ELECTION NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2342, 7 November 1908, Page 6

ELECTION NOTES.

THE PREMIER’S TRAVELLING EXPENSES.

PUBLIC WORKS VOTES

[Special to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, Nov. 5

Twenty-five thousand pamphlets of the speech delivered by the Premier ou 24 July last, are being circulated amongst the electors of the Dominion. The electors are asked to read the speech and pass it on. Mr. Fisher, last night, addressed by far the largest meeting held hero in connection with the present election campaign. The Town Hall was crowded to the doors, there being about 2500 people present. The candidate had a flattering reception. Mr. Fisher refuses to answer any questions about the voucher incident. “My fight on that incident,” he said, “was with a man, and I say, unreservedly, a great mail. He died, and my quarrels arc dead; and IMI never touch them again.” It would be interesting to know bow many ex-members are still using their railway passes in the election campaign. 01 course they are no longer members of Parliament. Mr. Byron Brown, a candidate for Otaki, made the following reference to the subject at a recent meeting. “The Prime Minister is flying round the country in the Vice-Regal carriage, with his two secretaries, all at the country’s expense, and all for the purpose of electioneering. Why docs not the country pay my expenses too? I am only electioneering. I came dp the Manawatu lino with Air. Massey, last Monday. He was going to Palmerston to reply to Sir Joseph Ward’s ’ “buoyancy” address. I asked Air. i Massey if lie got his expenses paid and he replied by showing mo a number of railway tickets which he had to buy, as his railway pass -was no good since the writs were issued. Why can the Premier do these things ‘on tlie never’ and Air. Alasscy have to pay from his private purse?” In liis speech at Kilburnie last night, Air. A. R. Atkinson, says “The Dominion,” argued that the Public Works Estimates might as well bo printed in Chinese so far as the possibility lof the items being, .comprehended by anybody but the member lor the -district affected is concerned. Under the heading of construction, maintenance, and supervision of roads and bridges and other public works no less that £600,000 was voted last session, and opening the estimates: at random he found in the section relating to Otago that such items as “Aleck- Road £100,” and “Alilk and Honey ltoad £26” had been passed l . There we-re pleasant scriptural associations about both these items. The first suggested “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Blessed, at any rate in these days, said Mr. Atkinson, were- the politically meek, for they inherited all the roads and bridges that they needed. The second item was -delightfully suggestive of the milk and honey that flowed in the promised- 1 land, lor the faithful followers of a Government whose political control of the Public Works Fund made it a sort of settlers’ providence. “Alilk and honey” was indeed written large over column after column of these -estimates, and the most careful and inquisitive of members could not form any opinion on the merits of one per cent, of these items. A policy of decentralisation which would make local works a matter of local responsibility and local control was the only remedy.” “We hear it said that they ore giving wharf laborers bathrooms -and hot water,” said Air. Fisher in. the Town Ilall last- evening. “What is the good giving a man patent leather shoes if he hasn’t any socks?” he added, and went on to -urge that more necessary reforms -were needed. These remarks drew forth loud applause.