WELLINGTON SUBURBS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 49, 21 November 1919, Page 8

WELLINGTON SUBURBS

HE. WRIGHT AT NGAIO. Mr. It. A. Wright continued, his campaign last evening, when he addressed'a meeting nt the Methodist schoolroom, Ngaio. Mr. B. J. Lynneberg was voted to the choir. . l'ho speaker, after dealing with tho most important legislation passed last session, referred to tho education question, which was now occupying a foremost position in the minds of tho people. - Thero could bo no doubt that public opinion wag expressing itsolf in every direction, and the new Parliament would contain men who would insist that school buildings would bo renewed when necessary, that the playgrounds would bo larger, that tho classes would be reduced to a reasonable size, and that tho teachers would be adequately remunerated. He had been asked if he were in favour of granting free school books to tlio children. He was not. Free school books would not bo received with unmixed satisfaction by many parents. Ho did think, however, tffat froo requisites might be granted to tho children, and ho would fjnrort any Government which introduced suoli .a principle. In his opinion this would bo infinitely better for both parents and children- than freo books. If tho Department undertook to ' supply the ' necessary school requisites the cost, of course, would be reduced. Complaints had been about school children being employed before and afler school hours. He thought that as long as there was no abusei it would be unfair to prevent children from, working within reason before and after school. The jiours worked, however, needed regulation. It was impossible to teach nn exhausted child. On the other hand, thero were many men to-day occupying commnnding nnsitions in the world who iis children had worked before or after i school. lie thought provided school I children engaged in lisht work before'-or I after school with restricted, hours, no harm would result. _ The money earned was of assistance in tho home. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. Ml?. ST.OANT! AT KAT.WAHRA. Mr. .Dunbar Sloanc, Liberal candidate, addressed a meeting at ICaiwarra lasS night, Air. K. I'low being in the chair. Tho question of -fast and efficient train and tram services was dealt wiUJi by the speaker, who pointed out tihat in the past the suburbs had been neglected in this regard. Simultaneous development of our hydro-electric, scliomes was urged by Mr. sloane, atid ho earnestly hoped that tho new Government would make provision for tlhe securing of all necessary electrical equipment in order that all'classes of the community wuhld be cnabicd to have fittings installed on a time-payment system, if necessary. On the subject) of labour, Mr. Sloano denounced vigorously the tactics of goslow, strike, and the preachings of violence of tho Labour leaders. At the same time he recognised the many disabilities'nude; which the worker suffered, and lie looked forward to lihe day when our workers would be placed on a sound footing, and everybody would possess a "stake in the country," not necessarily a house and land, but by the establishment of a universal superannuation scheme or unemployment insnranco scheme. The terrors flt' unemployment,

ill-healWi, and old age must be removed, and ovcry worker must bo put in such a position that at tho age of 65 lie would feel that he could retire and have sufficient to liwj oil. Tho speaker urged tho establishment! of a State bank, and, speaking in regard to secondary industries, hoped tlliat in tho future "organisation and co-ordination" would be tho watchwords, and that the present .waste- ] ful system of overlapping and duplication would disappear. Tiifi speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence, ADDRESS BY~!. RUSSELL THE LIBERAL SECESSIONEPIDEMIC AND THE NIAGARA * By Telegraph-Press Association. Christchurch, November 20. Mr. G. W. Russell opened his campaign at Avon to-night. He said it was five years since the electors for the third time returned him as theirmember, and very great events had occurred since that time. At tlio last election the war i.Vd started, and when Parliament' met in 1015 the parties were practically evenly balanced, and the question had to bo considered how to carry on. Tho Liberal Party had sincc played the game all through, and took every step in order that the wishes of the people should be given effcct to. (Derisive laughter.) Tho wishes were that New Zealand should take an honotirab> part in the war, and it had done so. The United Government was formed in order to obtain a total cessation of party politics and the united administration of war measures. The Rational Government had existed until Sir Joseph AVard, in tlio exercise of his rights, the' war having ended, seceded, and to-day, as before the war, the lic r form Government was again in power'. Sir James Allen had the military side of the Administration, and the civil side came under tho speaker's control. In the position he had the responsibility of— (A voice: Tho epidemic!) The speaker, without, heeding the \interruption, referred to the movements ■over which he had control during tho war period. Regarding the seceding of the Liberals from the National Government, lie hold that the game had been fairly played by the Liberals, and all matters in connection with . tlie Henlth and Internal Affairs Departments had been handed over in complete readiness. In tho National Government thero was always a feeling that the Liberals were in a minority. The Coalition was not a union of hearts; it was marriage of convenience. Reform Ministers held all tlio big portfolios and tho Liberals took the minor portfolios, and had to do tho work, and had dono it too. As exMinister of Public Health ho desired to deal moro particularly with matters which came under his control. The most important position any man could holu was that of Minister'of Public Health. The examination for military service showed that G1 per cent, of tho men. wero physically unfit, and tho fact had been given by him careful consideration over since. What had led to this result was that tho children, while infants, had not tho attention paid to their health to make them grow up strong and well. He applauded tho work of the Plunket Health Society and- the establishment of St. Helens maternity homes. . He went on to speak of the dental work in schools carried' out by tho Health Department under his administration. Ho regretted that tho mcdical inspection of schools was under tho Education Department. It should ho linked up with the hospitals. Ho hoped that during the coming Parliament steps would he. talcen by which no one would- suffer in health because of inability to pay for a doctor. "Now I am going to deal with the epidemic, and I think that is what you are looking' for," said the speaker. Tho pandemic was world-wide and swept off I millions, but, thank God, through the energy of the people, it was stamped out in four weeks. Before the Niagara-ar-rived there was a virulent epidemic in the city. - "Question." "There was not.") _ "If I had thought tho Niagara wa's bringing influenza I would have stopped it, and it would .not have mattered if Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph :Ward/ wero on it." (Derisive laughter.) A voice: "That won't do." Continuing, Mr. Russell said that if ho had wanted to' quarantine her there was no placo to do so. A voice: What did the officers of tho shin say? Mr. Russell said the quarantino stations . were taken by tho military for German prisoners. A voice: Couldn't you have turned tho Germans out? Mr Russell.: If I had attempted to Quarantine the passengers on tlio Niwarn on the ship there would have been n holocaust of tho 7Cfl souls on board. When the epidemic broke out word was sent out to all corners of New Zealand: "Organise!- Organise! . Organise!'" A voice: That's all you did. .Mr. Russell: Do. be quiet. A. voice: I'm not one of your nurse babies. There was a lull in the interruptions, and tlio speaker detailed the precautions taken to prevent another visitation of the disease. Referring to education, Mr. Russell sairt our education had been a side-show badly designed and pinched for want of money. 'Tlio present bureaucratic system governing education and public health from Wellington should be abolished, and tho local pcoplo should havo monev to spend on local needs. He stood' for free, secular,' compulsory education and hygienic schools and surroundings. Dealing with finance, Mr. Russell quoted figures on similar lines lo the utterances bv Sir-Joseph 'Ward, arid said that Sir Joseph Ward's surplus of camo in very handy .for tho Government. Out of tho surplus the Goveninient took twelve and a half millions for land for soldier?, and without disposing any Cabinet secrets he couki tell tho audience that tho mqney was badly wanted. ' Dealing with other matters, Mr. Russell uaiil he would oppose jn increase' of taxation on the necessaries of life and on material for housing or house furnishing. He advocated a Stato monopoly of petrol, and briefly spoke in support "of a Stato bank and State noto issue. New Zealand must have more production, ami closer settlement was required. Land should bo made productive and capable of failing the people. Production must bo tlio test for holding occupation. A voice: You're a Bolshevik! Mr. Russell: Well, if a Bolshevist means one who believes that land"should bo made to grow sufficient food for tho people, then you can call ma a Bolshevik. Voices: Hurrah! Mr. Russell: That 'is tho Liberalism I have preached for 30 years. Most of tlio miners at Denniston were housed just as well as were the majority of tho people in Chnstchurcli. An emphatic voice: That is absolute rot. The speaker said that if tho miners did not dig coal, men would be got who would |do it. (Uproar.) He would support any Government that would insist on the coal production necessary for t'ho carrying on of the country. (Applause and uproar.) Concluding, Mr. Russell said it did not matter much to him whether Mr. Massey or Sir Joseph AVard was returned to power. He would support no leader and no party which would have to depend oil .Labour extremists and men who had been disloyal to the Empire in tho hour of need. He prophesied that Sir James Allen would ho the next High Commissioner. A. motion was proposed expressing admiration of the administration of 'Mr. Russell as Minister of Public Health nnd Internal Affairs, nnd approving of his platform, and expressing confidence in him as member for Avon, but the chairman did not submit amendments. The motion was declared carried amidst uproar.