POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2341, 6 November 1908, Page 7

POLITICAL.

THE HAWKE’S BAY SEAT.

SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL’S CANDIDATURE.

rile “Dominion”, referring editorally to tike Hawke's Bay seat, says he re-appearance of Sir William tussell as a candidate for the Hawce’s Bay seat is quite a noteworthy went. Even those people who deny tiat a man can be honorable or anything but a seilf-seeker unless lie bejomes' ,a joint in the Government tail vill hardly venture to suggest that Sir William is inspired by any worse notive than a desire to bring his mental gifts to the service of a country >oroly in need of high-principled servants. 'Even those who may disigree with his politics will hardly venture to question his past public services, his integrity and the value of his experience and judgment in the conduct of the affairs of Parliament. That men of his position should) be witling to give up their leisure, and the comfort of their private life, m order to take up the burden of Parliamentary work, is a sign that the degeneration of our political life is not quite so hopeless as it sometimes appeal's to be. His candidature will put in better heart those people, and they are not a few, who have been inclined to take a gloomy view of a public opinion which has made possible the election of a Parliament composed largely of men who have no capacity for thought and no regard for principle. It was to be expected that his opening speech would be a good one. It as certainly one of the best that has been delivered in any electorate since the campaign began —the clear, forcible, and, convincing speech of a passionless student of political issues. We may call attentl ion here to his delightful examples of the ■unwavering readiness of the Ministerialists to applaud everything the Government does and every effect of the Government's administration,

even though their approval on. one day is in conflict with their approval on the next. Sir 'William hit off the ! Government’s policy very happily: 5 “The nearest- description he could i give of the Government’s policy was to liken it to the action of a flash young man who, entering an hotel, culls out to all and sundry, ‘Have what you want!’ and then departs, leaving the next- man who goes in to foot the hi 1 /..” Posterity will appreciate that analogy. THE OLD LEADER AND THE NEW. Comparatively quietly (says the Wellington. “Post”) Sir Joseph Ward began his campaign, but his pace has become hotter as the polls have drawn nearer. At the outset it seemed that he desired to merely go calmly through the country, pointing to the Government monuments and the Government purse, hut Mr Massey’s attacks spurred Sir Joseph on. His record for rapid, transit now is in line with the performances of the late Mr iSeddon. Before the close of his expedition through the Wairurapa and Manawat-u fields, lie was going as fast as a- forty horse-power motor-car could whirl him, and he lias been travelling mostly at that gait ever since. In his own electorate he spoke at about seventeen meetings, and he made extra speeches by the wayside when flying from one place to another. This "rapid movement awakens memories of Mr Seddon’s lust mighty charge through New Zealand. He opened his campaign in a characteristic way at Ethelton, a little place on the Waipara-Cheviot railway, where he opened a section. It was a rush from Wellington and a rash back, and on up the line. He worked up to Auckland, and there he started with his “not understood” series of addresses. The leader’s health was failing, but he had strength enough to talk down tempestuous opponents at Chrischurcli. Sir Joseph 1 has powers of endurance to compare with his predecessor’s, but he lias not so many platform arts as his late chief. Mr Seddon had a habit of catching an audience by the lapel of the coat and telling it “secrets.” He got more into grips with the people, but the gripping was mostly in Mr Seddon’s favor. Sir Joseph lacks the gripping force, and. loses _ politically for it, but'the country is the happier for it. Bruin’s embrace may be nice for the embracer, but as rather trying for the embraced.

THE QUESTION OF DEFENCE. Mr A. 11. Atkinson, candidate for Wellington East, speaking ini Wellington before his constituents recently, spoke on the subject of defence. He referred to the report of last year, and -said that a more melancho/iy, ia imore shameful story he had never read. In the past twd years, the volunteer forces had decreased by 1029, or 10 per cent., while the total parade >at the Easter manoeuvres was only 5935. Further, the report of the Council stated that the force was not practical and not actual, camps were unsatisfactory, and in regard to some 20 corps the Council stated that, they were so bad and useless that no justification existed for the expenditure incurred upon them an their present state. The report as to the school cadets was satisfactory, chiefly .because of tho compulsory element in their composition. Finally, the Defence Hep orb, referring to the. “readiness of the forces for war,” said that this subject was “strictly confidential.” As a matter of fact, New Zealand was practically defenceless. “We axe talking big enough to govern the whole universe,” said Mr Atkinson, “but we are dependent on the British Navy for everything. But for that we would be inundated with Chinamen. IVe are very little better than paupers and cadgers on the Old Country.” (Applause.) He had no sympathy with jingoism, but it was monstrous tha we should be dependent on the Old Counry, a great proportion of the population of which is m a state of semi-starvation. The only course was to see that our young men get a military training before they get hound up in business, life.. The Prime Minister talked as if we were trying to establish the German military system in New Zealand, 'although the only thing suggesed was about 21 days’ training a year for young men between 18 and 21 years of age. (Applause.) One of his other points was that ia commission should be set up to put the Civil Service on a business basis, 'and that afterwards the elements bf political control must be eliminated. As to public works, be urged that tker§ should

be a non-political" tribunal to determine the scale of grants, The candidate, in answer to a question, said he was not prepared to support a proposal to commence the graduated land-tax •at £20,000. The candidate was- accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.

NOTES. Mr Hielop, at Wellington recently, said he hoped that the first tiling the new High Commissioner would do when he went Home would be to establish a department which wouf.d afford true information to all who inquired about the conditions prevailing out here, and which would prevent those who were - nob suited to the conditions, from coming to swell the number of -unemployed. The remark was received with general applause.

■ “Then again there’s Mr. McNab,” said Mr. A. It. Atkinson, candidate for Wellington East, in criticising the Ministry. “You all remember the beginning of the session of 1906, when lie nailed ill is colors to the mast over the Land Bill' —that’s'when lie made tliis reputation as a statesman. The pails didn’t hold, and ever since then lie’s been making a reputation as a sprinter —running as hard as he can whenever the Bill is mentioned.” “The weakness of this party system of Government ds that we have too many persons continually attemp ting to make the other side appear ridiculous, and to bring up prejudices with regard to it. We have too many of Satan’s advocates.” —The Hon. T. W. Hislop at Wellington. “The majority of the members of tlie House are only proxies—living proxies.”—Mr Fisher on Ins fellowmembers. “If I go brack to tlie House there will not be much proxy about me. I watch things pretty cfosely. I did as much for you in one session as any Wellington member has done ! for you in any one session for many years past.”—Mr Fisher on himself. “Certain members in the House make a boast that they do more business in a week than any Labor agency in Wellington.”—Mr Fisher/ when advocating the appointment of a Public Service Board. “Your first duty is to return men to Parliament with convictions of their own, and "‘not the mere ballot ■papers and delegates that have, unfortunately, found favor under the existing System.”—Mr Atkinson, in advocating the Elective Executive. The abolition; of the totalisator and the (abolition of the bookmaker’s license are two planks of my platform. —Mr. Atkinson speaking at Wellington. A singular and interesting feature of the present electoral campaign, or series of campaigns (says the “Post”) is the number of women who (attend the meetings addressed by candidates. In. town and suburbs and country every meeting contains quite a largo proportion of women, evidently of voting age, and the indications are that the 'female vote at the coming polling day .will he larger than for several elections past. Also, the women who attend appear to take a keen interest in the subjects under discussion. . “I was like a pefican in the wilderness,” exclaimed Mr T. M. Wilford at Lower Hutt, when referring to his lone-hand protest in Parliament against the right of expenditure of public money being given to tlie Auckland local bodies for tlie purpose of entertaining tlie American Fleet. “Notwithstanding this fact I believe the majority of the people of New Zealand were with me. On this matter I have been more widely misrepresented than on any other question I have discussed in Parliament.” He did not, he continued, object to extending a welcome to the fleet, hut he strenuously opposed the lavish expenditure of public moneys. (Applause.) . Mr Byron Brown, who is contesting the Otaki seat against Mr Field, M.P., addressing a meeting of flaxmillers at Maronui, reminded his hearers that the convention of Labor held in Wellington last winter had resolved to put Independent Labor candidates to fight Sir Joseph Ward at the general elections. Then it was that the Second Ballot Blit made its appearance. The history of New Zealand proved that legislation of so drastic a character as the Second Ballot always came from the people by agitation, and after it had been agitated for some years it was given legislative enactment. But this was not the case with the Second Ballot. No one had thought of it, no one wanted it. It had sprung full-armed from th© head of the Prime Minister like Minerva from the head of Jupiter, without any such bothersome trouble as growing up, and it was meant to disfranchise Labor in Parliament. The workers who supported Sir Joseph Ward after such a coup de grace were, the candidate said, fools themselves. (Applause.)

Quay.