POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 441, 12 November 1908, Page 2

POLITICAL.

Mr E. Newman addressed the electors at Newbury on Tuesday night, and was accorded an excellent hearing, the meeting being one of the most successful held there during the picienl campaign. Mr Neil Campbell occupied the chair. A hearty vole of thanks was accorded the candidate on the motion of Mr Good, seconded by Mr E. Thomas. A strong committee is working on behalf of Mr E. Newman at Newbury. Mr E. Newman, Opposition candidate, for Manawatu, will address the electors in the Masonic Hall tomorrow night. Mr Byron Brown, Opposition candidate for Otaki, will address the electors at this end of the electorate in the Masonic Hall tonight. Mr Frankland at Turakina. Mr Frankland -addressed a crowded meeting of electors at Turakina on Friday last, Mr B. P. Lethbridge in the chair. On rising to speak Mr. Frankland was received with a hearty round of applause.

Mr Frankland said he had the honour to add 1 ess them us a Parliamentary candidate, soliciting their suffrages at the forthcoming general ehetion.

He now came before the electors as a candidate without injuiing his Party. He did not now need to decide the delicate and distressing problem whether it is worse to diminish the people’s choice of candidates by submitting, in the interests ,of Party discipline, to permanent exclusion from public life. This restriction of the people’s choice of representatives is a very great evil, and —on the whole —perhaps even worse than the slipping in of a minority candidate as a result of votesplitting in the camp of the more numerous Party. Mr Frankland contended that the electors were, for the first time, emancipated really, and not merely in name— fiom the trammels ol Party machinery and Party nominations. It was no longer necessary to trouble about thinking whether the candidate of one’s preference was likely to get strong support elsewhere, and to worry oneself lest one’s vole would bewasted in case the real fight turned out to be between two much stronger candidates. Under the old system, the.speaker remarked, no election was really free and fair except when there were only two men in the field, but under the new system just inaugurated, there was perfect fairness and freedom, even although, as in this constituency, no less than four candidates were offering themselves. Like Mr Stevens, the speaker was an enthusiastic supporter of the present Goverumeut, aud an equally enthusiastic admirer of its predecessors in Liberalism the Ballance and Seddon Governments —though he had been Independent in criticising the points (few, and relatively less important in his opinion) where he considered they had gone wrong. Mr Frankland then gave a brief resume of his principal views already published. Referring to the liquor question, Mr Frankland advocated the aboition of -the present arbitrary and undemocratic three-fifths majority in licensing matters, and urged the substitution of that rational majority rule which wo roly on in all other matters and which has lifted New Zealand into the proud place of admire 1 of all admirers of enlightened and beneficent legislation.

He had given prominence to matters which most challenge opposition and criticism ; in order that the electorate as a whole may have the means of judging whether he satisfied the requirements of the majority of its voters, and he would respectfully leave the issue iu their hands. He resumed his seat amidst prolonged applause. A hearty vote of thauks to the candidate for his instructive address was carried unanimously and a vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting. Mr Stevens at Wangaehu. Mr John Stevens addressed a largely-attended meeting of electors, at which there were a number of ladies, iu the hall at Waugaehu last night. Mr E. E. Fletcher occupied the chair, and in introducing Mr Stevens said that he had known Mr Stevens for a number of years and had always found him a courteous and hardworking representative. Mr Stevens said that if the electors returned him they could rest assured that nothing would be | wanting on his part to make him- j self again worthy of their con-1 fidence. The party to which he \ belonged was the Liberal Party, a party which would move along with pare, judgment, and prudence in the advancement of the Dominion without unnecessarily jeopardizing the financial ppsition of the ,

country. It was in no way socialistic. Sir Joseph Ward had said to the Labour parly we will treat you tairly but we are not going to have the country wrecked by socialism. Mr Stevens then showed the injustice and fallacy of statements that he was opposed to granting the Ireehold. Referring to Mr Franklaud and Mr Gardner he said that they had had hopes of contesting the election with him (Mr Stevens) out of the way. They would, he ventured to think, find him very much in the way. Mr Stevens also dealt very fully with native lands, Government buildings, and dairy regulations, and showed the unfairness of Opposition statements in connection with these matters. A vole of thanks to Mr Stevens for his able address and confidence in him as member for Manawatu, was moved by Mr Angus McDonald, seconded by Mr Charles Cameron, the oldest settler of Wangaehu and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.