WELLINGTON SUBURBS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 52, 25 November 1919, Page 8

WELLINGTON SUBURBS

in?-. WRIGHT AT OHARIU VALLEY. Mr, R. A. Wright addressed the electors of Wellington Suburbs last night at Oliariu Valley. Mr. S. Bryant was voted to the chair. Mr. Wright referred to such subjects as education, taxation, and finance ai length, and dealt with the Nauru agicement, which had ensured for New Zealand a supply of phosphates of the first Quality, -which would probably be sufficient for the next hundred years. Mr. Aiassey deserved credit for obtaining for New Zealand a share of tho rich phosphates, estimates of. tho value of which varied considerably, one estimate running as high as .£375,000,000. This valuable roclc deposit was between Great Britain Australia, and New Ire.-, land as follows .—The two former Governments 42 per cent, each, vhilo New Zealand will receive 1G per cent. At <i time like this, when the one tiling needed was more production, anything that would assist the primary producers was welcome. New Zealand depended for its very existence upon its exports, and Uc-.su came from the land. Hence the immenso value of the Nauru Island phosphates to the farming community. Mr.-Wright hoped the farmers would be able to take full advantage of this fertiliser ti; enrich impoverished land. If 'his were done, poor land might bo made serviceable, and all land would be benefited. No indication had yet been given of the price of tho phosphates, but no doubt this would bo reasonable—practically cost price. As it was intended to encourage fanners in every way, ho felt sure tho Department would do all in ijs power to see that the price was satisfactory. If nroaucera by freely using this remarkable rejuvenator—bird guano, nch in phosphate, mingled with cowl ioc-1;. rich in lime—could increase their production by even 25 per cent., Nauru would he a tremendous asset to the Dominion. Mr! Wright also spoke on reaffopsta':ion, and urged that it was a subject thai sadly needed ventilation. A vite o thanks and confidence was carried unanimously.

. MB. SLOANE AT KAKOKT. Mr. Dunbar Sloane, Liberal candidate for the Suburbs sent, addressed ft crowded meeting of electors at ICarori lait evening. The Mayor -of' Karori, Mr. Burn, was in the chair.' Mr. Sloane advocated in the course of "his address the establishment of a State bank, the nationalisation of the coal mines, and various reforms in the system of taxat'on. increased salaries for teachers and the erection of bigger and better schools, and drastic legislation to put an end to profitwring were also urged by the candidate. The subject of land aggregation was also doalt with, and Mr. Sioano said he favoured the leasehold tenure. . -..After answering ft fow questons, the candidate was accorded a vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation.

OTAKI SEAT ME. AY. H. FIELD'S CAMPAIGN. Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., addressed a large meeting of Ohariu electors in the local hall last evening, and was very favourably. received, a unanimous vote of i.lianks and confidence being carried. Mr. Stephen Bryant occupied the chair. Tn the course of his address, Mr. Field' drew attention to tho grave position which had arisen in Germany, where a verv laTge army had been collected, and the reactionaries appeared to be gaining control, 'l'hey were no doubt encouraged bv tho action of tho United States Senate in demurring to the ratification of the 'Peace Treaty, Ojio could not hell) fearing the possibility of the Germans joining lianas with Hnssia, and th« world being again plunged into war. Ho reminded his audience of the attitude adopted by the extreme labourites in this country towards the Great War, and said it was for the people to consider whether in face of the serious danger of another appeal to arms support should lie civen to men who hntf not played tho game when the Empire was engaged in the recent fierce struggle for freedom and humanity.

WELLINGTON NORTH Tlio Liberal candidate for Wellington -tli. Jir. IT. Oakley Browne, had a successful inaugural committee meeting last evening nt his main committee rconid No. 10 Woodward Street. The room was crowded, and great pleasure was expressed by several speakers at the improved Liberal prospscts in Wellington North, as tliey recognised in Mr. Browne the party would have an able exponent of its princ'plcs. A number of report were received in regard to a preliminary canvass, which, it was stated, was of n most successful nature. The meeting unanimously resolved I" form itself into a conunitteo pledged to work for tlio return of the Li'beral candidate. It wan announced that the candidate iind Mrs. Browne would bo pleased to meet lady saipportors to form a special ladies' committee on Thursday afternoon at .1 o'clock in the main committee room, Lust r.ight Mr. -T. lien.!, the Labour candidate for Wellington North, addressed a well-attended niecl'iiß in St. Paul's Schoolroom, Tinakeri P''ad. .Mrs. Know oecup'ed the chair. Mr. Kea'j criticised th' l Defence Tlenartiuenl;. ;ir<! thi' statements msid" l>v "'r. Jlapsey with veeard to the mititnry t.-.initu; scheme, lie sn'd th'«t permii'v:.; i,.'ace was wanted. The Labour Par!;- stood for this lo a man, and it was lh"ir endeavour to obtain it. All the Labour parties throughout the w:irld were working for ncaee, and when the Labour parlies came into power in all conning peace would hi- permanently established. lie stated that the ;nsue at this election wns whether tlie country should bo governed by representatives -of the profiteers or

by representatives of tho people. Ho contended that hoili of Ilia other parties stood for tho prolitcers, and that tlio Labour Party and the labour Party alone stood as tlio representative of the people. Mr. P. Eraser also spoke. Ite referred to tlio widows' pensions, mid condemned the meanness of tlio Government in thi.i matter as-compared with what they had done for tho butter people. He " mentioned the housing scheme, and condemned the emigration policy of the Gov. eminent as an absurdity, when they were unable to houso tho people already here. A hearty vote of thanks to tho candidate was carried unanimously. MANAWATU MB. NEWMAN'S SERVICES APPRECIATED. 3y Telegraph— Rpccial Correspondent. Palir.crston N., November 24. Mr. E. Newman is meeting with great encouragement in his campaign for the Manawatu seat. He addressed a largo meeting at Rongotea, after which the following resolution was carried unanimously. "That this meeting accords a hearty voto of thanks to Mr. Newman for his ackiress, and desires to express appreciation of tho capable and valuable services rendered bv him during his term of office. and express continued confidence in him as the representative of Manawatu in Parliament." MR. v/ilfordTt eltham LIBERAL SECESSION DEFENDED. By TelcirraDh—Press Association. Eltham, November 24. Mr. T. M. Wilford had a splendid meeting at Eltham to-niglit, tho audience being a large and enthusiastic one. The speaker criticised the Reform Government's lack of policy, which he declared was in keeping with the failure to carry out the promises of 1911. Ho defended tho Liberal secession, which he said was justified by clauses in the agreement, lie ridiculed 'tlio Government's attempt to prevent land aggregation, suggesting that increased income tax and increased land tax on large estates and iv refusal to register transfers was the only remedy. Ho deprecated the Parliamentary Labour Party's promiso to vote with the Liberals on ft no-confidence motion, and declared that tho Liberal Party would not hold office if it wero impossible to do so without the assistance of the Labour Party. The Reform Government claimed credit for having prevented profiteering by means of the Industries Bill, but this was drawn by the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald. Mr. Massey promised an alteration in tho incidence of taxation, but gave no indication hoy improvement would be effected. > The Liberals proposed an increase in the graduated income tax, increased land tax on large estates, and increased death duties. He opposed encouragement of the military spirit by four months' annual training for youths, declared a local navy to be ineffective except at an expenditure of twenty millions sterling, supported an increased contribution to the Imperial Navv, sivgested an improvement in the arbitration lairs to prevent industrial disputes, criticised Mr. Massey's failure to amend the electoral laws beyond abolishing the second ballot, advocated na tionalisation of tho coal mines where payable, and claimed credit for the Liberal Party for many State institutions, which he described as anathema to the Reform Party. He ridiculed the Prime Ministers promises on tho occasion of the recent visit to Eltham. and emphasised the lack of policy as exhibited in ■the speech delivered there. 110 defended Sir Joseph Ward, who was sometimes described by flpponents as an impossible financier ' Pointing to the surplus of fifteen millions sterling, he asked if Sir Joseph Ward was such an impossible man, why did the Reformers wail on losing him? The National Government only lived on the strength and initiative "of the Liberal members of the Cabinet. The future promised to hold great industrial disturbances, which eou'.d only be solved by co-opera-tion between tho State and Capital and Labour. He stressed the necessity for constructive statesmanship. _ ' The meeting concluded with a voto of tha.nks in the speaker and confidence in the' Liberal Party, and hearty cheers as an expression of hope for the party's success at tho coining poll.

MASTERTON

'By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent. Masterton, November M. Mr. 0. ]?. Sykes. M.l\, the Government candidate for' the^ Masterton seat, delivered addresses at Hastwell and Newman Inst week. At both meetings the attendances were Rood, and votes of confidence i.i the candidate were- passed. GISBORNE Br Telegraph—Preis Association. Gisborne, November 'ii. Mr. T. Brindle, vitje-prosidriit of the Wellington Wateraiders' Union, and organising secretary of the Canterbury Labour Representation Committee, has been selected as the Labour candidate for the Gisborne spat. BULLER Westport, November 24. Mr. D. <3. O'Brien, the Literal candidate for the Bulkr electorate, delivered h's first address in AVcstpoii to-night, before a large and enthusiastic audience. Ho outlined and supported the Liberal policy. He was not wholly in favour of nationalising the- coal mines, as lie did not think the conditions laid down by Mr. Justice Sankey. in the Old Country could be properly applied to New Zealand, but he was in favour of opening out fresh coal fields by the State under modern conditions, inoluding workers' homes and modern town-planning, and in nss'sting returned soldier miners, who ho did not think had had the favourable consideration granted to returned soldiers in otheT occupations. H<> mentioned that a party of returned soldier miners were endeavouring to open up a mine _ near .AYestpovt on tho co-opera ti to principle CLUTIIA Ounedin, November 21. Mr. John Christie, Liberal-Labour candidate for the Ulntlia seat, addressed a meeting at Balclutha on Saturday evening. He opposed the co-operative system of carrying on public works, which, lie said, must have cost millions extra. He also opposed the wholesale destruction of ft rests. He contended that tho question of wheat production had lipau bungled, and estimated that seven million bushels "would require to be imported this year. Hi: was strongly in favour of a Stata bank, and suggested that the Repatriation Board should ba kept in exstenoo to make arrangements for tho settlement, on the land of anyone who had a desire to settle. lie opposed the floating of war loans freo of ineomo tax, favoured children un lo ten years lying, carried on the railways free, considered that provis'on should bo made for tho reception of men with families landing in the Dominion, and favoured a modified sv?lem of natioual ; fation of coal mines. He sugge-M the issuing of licenses to traders with a viow to stopping profiteering. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks.

PALMERSTOS Br Tolesrraph—Special CorroSDomlent.' Palmerston N., November 24. Up to the present Jlr. .T. A. Nash, tho Kflform cfliulidate, and tho sitting member for Palmorston, has not opened his election campaign. At the invitation of tlio Welfare League h>-> will attend a nieetinu at the. Opera House on Tuesday evenintr. when he will stale his yosition in connection with the platform of tho leairue. He will give his main address at the Opera House on December !l.