POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 721, 14 November 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

MR SBORTLAND AT TE KUITI. Mr P. W. Shcrtland, Independent Reform candidate for the Taumarunui electorate, delivered an address at Te Kuiti on Wednesday e/ening. There • was a fair attendance in the Municipal Hall, and the Mayor, Mr J. Boddie, presided. In his opening remarks the candidate declared himself an Independent Reformer, who was not of that meek and lowly type which was content to be bound hand and foot to a party leader. He belived in the Massey Government, but thought it would be . a good thing for Parliament if more Independent members had places there. A strong Opposition was good for the Government and the country. It prevented the Government taking liberities, a factor which contrbbiuted largely to the downfall of the past administrtion. His platform included reform wherever necessary, and there were still a numbar of reforms required. Oth/r planks of his platform were;-" Tha freehold tenure every time; borrowing for reproductive works; vigorous prosecution of roads and railways; postponement of payment of rent and rates until settlement lands are provided with permanent roads; land and employment for everybody; right for everyone to work for a living wage; I pledge myself to go to the poll. Dealing with the land question, the candidate euloigsed the Massey Government for granting the freehold. He would nuf force the freehold down the throatg of the people, but he would give them the opportunity. Roads and railways should be provided for the purpose of opening up the country and assisting settlement. Sufficient had not bsen done in this respect to assist the backblocks and an Independent member could better champion the cause of the backblocks than one tied to a party. Settlement in the past had been in~ r advance of the roads, and the pioneers had suffered undue hardships in consequence. If transit facilities were provided the increased production would soon pay for the expenditure on and railways and the best interests of the country would be promoted. The speaker also advocate better costal facilities, and medical assistance for the back districts. The candidate hold that borrowing should be confined to money for reproductive works and there should be no big expenditure on public buildings until the rural districts had been developed. Ho would extend the provisions of the Bush and Swamp Lands Act 2!! 3lang tba line' and exempt the settlers from the payment of rent until they were in a position to pay. He eulogised the manner in which the Advances Department had been administered by the present Government in the interests of settlers and Workers. Still there wore a lot of details which required reforming, and he would take active steps to do so. 1 The speaker did not agree with Mr Massey regarding the war tax. : Personally he thought it would b3 a : thing for New Zealand to de- I T~ monstrate self-reliance and stand on its own bottom. He agreed with 1 the Government's naval poliicy and 1 would support it. Ha thought there was a gross waste of public time and money in useless criticism which was directed against the Government's proposals. He advocated the use of the graduated lend tax for breaking up big estates and held that the Government would be justified in taking what money it required frcm the banks instead of going to the Home market ir, a tima of stress like the present. The Governmsnt could give interest bearing debentures for the money to the banks. The speaker also dealt with the naiive land problem, and pledged himself,to go to the poll. At the conclusion of the address the candidate answered a number of questions and made a special appeal to the ladies for their support. He advocated a statutory holiday for domestic servants. The speaker was accorded a bearty Vote of thanks for his address, and a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding terminated the meeting. MR WILSON ON TOUR. On Wednesday evening Mr Wihon delivered an address to a good audience at On-same. Mr W. Irvine presided. The candidate made a vigorous speech in support of the Government's policy, and got an excellent hearing- In referring to the war Mr Wilson mentioned the part played by the -Australian Navy and the recent achievement of the eruisr Sydney. The reference was greeted with cheers and the audience heartily sang the National Anthem ar.6 Rule Britannia. The usual vote at the termination of the meeting was carried unanimously. MR SCHOLES ON TOUR. Mr A. Scholes, Liberal candidate for Waikalo, during the past week visited Kawhia, Puke'cotara, Ta Rau-a-moa and Kawa East and received a excellent hearing at all places. On night at the Bertram's _ -Eall Kawa station, Mr S?hole3 spoke to a good audience and at the conclusion of a very interesting addres?, he answered a number of questions satisfactorily. A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded aim, only two persons dissenting. Mr G. Kay occupied the chair'. MR~ JENNINGS' I'OUR. Urenui, This Day. The doubt expressed that the war would engross the attention of the electors, has been disproved by the large attendances at the meetings held througout Taumarunui electorate by the Liberal candidate, Mr W. T Jennings. Since leaving the King Country, and spanking i" the Tara ' naki portion of the electorate, the attendances have been great. At Uruti last night the largest attenfl,ace ever in the ball greeted the candidate- . Mr Wilson and Mr Jennings both speak at Waitara on Monday and ~i_,; Toesdey next. . •.;