THE GENERAL ELECTION BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 51, 24 November 1919, Page 8

THE GENERAL ELECTION BATTLE

PROGRESS OF THE CAMPAIGN

- WARDISTS, FUSIOMSTS, AND EXTREMISTS

POINTS FROM CANDIDATES' SPEECHES

! When Sir Joseph Ward "Struck." "Since Sir Joseph Ward issueo.' th.it ; . manifesto of his when he 'struck' on Cab- ■ • inet work, ho has, snys the Wanganui : "Chronicle," apparently discovered there ■ is a,sireat shortage of labour in New Zea- ; laud. In Invercargill last week he stat- ;. • ed that 'it was idle to disguise tho fact : that they had not sufficient manhood in the country to carry on a vigorous policy ■■' of railways, roads, and bridges construction, and it was imperatively necessary '■ :..,. that immiffration of the right clas3 ■ (should bo encouraged.' In S-iew of that I statement electors will bo able, to place , ... their own valuation o? Sir Joseph's two '■ " contrary criticisms; that tho GovernHMnfs Estimates aro too largo and that they are uot largo enough. Tho south- : «n trip," adds the "Chronicle," "is not doine tho Baronet much good." "Onlv Bare Justice." ' "It was only bare justice," said Mr. . Pearco in his 1 political address at Moss- ■' town on Friday night, in defending the Government's action in placing a eiiin. on ■ the Estimates to repay tho butter pro- ■-.' tlncers. It was lisbt that it ehoulo: be paid by the ordinary taxpayer. It was ■absurd to take it from the butter producers, who were hard-working mon, and worked lonzer hours than anybody else. Why Worry? i ' "Surely it would be better,.and more •. - ■• complimentary to tho intelligence of its readers," says the Wimgonui "Chronicle," "were the 'Herald' to sease beating the air ana' attempt to propound some sound and lorical reasons why the discredited AVardites should bo permitted to return to nower. Why waste its own epaco and ... the time of its readers by fabricating ■ fables? Its latest effort in this connec- ; tion is the best pan of. a column devot- ■ ■ed to a foolish and irrelevant attempt to demonstrate to its own satisfaction that 'ilv. Massey is worrieo.'. 1 , if it will paso our contemporary's mind, wo can tell it that we have Mr. Massoy's quito ■recent assurance that the contrary is tho case, and that he is, in fact, in a ■ very happy frarao of mind. All over ;, New Zealand the omens point to a sweepini Reform victory, and, as far as it is humanly 'possible to perceive, Mr. Massev is the last man in the Dominion who need be worried by the election pros''■peote." ■ . A Nenr Thing. "I stand for more homes, moro food, more clothing for the workers," nnnounc- ■■" ;ed Mr. B. Scmple (Labour candidate) last evening. "And less work," helpfully euegested an admirer in the.audience. 'Ttes. and loss slavery," said Mr. Semple, rather deftly, avoiding adoption of a too candid phraso. Disqualified. .-• One of tho tritest professions of Labour aims is the following, which was r,--. most recently fathered by. Hie Labour candidate for Wellington Norbh: "Wo are out to achieve results for tho busy people ' of this country as against Mio idle people." The go-elow miners will scarcely ', '■ relish this. It seems to exclude them '- beforehand from the "better world" that the Labour candidates Iravo undertaken >:. to create. . . Labour on the Wardists. At the Labour candidates/ meeting, the Liberal Party is ever the butti of observations not altogether indicative .of ■" admiration.. Mr. P. Traser, ppeaking at Newtown last nighty invited tho audience to share this. dream of ■'• political success: Labour first, tho Re- ' formers next—"and the Liberal Party ■ — nnymVro it can get." If lie ha-d looked ' with the strongest of microscopes, he -' ''eaid, he could never have found in tho Houee "a single member of the Liberal '•Party," ■ "''•''A'Sunday Morning "Service." .Yesterday mnrning Mr. E. Semple, „ ; iI.P. for Wellington South., addressed a largely attended meeting of the members of the" Tramways Union, and after explaining his stewardship in liho late * --'Parliament tho following resolution was carried: "That the members of the Wol- ••- Hnjton Tramways Union have every conr . fidence in the candidature of Mr. E. Semple, and intend to exert all energy in ■■■securing the further return of the present member, bcing.of the belief tihat his last session's work warrants a further extension of the use of his valuable ser- . vices." . the Waljace Seat. "Mr! Adam Hamilton,' of Winton and Five Rivers, has decided to contest the ""■Wallace seat as an Independent Be- '; '"former. Polite Amenities.

At his Friday's meeting in Napier Mr. Virar Brown referred, to an alleged statement B7 Sir Jameg Allen that nurses conld not bo trustee; on troopships with the aoldiors. A. voice: Do you know anything about noli tics? . Mr. Brown: You want to go to the marble, bar and suck a straw. A voico: It would be better than suckinor your beer. (Laughter.) B ■Further. Mr. Brown said Mr. Massey would ho trembling in his shoes on December 17. Cries of "No." "You'ra Hopeless, Vigor!" Mr. Vigor Brown told a member of his audience at Napier on Friday to keep quiet or got out. Heckling and laughter continued, and Mr. Brown singled out a man in the nudienco. and requested tho police to remove him. The audience claimed that tho man pointed out was not the offender, and hooted tho appearance of a policeman. The chairmhn explained that it was the wron , ,' man. The audience demanded an apology from Mr Brown, and counted him out. Mr. Brown: If that man did not call out I anolo?ise. Tho advantages of hydro-electric power from Waikaremoan.n were spoken of bv Mr. Brown, but. his were, hard to catch, on account of tho hum of voioea. The speaker then criticised Mr. Massey's action in naturalising aliens so Boon after the war. Thero was no reasonable explanation. A voico: You'ro hopeless, Vigor. Manawatu. Mr. E. Newman epoke at Rongotea/ on Friday night to a. largo and appreciative audience. At tho conclusion of lihe meoting the following resolution was passed unanimously, on tho motion of Mr. 11. H. Hunt, seconded by Mr. W. Darrnfjli: "That tliis meeting accords a hearty vote • of thanks to Mr. Newman for his address, and desire.-; to express its appreciation of the capable and valuable services rendered by him during his term of office, and to'express its continued ' confidence in him as the reprf.-ontniive ■ of Mmmuatii in Parliament.. Mr. JJarj'ngii in speaking, said that ihc desired to mention the services Mr. Newman had rendered in connection with the butterfat equalisation fund, and with the inpipht of Parliamentary life which ho tad ' '- -'Kili'ncd whilst in ■Wellington 'in connection .■'■'■' with that matter, lie was satisfied that Mr. ' 'Newman was a good fwmors' represen- ■ Wive. Ho hoped Mr. Nowraan would - again be returned with a large majority to represent dho Mawroi&tu. diStriot.

The Meddler. When Sir Joseph Ward first began to mocldlo with tho gratuity question this journal expressed the opinion that ho would bo at once outbid by the Labour Extremists, and this is precisely what happened. Tho great majority of the returned men have, however, we firmly believe, recognisod that prurience in the administration of tho country's finances imposed limits upon the Government beyond which it could not safely go, and although the Labour Extremists may catch a few extra soldiers' votes here and there their championship of a gratuity of 4s. or 6s.—for the bidding has gone as high as that—Will not seriously affect the election results.—"Mariborough Express." A Reminder for tho Reds. Where, asked Mr. W. A. Veiteh at Wanganui, was the sympathy of the Labour extremists in Parliament for the soldiers when the test came in 1918 The Government in that year brought down a Bill —. the Expeditionary Forces Bill—which provided these things—disfranchisement of military defaulters for ten years, abolition of conscription after the war, and a bonus to the eoldicrs. What happened at the third rendinz of that Bill? Mr. Holland and Mr. Ffnser voted against it. But, emphasised Mr. Veiteh. if Parliament had not passed that Pill, which sanctioned a bonus to tho soldiers, then the gratuity could never have beeil rmid. The fact was, of course, that tho Labour extremists were moro anxious to protect the defaulters and shirkers from disfranehisoment than thev were to serve -the interests of the soldiers. They voted against the Bill as. tho champions of the men who would not fight. Really! Mr. J. M'Kenrie. the Labour candidate for Otaki, eays that the Railway Department only succeeded in showing a credit balance because the Government transferred nearly 'a ciuartor of a million sterling from tho" Defence Department under the guise of giving the returned soldiers free travelling thus subsidising tho Department with the . taxpayers' money. Not the First Time, Either. "If) must not be supposed," writes Mr. J. IT. Campbell, "that I would over think of accusing a quondam Minister of the Crown of plagiarism. How.over, on no less an authority than that of Solomon, 'There is nothing new undor the sun.' It is certain that the suggested amendments to bho I.C. and A. Act) enunciated by Mr. Wilford in his_ Eastbourne address, are not an exception h this rule. Some six years aso Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh and Mr. 11. Han ton made exactly the eamo suggestions at a meeting of the Trades and Lahour Council as those made by Mr. Wilford a few nights ago at Eastbourne. Trying to Find the Breaking Point. In its characteristic way tho Sydney "Bulletin" tells us this about the results of Labour rulo in Queensland:—Queensland State Parliament has closed with a_ sudden bang, and without the presentation of Estimates which can't appear now till towards the end of January, when seven months' money will have been scent without authority and be bcv6nd recall. Premier Theodore was told flatly that the finances were so much worse than even last year's awful refioro: that he dare not produce them until after the Federal elections lest Ryan's finances should be damaged, but Theodore onlv smiled and changed the 6iibiect by annexing per proclamation nil tho cattle and eheep in the State. The owners will presumably get i,\ per cent, debentures in exchange. Queensland can stand a lot of 6hocks. Still, Theodore and,co. are.making a fair bio! to find out the'breaking-pbirit. Golden Rules in Politics. _Mr. Evelyn Macdonald (Independent Liberal and Labour) was asked at a recent meeting: "Instead of this rigmarnln of constitutional icform, could not Parliament refuse finance?" "Yes," said the speaker, "Parliament could refuse to vote finance-supply, but coulo.' you set a Parliament that woiild do eo?" Questioner: "Ah!" Speaker: "No Parliament is ever likely (at any rate, not in New Zealand) to do so foolish and unenlightened a thing. This would immediately stop all machinery of government and the wheels of progress, and bring us to pretty sudden confusion and nisaater. No Parliament of sober, patriotic- men would consider it." Questioner : "Couldn't we have socialisation ?" Mr. JEacdonald: "Haven't you got it now?" Questioner: "No." Mr. Macdonald: "Then you'll never get it! What von want is a one-sided socialisation. That vou cannot have, or not for long. You must KJvc as well as tako. Wo have to consider tho rights (and wrongs) of othors. as well ns our own. As a Dhilosopher said: 'Everyone is entitled to tha fullest liberty compatible with the possession of like liberty in every other person.'"

Pulled Through in Spite of Them. : It is interesting, by tho way, to find one of tho Labour extremist candidates in Dunedin saying: "They found thiit when Britain wont to war the people wero not organised—they wore what n'liaht be termed a rabble—Mid it heat him to-dav to know how they won the war. Had England been organised they woiilrt have saved hundreds of thouunnils of brave men's lives and hundreds of thousands of pounds." If the Labour extremists had had their own way the nation would still have been a "rabble," ami a lieaten rabble at that. What assi?l:anco did Messrs. Hollano', Frnser, nirJ b'emple. or their counter parts the 7evolutionary section of British "Labour." rive, in the organisation of the nnfion for w? If they hnd been in ulacn of authority, the nntion would have sought.an tenoble pearo wilh n victorious enemv in the early years of the war. Their 6olc war activity, as the elector* will well remember, was to clamour niminst the measures necessary for t*o effective prosecution of tho Empire's campaign. His Point of View. Tho leader.of the Labour extremists, Mr. H. B. Holland, never closes a political speech without singincr the praises of tho "conscientious objectors"—the men who would not fight for New Zealand. Ho tolls of the heroic way in which theso defaulters resisted all nails to the firing line. He. sees nothing blasphemous in likening their ?elf-sou<rht troubles to the agonies of Olyary. But Mr. Holland never has anything' to say about the vnlour and sacrifice of tho Iwys who did fipfbh He has no sympathy for the young Nwr /"ninn'Wa w'm were ready to fnco anything but dishonour. A Labour Candidate "Scratched." Mr. V. T. Broom's candidature in Hie L'llsour inlerept.'i fnr IV' Wuitomo Pent, has been withdrawn, and no other canilidate has yet been selected, slntes a Press Association message from To Kuiti. Reform Candidate for Avon. A Press Association telegram from G'hristchurch 6tates that Mr. J- Carl, of New Brighton, will contest tho Avon. 6eat as tho Eeform candidate.