WELLINGTON CENTRAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 2, 27 September 1918, Page 7

WELLINGTON CENTRAL

—, — f HALF-HOLIDAY FOR THE ELECTION BOUNDARIES OF THE ELECTORATE On election day (Thursday next) all places of business, hotels, factories, etc., situated within the bounds of tho Wellington Central electorate must close for holiday from 1 p.m. That means that in several parts of the city business on 0110 side o't a thoroughfare will bo closecj, whilst-trade is in full swing' 011 tho other. For example, To Arb House will have- to close its doors, whilst James Smith and Co., on the opposite side of the Dixon Street intersection of Cuba Street, will bo open. Similarly the Royal Oak Hotel oiv ono jsido of the lower part of Cuba Street will have to close, whilst the Alhambra Hotel may remain open. The boundaries of the Wellington Central eleotorato are roughly as follow Commencing at a point on the western sido of Clyde Quay near tho boat harbour,- tho boundary runs southward along that quay, up Cambridge Terrace, as far as. Buckle Street, cij which thoroughfare the northern side only is'included in-tho electorate.' The boundary follows Buckle Street as far asTasman Street, and turns southward again; along Tasman Street as far as Tainui Terrace. Then it cuts across the back (southern end) of tile Mouut Cook Reservo to Hawkey Street, the northern side only on" which is .within tlio boundaries. From Hankey Street tho line -travels as far as Nairn Street, bisects Central Park until it reaches Ohiro Road, travels uphill nearly' to Brooklyn, and then cuts across country via Tanera Crescent to tho western boundary on the hills at the head of Polhill Gully to a point at the'back oif the lowdr reservoir. From there •the boundary makes eastward to a lino that traverses tho back of the Terrac6 prison reserve. Then . it zig-zags down to Woolcombe Street (the town side only of which is included in Wellington Central) as far as Ghuzneo Street-,• proceeds down Upper Willis Street, then . eastward along Dixon Street, and down that thoroughfare as far as tho water's edge, ■ ■

THE LABOUR CAMPAIGN

TWO QUIET MEETINGS,

Two perfectly peaceful, uninterrupted, and orderly meetings were held last Jiiglit in the interests of tho Labour candidate for Wellington Central, Mr. P. Fraser. Tho meetings were held in olio Alexandra Hall and St. Peter's Schoolroom, and the speakers, in addition to . the candidate, were tho Hon. J. T. Paul, Mr. J. M'Combs, M.P., and Mr. H. Holland, M.P.,. all Labour members of the Legislature. The great topic on-which all the 'speakers spoko was the cost oit' living and the ineffectiveness ,of the measures taken by the National Government to deal with the problem. Mr. M'Combs made it quite clear that in his opinion the Liberals were as bad as the Reformers in all matters, and were quite as much to blame in this matter of tho cost of living as the "Tories." The Cost of Living Act, he said, was Sir Joseph "Ward's measure, but the President of tho Board of Trade was Mr. Massey. It used to ho slyly suggested by certaiiu of tho Liberal newspapers that tho Act wag all right,' but- the 'administration of 'it- was all - wrong. By and by camo' the. time when Mr. Massey went Home, and tho Act was administered by Mr. Mac Donald. But it was found that while during the ten months that the Board of Trade was itc-der Mr. Massey's guidance the index number for the three food groups, according to the Statistician's figures, increased 91 points, it increased 98 points .in the time, that Mr. Mac Donald had control. _ Wherefore Mjv M'Combs told his audience that the two parties were equally at fault, and' equally to blame, and that the only escape from' them was to elect a Labour candidate.

Indeed, this was a point made by all the speakers—that the only effective way of making a protest against the inaction of the Government was to vote for Mr. Fraser. The return of any but tho Labour candidate would he considered by the Government to be a defeat for Labour. Mention ' was made also of Russia and Bolshevism. Speakers asked the people to take no heed of the cry being raised .vbout tho danger of-Bolshevism, saying that in all probability tilings were not so bad in Russia as appeared, and that in any case eve.n under the Tsar Russia had never been a good place to live in. MR. MACK'S" CAMPAIGN An enthusiastic meeting of Mr. Mack's general committee- was. held last evening, when highjy satisfactory reports were received fro'tn each section of the electorate. In ovary section, it

is stated, the members of the canvassing committee have met with' strong promises of support for Mr. Mack. Final arrangements were made by the setting up of various standing committees to completo the canvass of tlio whole of the electorate by to-morrow. .Complete arrangements were also made '?or Mr. Mack's final meeting of his supporters only, which will be hold, on Wednesday next in St. John's Church Schoolroom at 8 p.m. Mr. Mack's Committee colours will bo blue.

RAILWAYMEN APPROVE MR. MACK'S CANDIDATURE

The Nfcwmarket branch of the A.S.R.S. resolved:—'"That the candidature ot Mr. Mack for Wellington Central seat meets with the approval of this branch. We consider bis influence and usefulness as general secretary of the A.S.R.S. would be much enhanced should be succeed in winning a seat in Parliament. In any event, his 'candidature is excellent proof of his ability and standing as a recognised leader in Labour polities." Napier railwaymen have passed a motion favouring Mr. Stack's candidature for Wellington Central.—-Press Assn.

The. Liberal candidate (Mr. William T. Hildretii), who is pledged to support the National Government while the war continues, will deliver his first speech to-night in St. Peter's Schoolroom. ■

Mr. M. J. Mack, Independent Labour, will address the electors in Willis Street State School to-night. Mr. H. Atmore will deliver an address at St. Peter's Schoolroom tomorrow night. Mr.. J. M'C'ombs, M.P., and other members of the Labour Party, will speak at the Post Office Square at midday to-day in support of Mr. P. .UVaser.

Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., aixl the Labour candidate will speak at the Mission Hall, Avo Street, to-night at 8 o'clock. •

An open-air meeting in support of the Labour candidate will be held' at Ghuznec; Street to-night at 8 o'clock.