The candidate denounced tho Government as antagonistic to Labour, and asked who was responsible for the non-prosecution of mine-owners for flagrant breaches of the Mining Act, causing loss of life, and for sotting up bogus unions of incompetent workmen, from whom incompetent check-leaders were chosen P He was convinced that the most necessary thing at the present time, and certainly the most beneficial thing for New Zealand, was a change of Government. Mr. Fitzgerald proceeded to coudenin the Government's -administration generally, and criticised; :the suburban railway services in New Zealand. He believed that it was a good thing that ithe railways wero under tho control of tho State, but it was deplorable that the officials of the Department had not realised the necessity of providing a better means of transit to and from the oity. He was one of the first to draw the then General Manager's attention to the advantages of petrol-eleotric traotion, and he promised the electors that if returned he would do all in his power to bring about an improvement in connection with suburban railways and an _ extension of suburban areas. To his mind, Ithe residents north of Johnsonville were shockingly treated'in railway matters. A unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried, and a committee was 6et up to further the interests of Mr. Fitzgerald. . '. .' THE HUTT SEAT. > MR. SAMUEL AT KORO KORO. Mr. A. M. Samuel, Reform candidate for Hutt, addressed a meeting in • the Koro Koro Schoolroom last evening. Mr. M'Millan presided over an- attendance.: of 85. The meeting was of an enthusias-' tic nature. There were a, few interjections during the evening, off which, the. candidate uniformly scored. Having concluded his speech, Mr. Samuel answered several, questions. A vote of thanks and' confidence to Mr. Samuel for his able and statesmanlike address, coupled with an expression of confidence in the Massey Government .was moved by Mr. Standen, and seconded 1,7 Mr. Wray. An amendment was moved, and seconded: "That Mr. Samuel- be thanked for his ,and that this meeting has no confidence in the Massey Administration." The - amendment was put to tho vote and on a show of hands was lost'by 08 votes to 14, amidst much enthusiasm. Three" people left the hall without toting. ' . A most'.successful meeting olosed with hearty cheers for.tho candidate.