POLITICAL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1072, 21 November 1911, Page 3

POLITICAL

Mr C. A. W. Monckton, Reform candidate, will address the electors in the Coronation Hall, on Monday evening next.

“ I approve of the compulsory system of military training. It must be compulsory or there will be shirkers, and shirkers should not be allowed in any country." —Mr E. J. Carey, Wellington.

Mr Robertson, who passed through Eoxton to-day en route to Levin, informs us that he has addressed very successful meetings in the northern end of the electorate. He says that his prospects of success are very bright.

Of course, there are exceptions, but iu the main the deplorable fact has to be admitted that the electors of New Zealand seem quite satisfied that they should he represented in Parliament by men whose talents are mediocre, whose wits are dull, who;e comprehensions are limited, aud whose ideals have uo driving force behind them. —Ashburton Mail.

“ The indebtedness of the country had piled up nineteen millions in the last five years, according to Sir Joseph Ward s own admission,” runs the report, and then It breaks off into : 11 He (Mr Massey) wanted to see the best done lor the country.” Naturally. When the Opposition assails the nineteen millions it is the Opposition’s duty to give credit lor Joan money used reproductively. The Opposition has to clearly discriminate between the good use aud the abuse of borrowed money —Post.

This week will be a very eventful one for Taumarnnui. Sir Joseph Ward arrives there to-day, and opens the Ougarue bridge. On the 22nd he turns the first sod of the Stratford railway, at the Te Koura end, and speaks the same evening in the town. Mr Massey (Leader of the Opposition) is expected on the following day. It has been decided to invite Sir James (' ■- - rr'l (■ accompany the Prime M...-..--.. The proposal

that the Government should buy out the natives’ interests in the town will be laid before Sir Joseph Ward. The Ministers will be entertained. at a banquet or social.

Mr C. A. W. Moucklou, Reform candidate, addressed about 32 electors in the schoolhouse, Reikorangi, on Friday evening. The candidate received a very attentive hearing, aud was loudly applauded. On being asked the reason of there being two Opposition candidates in the field, Mr Monckton explained there was only one, himself. The other was unofficial, and would not be recognised iu any way by the Part}’. The usual votes brought a very successful meeting to a close.

Mr C. A. W. Moncktou, Reform candidate, bad a most successful meeting at the Miranui mill, Shannon, on Monday evening, 5S of the men being present, besides some local farmers. Mr Moucktou was listened to very attentively, and evidently the men present sympathised with the speaker's views. Before the meeting closed Mr Moncktou was asked to relate some of his New Guinea experiences. This he did, to the delight of the men present. The meeting terminated with the usual votes to the speaker and chair.

Mr C. A. W. Moncktou, Reform candidate, addressed the men employed at the Whitaunui mill, Moutoa, on Tuesday evening, twenty-live lu-inv uresent. Mr Moncktou spok. much on the same lines as his Miranui address, and received a good bearing. Many questions were asked, and the meeting closed with a vcr y hearty vote ot thanks to the speaker.

The following puzzler, as literally 1 written, was amongst the questions asked of Mr G. Hunter, of Dannevirke; “Mr Hunter Should you be returned to Parliament, Would you bring prestur to bear Minister of railways, To place a side eonvenance to relive Thoses Mothers while carrying Thoses infant babey in there Armes long Journeys' in the railway Cars Knowing radway department has made Every Conveuary for Gentlemen to have smoking department separate from other Community, which coast the Government some Thousand pounds for the express purpose. What good for the Gamier, Good for the Goose to relieve her young Gosseliug from her wing. While travelling long journeys during hot season of the year.” This was the answer ; “I think this question should not have been submitted to me. It should have been submitted to a committee of ladies. As lam neither a goose nor a gander, Ido not feel com peteut lo answer the question.’'

The railways, said the Hon. J. A. Millar at Dunedin, ought to be paid for by those who used them and not by the genera! taxpayer. (Applause.) During the •two and a hall years he had endeavoured to make the railways pay their way.—(A voice; “ What about raising the rates?”) Only the long-distance rates had been raised, and the working man was not the man who travelled 200 or 300 miles. (Applause.) He believed there would be trouble in the railwayservice. In the first place, the public demanded increased services and reduced fares, and the employees wanted higher wages. Well, if be was going to increase the expenditure and reduce the revenue, where was the money to come from to meet interest or to pay higher wages ?