ELECTIONS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 15 November 1911, Page 2

ELECTIONS.

The; electoral campaign is now in full swing. The writs will probably be issued on November 20, nominations closing at noon on November 27, 7 0 days before polling-day, which is December 7. The Prime Minister deliveied his first speech at Winton last week and made cut a very strong case for the Government.■" This, in turn, elicited a reply from the Leader of the Opposition, and meantime the rank and file of both parties are hard at work canvassing and addressing political meetings.

MR. COATES AT DAEGAVILLE, Mr, J. G. Coates addressed a larg-> ■ meeting of electors at .Dargaville on Thursday evening, as an Independent Liberal candidate. A large number of people came by the free steamer from Eaupo and other parts. He was given a good hearing, and at the close the following resolution, moved by Mr. Ambury and. seconded by Mr Long, was carried without a disscn* tienc;— 6i That a vote of thanks be given to Mr Coates for his address, and that he is a fit and proper person to represent us in Parliame'nt,"—Bell.

MR. STALLWOETHY ON TOUE, Says the Bell:— Mr Stallworthy, Government candidate for Kaipara, js skipping round the electorate, if not exactly like a two-year-old, certainlv quite ''frisky enough to put to the laugh those of his opponents who have suggested that ho is too old to be "uh young as he ,used to be." At Kaiuu on Monday a large meeting gavn him a good hearing and a unanimous vote o£ confidence, and at subsequent meetings in out centres he also was welcomed everywhere.

Mr Field addressed the electors of Port Albert on Frida,' evening. He stated that he btood as a thorough Oppositionist. Mr Hartnell moved°a vote of thanks, snying that the ballot box was the place to show one's confidence. Ihe vote was carried.

\Mv Qp.o. Fowlds, addressing a meeting at East Street, Auckland, last week, classified what he considered should be tho platform of tb e Liberal party for the next three years. H e said three great reforms wore sorely needed— economic, social, and constitutional. For tho first, increase the Land Tax by Id. in tho £. Remit Customs taxation on necessaries of life to the extent of half the revenue so raised. Seduce railway freights to the extent •of half the revenue so raised. (Applause;. Eor the second, majority, not minority, rule on the liquor question. (Loud applause), Etfective town-planning powers to local bodies. (Applause). Eor the last, proportional representation for both nationalNmcf local elections. Legislative Council to be abolished—(hear, hear)—or twothirds of the members to be elected by the House of Eepresentatives, onethird to be nominated by the Grovern-' ment. The elective Executive would naturally follow these two reforms.

''Do tlioy pay you ?" 'inquired a voice at Mr Massey's Mania meeting last week.. "2\ ro ; they do not," was the answer," "I am the worst paid man in New Zealand to-day. I get £l>oo a year, pay my own travelling expenses, and am doing-work honestly worth £1,500 a year to the country." Applause und laughter greeted the reply, Another interjeotor by way of expressing disagreement with." a statement made by th« speaker ejaculated "I dout think!" Like lightning came the reply,- " No, my friend, you don't think. You have not got' the brains to .think,. Your biains could be put in a hazel nut, and then leave room to spare." The audience applauded und laughed, and the iuterjector collapsed intu silence.