Mr Newman at Taonui.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 442, 21 November 1908, Page 3

Mr Newman at Taonui.

(By telegraph—Special reporter.) Mr Newman had a splendid meeting at Taonui last night. Speaking in reference to the Second Ballot Act, Mr Newman stated that he considered the Act was not in the interests of the chantry settlers, whom it would be most difficult to get to vote twice* The Act was passed to help the present party to keep in power, ■ln Manawatu, for instance, athough he (the speaker) had a very over Mr Stevens, he was sfcjll a candidate only and nCI their representative as under the old of ai\ fairs he would have been.) This) would be remedied next Tuesday (applause). desired publicly acknowledge hi| appreciation of the manner in whidl Messrs Frankland and Gardner h?d conducted file campaign and thtS? gentlemen car- { \

I ried with them on their retirement t thefrespect of the electors and of > himself. One gratifying feature of ■ the Second Ballot, was the absence • ot any strong party feeling as was • evidenced by the fact that since ; Messrs Frankland and Gardner i dropped out of the contest he had ■ received very numerous promises • of support from electors w’ho had ; voted for these gentlemen and had now joined his committees and were working hard for his return. He believed also that apart from party there was much more in I common between the defeated canj didates and himself than between them and Mr Stevens. This was especially marked on the question of granting the option of the freehold. The Second Ballot Act would cos. the craitrya large sum of money and he felt sure was only passed in the belief that it would help the present Government to retain office. All electors opposed to the S -cond Ballot should vote against the Government who had passed this objectionable Act. Mr Newman declared himself in favour of a progressive policy, the L,evin"Foxton-Marton Railway, and urged the earlysettlementof the back country as imperative, in view of our present financial position. He also said tint private enterprise should be encouraged, and that such works as light railways might be constructed in this manner, provided tbit the Government reserved the light to purchase these railways and the charges for freight, etc., were regulated by the Government. He took the opportunity to reply to a circular he had r -Jeved, asking what the Opposition party had promised the working man at this election and showed that the settlement of the back country, encouragement of private enterprise, utilisation of water power whereby new industries would be started and prudent finance so that the credit of the Dominion would be restored, and money made cheaper would all lead to more employment, better wages and general prosperity, and ( he considered that this was a sound and progressive policy, and that ‘ the Government had so far placed ( no policy before the country at this election. Mr Newman was listened to with great interest and was ac- . corded a very hearty vote of thanks by acclamation. A vote of thanks to the chair brought the meeliug to a close.