GENERAL ELECTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1922, Page 2

GENERAL ELECTION.

WESTLAND SEAT: LIBERAL CANDIDATE

On Thursday night there was a meeting of the supporters of Mr T. E. Y. Seddon’s candidature for Westland held in Greymouth, and a committee was fonned. It was decided to take ft room in Mackay Street, opposite the Town Hall. Yesterday Mr Seddon paid a visit to Kaiata and Omoto. He will speak on Monday at Totara Flat, and Ahaurn, and on Tuesday at Nelson Creek and Ngahere, on Wednesday at ICokiri and on Thursday at Greymouth.

LIBERAL LEADER. Air T. M. Wilford proposes to spend two weeks in address: hg meetings lti various parts of New Zealand. AIR MASSEY TO VISIT WESTLAND. It is stated in AVellington that the Piime Minister intends to visit Westland electorate before the general election.

THE WRITS. TO BE ISSUED THURSDAY WEEK. [’ey TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS association’

WELLINGTON, Nov. 3. The Chief Electoral Office announces that the writs for the general election will be issued on Thursday, November

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov 2.

Hon G. W. Russell, Liberal candidate for Avon, opened bis campaign, by addressing a well-attended meeting. He gave An outline of what the Liberals had accomplished,. and proceeded to ’ elaborate 18 indictments against the Massey Government as follows. It bad increased expenditure, and, in consequence, had been compelled to enormously increase the vyar taxation. This burden was strangling the country, and it was entirely Mr Massey’s fault. The prime necessaries of life had been increased in cost, and almost every promise made to the country had been broken. Land settlement bad practically ceased, and milions of pounds had been sent out of the country for rolling stock. That, too. has clone nothing to stimulate production, and help the Dominiotl over the aftermath of the war. He charged that the Premier had been responsible for the introduction of sectarianism into politics; that lie liad brought the railways to a most disastrous condition, and the Post Office to n state where it is barely paying expenses. notwithstanding that the increased charges return over £1.000.0()f). .That the Premier had done nothing to lower the price of money for farmers, industrialists or the workers, and that he had proved incapable ot devising or carrying through a housing scheme, to make up for the shortage caused by the war; that he had shown an utter indifference and incompetence in connection with the cries of U’ e unemployed for work and bread, and had never given to the returned soldiers a square deal over their land; that he holds office through a minority vote, in consequence of a broken promise and that Judged by every test of statesmanship, land settlement, industries, thrift, the saving of the people, « nd the prosperiey of the nation., Mi Ma. sev had proved a bitter and a ghas . failure. He offered no policy or proposal to lift the Dominion out of the slouch of despond, into which he had dragged it. Finally, all h» pohey «nd. administration, as far as he can do it. is in favour of the “dog on top. A vote of confidence was declared carried by the Chairman (Dr Thacker, M ™ DUNEDIN CAMPAIGN. DUNEDIN, November 3.

Air W. S. Maslin, the Liberal candidate for Dunedin Central, was announced to speak to-night, but- there -n-as nnpropritious weather, which interfered with the attendance, and the meeting was abandoned. , Owing doubtless to. the inclement weatherthere was a poor attendance at a meeting of electors in Dunedin South when Mr J. E. McManus, the Official Labour candidate, delivered an address. Mr McManus refuted the allegations made that the workers had gono down during the war period. He maintained that the cost of living had increased by 67 per cent and wages by 47 per cent. He contended that the Government had created the unemployment existing in the Dominion, for the direct purpose of reducing wages. He condemned the Government for importing coal in large quantities and at a- high cost, when at . the same time, it did not give better conditions on an extra shilling a day to the New Zealand miners. The speaker also dealt at length with the hardships inflicted on the soldiers in being placed on unsuitable land, and this despite the fact that the Government had been warned by the speaker and by others as to what the result would be. A vote of confidence in the candidate was carried,