POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1074, 25 November 1911, Page 3

POLITICAL.

Mr C. A. W. Monckton, Reform candidate for the Otaki electorate, addressed sixty odd electors at Glen Oroua on Monday evening. It was a most enthusiastic meeting, Mr Monckton being listened to with the utmost attention and received considerable applause. The candidate received a vote of thanks and confidence aud the promise of a block vote Irom the farmers present.

On Thursday Mr W. H. Field had a day amongst the flaxmill workers. At midday be addressed the flaxcutters and trammers in the Moutoa swamp, at 6 p.m. he spoke at the Poplar Mill and 8 o’clock he addressed a meeting at the Whitaunui Mill. At the three places he received cordial receptions and was attentively listened to.

Mr C. A. W. Monckton, the Reform candidate, spoke in the school house Oroua Downs on Wednesday evening. Notwithstanding the boisterous weather the room was well filled. After speaking for over an hour “evidently to the satisfaction of those present” the candidate was accorded a vote of thanks aud confidence.

Mr W. H, Kield will deal fully with the closer settlement question in his address at Foxton. He will also reply to charges of maladministration urged against the Government.

East night Mr Byron Brown addressed the largest political meeting yet held at Himatangi, the schoohouse being absolutely packed. The candidate was enthusiastically received, and amongst other things dealt with the proposed Eeviu-Greatford railway deviation, aud expressed his earnest advocacy of same. At the conclusion of the address a motion that the candidate be accorded a vote of thanks for his address, was moved aud seconded. Mr Witten moved an amendment to the effect that Mr Brown be accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. The amendment was carried.

A meeting of all those in favours of Mr Byron Brown’s candidature is advertised to be held in Perreau’s Rooms on Tuesday evening next, at 8 o’clock for the purpose of forming a committee. Ladies are cordially invited to be present.

A lively “scene” occurred at Mr Byrou Brown’s meeting at Otaki this. week, says the Mail. Asked whether he had referred to Mr Monckton or Mr Makiu, in his Foxton address, as a “little wizened cuss in leggings,” Mr Brown said he had been told in Foxton that a “little wizened cuss in leggings” had been going round saying Mr Brown would not get 20 votes in Otaki, and the candidate said he had told the Foxton audience that if he did not get more votes in Otaki than any other candidate be would not show his face in Foxton again. The question was asked by an unknown man at the rear of the hall, who had a lengthy written list of questions. Some little commotion ensued at the rear of the hall, whereupon Mr Brown remarked, “Are you running this liquor ring, Bert ?” Then Mr Fred. Hall, followed closely by Mr Makiu, both evidently much excited, walked right up to the front of the hall, saying he would ask Mr Brown some questions. Mr Brown invited Mr Hall to the platform, whereupon Mr Hall jumped up on the stage, followed by Mr Makiu(the latter with his hat on). Mr Hall asked several irrelevant questions, and then took the coudidate’s seat at the table on the stage, while Mr Makiu stalked about the platform till the end of the meeting, though requested by the Chairman to leave the stage.

Mr de Lautour, Reform candidate for the Bay of Plenty, has formed the impression that all the settlers in that large district favour the Maori beiug put ou the same footing as the pakeha. It was quite evident, he told a Gisborne I'imes reporter, that the people are far from satisfied with the rate of settlement of the Native lauds. Riving as they did In the midst of such large areas of Native lauds, they would not take the claims of the Government as to what was being done seriously.