ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1598, 10 November 1905, Page 4

ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

MR H. H. WALL AT GISBORNE”

tnu do Majesty's Theatre was orowdod to wcyua.org on wrodnosdtty ovoning on the ‘M'on of tho political address dollvorod °J^ u r H. H. Wall, tho Prohibition and "--sition candidate for Waiapu. Hia ship tho Mayor (Mr J. l’owloy) proaided. Tho spoakor in tbo oarly part of tho ovoning was aooordod a fairly attontlvo hearing, but towards tbo olobo of hia address there were constant interruptions from a number of larrikins who we re gathorod in ono oornor of the pit. It is to bo hoped that tho polioe will bob that thoro la not a ropotition of auoh .oonduot at Mr Carroll’s mooting this evening. - ■ Mr Wall’s address was mainly on the lines of those given iu the oountry. In tho oourse of hia remarks ho Bevoroly criticised tho polioy of tbo present Government. Ho mado apooial referenco to what ho termed tho shameful nogleot of the East Coast in the matter of public expenditure, contrasting tho amount rooeivod locally with that voted to Auckland, Westland and other placos. Roforring to tho great inorease in tho products of tho district Mr Wall said that no other distriot in the colony oould show anything liko tho rate of progress that Poverty Bay oould show. Tho look' up of native lands was the most serious drawback to'the distriot. Maori lands paid no rate or taxes, yet they derives all the benefits from the taxation of European’s lands. The candidate spoke at some length on the increased amount—neariy a million pounds—placed on the public works estimates for the present year, and contended that this was done merely for the purpose of catching votes. It was □ever intondod that the money should be Bpent. No loss than 70 men were put on the Te Karaka line, and would be kept on until after the election. Referring to the Farmers’ Union, Mr Wall said that be had not replied to the questions asked, nor did he intend to do so. He believed in labor unions; and would like to see every man in the colony stamped with a union brand, so that one might know whether, he bad a good man or not. He did not sup. port the present system of co-operative labor. The Bpeaker strongly condemned the railway polioy of the Government, pointing out that if they were in earnest they oould easily oarry the line from To Karaka to Motu in one , year. A harbor of refuge for Gisborne, the Turbine light, and rural edubdtibhj were questions* dealt with at .some length. Replying to reports in regard to his candidature, Mr Wall said that he intended to stand firm, and would retire for no man. He was announced many days in front of Mr Clayton, and saw no reason why he should stand down for him, especially seeing that; Mr Clayton represented no political; party. The Farmers’ Union had, he said, made themselves the laughing stock of the district in regard to their tactics adopted over the present eleotion. (Applause.) In conclusion, Mr Wall warned the : electors against being carried away by the platitudes of the Hon. James Carroll. Mr' Carroll was an adept in this direction, but they should bo on their guard and insist; upon tho Native Minister supplying the solid facta whioh he had stated he would; give them when he addressed them, A large number of questions wbrs asked ; the candidate. Mr Wall expressed himself in favor of giving preference to unionists, ; l and also of establishing a, second Arbitra- : tion Court. He .'was also in favor of allowing magistrates to hear certain caseß. Mr D. Whyte, organising secretary of the New Zealand alliance for Waiapu: Will you pledge yourself to maintain the present licensing laws bo far aa they: recognise the democratic principle that tho : people have tho right to deal with the' liquor licensing system, and will you also oppose any legislation which would ) deprive them of their right or limit their ; power to determine at the ballot box whether licenses shall or shall not be : granted in the distriota ? Mr Wall: Yes. \ Mr Whyte: In the event of it being found that the new provisions made for | taking the looal option poll prove unsatis-! factory, and lead to the deolared deter-* ; mination of the voters being set at nought,! i will you support auoh legislative proposals as may be necessary to remedy the defects in tho Aot which prevent the pdople carry- 1 ing out their purpose ? ; Mr Wall: I will do my utmost towards that end. Mr Whyte: Will you also demand such' ; legislation and insist upon such administra-; tion as will ensure stringent enforcement ofSthe no-lioense and licensing laws in every electorate ? Mr Wall: Yes. Mr Whyte: Are you in favor of the local option poll being held simultaneously with the electoral poll every time there is a dissolution of Parliament ? Mr Wall: Yes, , , Eleotor : Is the working man better off now than when the Atkinson Government were in power, when married men had to work for 4s fid per day ? Mr Wall: He was better off then: Although wag 63 have gone up to a considerable extent, the cost of living has increased in proportion, Eleotor; Do you favor the*Japanese allianoe being renewed without consulting the British Parliament ? Mr Wall: Yes, Several other questions having been answered, Mr Wall said ( tbat he had beard of a mysterious petition whioh was sup*posed to be following him round.'to eaob of his meetings. He had several times asked for it, and he hoped that someone would have the courage to bring it for* ward that evening. (Applause;) . . Needless to say, the petition was not forthcoming. On the motion of the Mayor a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the candidate; and a similar, compliment, to the chair terminated the proceedings. Mr, Wall speaks at Waimata on Mon day evening next at 7.80.