THE CAMPAIGN IN AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 53, 26 November 1919, Page 8

THE CAMPAIGN IN AUCKLAND

SOME LIVELY MEETINGS

MR. GLOVER HECKLED

"NEVER BEFORE SUBJECTED TO SUCH TREATMENT."

By Telegraph— Special Correspondent. Auckland, November 25. At tho closo of his address at Parnell last night, Mr. E. J?. Way, the official Labour candidate for Auckland East, was asked tho following question: "It is rumoured that you will withdraw from the contest a week before the poll, when it will bo too late to nominate another enndidate in the Labour interest. Is tiiat true? If not, what guarantee will you give that you will go to the poll ?" Mr. Way gave the rumour an emphatic denial, and in regard to the question of. a guarantee claimed that that was provided by his 19 years' record as a Labourite in Auckland. During this period, ho 6nid, he had never betrayed Labour or "scabbed" on its principles.

Mr. Albert Glover, the Liberal- candidate for Auckland Central, was heckled from start to finish at his opening meeting last night. The.' bland smile which covered his face at tho beginning soon changed to an expression of pained surprise, and later on he exclaimed with tears in his vbice that'"if an angel came down from heaven he would not be able to satisfy the interrupters." He said he had never before been subjected to such treatment by an Auckland audience. He threw a great pile of letters on the platform, exclaiming: "Hore are letters from soldiers and soldiors' mothers thanking mc for what I did for them," but tho meeting only laughed. Tho chairman had to intervene more than once to secure Mr. Glover a hearing. A vote of thanks and confidence was moved, also an amendment of no confidence. The chairman called for a show of hands, but the meeting was confused, and the voting about even, only a few hands being held up. "Ayes" and "Noes" were then called for, and the preponderating volume of sound was in favour of Mr. Glover. His supporters were certain! v in a majority, but a very considerable hostile Lahounelement was present, and these people refused to come under the spell of Mr. Glover's flowery and flattering oratory.

Mr. livers, tho Liberal candidate for Auckliyitl East, was_ given a pood hcarinir by a largo audience at Newmarket last niffht. but lie had to contend with a hostile element, by whom ho was severely questioned. His defence of Liberalism was not convincing. After Mr. 3lv«s had explained ,what tho Liberals had. done auving the war, someone asked Mm what they had done before the war.

Mr. livers: Before the war (he achievements of the Liberals were mch as every right-thinking 'man should acknowledge.

A voice: But Seddon's dead. God rest his soul.

Mr! Myers declared that Liberalism was ns virile as ever.

A. voice': Yes, but you have not got a leader.

Mr. Myers sairf Sir Joseph Ward had carried out the principles of Liberalism all the timo ho was in power.

A number of questions wero answered by the candidate who was then accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.

.Mr. Entrican, the Liberal candidate for Auckland West, addressed a largo ami' good-humoured, but not altogether favourable meeting Inst night. When Question time*-arrived an elector asked. "Does the candidate agree with the Mavor of Te Kniti on Labour?" Mr. Entrican: I have nothing to do with' the Mavor of Te Kuitj. The questioner: You are afraid., ■A v vote of thanks and confidence was moved, the "Noes" overwhelming the "Aves." The chairman, after calling for a show of hands, declared the motion carried'. WELIINGTOOAST

DR. NEWMA-N AT HATAITAI. Dr. A. K. Newman, the Government candidate for Wellington Bast, addressed a meeting- of electors in the Hataitai bowling pavilion last, night.' Mr. A. Leigh Hunt was in the chair, and the pavilion was crowded. The member was given a very cordial and sympathetic hearing.. Dr. Newman said again that he had never approved- of the formation of tho National Government. The parties had worked against eacli other so long that they could hot-work together, and as he had expected tho Coalition had been a dismal failure. He did not think anybody really regretted the demise of the National Government. Domestic legislation had been neglected under Coalition rule, and there was much leeway to be made up. But tho Reform Government had' already mado a good start, particularly with regard to education. He was very strongly impressed with the - importance of improving the education system and - providing better, ' healthier school buildings and playgrounds. The children should have more sunshine and fresh air, more efficient teaching, and adequate preparation by way of technical instruction for their future careers. Referring to the cost of living, Dr.- Ncw--man odvocated State action in the cold storage of foodstuffs during the months of cheap production. The fishing industry, which was capable of great expansion, ought not to be left in the hands of a few fishermen who lacked capital and plant and so could not supply tho market with cheap fish. The solution of tho housing problem' would have to bo sought in • cheaper forms of construction. Houses that cost c£Boo or JWHiO each could not be let at a rcasonnh!i> rental. The Government was ex-\ Fomenting with concrete construction, and he believed that the scheme would relieve some of the congestion. He thought that the houses should be standardised, 'and timber and other materials obtained bv the Government from the sources of supply without the intervention of middlemen. It was absolutely essential that the people of New Zealand should have improved housing 'conditions. Town-planning was a subject that outfit to have tho attention of New Zealand people. Dr. Newman approved of higher pensions for widows with children. Taxation probably could not ho reduce for some time, owing to the burden of war debt, but the Government ought l o differentiate between earned and unearned incomes, and make concessions tn married- men with families. Tho CTnvr.riiiueiit ought to make an earnest and systematic effort to develop the natural 'resources of New Zealand, including the outlying islnnds.

Dr. Newman was subjeeteo to some in-remititii-n from a Labour elector towards th i ch;s? U' his speech. Answering questions, the candidate said that lie would approve of stopping nonessential building until the housing «hoitii"P had been relieved. The. Reform Govci'Jiinc-nl had not adopted any siiliouv! |V fij-.sr months' military trainiir.r in camps. The military experts did not all i-upnoit such a scheme, and in nnv i-,ise l'aihament mm the community wo-ild nor accept it. Tho necessary 'triiinina could he given without putting man into en nip's.

i)r. Nov,man was accorded, a hearty vote of thanks by unanimous vote.

WELLINGTON SUBURBS life AVEIGHT AT NORTHLAND. Mr. R. A. Wright continued his election campaign by addressing a meeting at the Methodist Schoolroom, Northland, last evening. Tins portion of the district was formerly in Wellington North, but owing to the altered boundaries is now part of the Suburbs. Mr. George Gapts presided over the meeting. • Mr. Wright dealt with the subjects of Capital and Labour and nut onalifntion of the coal mines. He was opposed ''i nationalising the coal mines, Such ■ course, in his op'nion, would not imnivc the situation or give the people morn coal. Once the Stale assumed cwuership of the .mines, nn agitation would begin for abolishing the contract system, which now prevailed. The miners would demand a weekly wage. If nny friction occurred, the "go-slow" policy could be introduced, and the last stage would be worse than the firat, Already

the State controlled two mines, and it was an open question whether tho minora in the employ of the Stale were any more contented than those in the employ of privato employers, Sir Joseph Ward hud said that if the State controlled tho mines under proper conditions it would got a quarter of a million out of them. This statement was wide of the mark. To make such a sum of money the State would need to irork tlio mines five times. nioro profitably than they were worked at tho present time. This was impossible. No responsible person would contend, in view of past experience, that tho State could work the mines more profitably than privato owners, and tho latter had barely averaged five per cent, on their invested capital. A, number of questions were answered, and a vole of thanks to the speaker was carried, an amendment that the meeting had no confidenco in the Reform Party 'being defeated.

MR. SLOANE AT KHANDALLAK. Mr. Dunbar Sloans, the Liberal candidate, addressed a well-attended meeting of electors at Khamlnllah last evening. Mr. Vincent was in t'he chair. The speaker dealt at length with railway matters, advocating improved local conditions, and instanced how the residents of the suburbs were still being penalised. Mr. Sloane held that tho business community of tho suburbs should mTvo received more consideration in tile past and die hoped that in the near future n good Liberal Government would be run-' ning at least two trains in the niornin" through to Lambton Station and two trains from the .same station out in"the evening. Ho advocated free transit for children under seven years of age, and half-fare for children'between 7 "and II years. He said the, suburbs did not aspire to politics, but were reaching out for development, and in this regard lie considered ho knew as much if not more, than any candidate contesting the feat! and if elected he was sine he could keep the constituency in the public eye througn, sheer weight of local knowledge. Un the question of education, he considered (mat tiio present system had not been the success anticipated, and the old idea of dumping a school down in tho middle of a paddock, producing a monument of ugliness and squallor, inust go, and in the tuturc, when building schools, the State must make some attempt at least to picturesquoness. Environment was an' essential part of the education of the child. Again tho speaker condemned tn.e direct actionist with his go-slow and strike methods, and said that the process .of -.intimidation as employed by a tiinall .Red Fed section of the community must bo settled by the good citizens for good and all. Hydro-electric schemes were touched on, also arterial roads, which the candidate- hoped would bo put in hand right away. A vote of thanks to the speaker and confidence was' carried by acclamation. otakTseat

Jtr. ,T. M'Kenzie, the official Labour candidate for Otaki, addrc.-isvd a meeting of electors at Mangaroa on Monday night. The candidate, dealt with the question of coloured labour 'in New Zealand, pointing out that during tho years the young men of this country were fighting in Europe, the Government permitted large numbers of Indians to come to New Zealand and take work on tho land, and to engage in other occupations. He also asserted that Mr, Vavasour advocated at tho'Farmers' Union Conference tho introduction of Chinese labour into Now Zealand. He contended that if thjs policy wcro persisted in wo would have grave social evils in this country comparable to thoso which the -Southern States of America and South Africa havo to face and condemned tho lack of public spirit an<l patriolieOi in those who advocated and encouraged the importation of coloured races into this country, asserting that all they seeme'l to earo about was greater profits, and that provided these could be secured they wero prepared to sacrifice tho country's future. At tho close of tho mooting a number of questions were asked on various planks of the Labour' Party's programme which the candidate answered. A voto of thanks terminated tho proceedings. MANAWATU / Mr. E. Newman had a, most successful meeting at Kongoten. He outlined tho work done b.y the National Government during tho war. but said tho work should have been 'completed before the parlies dissolved. The change in parties had left such 'important matters as rcpatriaI tion to the lieform Party to deal with, and they were.carrying it out as Iheir first dirty to the soldiers. Although the Government had paid high prices for land for soldier settlements, except in a few isolated instances these settlements were turning out successfully. In con-nec-ti'c-n with -the equalisation fund on butter, Mr. Newman'mentioned the valuable services rendered by the delegate, from Eongotea. Ho favoured an increaso in mem'twrs' honorarium, as the cost of living had gono up to such an ex. tent as to make it necessary that .the pay of parliamentarians should be raised, otherwise somo of them could not afford to .go to Wellington. A number of questions were asked and satisfactorily repl'ed to. On the motion of Mr. H. 11. Hunt, seconded bv Mr. W. Darragh, both of whom spoke of the. good york done by Mr. Newman during the time ho had represented tho constitua»icy in Parliament, a hearty voto of thanks and confidence was carried unani niously.

IN DDNEDIN MR. STATHAM OPENS HIS CAMPAIGN. By Telegraph-Press Association. Dunedin, November 25. Mr. C. E. Statham opened his election campaign with an enthusiastic meeting at Moniington to-night. He announced -himself as an Independent Progressive candidate, as he desired to go- to Parliament untrammelled by party ties. lie would exercise his vote in tlio .interests of the Dominion people, regardless of party and the personal ambitions of the party leaders; The only pledge he would make was that he would not support any Government, whether led by Mr. Massoy or Sir Joseph Ward, which depended for its existence on the votes of the Labour Party. Speaking of the Defence Department he said that Sir James Allen's worst enemies would admit that he had." worked harder than any other Minister during the past few vears, and for his zeal he was entitled to the respect of the people. Careful and prudent administration was required, together with increased production, if tho Dominion was to meet her obligations and avoid bad times. Mr. _ Statham referred to, the gq-slow policy in the mines, and pointed out that those who suffered most from the shortage of coal were the poorer people, whom the Labio r Party pretended to. befriend. Mr. Statham was accorded a unanimous vote of Ihanks.

Mr. E. Ivellett, Miio is opposing Mr. ; Wnl]cpv- tlm officinl T-aJiotir candidate for Diinediii 'North, as nn Independent Laliniir cnndidnts, n<ldrp«ed p. -largely attended mp.et ; iiff at Tiaveiisljoiirne torielir. At the outset lie rondo it clear that lie was standing against official Labour on account of its dteloval attitude during tlie war, and particularly on account of tlie Federation of Lain"' manifesto to.. Australia in October, 1916. Ho expressed "himself stro"rrly in fn'"Miv nf. an ploetive executive, the nationalisation O'f tlie eonl mines, and Hie (wrnWishirn-'f of a Ptate linnlc, n«d went on to advocate that some method of mnkiwr nrovision for growing ft sufficient rpinntitv «f cereal s to, mpet. local rennirements. The candidate urged the encouragement of local industries and. Hi» estal>lishme»lIn- Bi'ndiial nroppss of State stpnrnors. At the close of liis dd-'ross dp candidate was aTO'-ded r, cordial and unanimous vole nf thanlcs. The Seccdor. Mr. 0. W. .Kiissell, openine his e,v"nii'.'u after a- mixed r""enl ; ou liv the pl"clor= of .Avon. °ni<l thai- Sir Jnsooh iVnrd had weeded from the, National Government in exerc : sp of his right*.

Tlvidentlv Iho right? of the country didn't occur to the secessionist.

There was a renresentativc meeting of Lower Hutt ladies at Mr. ftislnvorfh's committee room yesterday nftonioon, a.ud a strong committee was formed to work in liis behalf.