POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 663, 25 April 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

LIBERALS AT TE KUITI. THE TAUMARUNUI SEAT. The tour of this portion of the King Country by members of the Opposition was inaugurated at Ta Kuiti last night when Messrs R. M. Smith (Waimarino) and G. Witty (Rjccarton) addressed a gathering in the Town Hall. The Mayor presided and there was a very good attendance. Mr Smith, who was the first speaker introduced by the chairman, said he had an important announcement to make in respsct to the contest for Taumarunui seat at next general elec tion. The name of Mr A. Scholes, chairman of ihe Waitomo County Comcil, had been freely mentioned in connection with tne next election and, with Mr Jennings in the field, it seemed as though a clash of party candidates would take place. He had to announce that Mr Scholes had withdrawn from the contest in favour of Mr Jennings, and the Liberals of tho electorate need not fear a clashHe paid a high tribute to Mr Scholes for his self-sacrifice in the party interests. In referring to the political questions the spenker said they had not come to attack tha leeai member and would not do so. Tfcs campaign of. the Liberal members waa rendered necessary in consequence of the misrepresentations of their opponents, and the fact that the great majority of tha newspapers were controlled by the Reform party. The speaker criticised the Government in respect to the opposition offered the legislation passed by the Liberals during twenty years of office. Tho Reform party had not been courageous enough to repeal a single Act passed by their predecessors, with tha exception of the Second 0 Ballot Act. This had bean done in an atmnpt to secure reelection at tha hands of a minority of the voters of the country. The speaker quoted figures to show that the Govcrnmsnt only represented about one third of the voters of the Dominion, and- had rssched office by intrigue. The Government was afraid to trust the people and had shown it by the abolition of tha Second Ballot. Tha great interest shown by the electors t'rjughout the Dominion indicated that they were tirsd of the party in office. This waq not surprising seeing that the party had failed lamentably to carry out its pledges. The speaker challenged the Prime Minister's statement that the stonewall over the Second Ballot repeal had only been ended by the threat of a dissolution, and stated that the apolication of the gag. in an unconstitutional manner had enabled tha Government to repeal the Act Mr Smith criticised tha Government methods and condemned the system of misrepresentation aa evidenced by the letter of Mr James, the Reform organiser. Tha same methods wera adopted over the strike,.; which- Sir Joseph Ward bad endeavoured to get the Prime Minister to privately confer over, andjhsd- met with a refusal.

Mr Witty. in opening, also paid a tribute to Mr Scholes for his action in leaving a clear field for Mr Jennings in the forthcoming election. He referred to the Government aa the representatives of the capitalists, who werj opposed to humanitarian legislation. The pledges made by the Government had not been fulfilled. Taxation, which was to have been reduced, had been increased by 10s 3d a head during the last two years; * The only reduction which had been made was in respect to the big landowners who were the friends of the party in power. The speaker crilicised tha actions of the Minister of Finance, who had raised a loan for a long period when interest was high and a short-dated loan when interest waa low. It was claimed that Mr Allen was a born financier, but nobody but a born fool would do things like that. The speaker, referring to public works, aaid the Estimates last year had been brought dawn later than was ever previously the case in the history of the country. Instancing the pledges which the Government had failed to fulfill, the speaker mentioned tho reform of the Legislative Council, reduced borrowing, abolition of the mortgsge tax, and other matters. During 1911 the Ward Government had advanced to settlers and workers the sum of £3,560,000, while r.ext year under the Massey Government, the amount was £1,800,000. Mr W. T. Jennings ar.d Mr Scholes were called to the platform, and were greeted with applause. Mr Jennings expressed his gratitude and appreciation of Mr Scholes' action in withdrawing in his favour, and statbd bis intention of again contesting the Taumarunui seat. In a short speech he outlined his connection with the Liberal party and referred to his association with this district during tho pant twenty years. Mr J. F. Walsh moved a vote of thanks to Messrs Witty and Smith for their addresses, and confidence in the Liberal party and in Sir Joseph Ward as leader. Mr Howarth seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks io the Mayor for presiding terminated the meeting.