MR. POLSON MAKES A BEGINNING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 126, 14 February 1918, Page 6

MR. POLSON MAKES A BEGINNING

OPPOSED TO THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. Mr. A. N. Poison had a good reception from a crowded meeting in tho Masonic Hall, Boulcntt Street, last evening, when he opened his campaign as a candidate for Wellington North. Dr. Thacker, who presided, made a characteristic speech in eulogy of "my friend, Poison/' and incidentally he

told the circumstances that made him "pick Poison to represent tho democracy of this country." A voice: Did you pick him? Dr. Thacker: No; Nature picked him.

A voice: Why don't you let the citizens pick him? .Mr. Poison said that he considered that he, as a born New Zealander, had an equal right to stand for any seat m this country with any other citizen. The "impelling power" which forced him to stand for Parliament was the experience he went through as a man who tried to get to the front, and the final determination to stand was brought about by his visit to Christchurch at the Court of Inquiry. His first topic was the "inefficiency" of the National Government, and especially of the Minister of Defence. Ho thought the greatest need of the hour was efficiency in the Government. He, therefore, was a straight-out opponent of the National Government. Ho thought the time had come when we sliould cut down reinforcements to a minimum, and when we should concentrate on sending Home shiploads of food instead of shiploads of men. He spoke of the treatment of conscientious objectors, criticising adversely the Government's actions towards these men. He was of opinion that all men could not be fighters, but if a man could not fight he should at least give a civil equivalent. -And objectors should be treated humanely. They should not he shipped Home and sent to prisons like Dartmoor and Wormwood Scruhbs, where the hardened criminals of Britain were detained. He declared his omnioii that the pensions to returned soldiers and their dependants should be considerably increased. Parents of soldiers should have pensions as of right, from the simple fact that they have'soldier sons. He advocated State subsidised kindergartens, better accommodation in primary schools, and better salaries for inspectors and iwbors. He spoke of public works, advocating the rapid completion of Wellington's new railway station, ParliVr.eft Buildings, the Otira Tunnel, and the Waikaremoana hvdro-elertric scheme. He criticised railway policy, mentioning as one of the worst faults in Railway administration the recent cnrtsilnifliit of services. Ho said that the Public Service Commissioner sliould to; put uv.dor 'he control of Ministers. It " was rubbish to say that under the Ministerial control the GoveTviv.or.t stuffed the _ service, with friends. He accused Ministers of arranging with the Public Service Commissioner to appoint friends of theirs. "No one can deny that to me," he said, "because I have been behind the scenes." Continuing, he said that he considered that the salaries of Civil Servants should bo increased, that promotion should be by merit and not by length of service or ''crawling," and that classification bars should be re* moved. If he won Wellington North— and he believed he would—Mr. Masscy would have to resign and face a general election.

Dr. Thacker. who had led the applause all through the meeting, delivered another little speech after Air. Poison had finished, and then Air. Polson answered some questions. Air. Poison said that he would be in favour of the setting up of a proper tribunal to make inquiry into the allegations made by Air. Holland regarding the treatment of sonsciar.tious objectors in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, end that he would not support any proposal for the repeal of the Alilitary Service Act A resolution was carried by the meeting calling upon the Government to face a general election. Air. Martin M'lntyre, chairman of Air. Poison's committee, then moved a vote of thanks and confidence. Air. J. Dowdal). moved as an amendment that a vote of thanks only bo acrorded to the candidate. Dr. Thacker put the motion, making no mention of the amendment in his .submission of the question to flm audience. There was a chorus of "Ayes" and onlv one or two "Noes" in answer to his call, and he declared the motion carried. . „.,.,, Air. Dowdall called "Point of order! but nobody took any notice, and some of his friends joined in the noise. They kept up their protest while Air. Poison was saying his few words in acknowledgment of the vote. Dr. Thacker called for three cheers for Air. Poison, and the cheers were given, but immediately afterwards cheers were, given even more loudly for "Harry" Holland.