POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 438, 3 October 1908, Page 3

POLITICAL.

Mr Newman, the Opposition candidate for Manawatu, addressed the electors in the Sanson Town Hall on Wednesday evening. There was a large gathering, including a number of ladies. Mr Masters occupied the chair, and in introducing Mr Newman, referred to his efforts in the direction of getting the Bulls bridge re-elected on its present site, reminding his hearers that, had it not been for . the strong attitude taken up by Mr Newman when a member of Rangitikei County Council, the bridge would have been erected on a lower and worse site. Mr Newman, on rising, was greeted with applause. He remarked that he was glad that his efforts on the matter of the bridge had not been entirely forgotten and that subsequent events had proved the site to be the best. Mr Newman was given a very attentive heiring and was frequently applauded, particularly when expressing his views on the freehold question, unimproved value taxation, keeping out Chinese, encouragement of defence forces, and the sale of lands for close settlement. In reply to questions, the candidate stated that he considered the present Act with regard to betting should be amended-in the direction of doing away with bookmakers, but he would not abolish the “tote.” On the question of No-License he believed in the three-fifths majority remaining as at present. He was not in favour of Bible reading in schools. He believed in religious instruction, but not in it being undertaken by the State. He would not favour increased protection, as he considered the cost of living was quite high enough now ; he was in favour of Customs duties being collected for revenue purposes only. At the close Mr Masters moved a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Newman. Mr Newman said he would like a vote of thanks only, preferring that the electors should express their confidence on polling day. The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation, and a very enthusiastic meeting terminated with the customary vote. Mr E. Newman, addressed a meeting at Rongotea on Thursday night. Mr James Penny, Chairman of the Town Board, presided. Mr Newman was listened to most attentively. Replying to a query by Mr R. B. McKenzie, the candidate favoured a more equitable distribution of public monies available for railways between the North and South Islands. Numerous other questions were asked, and satisfactorily answered. On / the motion of Mr J. Glover, seconded by Mr Perry, the candidate was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

Mr Gardner, Independent candidate for Manawatu, addressed a meeting of about fifty electors at the Newbury Hall on Thursday evening. Mr P. McHardy presided. . . .

Mr Gardner, after explaining his position as an “ Independent ” candidate, and speaking on similar lines as at Foxton said that on the “no - license” question he advocated a three-fifths majority. Dealing with the financial question he pointed out that the increase in the public debt did not mean increased taxation. The State had undertaken a great many duties, such as old age pensions, etc., which accounted for the expenditure. He disapproved of .customs taxation on the ground that it was a poll tax and that married men with families felt it more heavily than single men, the employer of labour as against some one with equal facilities who did not employ labour, and the closer settled district than the district with equally good land less settled. He favoured universal pensions to be raised by taxes on necessaries of life. He was accorded a vote of thanks. Asked at Newbury on Thursday night what would be his attitude on a “ no-confidence motion on the present Government, Mr Gardner is reported to have said that if it was on a policy measure he would vote on the measure even if it put the party out of power, but when the Opposition went in he would support a vote of want of confidence in it. The effect would be to put the best Ministry in power and make it responsible to the House instead of the House responsible to * it. On a direct vote of no confidence he would vote with the present Government.