ELECTIONS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 29 November 1911, Page 3

ELECTIONS.

KAIPAEA

Mr Coates has been speaking throughout the electorate during- the past week, and had good meetings throughout. At the Maungaturoto tunnel there were about 50 present, at Kaipara Mats 60, and Kaiwaka 20. He received votss of thanks at each place. Mr E, T. Field, Opposition candidate for the Kaipara seat, addressed a meeting in Cliffs Hall on Friday. Mr W, Hook presided. Mr Field advocated the abolition of the present grant system, and the administration of public expenditure by a special Board of Commissioners responsible to Parliament, but not to the Cabinet. He claimed that the present Opposition were the exponents of true Liberalism. They advocated the making of the .Upper House elective upon the basis of the present franchise, but with larger electorates and a six or nine yeais' term of office. The speaker advocated reform of the fiscal system and reduction of the Customs duties on the necessaries of life. He urged re** form of municipal loans to provide for town planning, and reform of industrial conditions to avoid labour and capital disputes. A vote of thanks was passed. Addressing the electors at Port Albert, Mr Field said:—l am an Oppositionist, because I am a liberal. He went on to show that the present so-called Liberal Party is absolutely untrue to the principles it professes — is totally unworthy to be called a liberal party, and in fact and in truth, a party of reaction a party that is retograding from the principles of liberty and liberalism. What is the most precious principle we. enjoy a? subjects of the British Empire? Surely it is our liberty— our individual and political liberty! Now, that liberty appears to me to rest mainly upon three great principles Firstly: The right to freely choose our representative without fear of favour, no mnn having the right to promise rewards to the electors to induce them to vote for a particular' candidate, nor the right to hold out threats to deter us from voting for another candidate. Secondly, The right through our representatives to absolutely control the public expenditure. And thirdly: The right to have our judges absolute ■ ly free from the control of the executive. Now, true liberalism has for its aim progress towards political and individual freedom. A truly liberal party aims at the promotion o£ liberty.

Mr John Stallworthy addressed a meeting of electors at Paparoa on Friday last. There was a fair attendance, Mr Stallworthy, after some personal notes, and references to the drag on the wheels of progress by the Opposition pp.rty, turned to the doings of the Liberal Government for 21 years, enumerating several Acts which had had a beneficial effect on the country, notably the Dairy Act. the Advances to Settlers Act, the Graduated Land Tax Act. and to tho various consolidating Acts. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Stallworthy for his address, and for his services to his constituents was carried.

Mr Stallworthy had a fair meeting at ICaukapakapa on Tuesday evening. Mr J. Drinnan was in the chair.