CAMPAIGN SPEECHES AND INCIDENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 47, 19 November 1919, Page 7

CAMPAIGN SPEECHES AND INCIDENTS

ME. MYER'S IN DIFFICULTIES ! FREE FIGHT AT MB. ISITT'S MEETING

The Careless Apple. "I do not say," says Sir Joseph Ward, 1 "that fusion would be a good thing, and c I <lo not say that it would be a bad ' thing." Just .quietly, Sir Joseph, what do you really think it would be? Labour's "Concrete Proposals." A Labour orator at Green Island on Saturday commended the. Labour Party's platform as the only "concrete proposals" 'before the electors. The public usually " understands; any concrete proposals by • tils Holland Party to be something in : the naturo of lialf-bricks. 1 A Wellington North Rumour. 5 It has been rumoured for some days • taat Mr. Douglas J. H. Seymour, M.A..general secretary of the Now Zealand Meturned Soldiers' Association, contemplated seeking Parliamentary honours. Colour was lent to the rumour by reason of tho fact that Mr. Seymour intends to 1 vacate his present position at an early date, and it i≤ understood that representations were made to him to contest tho Wellington North seat. In reply to '. an inquiry made last night, however, I Mr. Seymour stated definitely that ho \ would not contest any seat at tho forthcoming general election. ! From tho Frying Pan into the Fire. A local weekly which supports the Wardista foresees nothing but trouble 1 in etore for iis party unless it concludes - ' an alli.mco with' Labour. Prom present 1 appearances Sir Joseph Ward evidently 1 -prefers the doubtful of the ' frying pan to tho certain discomforts of the iire. "An Irresponsible Politician." Sir Joseph AVard says he is quite con- ' ' tent to leave to the judgment of 'the i public- the question whether ho is, as Mr. Massey says he is, an "irresponsible i politician." Tt remains to be seen i • whether he will take the decision in the ■ . same snorting spirit. : The Slings and Arrows of Outrageous , Fortune. ] "Apparently Mr. Oakley Browne is not j to be taken seriously in the fight," observed Mr. J. Kead at Sydney Street ■ last evening. It was obvious, said the Labour candidate, that the struggle for : tho North seat was to be between him- i self and Mr. J. P. Luke. I labour Contempt for YVardism. ( "What have we got in the past through v backing 'sane .-Labour , ?" asked Mr. M. ■ Walsh, tne chairman of Mr. J. Head's (Labour) meeting last evening. "Have ■ we not backed the Liberal Party for ; years? Have you ever seen tho Liberal j Party worth backing since the death of , Bich'ard John Seddou? I say emphatic- j ally, No!" ( Suspicious. i The "Wairarapa Standard" is highly | : suspicion* of the protestations of so- - ' called "Moderate Labour" candidates ! that they disapprove of the methods of • the Holland extremist clique, and will ( have nothing to do with them, if elected. ' 1 It regards these protestations as pure ' electioneering and warns the public not ■ to take them at their face value. | Two Candidates for Gaol. "Tho 'go-slow' policy and strikes are : in the very worst interests of the yeoplo ; of this country," declared Lieutenant- ,; Colonel G. Mitchell at Brooklyn last night. "I would not," he added, "stop ' c a man from striking. The men who j strike are misled by agitators. (Apj plauso mingled with dissent.) When a . combine or a union stops the food supt ply of the people, the Government must ■ . step in and protect the people—anil tho ' j Government will always win. ... I am not sure that I would not eend the profiteer and the agitator to gaol at the same time." (Applause.) The Workers' Debt to Mr. Massey. : Workers who hold the policy and tactics of the Holland extremist clique in whole-hearted contempt—and they are many-will find the following record of Mr. Massey's efforts on behalf of the workers-compiled by tho "Manawiitu .Standard"—well worth reading. Beside it the Liberal record looks mean and paltry;— "Tho AVorkers' Dwellings Act, a Sed- ' donian measure passed in 1905, became operative," fays the "Standard," "on January 1. 19116. The Liberal Government, however, only administered it in very perfunctory fashion, and, up to March 31, 1912, had only completed 126 workers' dwellings, having, however, authorised another 59 w> to that date, with a further U up to June 30, 1912, making 209 in all. The provision thus made was at tho rato of 33 dwellings per annum during the GJ years the Liberals ad*, ministered tho Act. The Massey Government entered oSce on July 12, 1912, and, up to Juno 30, 1915, they lfad erected 315 workers' dwellings, nnd had anot'hor 77 authorised and under construction, making 422 in all, their yearly avurago being 110, as agaiust the Liberal Government's 32. Tho Liberal Government's activities had been confined to ■ tho four cities. The Reform Government extended tho application of the Act to 26 other centres. Since the Natiou-tl Government was dissolved, and prior to 1 tlio introduction of its comprehensive ' housing scheme; under the Housing Act, tho Massey Government has authorised tho erection of another 200 houses, bringing its total tip to 822: The Massey Government, moreover, by its amendments in 181-1, very considerably Mberalieed and extended the scope of tho origi- , nal Act, increasing tho. maximum capi- . tal value of the workers' dwellings, and extending the period for tho repayment of , the purchase money in the case of con- , i creto 'or brick dwellings to l!Gi years, thus reducing the weekly payments by . 2s. 6d." ' A Doubtful Compliment. Mr. Anstey, the Wardist candidate for ! Wailaki. ssivs he has noticed, not without comuliiccnt pride, that his worthy ouuoncnt. Mr. Paul (the Labour camli- ' date), has taken all tho siliiMit points • of ii naper he re.m in Wellington, and ailonlod them us his own policy. Most people would conclude that this wasn't ] a matte. , for complacent pride at all. i Prophets Without Honour. , "As recards tho Labour Party," said ' ■ Mr. Cotton, the "Moderate" Labour can- ■ didnte for (lie Hurt. "Peter Krnwr, Bull . 1 Semolc. .Harry Holland, and M'C'oinbs are uoor unfortunates who have, to use ■ dvnamilc languags to get their positions. ' •Thev are no friends of Lnlxiur, but are , 1 nut. to make easy billets for themselves. ' When the extremists get up in tho House ' ; to talk the members go into the lobby ' ; for a smoke." The "Wage Slavo" Absurdity. 1 r "All of us who live by wages enn live I only by soiling ourselves us industrial I f-laves." "This statement, nindo bv one ' of tli? Labour candidates, is absolutely ' incorrect," said M». tt. A. Wright at j ' Kliandallah last night. No worker in New Zealand iold ! liimself to any master, , ' The position to-day was tho very re- -j verse. Tho masters wore coinpclledto go 1 cap in hand to obtain the services oi ' the worker. As a matter of fact, 90 per cent, of the successful men in New Zealand commenced work aa wage-carnera, By thrift, industry, and eelf-denial they i had achieved success. These virtues ,• , were, however, now regarded aa belong' : ing to tho Stono Ago." i

Soldiers Won't bo. Bought. Women interjectors figured largely— often to disndvantage—at Lieutenant-Col-onel Mitchell's meeting at Brooklyn last night. Ono woman who hud provjousiy auvised the colonel to "go and 'klo 'it lace," remarked, during Ilia discission of the Uepalnatiou Act: "Wo have had enough about the soldiers!" "Yes," rejoined the candidate. "A lot of my friends do not like tho soldier—they never did like him. They only liko tho Boldier when they try to buy hie vote by promising him a gratuity of is. a day." At a later stage Coionel Mitchell said that the soldiers were [juito ft'atiiliod with the Government's gratuity of Is. (id. per day. They «ud in eifect: "If you havo got any more left, give it to the cripples, give it to tho wounded!" (Applause,) 'Ware the Bolshevikl "We have referred on previous occasions in these columns (save the "Press") to tho descriptions o£ Bolshevism in practice, ae given by Mr. Keeling, the English trade unionist, who recently escaped to England alter several years spent in Eusaia, and by Colonel John Ward, tho Labour ALP., who organised tho Savvies' Battalion for service in i'rauce, and later commanded a battalion of the Middlesex llegimeni in East Siberia, and North Russia. Both emphasised the fact that Bolshevism rests on terrorism. There are now available from official sources details which have been minutely and carefully verified by British Government agents of the manner in which Bolshovik rule affects the- Hussiau worker. Theso show clearly that no system of government devised by man iras over wore destructive of personal liberty, such as is enjoyed by every worker in New Zealand." Awkward Fact for the Extremists. "The extreme party say that they will lower the cost of living. Tho only conntry where , tho extreme party is in power is Queensland, and there the increase is 62 per cent. The extreme party did not succeed there, and they will not eucceed here."—Lieut-Colonel Mitchell. Independent candidate, at Brooklyn last night. The Rail-Sitters. The Independent candidate figures rather more prominently than usual in the prisent political contest (says tho fhrist'cliurch "Press"). In some Jγ.stances he is a thinly-disguised Wardite. in others it is apparent from his speeches that he would be a lieiormer if he dared to take the plunge. It is possible that here and there is an Independent who cannot honestly agree with the platform of either party, but the public instinctively suspects a niitfi who professes to be of this class of trying to win votes from both sides, and cxperienco has shown that in few cases, if ho secures election, does his independence long withstand the call of party after he gets to Parliament. A fiotorua candidate, declared the other night that "they would never get a real .National Party by putting the Jlnssey or Ward party back to nower. Tho only way was by returning independents," of w'nom, of course, he was one. Ho carefully evaded, however, the essential fact that there cannot be an Independent Parly without a leader, and that no such leader is in sight. Under 'these ' circumstances an Independent member is of little practical use in the House, either to' his district or to the .Dominion. "Profiteering and True Profits." i "Many people we the term 'profiteering, very loosely, but there is such a thing as true profits created by ability iiml application which the creator is ontitled to. You have to go through the fire and learn a business before you can be successful. Profits are not lying about for any fool to pick up. On the other liaud, there aro profits which are plunder pure and simple, and that is the spot whero u good Board of Trade under a Liberal Government will put its finger." Jlr. Dunbar ploane, candidate for Wellington Suburbs. Straiaht-out Methods. Mr. M'Nicol, the Keforai candidate for the* Pahialua seat, is a believer in straight-out methods, no side-stenpiiig, and he demonstrated this admirable nualitv when he' was asked to state his views on the delicate question of the bare majority. Under the existing liition. ho said, tho trado had agreeii with the prohibition party to accept the bare maioritv. Personally, ho did not asree with it. He felt that if laws were to be enforced they must havo behind them a strong body of public opinion. The anti-shouting law was an ex:imnle of the useleanioss of ivissing a law that was not backed by tho weight of nublic opinion. He was in favour of a baro majority whero three- issues were DUt as at present, because to carry one rami red a weight of public opinion, but if there was any reversion to two issues he would not favour a bare majority, ne thought something more solid was rcnuircd. In moving a vole of thanks, Mr. Kitear Harem? expressed himself disiiupoiuted with the views on tho burs majority, upon which ho (Mr. Hardiiis) felt keenly. The motion was.seconded by Mr. H. Burnett, who complimented the candidate mi his spewh and his straightfo.-wnrd answers. The motion was carried with applause. Mr. M'Nicol l'ppHwi', thanking them, and statins.' that in the first place he had ifl) dn?iro to stand, •inil also that now lie w.is standing ho had wdoptod "straightout methods." Under Which Flag? Among the shoal of questions fired at Lieut-Colonel Mitchell nt the conclusion of his' address at Brooklyn last evening was the followim:: "Will the candidate please explain his position in the event of a no-confidence motion?" "It would entirely depend on what Hie nb-confi-dence motion was about." answered tho candidate. "I am not going," he added, "to compromise myself with cither party as they stand to-day." A voice: "Well, you will ni'ver get in!" Things "They" Never, Never Did Do. Speaking at Victoria Hall last, night, Mr. K. fiomplc remarked that the man who resorted to mimes, slung mud, and dived into tho political and mental 'Vewer. (t'ivi> the siirnal that, he- was stripped of logic, bankrupt of brains, and destitute of argument. Labellod "Dangerous." Bolshevism and I.W.AV.-ism were referred to bv Mr. I!. Semplo in flic course of his address at Victoria Hall last night. Opponents of Labour, ho contended, used theso terms . as "bogeys" to frisjhHi people against voting for Labour candidates. "You aro urged to keep your eyes on tho bogey," ho said, "to look out for tho 1.W.W., to keep your eyes on the Bolshevik—some kind of creatures . with lurned-up toes, red eyes, and tin hats on. (Loud laughter.) ... It is fiaid that I am dangerous. I am dangerous to tho profitinongor, and I will pursue him liko nn-Indian pursuing a tiger in the jungle. (Laughter.) Of course I am dangerous, and I would not be worth a snap of tho finger if I were not dangerous." Tho Industrial Problem. Dr. A. IC, Newman paid last night that ho thought it would bo tho duty of tho Government and of tho new Parliament ,lo devise, an improved method of settling industrial disputes. The arbitration system had worked well for a time, but on- J

dontly it was no longer meeting l all the* needs of the situation. Reformers in England wcro devising methods of giving tho workers a sharo in' the control of indus-! try and a tslinro of profits. Ho felt that if all tho people connected with industryused tact and .1 certain ;inifliiut of for-; boaranco it would bo possible to arrive at a working , scliemo that would overcome many of tho existing industrial difficul-. ties. ; "Our Little Differences," j Referring to tho party, eihmtion last night, Dr. A. 1C Nev.ln.in said .there were three parties in the field and the position generally was very confused. There was no danger of lh« extreme La'botir party! having a majority in the new Parliament, but there was a danger that a; Labour group would hold tho balance of power between the Reformers and tho Liberals. A position of that kind might result in the country being ruled by a' Government that was subject to the dictation of cxtremisls. A weak Govern* ment niiirht hold office at tho will and; at tho dictation of a revolutionary sec-, tion. "Somo of in havo made vr> our, minds," said Dr. Nowmnii, "that if that should haiipen wo will sink our other! little differences and insist upon good; eovernment for Npw Zealand. That is.: Hie nosition I intend to take up; if vou <>lect me." Dr. Newman' ndilrol that there wpre difficult years! ahead, and it was absolutely essential' that New Hoalnno: should, have good andi safe government. i State Doctors. ; j 1 "Aro you in favour of nationalising thai medical , service?" was a question put to Mr. R. A. Wright at his meeting last; night at Khandnllah. Mr. Wright said ; ho was not. Msn who were called up. Nt all hours of tho nisftt needed nioto encouragement tiho.ii wouUj be given by; a fixed salary. Nationalisation -frould' menn that tlw medical man would only: work certain hours. If a patient needed; nssistaiicc outsido tho fixed hours, ill, '. would be unobtainable. , The Wizard Again. ; In his 6pecch at Winton Sir Joseph'; Ward repeated tho statement ho,made, in Christchurch that lie did not think--1 Sir James Allen would be able to avoid' a deficit this year. He said: "The; Supplementary Intimates, for which the; Minister of Finance on September 23; in his Budsjot said £178,108 was avail-; able, asked' for £1,517,000. That •&1,03!),C0G more than tho Minister had , provided for on September 23. Ho re-; adjusted the revenue on the test day of •' tho session, and said ho hoped on March'. ; 31 next to be able to squaro the amount, but lie (Sir Joseph Ward) very much; doubted this." Yet on September 23Sir Joseph Ward had said: "When he 1 (Sir James Allen) has provided £178,108; for tho Supplementary Estimates, does! lie not expect any balance, at all at the ■ end of the year? I can judge tho position perfectly well, and ho cannot say,-; that that is the position he expects to; ' k> in. My own opinion is .ho has .13,000,000 preserved as the amount that, will be available at the end of tho year." , How an increase of ,£1,039,000 in the exponditure will absorb this ,£3,fI(SO,COO and ; leave a. deficit is a matter which can , best bo explained by' those who adore this financial wizard, and can be under- ' stood only by these worshippers (re-; marks the Christchurch "Press). Plain.' men will simply conclude that Sir Joseph will say anything that seems to suit his; purposes. ■ Unnecessary Fears, >. - "As vo have said before," says Auckland "Star," "it is unthinkable that tho Dominions aro going to swallow ! lord Jellk-oe's recommendations, with all their incalculable consequences, without having much more information than they ; possess, and without consulting each; other and'the Mother Country. What does Mr. Massey say to this? Is he pre- ; paved to press this huge and costly scheme on the Dominion without submitting tlio wholo question to an Imperial Conference?" Tho Liberal organ can hardly be unaware of the fact that the Reform Ministers have made it perfectly clear that they do not intend to adopt any scheme of naval defence without the fullest consideration. ; Lord Jellicoe's report, which commits , New Zealand to nothing, has been held over for discussion, by the new Parliament Trimming the Sails. "Tim Liberal Party." sa.vs ihe Gisborne "Times," "is a tarty which of late yeais has been living on the works of the Ballance and tho Seddon Ministries, and tho people have found them out. Maybe the Liberal 'Die-fiards' will not admit that ; that is tho real position, but,.-'if this is tho correct view of the situation, they will bo forced to acknowledge Oliat tl<o Liberalism which was popular in this Dominion prior to the Ward regime is now a thing of the past. AVe certainly admiro the way in which Sir Jamss Carroll is already beginning to trim his poli- , tiojil siijls it. as is reported, the keynote of his policy for liho present campaign is fine necessity (in view of tho opening of a new era of after-war development) for the establishment of a National Gov- • eminent in which the dominant note . l would bo Progressive Liberalism.'" j ; Wellington East. ' In response to requests from a large '■ number of electors, Mr. Len. M'Kpnzie ■ ' has decided to bo a- ciindidato for Wel- | liugtor. East in tho Liberal interest. ; Recognition for the V.A.D.'s. Sneak'"!: nt Khandallah Inst night, Mr. • R. A. AVrieht said thero was one class - of war workers that so far had received : 1 no recognition. Ho referred to the i t Y.A.D. Thsso women had done excellent f work in -L'g> - pt, England, and France. > Returned soldiers had spoken of them : ) in tho most glowing terms, and they dei served it all. Mr. Wrigiht hoped tho s Governmont would not overlook theso ' . workers. They justly entitled to - somethiiig in the way of a gratuity.