IN FIGHTING FORM

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2327, 8 December 1914, Page 6

IN FIGHTING FORM

HON. F. M. B. FISHER GREAT MEETING AT ST. PETER'S A REMARKABLE DEMONSTRATION. Tiie Hon. F. M. B. Fisher met with the most cordial reception, of the campaign last night. He spoke in St. Peter's Schoolroom, and close on 1000 people crowded every available space in the hall, and stood around the doors listening to a fighting , speech which lasted over two hours. Mr. Fisher met with a great reception when he arrived at the flail at 8 o'clock; his supporters easily outnumbering Ms opponents. Throughout hie speech he was repeatedly applauded, and the- manner in which he dealt with the freauent interjections from a bodr of men at the rear of the hall won. the admiration of a large section present. At the end of the ad-, dress, whioa was not at all along party lines, but dealt with slanders that have been circulated in his district, and in replies to questions, Mr. Fisher was accorded a hearty vote of confidence. This was followed by an improvised haka, and the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." An attempt to shout this down signally failed, and cheers were loudly given for the Minister and his party. Mr. D. F. Skinner presided, and at once called on. Mr. Fisner to speak. The Minister again met with loud applause on rising. There were one or two new topics he wished to refer to, be said, and one was a circular issuedby Mr. H. Hollaud, and alleging dastardly treatment to the boys on. the Amokura. As that training ship came under his control, he wished to deal with the mntteri Some time after he 'took over the position of Minister of Marine some gentleman in Franklin asked for an inquiry into,the Amokura, and that was held. A voice: Was it a public inquiry? Mr. Fisher: It was a Departmental inquiry under the regulations made by our predecessors. (Applause.) Mr. Fisher continued, aaid said that the gentleman who made those ■ allegations was present at the inquiry. Floggings had taken place. Voices- Ah I Mr. Fisher: They were flogged under the Act of our predecessors, and we repealed it. (Applause.) The Amokura Floggings. \ : The floggings had taken place, and it was the same as in the case of the girls' home, where .a girl's hair \yas cut ehort for punishment in the time of the Hon. G. Fowlds, who to-day was a supporter of Labour. . . . Mr. Fisher was continually interrupted, and pointing to one man he said: "Now dou't be annoyed with me. You came to. me for a billet; and because you did not get it you are annoyed with me." , Reverting to the Amokura incident, Mr. Fisher said that the boys were punished for offences they deserved to be punished for. A voice: Smoking cigarettes between decks. Mr. Fisher: Yes; and what mother would say they shouldn't have been punished, with 75 boys aboard. (Applause.) ..' Mr. Fishor had to have a man removed,.and he emphasised the fact that when ho held a meeting those.who did not want to listen: could leave, and if they, didn't they would be .put out. During the contest he had', done as much aB ho could to vindicate«the right of free speech. (Applause.) '. He went on to show what the Government had done- to improve the lot of the boys of the Amokura. ' As to the flogging, he never heard of it until the inquiry,. and as soon as the- inquiry was over ho stopped at. A voice: Give us political ... Refuting Slanders.

Mr. Fisher: Some of you would like to use the Amokura to dig me out, but object-to me using the'Aniok'ura to'dig myself in. ,(Applause.) There are some of you going round slandering ine, nnd if I attempt to defend myself you say "Give us politics." ;I say give me fair. play. (Loud applause.) .. There are'some people in .this district who' have'gone round and said that one could rarely go : into the House of Parliament without seeing -me under intoxication. They would not make the statement in publio, but go round from door to door. I cannot pick up the evidence to get on to them, p ■ A voice: Why don't you prosecute them? • ..'■■: ....... Mr. Fisher: You give me the evidence and I will'-prosecute them tomorrow. All I want is to deal'with these things, and I say give- me a fair hearing, and fair play. (Loud applause.)' v i The next subject he, dealt with, was tied houses. " He was against tied houses, and the party to which, he belonged had trjed to d'o away with them. One of'the worst systems to-day was what was known as the "tied house." The man in tho tied house was made a victim for. tho profit of the landlord. If the best men were going to control ' the licensed houses, they would have to have a part of the profit which, they created by their industry. His party had made a pledge and a promise—; — Cries of Oh . More About the Alliance. Mr. Fisher:,Wo haven't made an'alliance with the radical labour man who ha.s nothing and hates capital, and the ■.'Wealthy brewer, who lives, on-him. A voice: You would hajo liked to. Mr. Fisher: If I had,wanted an alliance with the Social Democrats 'I could have got it. When the strike • cam© along and I was asked to refuse to ''suspend the Shipping and Seamen Act and throw ray.colleagues overboard, I refused to accept the oner—(applause) —and if I/had accepted the, offer mado to me that I should throw'them overboard and lesign from tho Ministry, then ..the Massey Ministry-would have crashed , down and'the strikers would havo won I declined the offer, and determined I was goingto bo loyal to. my colleagues, and .loyal to .the Government and see things through. (Applause.) The Real Westport Scandal. Mr.. Fisher-wont on to refer to the Westport Harbour Board affairs, and explained the appointment of Mr. Simpson, which was raado on tho recommendation of public men in Westport. The conditions which existed under the past Administration had been changed for the benefit of the peoplo of the district. ■ Ho quoted from a letter received by him from the e'x-chairnian of the Westport Harbour Board, Mr. F. F. Monroe, who resigned a few months ago. Mr. Monroti said that the real scandal was a wrong against'the people of many years' duration. Prior to the advent of tho Reform Party, all appointments . wero madebythe Governor, acting on the advice of the Minister of Marine. Tho upshot of 'it all was that the administration of a rovemio which varied from £80,000 to £100,000 a year was placed in the hands of party men, for purely ■ party-purposes, and the result was that an expenditure of £300,000 in 15 years wan not visible in any tangible asset. Dealing with some of the Social Democratic. Party's planks, Mr Fisher said that the Befonn Government was not going to undertake anything unless money was available for such purposes. What they wanted during the next year or two was sound administration and not legislation. (Applause.) -After reading a long list of proposed "reforms" by tho Social-Democrats which would cost millions, Mr. Fisher said thoy might; just as well include frco suits of clothes and tooth-bruslios, as some of the things in "this little Bill." A/voice: What about Mr. Holland's Win- tax P ~li. JfisJiacj, JVe dnnituirorjoje to put.

on. a war tax because we'say it is not necessary. Mr. Holland's war tax is not to pay for the war, but to pay for these little fads. (Applause.) Confidence in Mr. Fisher. Mr. Fisher, iii concluding, dealt with many subjects, mainly in reply to a running fire of interjections from the back of tho hall. Ho said ho regarded the meeting as of a somewhat informal nature, as he had endeavoured to satisfy some of those who wore dissatisfied. Ho thought the little discussion, had not been unappetising to the audience. (Applause.) "We are going to, have on Thursday next what is called the 'Parliamentary Stakes. , Wo are going to have a big fight right through the country, and lot me say. whatever the result of that contest may be I think every member of the Administration can go before the country and say " A voice: Thank God I'm beaten. Mr. Fisher: I don't think so, because I see that my chief up in the north has a man against him named Glass, and I think the electors can see through glass, and I think, as Omar says, will be able to "turn down an empty glass. ,. That will be tho end of the Opposition as far as Mr. Massey is concerned. (Applause.) After a number of questions had been answered an elector mounted a form near the front of the hall, and turning towards the back benches, moved a hoarty vote of thanks and confidence in. Mr. Fisher and the Reform Government. At the same time lie called for three cheers for Mr. Fisher, and half the- audience rose and cheered the Minister to the echo. A feeble attempt to create a hostile demonstration was drowned, the makers of-it being more interested .in the haka which a body of Mr. Fisher's supporters then gave. The motion was declared carried and the front tow sang lustily. "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Mr. Fisher, was loudly cheered as he left the building. ; . NELSON &MOT.UEKA REFORM MEN'S PROSPECTS BRIGHT. ■ (From a, Correspondent.) Nelson, December 7. Two or three weeks ago Nelson, appeared to be a perfectly safe seat for the sitting member, Mr. Atmore, but a great change seems to have come over the electorate, and the Reform candidate, Mr. T. A. H. Field, is right in the running. Although he gave no definite statement to that effect, hundreds of people thoroughly believed at the last election that Mr. Atmore.would I support tho Massey Government, and these' people are now determined to, do their best to unseat the member, and it is evident that the vast majority of farmers aro very dissatisfied with Mr; Atmore's attitude during the strike. Mr. Field, on the other hand, has no political past, and he can point to an excellent- record on local bodies,'. Seven or eight years ago he just secured election to the council, being last but one on the list. After two years' service he was returned at the top of the poll. At the next election he was returned us Mayor In the following year he was re-elected unopposed. He retired with an unbroken .record at the conclusion of his leaving' office, and there are solid grounds for believing that he will not meet his ■ Waterjoo on this occasion. Whoever wins, it will be very closely'contested, and Mr. Atmore's extravagaut statements and abusive tactics do not go" down with the majority of the people. ', ' . '■' ■ In. th'e Motueka electorate there . is every indication that the sitting .member, the' Hon. R. M'Kenzio, will be beaten by the Reform , candidate, Mr. R. P. Hudson. There is jiist this to he said, however; in a scattered electorate a man of Mr. M'Kenzie's personality may have support that cannot be seen before the numbers go , up. Mr. Hudson is a. very capable man, of sterling qualities and if elected will undoubtedly" make his mark in the Parliament of New Zealand. - He came to settle in the district six or seven years ago from ■Ceylon where he was,a tea planter. As a fruit-grower he has devoted, his. energies to organisation and lie has done much to place the industry on a sound business basis. He was in turn president of the''Motueka District Ffu.it- , growers' TJnion, president of the Motueka Fruit-growers , Association, president of the Nelson District- Fruitgrowers, Association, and latterly president of tho New Zealand Fruit-grow-ers, Federation. For a man who has •been a fruit-grower only for five or six years, this is a record that speaks for itself: There are cood grounds for believing that Mr. Hudson will win the seat. . ■' ' ' ■■'.>■