THE GENERAL ELECTION BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 58, 2 December 1919, Page 7

THE GENERAL ELECTION BATTLE

PRIME MINISTER AT WAIMATE

AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING

NEWS, NOTES, AND COMMENTS j

A New One on the Electors. Mr. C. Laflerty, Liberal and Labour candidate for tho Waikalo 6eat, in bis opening speech at To Awumutu: Ho s'lipporlcd Liberalism and Labour because they stood for the best of the nation. The farmer had to produce and llio labourer had to consumeptherel'ore, tho two parties were sylloginous.— "Waipa Post." Sylloginous? Help! The Wizard's Millions. The mam difference between tho programmes (says tho "Timaru Herald") is that Sir Joseph has been bold enough to suggest that lie can pick up, almost casually, a few millions which he never thought-ol' picking up "before, to aid tho finances of tho future, by embarking on jjreat schemes of nationalisation, for which a heavy outlay would bo needed before any returns coulu bo obtained from them. After that tho State would have to forfeit revenue, which it obtains now from taxation of the industries in question. The precanousnuss of these hopes of the Liberal leader was exposed by Mr. M'assey in his address (at Touiuka}. Money will not bo nicked up by any easy methods, and the time for adventuring 'upon large, new, doubtful State undertakings which can only bo commenced at a heavy cost is not now, when the State is carrying all (ho burden it requires. Neither, wo may add, will production bo assisted by great extensions of tho "Government stroke." Introducing Mr. Glenn. Major W. S. Glenn, the Government candidate for Rangitikei. comes before the electors with very good credentials. Ho was a member of tho famous AllBlack football team, and ho served with distinction during tho war. Ho told his first meeting that ho stood for sound government, and that ho was definitely opposed to the destructive tactics of the Labour extremists. The Armchair Critics. The Hon. W. H, Herries, speaking to his constituents, said that 6ome people v.-ero blaming the Government because thp Railway Department had adjusted itself (o war conditions. In peace lime it was the duty of the Department to provide trains to suit the public, to redtico fares to a minimum, and generally to cater for tho community. But the war made it imperative that men should be released, troops conveyed, wool, meat, butter, and cheeso taken to the ports for the Imperial Government; and, in addition, tho railways had to provide .1 great amount of cash for the frinanco Minister. Seven thousand railwayracn went into camp, nearly every fit man in the service -went to tho front, either as a volunteer or under conscription. The railwaymen did not fail in their national duty, lint this meant reducing trains and conveniences. The New Zealand railways had paid ti per cent, interest, while the Australian Slates had only returned 2 to S per cent. In Queensland last year tho return was only 17s. 2d. per .£IOO. He maintained that our railways were well managed for war puiposes.

Mr. Massey Outlines Mr. Holland.

Speaking' in tho south at the end of last week tlic Priino Minister said that one reason why he was touring the 'jjjuntry al' pivseut was to oppose the rising- tide of Bolshevism. (Applause.) Mr. Holland was tho leader of the new party—tho Parliamentary Labour Party—which was not representative of Labour. One choice expression by Mr. Holland was that Mr. Lloyd Georgo was one of the "incomparable mountebanks of Britain." He also referred to Mr. Hughes and Mr. Hobnan. as "tho iiidesi:rilJaßhr-ls?nriots~oT Australia." That was the language of Mr. Holland, who wished to control the public affaire of New Zealand. Were the people going to allow that party to hold tho balance of power in this country during the period of reconstruction upon which it had entered?—(Voices: "Never" and "No.") That was the question the peoplo would have to put to themselves beuiro Hu'.v recorded thsir vet si. lie repeated that ho did not admit that tho Parliamentary Labour Party represented Labour. To say such a tiling was to say that (ho labouring people .were disloyal, and (hey iyero not, for they had dono their part nobly in tho war. Mr. Walker's Peaco Celebration, Mr. A. Walker, who was Labour member for Dunedin North in the last Parliament, is doing a lot of explaining in the course of his .appeal to the electors for renewed confidence. He has been asked, for example, why he took no part in tho pence celebrations. He was chairman of tho Parliamentary Labour Party at that time, and his abstention attracted notice. Mr. Walker's explana. tion on this point occupies half a column in a Dunedin newspaper. He says in effect that ho did not take part in the celebrations because nobody provided him with a. motor-car or a companion. Ho was 'left by hiunself to join the procession as a member of Parliament." Tho report continues: "110 dfd not go. They hud the explanation. They could draw their conclusions. He did not obtrude himself as a witness of the procession, but lie took up ft position in Pitt Shwt, where he could sec and be seen. He hnd nothing to liide." Tho Dunedin North electors ought not to have much difficulty in "drawing their conclusions."

And, again, Tho procession wa,s not the only peace (Ibv function, so Mr. Walker's explanation proceeds: "They might ask why did he not attend the other two functions. Ho had a heavy coltf, and ho had a lot of evenhiL'.work to transact, in the way of his own business, and meetings that had been convened by public bodies, which reuuired the attention of members before the approaching session of Parliament:. He was not prepared to risk the inclement weather that prevailed at that time liv coiiiif out at night. He hud exnlained that nwttsr us far as lie possibly could." Well, it: is a .matter for his constituents. Perhaps (hey aro satisfied. Or perhaps they are- not. ' Seeinq Red The "MnorilawV Worker" published this uarwrriiph on October 13, 1918:— Tho cablegrams of Saturday Inst declared that "Germany is on the eve of an era of Bolshevism," a contimienev which is said (o be viewed bv the German middle class as "a disaster more- dire than continuous defeats." Of couiso Bolshevism is onlv another name, for Socialism, and il: wil: be intere-sling to watch for. Iho rronouncenieiit of our capitalist nauers auainel the German workers, if thov succeed in overthrowing Germnn Canitalisiu. Obscrvn tho claim that Bolshevism .■Did .SiicinliMii arc one aim tho samo Ihimr. The organ of the "Reds" added hopefully. "Kovolulion in Germany may Mvp the Ru.vian Revolution." The ex-tren-,i-U thousht then, and they think •mm- flhoiirfi they aro c.wl'ul to avoid the subject) that the Russian Revolution ought to be applauded. Ask and Ye shall Receive. Here is ft discovery that should elied new light upon the relations of candidates and electors. "The only thing that the people want to-day is the laws as they wish*them: and that is nil wo enn give them." Tho credit of that profound observation is due to Mr. L. j M'Kenzie, Liberal candidate for Wellington East.

Fewer Members, "Do you think that tho number of mombers in the House could be substantially reduced without interfering with the satisfactory conduct of the business of tho country?" asked an auditor of Mr. R. A. Wright at hie meeting at Island . Bay last night. . ; "I do not think that a reduction in the number of members would prove injurious," replied Mr. Wright. "Of course ' every member now represents a greater : number of constituents than formerly, on : account of increased population. That will go on, hut at tho present time I ; think thero could be a reduction." i His Master's Voice. The Liberal candidate for Wellington : North says he is quite sure that if the i Reform Government retains office it will "Ihroiv Admiral Jellicoc's report to tho winds and go in for a local navy." It would be interesting if Mr. Browuo ' would break step long enough to ox- \ plain what ho means by a local navy. ; Jlis own political chief has advocated tho maintenance of warships, manned by : New Zealand sailors, in New Zealand ; waters, and Sir Joseph Ward cannot have expected Britain to foot the bill. ; What Holland Would Have Done This is what Mr. H. E. Holland, leader ; of the extremist?, said on October 1.1, lflli), when after four years' struggle and sacrifice victory was at last) witfiin the jeaoh of tho AlliesIt seemed to him that peace was tho world'* supreme need—tihat tho time to negotiate was now. The New Zealand Parliament should intimate to the Imperial Government that the ; people of New Zealand are in favour of tho discussion of peace terms. They ' who talked ,reckle,=sly about refusing to discuss peace until Germany was beaten to her knees indulged in .1 ; wild and criminal bombast for irluch nciliher the Labour movement nor tho saner elements outsido of it could accept responsibility. ; Mr. Holland, in October, 1918, would have cravenly thrown up tho. spongo and mads : peaco irith. an unbeaten Germany if he had been at tho head of affairs. _ Are }<evi Zealand people going to give him a ] position of power in their Parliament? Extremists at Work. "There you seo the extreme Labour Party at work," remarked Mr. K. A. Wright, Reform candidate for Suburbs, when hie address at Island Bay last night was interrupted by a section of tho audienco which was evidencing •'its sympathy with tho Labour Party. "The distinct object on your part is to prevent a man being heard. I say you will never do any good—no parly in toe world ■ will do any good—if you prevent your opponents being heard." A woman: "They don't do that." Mr. Wright: "But you aro doing it now." Mr. Wright went on to say that in New Zcalantl there was. a grave difference in the Labour Party. There was eano Labour and extreme Labour. "Sane Labour is_ 'scab' Labour," interjected an auditor.' Mr. Wright pointed out that official Labour candidates must Mver express views of their own unless they Tvero endorsed by tho party as a whole. Therefore, the Labour members elected to tho Houso were really "in tho position of delegates and not representatives of the people, because they were controlled by the party.

Tell a-ahem-Story, and Stick to It, The Liberal organ in Christchurch. publishes the following remarks from a Duncdin correspondent: "Tho political prophets are now savins; tliat this feeling will bo manifested nt the elections— that the punishment for the sins of the National Government will fall principally upon Mr. Massey and his friends, who aro said to have 'dominated' thq coalition. I do not say that this .ie right or fair, but that a strong impression to tiwt effect' is held." Tho Liberals would faro better in Ihe estimation of intelligent people if they -would decide what story they are goinij to tell, and then, stick to it. At present one set of officehungry Wardists is telling the country that the Liberal Ministers were responsible.' for nil the pood legislation and administration of. tho National Government-, while another set says that the Eoforniors "dominated the Coalition." Both stories cannot be true. "Slaves." The well-worn catch-cry of the extreme Labour leaders that the workers aro "slaves" was trenchantly denounced by Mr. R. A. Wright when speaking at Island Bay last night. The greatest employer of labour in New Zealand was tho Government, said Mr. Wright, next in turn coming tho various municipal bodies. Tho 36,000 Government employees wore the servants of tho State— tho people. "Aro thoso employees slaves?" asked the candidate. "Yes," replied n chorus of voices from the Labour section of the audience. "Well,' retorted Mr. Wright, "they aro working for you. You aro their masters. You aro their employers. lam surprised that you have slaves working for you." It was apparent that this welldirected shot discomfited tho candidate's opponents, for they evidenced no desire to carry the discussion further.

Not What Ho Meant! "Is there any wonder that the people elnmour for reform:-" asked Mr. L. M'lCenzio at HaUiitai last evening. Nono at all, Mr. M'Kenzie. And the only way to get it is to vote Reform. More Secret Diplomacy. Thus Mr. J. Bead, Labour-Socialist, at Kelburn: "Tho day of thq old politician is past. If tho people desiro reconstruction they havo to get into power men and women who have really studied social matters as a science. I claim that tho Labour Party has clone so, and 1 don't think any other party lias done £o in this country. You can't expect men with mid-Victorian minds, brought up on a. cenain menial pabulum to do anything ' very beneficial for the peoplo in the way of reconstruction. They haven't got the breadth of view or the mental outlook to do it. . . . Wo honestly believo wo aro tho party that understands what is desirable for the community in the future, because wo have given unbiased consideration to it." Well—what is it? The Labour Interrupters, Though the Labour Tarty has officially disclaimed all connection with rowdinessnt political meetings, certain incidents at Mr. R. A. Wright's meeting at Island Bay last night proved beyond doubt that tho defence put up by the oxtremo section is altogether too thin. When. ieforring to Ilia personnol of the Parliamentary Labour Parly Mr. Wright was fiiibjcctcd to much hostile interjection from a small but noisy section of the audience which made- no secret of tho fact that its sympathies wore with extreme Labour. Mr. Wright look advantage of l-liu iiitwriiplioiis to declare that if the Labour Party ever hoped to get into power its leaders would have to cease from talking us they bad talked m the past. A voice: "What rot! }ou will i;o on-1 hi* l'th." \«V replied Mr 'Wright, "you have tsecn that an astronomer rays there will bo a grave 'disaster on Doocmbor 17. v°i««: .\°f. to Jlawey." "No," retorted Mr. Wright, Hinidst applause. 1 think he means thoro will be «i grave disaster to tho . extreme Labour Party." (Applause) ■ j