POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2344, 10 November 1908, Page 6

POLITICAL.

THE ELECTION HOLIDAY.

Neither shops ;ncr factories are compelled to close on election day. Factory owners must give their employees up to an hour s leave, without deduction of salary, in order that they may record their votes. Shopkeepers may observe election day in place of the usual half-holiday, unless the latter is definitely fixed by an award of the Arbitration Court, in which case they must close on the award date. There is no' clause under the Shops and' Offices Act requiring special time to be allowed so- that shop •assistants may be able to vote.

AMONG THE CANDIDATES. THE READY-MADE SPEECH. Mr. Massey created great monument at Carterton a lew nights ago, by reading the introductory part oi the type-written portion of the speech which lie said had been prepared for Ministerial candidates, and which the Prime Minister had challenged him to produce. The manuscript began, ‘Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, —ln coining forward to contest the seat at the forthcoming general election I desire at the outset te say tnat •the position is not altogether of my own seeking.” A little later on- came the words, “I have been connected with—(here state your connections with local public bodies).” HUMAN NATURE. Mr Massey told his Carterton audience a little story about Sir Geo. Grey, it was when the Albert Park at Auckland, was made. The great pro-Consul met a little girl walking, there. They got into conversation, and Sir George remarked that the park belonged to all the people. ••'J.'he-n Sir George,” said the liitle maiden, “I should like you to show me my piece.” “There spoke human nature,” commented Mr. Massey. “Everybody wants Ins own. That is the position I take up and those associated with me in ihe Parliament of this country.” SUGGESTION EOR A BUSINESS CARD.

Mr. Byron Brown’s suggestion for the business card of a Governmentsupporting Ai.P.—“Air. Smiling-face Fakeum, AI.P., Government Labor Agent. Billets procured on the shortest notice for dutiful voters. Government grants arranged for docile electorates. Loans from Government Advances to Settlers and AVorkers negotiated. Business commissions strictly confidential. Terms £3OO a year, with prospective rise to £4OO, procuration fee, your votes and interests.”

SPEECHES SUPPLIED FROAI WELLINGTON.

Apparently, remarks the “Christchurch Press,” a number of Government candidates, while quite ready, even anxious to advocate the Government’s policy, know so little about politics that they have to be supplied with speeches from "Wellington. After quoting a paragraph in the “Wairarapa Daily Times,” in which acknowledgement is mado of the receipt of a budget containing the material from which the Liberal campaign speeches are being composed, evidently printed at the Government office, and apparently issued by the Cabinet, the “Press” adds: —“We may say that we have had in our possession for ten days the type-written copy of a Government candidate’s speech, intended for use in Canterbury, the name of the constituency being filled in in ink.” NATIVE LANDS. According to Air. A. L. D. Fraser, who is recognised as an expert in matters concerning the Alaori, it is impossible te consolidate the statutes relating to the Native land. The only tiling that could be done, he said at Napier the other evening, was to wipe out the whole of the Native land laws off the Statute Book and start afresh. The truth was tiiat the Government had wet-nursed' the Native race so that their old spirit and virility had been taken away and they were a declining race. As to their lands, there were many acres of excellent land in the country which they should be compelled to use, or lease, or to sell. A Native Lands Commission, consisting of two eminent men—Sir Robert Stout and/ Mr. Ngnta, AI.P.—-(had been inquiring into the requirements of the Natives and their titles, but these gentlemen were idealists with whom he did not wholly agree.

CHANGES OF OCCUPATION

The compulation of the electoral rolls discloses some interesting facts. In one instance in one Auckland suburban electorate the elector was first enrolled as “carpenter.” He removed to another street, and having in the meantime taken up a fresh claim as a “joiner.” His worldly affairs continued to prosper, and he was next ''found after a further change of residence seeking enrollment as u “contractor.” An investigation on the part of an alert registrar disclosed the fact that instead of there being three persons there was only one. In case, which occurred in the city, an elector has made the rather unusual change in his calling by ceasing to ho a “draper” and becoming a “gasfitter.” In this case it might very reasonably be assumed that there were two persons of the same name, but inquiry proved the contrary. OPPOSITION PROSPECTS.

Chatting to a “Press” representative with regard to the prospects of the Opposition in Canterbury, Mr Massey stated that, so far as he ooiiCd judge, they were very good indeed. Several seats that- at last election returned Government members will, this time, return members who will sit on the Opposition side of the House. In the last Parliament there were only three Opposition members from Canterbury, Messrs Lewis, Rhodes, and Hardy. Courtenay, formerly represented by Mr Lewis, had 1 been wiped out by the adjustment of boundaries, and Mr Lewis had gone to live in the Hawke’s Bay .•district. Mr Hardy's seat appeared to be quite safe. Mr-Rhodes, who was being opposed by a Government supporter, was probably without exception the most popular member of the House of Representatives, and one who did a tremendous amount of good in a quiet unassuming wav for the provincial district to which he hcionged, _

THREE OPPOSITION CANDI- - DATES. - - ‘

There is some dissatisfaction in Ashburton amongst the supporters of Air Nosworthy and Air Alasiin that Air David Jones should have been accepted by Air Massey as the official Opposition" candidate, particularly ms Air Jones, in beginning his campaign, appeared-to bo more of an Independent than a straight-out Oppositionist. Air Alassey, however, is apparently satisfied as to the support that lie would receive from Air Jones, i'f the-latter is elected. All three Opposition candidates will go to the poll, but a second: ballot is almost a certainty, und in that case it is believed that the party’s votes will be concentrated on whichever of the three lias to go. to the poll again. “MILK AND HONEY.” In his speech at Kilbiiuie last week Air A. R. Atkinson argued that the Public "Works estimates might ms weii be printed in Chinese so far as tile possibility of the items being coinpreiiended by anybody but the member for the district affected. Under the heading, “Construction, maintenance, and supervision of road and bridge* and other public works,” no less thru £(500,000 was voted last- session; and, opening the estimates at random, he found m the -section relating to Otago 1 that such items as “Aletslc Road, | £100,” -and “Milk and Honey Road, : £26,” iiacl been passed. There were i pleasant scriptural associations about noth these items. The first suggest- ] ed “Blessed are the meek, -for they j shall inherit the earth.” Blessed, at any rate, in these days, said’ Air. Atkinson, were the politically meek, ■ for they inherited ail the roads and i bridges that they needed. The second item was delightfully suggestive of the milk and the honey that flowed m the promised land for the faithful j followers of a Government, whose po- ; Jitical 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 mat- i ter of local responsibility and local control was the only remedy. j

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

The -"Wellington “Evening Post,” which is strongly opposed to Air Aiassey on the land question, admits that it is quite impossible to deny the hold which ho possesses upon a farming community. “He came to Feilding,” says the "Post,” “with no billets - in liis gift, no railways, roads, or bridges to oiler to the district at the general" cost, no prospect whatever of giving anybody anything for nothing. He was entirely bare of all the advantages which the electors have been for years" accustomed to look for to Llie Government and,to regard as only to bo freely procurable by ya profession of the Government’s political faith. Yet it is quite clear that Air Massey was at least as enthusiastically received at Feilding as the Prime Aiinister, who came a week ago with all these advantages at his back. The Opposition is so weak, and its weakness is so serious a danger to the State, that we regard the impressive demonstration of which the leader of the party was the centre as a very hopeful sign. We also welcome it as a thoroughly well-merited tribute to Air Alassey’s sterling personal qualities. ... It is not too much to say that of the two programmes before the country that of the Opposition is decidedly the more comprehensive and •attractive.” TEACHERS’ SALARIES.

A brief reference to the Education Act Amendment Act was made by the Alinister for Education in his address at Kingsland (Auckland). It was true, he said, that one or two apparent hardships in connection with the teachers had been pointed out, but the teachers ,could roly .upon a sympathetic administration of the Act from a Alinister who had been responsible for increases in salaries, which, even witli the narrowest interpretation, would amount for the first year to £16,000 of £17,000. KEEN CONTEST IN MATA UR A.

Air Fowlds is not the only Alinister who will have to fight hard to retain his seat. Private advices received in Christchurch from the Alutaura electorate indicate that Air APNab is up against a fairly hard proposition in Air G. J. Anderson, a Gore journalist. Air APNab has hitherto polled very solidly in Gore itseff. Indeed, it has been said that- his majority in that town is practically his winning majority. On this occasion, for the first time, he is opposed by a Gore resident, who is not only very popular in the town, but has a large following in all parts of tho electorate. He has made a promising beginning with his campaign, and the Alinister, who is addressing three or four meetings a day, will hive aK his work cut out to beat him. TWO IDEALS.

The two candidates for the Napier seat have now passed out of the attitude of passive resistance,, and have emerged into that of positive aggression. Both strongly support the Government, but the line of eleverage vemment, but, the line of cleavage A. L. D. Fraser stated’ in his opening address that his idea] member o'f Parliament was not the mail who went as a delegate, and whose alpha and omega was to got money spent in his electorate, a man who became a doorfnat for Ministers in order that lie might find out what was being spent in his electorate. He believed in a member of Parliament whose ideals permitted of a far-reaching horizon, and who made endeavor to mould the present and future of the whole Dominion. This is not Mr Brown’s view. In his opening speech at Port Ahuriri on Wednesday, ho challenged his opponent’s political theory, and saief: “If Mr Fraser can get -a new post office for. Napier, that should not prevent him being a statesman. If I am returned to Parliament, I will not only sit on the doormats of Ministers, hut, bedad, I’ll take my blankets and sfeep there until I get what I want.” Mr Brown made it clear that his political creed was summed up in the advancement Of Napier, which lie contended had been subjected to flagrant neglect.' THE ARBITRATION ACT.

Referring to the attitude which the Government has displayed with respect to the administration of the Arbitration Act, Mr A, H, Atkinson

• stated at Wellington the other night that the enforcement of a law as it stood on the Statute Book without, fear or favor was a sacred duty. If the law. was wrong tnat anatter was one for the Legislature, not. for- the administrators. It was " not infrequently stated that if Air Alassey and his party got into powert'lmey would either repeal or wreck various beneficent Acts. “Assuming that Air Alassey became Premier,” remarked Air. Atkinson, “no tricks he could play to any measure could bo more d imaging than the treatment the Government has given to the Arbitration Act. It is not that the Government wanted to destroy the Act; it is that it was afraid to do its duty.” THE HAWKE’S BAY SEAT. The contest for- the Hawke’s Bay scat is being vigorously prosecuted : by the six candidates who have spread themselves over the electorate. Sir ; ‘William Russell’s fine speech at Hastings lias .given him -a political grip i that has been enhanced by his subse- | quent platform appearances, liis strongest opponent is Air A. E. Jull. j Air Jull is an effective speaker, and | (says the “Dominion”J~is easily the j most able of the Government candi- | dates. Air A. Dillon, the sitting j member, makes a point of the fact j ! that he won the seat from Sir Wili liam Russell when the other candi-

dates were afraid to tackle it, an'd on this ground will meet with a certain measure of support, but it is hardly likely that lie will be re-elected. Air H. lan Simson, another Government candidate, has improved his position during the past week, and may be considered to- have a sporting chance. Alessrs T. J. Thompson and G. Spencer Clapham also pin their faith to the Government, but may be considered out of the running. A FREEHOLD POINT. A good point is made by Air A. L. D. Fraser in advocating that the land tenants of the Crown should ho permitted to acquire the freehold of their selections. It had been suggested (lie said) that to grant the freehold would bo a breach of contract in connectionwith the 999 years’ leaseholders, but how could it be l more a breach of contract than taking land for settlement, from the people who held a land transfer title ? The 999 years’ lease had now probably served its purpose, and lie would give then tenants the freehold if they desired it THE TAURANGA SEAT.

"The Government professes, remarks the Christchurch “Press,” to feel quite confident that-Air J. A. Young, its accepted candidate, will heat Air Herries for Tauranga. Here is a taste of Air Young’s quality:— “The stringency in the money market was caused by the bauks having combined to raise the rate of interest because the country was on the eve of a general election, and it would cause an undue pressure upon the Government money-lending departments.” It is obvious, now one comes to think ot it, that the financial crisis in America, the slujiij} in the price of woo l at Home, the potato blight and the drought last summer, were all part of a gigantic conspiracy organised against the Government by the bauks and the Opposition. THE LIQUOR LAW.

Air A. E. Jull’s connection with the “trade” gave his remarks at Hastings on the licensing question particular interest. Air Jull said it was rather a compliment to him that the only .thing against him was his connection with the liquor trade. He was not ashamed of being connected with it. He was not standing as a representative of any trade or firm. They were told there was a brewers’ ring, which was dominating the ejections, but he did not know anything about it. He was standing as a public man, taking a public interest in the various questions affecting the country. There were a. number of anomalies in the licensing laws. There was a monopoly value attached to the licenses of this country due to tlie fact that the n timber of licenses could not be added to. His remedy was for the people to secure a return on the monopoly value by taking the difference between the value of the property without the license and with it. At the rate of 5 per cent., for instance, if a property was valued at £IO,OOO, and with a license at £15,000, the license fee would be £250, as against £4O at present. -That was a reasonable proposal. JOTTINGS. Air Aloss stated the other evening ■at ParncCl that during his- first session in Parliament his letter-bag averaged 150 a week. “This,” he said, “is a great deal more than any member can attend to, and have any time left to think.” “If we want to preserve the noble Alaori race we must break up its communistic habits, give each Alaori a plot of land, sell the surplus areas, and invest tho proceeds for the advancement of the interests of the Native people.”—Air It. Thompson, at Bayfield (Auckland). “I am not a prohibitionist. I am not sufficiently self-sacrificing to be one. lam not prepared to deny myself the gratification that I receive from alcohol for the sake of those who are weaker than myself.”—Candid confession by Air Aloss (Parnell).