GENERAL ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 42, 13 November 1919, Page 6

GENERAL ELECTIONS

CAMPAIGN NOTES AND COMMENTS

LOCAL CANDIDATES' SPEECHES

"Hundreds of thousands of men earnestly desired to got on the land, but little or none was available. If tJhat desire- to get on the land is not satisfied, it will breed Bolshevism; and ultimately bring ruin. He was once of tho opinion that failure might easily follow those cuttin«up operations. Tins had been proved by experience to bo a fallacy. Mr. Massey and his colleagues had done wonders in their efforts since i!ho termination of the war, but had they done enough? The soldier deserved everything that could possibly be done for him, and sucrificea must be mado." (Applause.)— Mr. A. M'Leod, Reform candidate, at Carterton.

A jibe at tho Leader of the Opposition by tho Labour-Socialist candidate for C'hristehurch South :-"Tlie people had tho Leader of tho Liberal Party tanging down a programino in which he suggested that if his party wero returned t" power it was prepared to borrow and spend nearly in threo years. In 1891 when that great Liberal Party came into power its watchwords were 'self-reliance and no public borrowing. It now proposed to heap ,£23,000,000 into the ash pit. Sir Joseph Ward proposal to epend on education 03,000,000, on land for civilian settlement .£1,000,000 per .tear, oil prospecting .E'M.OOO for 10 ycere, beet su"ar production .EIO.MO a. year for six years, railways .£4,000,000 in threo years, roads .£(,000,000 in four years, prospecting a year for four yews, •water powers in threo years, housing £1,000,000 in four years. In addition there is tho State bank, purchasing of coal mines, flour mills, ferry steamers, and advances to soldiers, sailors, and civilians. Approximately this State gambler has decided to go in for an immense plunge for office. And yet thoso aTB the people .■who throw the word 'extremist, in tho teeth of Labour."

Y "The extreme Labour Party had given V reception to their men who cnmo out hH gaol. They had hindered the war. Hadn't they taken up the cause of tho consoientiou's objector? Undn't they glorified the men who refused to go? tVoicsS! "No.') Yes, it was true, and at the election these extremists 'would he placed at the' bottom of the poll. (Dissent.) Tho working, elnss hnd no confidence in these mon. The men who claimed to represent Labour did not represent Labour."—Mr. Black, the Moderate Labour candidate'"fbr~Dunci:tin~Sonth, who had a noisy -meeting and many interruptions from* the extremist element.

The latest in electioneering methods is to soothe the cleotor into a properly (sympathetic and receptive frame of mind by musical selections of the vermilion hue favoured by the Socialist brotherhood. For half an hour before Mr. Howard's recent meeting in Christchurch opened the Trades Hall Orchestra played a number of selections, and a chorus of about 20 ladies and gentlemen sang "Dawn of the Day." "The Son? of the New Tear," and "Tho Comrade 3 Song of Hope." Wellington up to tho present jias been spared this affliction.

"I am against State control in anything," said Mr. M'Leod, the Eeform candidate for the Waifarapa seat, in answer to a questioner who wanted the Government to take over the flourmills. And he added: "If the Government took the mills over I am perfectly certain your bread would rise without yeast.' (LangKter.) To another questioner who wanted to know whether he favoured a baby bonus ho pointed out that he had nlreadv advocated more liberal assistance in maternity cases. "I might add," Mr. M'Leod said, "that I would support compulsory saving for young men. Compel them to save up for a 'wet day' or marriage—whichever" they 'onsider worse."

"To those who formerly supported him and who expeofced that thoy hear from him a ringing appeal to Liberal principles," remarks the Christchurch ''Press." "Sir Joseph Ward's speech must be a disappointment/ In older days, before the Reform Party took office, there was .something to bo made out of the cry that the Reform Part)' was 'reactionary' and 'Tory.' 'Liberalism in danger' was a. fairly efficacious battle-cry. But the Reform Party has beon tested in office, and the Yolumo of progressive legislation that it has placed on tho Statute Book has left tho Liberal Party without a battle-ory at all. It is in vnin for Sir Joseph to say that in years past his party passed progressive measures. What •he has to show is that the Reform Party ■has not consistently dono the same. The distinctive feature of the Liber.il Party to-day, so far as.its policy has. a distinctivo feature, is its identification with a large programme- of nationalisation, and nationalisation, needlws to say,. is not in harmony with truo Liberalism at all, but very much opposed to it."

The Government of the futrcre, ea-id Mr. T. A. H. Field at Nelson on Monday night, should bo <i Government strong in character, in order to maintain law and order, and, if necessary, to fight to the Inst ditch. A. Government that would edapt Itself to new circumstances, ono that would have imagination «nd sympathy, and ho fair-minded to a/11 classes of the community. Ho believed the legislation of tho next few years would ho of e humanitarian character. People should be qducnted to avoid olass war. and conditions of living must bo improved. It did not mutter what they called themsolves so long as they worked together for the benefit of the nation.

Some time ago Mt. Nat Bo.aoiieh an. pounced that ho intended tf contest the Han-fee's B-iy seat at the forthcoming election as an Independent Labour candidate, but it was genornliy thought that Mr.Bwi.raish would not proceed with his candidature., Mr. Beamish, however, is In earnest (remarks a Napier paper), and intends to open hia campaign by addressing tho electors of Hawkes Bay within the next few dnvs.

Among thft writi'eu questions which tJ.tc handed up to Brigadier-General Mcldrum, Liberal candidate for the liangitikei sent, at his meeting at AViiurbmii East the other oven'ng./was the eomewhat unusual one, "Aro you in favour of hanging Hill Mnssey?" In, reply, the candidate slid: "I am a political opponent of Mr. Massey, but, at tho same time, he is a man for whom I liavo tho very greatest respect. A man who has given 30 years of his life to tho Bprvico of his country, as Mr. SFassey has done, is deserving of something better than, ridicule." This tribute to a political opponent was warmly applauded by the audience, says the Chronicle.

"The only safeguard against aggregation wns compulsory residence upon the land, under certain (safeguards. So far there had Iwen no determined effort to deal with land aggregation on scientific lines—it had all bei-u haphazard. He ■ivas pleased to note that Mr. M.vscy in his policy statement specially pointed out the injustice of taxation being applied to the man with a family as against the man who put on his hat and covered his responsibilities—Unit is, a man with no kith ,or kin dependent upon him. It must be recognised as obviously unfair to compel the man with four, six. or eight children (o cut un ihis land, when Another man across tho road, with neither chick nor child to provide, for, is taxed on tho same basis. He was unite in sympathy with tlhs cry for further cutting up of largo land aroiw, nnd if it ■was not faced new it would work mischief, not only to those people themselves but to thousands of others who deserved a better fate."—Mr. M'Leod, Reform eandidato for tho AVairarapa Beat.

Discussing the situation in Canterbury, where Labour candidates arc bolii numerous and a'grswivc, the "Sun" condemns tho division Ijetivcsn the Morin and Liberal Parties caused by Kir Joscp.i Ward's action. Ho references to possible troubles ahead, which iollov, are of ceiieral interest-.—"The supporters of .Mr. Masiey , luid' Sir Joseph Ward represent the law-abiding, responsible elements in the communitv, nnd it is a national misfortune that they should be niarsihallins their forces for n suicidal contest in the face of a common danger. It is currenfi talk in. political and mercantile circles that an industrial upheaval in the JJominiun is imminent, ami that it is mere-

ly delayed so as nod to prejudice tho chances" of labour candidates at tiho elections, i'or several years past, minors, watersidcM and others havo been iiblo to exact demands that no impartial arbitration tribunal would have conceded, simply because tho country was r.t wni, and a stoppage would have prevented us from maintaining and reinforcing our army overseas. Sinco the war, the necessity of shipping produce purchased by tiho Imperial authorities away has Hindu it necessary to'go to almost any lengths to maintain industrial peace, and, even to-day, when it is of vital importance to keep up our exports and maintain thh highest possiblo output from our manufacturing industries, the minors are deliberately restricting (ho output of coal. 'Go-slow' is simply a form of striko or 'direct action': there is no lo.nger any distinction between tho two. Out readers can perhaps imagine the etate of chaos that would follow a general strike with direct aotionisls holding tho reins of sovernmont. Under the circumstances, no sensible person can take sides in the sham-iigbt between the Liberal ami lieform Parties with nny satisfaction or with any other feeling than apprehension at the possiblo results of such a foolish and misguided sort of contest."

"Speaking of the responsibility for it, Sir Joseph Ward, in ono breath, claimed tho solo credit for the surpluses with a very emphatic uso of the first person singular, and in the next breath lie insisted that tho whole Ministry were n'esponsible. If thero is. praise going, in fact, ho claims it all; if blame, ho remembers that ho had colleagues. It is not very complimentary to his trumpeters that ho should think it necessary to pay himself such abundant compliments."—"The Press."

A Christchurch newspaper has been unkind enough to remind Sir Joseph Ward of ono of his utterances on his return from Europe. Ho then said:— The conditions prevailing four years ago had gone for ever as a result of the war, and the time had arrived when all right-thinking people in the community should assist the authorities in finding solutions for these postwar problems, and in framing measures for the development of tho country's resources so that tho welfare of the whole community would be assured. Tho people of New Zealand would surely have the common sense to recognise tho fact that tho problems needing attention were too urgent to permit of petty, bicker- , ings.

The "Press," whioh lias recalled to tho memory of tho public theso very admirable professions, motes its own comments on haw Sir Jossph. Ward's actions contrast with them, "Few people reading the.se irords," it remarks, "could have expected that within a month tho nuthor of them would suddenly leave the Ministry and issue a manifesto compact of extravagant bids for support in his plan to fight his wayback.to office with' the old party, weapons. For his action he has not yet offored an explanation which can satisfy any of those who sincerely wish to think him a statesman."

Hero is an Auckland comment on the plunge which Sir Josenh Ward, if entrusted with office again, would niako into experimental nationalisation schemes:—"Tho solution of the country's financial difficulties is to be found, according to tho Leader of the Opposition, in the profits to Jμ earned by the State from banking, coal mining, and hydro-electricity, 'in all about <C2,G00,000.' Tho details of this attractively largo sum," remarks the "Now Zealand llorald," "were given by Sir Joseph Ward in his speech on tho Budget, in which he proposed to meet the extra strain upon the country by purchasing the Bunk of New Zealand or establishing another bank, by spending ,£8,000,000 on tho development of eleotricity, by nationalising the coal mines, and by investing tho accumulated surpluses. He forecasted an immediate annual revenue of about •CMO.OOO from tho State Bank, .£600,000 wid more from electricity supply, .E2-50,-000 from coal mining, and .£750,000 from tho invested funds. • • • Beforo asking the country to accept these schemes, Sir Joseph AVard should show by what means he proposes to innate the profite of the existing enterprises. The gross profits of the Bank of New Zealand last year were .£459,221 and after interest had been paid on the State's and the shareholders' capital, and provision made for depreciation, .£308,699 remained. . . . Thus Sir Joseph Ward's woriosal means thnt the Bank of New Zealand, under State-ownership, would increase its profits by -E200,000. He expects to obtain .£250,000 from coal mining. According to tin- Jioartf of Trade report the nvorage annual profits of the coal industry during tho period 1913-18 were .£65,583, or excluding two mines which were rim at a loss, and adding the profite of Hie State coal mines, less than iUO.OOO. Similarly Sir Joseph AVard forecasted a return of 'more than 8 per cent, from electricity schemes. The only experience the. country has had in this Iβ. moot is with the Late Coleridge plant, Btrt *&"?«££ tion on the capital cost, but not jet to show an actual nroat.

' OTAHIJEAT MR. W. H. FIELD AT UPPER HUTT. Mr W H Field, Reform candidate for tho Otak'i electorate, addressed a meeting of his supporters in the tipper Hutt Town Hall last evening. Mr. P. lvol> ertson presided over on attendance oi nearly 100 electors. . Mr Field at tho outset said that M showing his confidence In the potentialities of the district he had 'econtly purchased a half-share in an orchard at 'SilTOTstrcam. He was satisfied that the lower slopes of the hills in that locality presented great possibilities for applegrowing. Passing on he said that up the Manawatu line the people had not Fe.cn any reason to withdraw their confidence 'm him. Incidentally he disclaimed any suggestion that he was a land aggregator. Any land that he held wnfi no more than sufficient for the use of himself and his family-two of his son.? were residing on his Otaki property. He mentioned this fact m case any charge of land aggregation was made against him in tho present political campaign. Coming to his opponents, Mr. Field pointed out that the Labour candidate had advertised himself ns ' official Labour," and was being put up and assisted by the extremist party, and could not be dissociated from them. Their public "objectivo was tbo socialisation cf the means of production, distribution, and exchange, which was pure Socialism. Another of his opponents wns a LiberalLabour candidate, with advanced radical views. He (Mr. Field) wns standing m the interests of tho Eoform Party. He stood for Mr.' Massey in event of his being returned with a- majority sufficient to control tho Government of the country. In event of neither the Prime ■ Minister «ior Sir Joseph TTard being returned with a- siillicieut majority he would join the etrongpst moderate party formed by tho?e desirous of seeing enno government. Referring to the National Government, of whicli he had been a supporter, Mr. Field assured his audience that the Nαvioiml Government had accomplished much eood work during the, past four years. Personally, he now thought that il; was to be very much regretted i;hnt tho old narty npirit had been revived, and that the two political chiefs woro tho country an leaders of separate parties. As evidence of tho business ability of tho National Government, it was to bo noted that it had raised 76 millions of money for war purposes, and of this U millions hnd been raised within the Dominion. On March 31 last the Budget disclosed a credit of .Cn,700,000. During the war the land tax had been doubled' nnd the income tax increased ton fold, showing that tho burden of increased taxation had bepn plsiwl nn the proper shoulders. On the ntlier hand the exemption on incomes had not been lowered below Ihe old figure—.RlOfl, The only Customs incrc.w was 3d. per lb. on ten. which was imiJCSP'I in order In nrovido increases in Iho old-nsto and other penHirui-=. The floveriiniciil: could mil brblamed for tho increased cost of liv''ig whii'h had risen jrrwilly all over the world during the war period. In New Zenlano: the increiisi> was lower than in anv other country., There had been some profileerinu in thn country. In order In deal effectively with this the now Board of Trndo Act had been passed this session. It was a drastic measure and gave the board tho fullest powors to

cone with tho situation. Tho Government had protected tho community by reslriclin? the price of butter to ueliiw the actual cost, of production, ami it hao also controlled His pri-e of s'.i;;,"r, which in Now Zra'siid was considerably below that obtaining in Australia— Hie country of its production—and England. Mr. Field went on to outline Hie varioiu , progressive measures ijUend on the Statute Book last session, instnncing in particular provision o? >', .3,(100,000 iw.i> for railway improvements, nix! the increased assistance to be afford?(' ?duc:i. tion. Effective machinery hud c>o beer, provided fot coping with ths r-.wi; , ;: problem. Tho Future. As to tho future, Mr. Field referred his nudienee to Mr. Massey's platform, which stood for sound, progressive, and economical government. A speedy constructive policy with regard to railways was a feature of Hie Beform programme. It was also intended to givo a fillip to the woollen manufacturing industry in thti Dominion, and, if possible, to establish, a line of State-owned ships. It was the intention' of the Government to provide more maternity homes and to extend the system of back-blocks nursing. Military training that would not undulj hamper tho country's industries was another plank in tho platform. Trust? nm! combines would be effectively dealt vith, and a vigorous immigration policy would be put into operation. Tho policy of ihe small freehold would be retained, with sufficient safeguards against aßfoption. The Government also intended to devote special attention to afforestation, with particular reference to tlio sand duniis. Town-planning , would jilso not be lost sight of. The courtry was faced with great financial responsibilities, and it behoved tho country to return to Parliament moderate men who would not rush the country into extravagant and rash expenditure. Tho country's National Debt had increased, roughly speaking, from one hundred millions to two hundred millions. There iyas a call to eaiio and logical government at tho present juncture—they should legislate on safe, lines. To meet our increased indebtedness it was necessary to have increased production, and this being so they should guard against hampering the farmers. The candidate defended the Government with regard to the butter equalisation fund. The speaker next referred to the "vicious circle," tho cost of living keeping apace with every rise in wages granted. While the cost of living went up they must increase wages. The cost of living must, however, be lowered, ami ho was confident that by efficient production and careful and wise administration a reduction would ultimately be eccurcd. More money was required for teachers' residences, and bigger and better playgrounds were required. More attention should be paid to tho teaching of agriculture in our schools, and the kindergarten systeju should bo imported into ouf national sys* tern of education. The public health of tho community, particularly thoeehool children, should receivo moro consideration. In the matter of defence, ho was very much against expending any huge sum in any needless directions. Touching briefly on the railways, Mr. Field described the salary paid to tho General Manager of the service as "simply out. rageous." The general result of tlie new Ilnilivays Act would bo entirely satis, factory to the service as a whole. The necessity for the- rapid prosecution of the hydro-electric schemes in the Dominion was jlso stressed bv Mr. Field, who dwelt in particular on the possibilities of the Mangaho schome. Among other things advocated bv the candidate was a State monopoly in benzine. Lastly, ho warned his audience that at the present time they had as much Socialism in New Zealand as they could do with, ana , the ideal of the "Brotherhood of Man" was unattainable. This was no time for experi. ments—moderation was required. Touch, imr on local wants, Mr. Field said ho favoured an early completion of the UpI ucr liutt to Waikauae. Koad, and a (radio ! bridco over the Hutt liiver at Hay. wards, An improvement was also rcauired in the night train service to and from Uppor Iliitt. At the conclusion of his ao'dress Mr. Field answered a number of questions. The meeting concluded with a hearty vote of thanks to the candidate, moved bv Mr. I{. G. Martin and seconded by Mr. W. J. Bennington.

LABOUR CANDIDATES MR. CHOSKEKY AT BERHAJIPOBE. Air. A. W. Ooskery (official Labour candidate for the Wellington Suburbs seat) addressed last evening a moderatesized meeting of electors in the MasonicHall, Berlin inpoie. He received an attentive hearing. Mr. Croskery referred to tho Government of the country during tho past five years. It was for the electors now to decide, ho said, whether they wanted another few years of the same sort of 1 Government, or had had enough. If they desired a change, tho only tiling for them to do was to voto Labour. He would speak of problems that tho Government of the war period had done nothing to solve. The Housing Bill ho described as a means omployed by the Government to throw dust in the eyes of the people before tho election. Tho only proper way of meeting the housing ehortasc was to provido houses at a price that would not mortsiiKc the wages of tho working people for the rest of their lives. The Wellington City Council had undertaken to build houses, but it had been without labour beeauso-it' offered only 2s. per hour for carpenters and joiner:!, while local firms of contractors were offering 2s. Cd. The Labour Party believed that nothing could be obtained cheaply till tho private ex-, plotter had been entirely eliminated. It had been stated that there was a combine- in tho timber industry. He considered that there was something wrong in it. He quoted from two figures showing that New Zealand red pine and white pine could l)e obtained in Australia for 8.1. per hundred feet le-is than they could be obtained for here. Until there were State-owned cement works, brickworks, joineries, and sawmills tho people could not expect homes to 1)0 built for them at a reasonable cost. Other candidates would tell the people that labour could not be obtained for building. Ho wished to give the allegation a flat denial. The membership of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters 'and Joiners was about tho samo now as it had been a few years ago. The real cause of the present trouble was that the labour available was being employed on non-essential work—on big contracts for business premises, etc. Until tho people returned a party determined to put non-essential work' on one side and to build homes nothing effective would bo done. I.«nd profiteering, tho candidate submitted, was prevalent in the Dominion. Rome landowners were evading taxation, and causing BeriouK loss to the country. A sample of land oxploitntion was tho following :—A dairy farmer from a northern district purchased a farm in the Waikato at J2-I0 per acre and sold at ,i'fiß per acre. After lioidinj sixteen farms in two years lie had pocketed the magnificent sum of ,£IO,OOO. The community had now to pay extra for its commodities in order to enable the farmers who bought, that land to pay the mnrvgaßt's upon it. Our present education system was defective. Classes wore too large, and the. inadequacy of the salaries offered to teachers was responsible for keeping out of the profession most desirable recruits. The school building* wore not fitted for tho education of children. Tho only way to get a satisfactory system was to "boot out" the Reformers and tho Liberals. A proper provision for widows was urgently-, needed. There were . at present three pensions for widows: the widow of a soldier got M per week provided she had children; "epidemic widows" if they were lucky could get .CI fls. per week, and 10s. Gd. per week for each child; other widows were entitled to tho magnificent sum of 7s. Gil. per week for themselves, plus 7s. (id. Tier wHc for each child. Such anomalies shniihl not exist. The Lnbour Tarty stood for the nationalisation of the.coal miniii'r indiflry. with State transportation of coal Id iiit out (In "ootonw of Ihi , I. 1 iiion Company." .In purchasing meat, th« pcoiili" won* !n.yiii!f far profits bninjr made by the frieii'!* of Hie Mnsspy nnd Ward parties. ]f Urn prnnlo wanted "rump steak for 7Sd. p<>r lb." they must voto for Labour. "Sir Joseph Ward had formerly been asked to 'liny out Hie Union Company. JTo had refused to do so. say itiK that (he deal would cos' ,£1,000.000 or ,-£1.500,000. Labour had mid, "That would be cheap." How had tho matter turned out?. The country

had given the Union Company (or would liiivo givon it when all c!wi;es wero paid) "a present of .te.OOO.OOO" for vessels lis-i'. in transporting troops. And Hie country had not acquired the fleet—flip I'nion Company had tho fleet ar.d tho .K.CCfI.OJ;"; a.s well. The only thing the country hw\ got was (he mortgage that had to be pird on the money borrowed to give the company the .tfi.OOO.OOO. A vole of cimlidiMice in tin , candidal was carried unanimously at the close of the address.

MB. A. I- MOXTfiITH AT ST. MAIUv'S. Mr. A. L. Monteith. Labour candidate for Wellington East, addressed a meeting at St. Mark's last evening, Mr. 11. Dyson presiding. The candidate stated that he believed th.-it the Labour Tarty was to-d-av the only pisity that the masses o! tho people could look to if any reforms wero to lie secured. Mr. Massey had stated that lie would spond tho last "bob." bi't to-diiy the moneyed classes of Now Zealand were wealthier than tbe> wero when the war started. Therefore it w-:is not a case of the "last bob" but a question of tho fust one. Mi. Monteith stated that the largo commercial concerns had allowpd for tho payment of income tax by making profits that were excessive, and it, was this kind of indirect taxation flint increased tho cost of living. He advocated increase in the liip.d tax. but stated that Hie present parties would not incren?o laud tax as tliero were too many landowners who were members of both parties to-day. Dealing with industrial matters hn stated that the Liberal Party of 2."i years o?o had advocated "th.it the veterans of industry should have pensions as well as veteran? of war." but they had forgotten ■this, plunk in their policy. The mutter of accident insurance had cost ,€310,000, and the insurance companies gave to workers who met with accident* ,£1GO.OO(I and cave to shareholders -CISO.OOfI. This should bo remedied, as,rtlir> Act was never intended to act as a benefit to shareholder? of insurance wmpnnios but workers. The speaker paid that the Lahmir Party advocated Stale monopoly which would' increase the benefits of accident insurance by nt least 50 per cent. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.

IN OTHER CENTRES ME, VEITCH'S OPENING ADDRESS. Wanganui, November 12. Mr. W.'A. Vcitch, M.P., gave his opening political address at the Opera House to-night before a fairly large audience. The speaker dealt with the. work of the prt.4 sc.'sion and explained various Dills placed on the Statute Book. In reply to questions the speaker said he would be prepared to support a Jlilt next session giving an extra shilling si day to returned soldiers. lie would follow his own convictions, but would bo prepared to support tho Liberals before the Hffnrm Party. He could not support Mr. Holland" as leader.

CLUTHA. Dunedin, November 12. Mr. Muslin, Hid Literal candidate for Cluthn, spoko at Balclutha on Tuesday. The speaker dwelt on tho benefits to the Dominion from the passing by the Liberal Government of the Land Settlement Act, tho Advances to Settlers Act, and other measures. He contended that tho performance of tlio Reform Government had fallen short of the promises, as compared with what had been done by the Liberal Party in the past. Tho speaker criticised many of tho articles in Mr. Hasscy's manifesto, and said that, it' elected, he would oppose anything in tho nature of militarism, owing to the disorganisation which Sir James Allen's proposal for a four months' camp would tiring in tho farming community. Tho speaker was accorded a vote of thanks. Mr. Ti. Rodger, of Tapanui, will contest the Clutha seat as an Independent. MH. LEE AT OAMAIiTJ. Oamaru, November 12. Mr. E. P. Li"-, the sitting member, opened his campaign in the Opera House to-night before li fairly large attendance. Ho gave a, resume of Ihe work of the recent session and dealt with pressing problems. He received a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. Leo declared that ho would support Mr. -Massoy on a noconfidenco motion, but would maintain independence in demanding energetic measures of reconstruction and progress in general politics.

BAY OF PLENTY. Opotilci, November 12. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald addressed a mooting of his constituents last evening. There was a good attendance, and the speaker received a good hearing. Ho spoke gonernlly on lines of his Kotorun speech, already reported. Very littlo interest is being displayed in the coming election, in view of tho fact that no other candidates arc in the field for the Bay of Plenty seat. AUCKLAND WEST. By Tclograpli-I'ross A nidation. Auckland, November 12. Mr. E. N. Bagnall has retired from the Auckland West contest in favour of the other Government candidate, Mr. C. F. Bennett. WAITEMATA. ' Auskland, November 12. Mr. A. B. Greonslade, Mayor of JJorthccie, is announced as the Liberal candidate for Waitemata. ' EOTOEUA. Rotorua, November 12. Mr. P. F. Hockley has been selected as tie official Reform candidate: for Rbtonia, Mr. E. C. Banks having retired in his favour. CLOSING OF BOLLS. Electors not yet on the roll are advised to make application immediately, for, on the night of tho day on which the writs are issued tho supplementary rolls closo automatically. Registered electors who anticipate bring absent from their electorate on election day, can, if they so desire, secure an absent voter's permit or seaman's right, asthecaso mny be,'up to and including the day preceding the general election. Forms of application can be obtained from any post office or registrar of electors. It is absolutely essential that the application should roach the. registrar of electors in lime to permit of him forwarding the permit or seaman's right, as the case may be, to reach the applicant on or before election day. Mr. J. Hislop, chief electoral officer, announce.;; in another column that, for tbo purposes of tho Legislature Act, IMS, every person resident on an hull;, permanently located in any harbour of Now Zealand, shall be deom»d to tic, and at all times while 80 resident to have been, resident in the electoral district any part: of which is contiguous to tho waters of tho harbour, and may, if otherwise qualified to be enrolled as an elector, lie regarded as an elector of such one of these districts as ho. may elect. Mr. lE. P. Rishworlh (Reform oni'didale) will address Hip electors at IS.vtbnuriie Hall on Fridav at 8 p.m.V and at tfie School Hull. Wainui-o-mata at (he same hour on Saturday. As a result of the meeting called by Mr. Cotton (.Moderate Labour), a committee was formed in Potone last night to further his interests there. Mr. Charles Cross, of Alfredton, has decided to withdraw from candidature for the Masforton seat at tho general election. Mr. W. H. Fiold (Olaki) will address the electors at Ihakara this evening at. 8 o'rlock. Owing to the hall at Ohan being otherwise engaged tho meeting advertised to be held there to-night has boon postponed till a later dale.