WELLINGTON BYE-ELECTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1918, Page 1

WELLINGTON BYE-ELECTION.

THE NATIONAL CANDIDATE

JUS PLATFORM

The prosecution, of the war to a victorious conclusion.

. Unansworing loyalty to King and Country. Loyal Labour with adequate remuneration based on tile cost of living. Proportional Representation.

The repeal of the present metlnd of settlement of La hour disputes.

A referendum on the Prohibition question to be settled by a bare majority, with compensation, such referendum to include an issue dealing with State control with compensation.

A General Election without further delay.

Drastic reductions in the cost of living wherever possible. Maintenance of the present vstem of education. A .State-owned line of steamers for carrying New Zealand produce overseas a State-owned Ferry Service between Wellington and Lyttelton.

Purchase of State colliers for coalcarrying tliu s cheapening coal to the public; the nationalisation of the coal mines of the Dominion; and a reduction in the price of coal. The appointment of a Repatriation Minister to prepare for the .settlement and placing of nil returned soldiers in suitable, avenues of employment, The payment of increased foes to jurors and witnesses in criminal and civn cases. The increase of wagc s to warders and school teachers, and assistance t 0 friendly societies to meet the expense of war levies etc. Tlio increase of the War Pension to widowed mothers and dependents. Vigorous policy of speeding up the cutting up of larger estates and the development of New Zealand resources and industries to enable the country 1 '• meet obligation, also providing employment for all.

AIR HILDRETH’S CANDIDATURE The Hon. W. 1). S. MacDonald and Sir .lames Allen have issued the foi lowing signed statement. —

“When the National Government- wa s formed an honourable understanding was arrived at to the effect that,' if during its term of office a member belonging to cither party died or tor any reason retired from Parliament, the leader of the party to which such member belonged should approve a candidate for tlio bye-election thus rendered ed necessary, and such nomination \\< old be supported by the leader of tlie other side of politics. “Under this arrangement., Air W. Hildreth has been recommended for the coining bye-election in Wellington Central as a supporter of the National G-»-vernment. Tlio recommendation is approved and, in compliance with the under standing referred to, wo strongly locomniend him for the -Support- of tlie electors of Wellington Central.”

ELECTION SQUIBS. Mr. Muck made a mistake with a retort made by him. to a man in his audience at his mooting at Wellington \ youn<>' man sitting near the li'ont or the half had been making interjections repealedlv. and to one of them Mr. Mack replied: "It I were as young and healthv as you are I should not he sittino- in tliis ball to-night.” The man stood up. and it was at once apparent that ho was a returned soldier. He was wearing a badge, and lie had an empty sleeve. There were howls Horn the hostile section of the audience, and demands for apologies. As soon as lie was allowed to .'do so. Mr. Macw apologised. He said that when he made the retort he had not been able to see that th<‘ man had a badgiq_and that ho nad lost ail arm. And he apologised. Later there was a demand that he should make an apology to the Returned! Soldiers’ Association, but this Mr. Mack declined to do. He said that he had apologised to the man concerned, and he owned no apology to anyone els*. If Mr. Alack is a Labour man why did he support Turnbull against Holland in 101-1? This was one_ of the host of (iiiestions put to Mr Mack. “I never supported Mr. Turnbull,” said Mr Mack, “f was rung up on the ’phone .and asked who 1 was going to vote for, and 1 said that 1 was voting for Air. Turnbull. I did so because I thought then, and. I think now, to-day that Air. Turnbull was a far better man and a more loyal man than AH. Holland.” (Cries of rage.) Air Mack was noisily counted out for this declaration. On what grounds do you make the assertion that the Labour Party is hacking up the liquor trade? This question was asked of AH. Alack, and it brought from him this reply: ‘•Because several letters have appeared in the newspapers hacking up the liquor trade signed hv the secretary of the Labour Representation Committee. He savs that Labour stands for State control. and that' the prohibitionists are > against Labour.”