POLITICAL.
The meetings of Mr F. Pirani, the. Liberal candidate for Wellington Central,, are as hard to get into as the most popular of entertainments; to get in one has to lie early; latecomers have no chance, says the Post. At Wednesday night’s meeting in St. Peter’s Schoolroom the hall was again crowded a long time before S o’clock. There was again a great deal of rowdyism, and in;any personalities were hurled at rue platform. At the conclusion a member of the audience moved a motion of no confidence in the candidate, put it to the meeting amidst a loud volume of “ayes,” and announced that it was carried.
“The Month” (edited by Bishop Cleary, of Auckland) under the heading "f “Some Advice," says: ■“Catholic electors will follow freely their party or personal choice in (heir coining exercise of the parliamentary franchise. Neiiher the Church nor its heads will interfere with their full freedom therein." ,
"Shipping monopolies by a system of secret rebates have defeated the preferential tar iff of this country, and have allowed Confincntal goods to have preference over British goods. This was reported in 1912 by flic Cost of Living Commission, and is the very best argument why the Stale should enter into competition with private shipping companies, so that the will of i’ariiamenl should not be defeated." —Mr A. L. Monleith.
Mr Clutha Mackenzie, speaking at .Auckland, said that during his three years in (lie haekhlueks he saw a great deal of (he disabilities ol the farmers residing there, and the need for improvements. Then lie went to the war. “1. must eon less,-” he said, ‘“to not having been moved by intense feelings of’ compassion lor Belgium. .1 went Tor the fun of the thin”’, not with (he express intention of giving my sight for my country, hut, in due course, 1 pot in the way of a, shell. There was no heroism in that—it was a pure accident. Therefore, you nuiAT not canvass for me on the grounds that 1 have given my sight heroically for my country, because 1 did nothin*' - of I lie sort.''
“Yon can't blame Kaiser Fill now because the price of raisins and currants has gone up.” exclaimed Air F. -I. Howard at Christchurch, “it’s a pure ease of exploitation. The Labour candidate for Chri.-(-chureh South was referring to a recent rise in I In' price ot rnisins which, he reported were now is 2d. Still, Iheir little workers en-opera-tive store could sell them at Is, The general price had just been put up to exploit the Christmas trade.
Speaking upon the subject of pensions, Mr Monteith mentioned that Mr Massey had ruled against old age pensions 87 limes, Sir James Allen 78 limes, and Dr. Newman over 50 I hues.
The last election held in New Zealand took place five years ago. The parlies went to the poll in .19.1.4 with the shadow of a great war obscuring many of the issues usually prominent at sin'h a lime. The Parliament which was elected on December KUh of lli-' year had its term extended unC December 31st, 1919. The actual results of the last election were not decided until June 15th, 1915, when (he last of a series of by-elections arising from informalities at the December polls was held. When the Parliament assembled after that, Mr Massey s party consisted of 41 members, while there were 31 Liberals and six Labour men. Pleven by-elections were held after the formation of the National Government. The Labour .Party gained two seats, one previously hold by a Reform and one by a Liberal candidate, in another district a supporter of Sir Joseph Ward was replaced by an independent, the National Government candidate being defeated. When Parliament rose the slate of the parlies was; Reform 46 Liberal 31 Labour 8 Independent 1 The Speaker of the House, who exercises only a easting vote in the event of the parties being evenly divided, is counted as a member of the Reform Parly.
“Might 1 tell yon in strictest confidence I ha. I Hie man responsible for drawing up that legislation (the Board of Trade Bill) was Mr MacDonald, a Liberal Minister?” said Air Myers at his mooting on Monday night. The remark was made as a telling conclusion to the allegation that Mr AJassey was claiming for his own party the full credit for the legislation that was to restrain profiteering* ft must h'ave been very annoying - for Air Alyers to find that the revelation he was making in this strict confidence was being repeated with cheerful candour at almost the same timm'by Mr Massey himself at Newmarket, it might be advisable for Air Alyers to "am Au Alassey next time be wauls io exchange confidences with ibe electors, so that there may be no danger of Air Alassey giving away (Apposition secrets.
' Mr P. Fraser, addressing a crowded meeting in Hie Wellington - IT own Hall concert chamber on Thursday night, look for his subject “Polychrome Politics.’’ Referring to Mr Piraui, he said that Mr Pirani’s first contest was in 1890, when he stood as a “Knight of Labour.” Three years later he was a then a Liberal again, then
as n member of the. Left A\ lug, then (in Pet one) as an Oppositionist—he was defeated on that occasion by Mr Wilford —then as a Tory, then (in 1014) as a Reformer, and' now he was standing: as a Liberal. , It was a strange thing, said Mr Eraser, that whenever Mr Pirani stood anywhere, he was subjected to interruptions. Mr Pirani was regarded by the Manawatu Times in 1890 as “a very objectionable person.’' He had the habit, said Mr Fraser, of causing trouble over small things. Mr Fraser proceeded to read extracts from old Hansards, showing the opinions of Dir Pirani as expressed by Sir doseph Ward, the late Mr Richard Seddon, the late Mr George Fisher, and others. Once the late Mr Seddon said of Mr Pirani, “Nobody takes any heed of him,' and Mr Fraser asserted that the same remark applied to-day. In 1902 the Manawatu Standard, printed and published by Mr Pirani and his brother, commented, in a leading article, upon a,statement made b\ Mi Seddon to a London inierviewer. liiat the eight-hour day was to be introduced into New Zealand, in the following terms; “No wonder London linanciers look askance upon loans coining from New Zealand. Mr Fraser said that Mr Pirani was selected by Sir Joseph Ward —not by the Liberal Parly —because nobody else, could be found to stand against Labour. H was a reflection upon those great Liberals Ballance, Seddon, and Grey that a man who had abused and lihfled them should he selected as the olfleial Liberal candidate. Mr Pirani * whole career had been a record of turning and twisting.
Air F. Newman addressed a crowded meeting at Awahuri, and met with a most enthusiastic reception. He said that he desired to take the opportunity of refuting some remarks made by Air Ik I* rascr when speaking in the district recently. Mr Fraser had stated that (he National Government had made no effort to reduce the cost of living or to prevent profiteering. When Mr f’raser made that statement he must have been well aware that the Government had kept down the price of meat by selling - it to the butchers of New Zealand at the cost price paid by the Imperial Government, and it was well known that at least 1/0 butchers were trading under this arrangement. The Government had kept down the price of butter at a cost ot"£2!0,000 out of the Consolidated Fund. They had also kept down the price of; bread by various pavments to Hour millers, which up to September BOlh had amounted to £156,422, while on October Hist it had reached £IBO,OOI, and up to date a total of £230,78;) had been paid in t.his direction. The Foard of Trade had dealt with the prices of a large number of articles ol daily consumption, which had caused the cost of living to he still further reduced. Air Fraser had also stated that he (Mr Newman) was not in favour of anything which would benefit the mas:-, 0.l the people. This statement was ahsolutely contrarv to tact, as was shown b\ bis actions during the eleven years he had been in Parliament. Tic had not lost an opportunity ol voting lor anv measure which was for tin* improvement of conditions of life for the workers as well as for the other members of (he eommunitv. All Fraser had also attacked the Government for not conscripting wealth, when he must have been quite aware of the fact that the Government had < ol!ectcd*l.sj million pounds surplus taxation from the laud and income tax which now. or shortly would be, lying to the credit of the Dominion, and was about to he used for the repatriation of returned soldiers. With a line sense of humour. Ah' Fraser had referred to the party which he was connected with as being composed ot “useful menthols of society. “Verily, - ” said Mr Newman, “if Air Fraser is a .specimen of the ‘useful’ people of the country, I would prefer to boar the stigma, of belonging to the ‘useless’ lot who produce meat, wool, wheat, butter, and cheese, and with whom are the other workers who carried on the industries of the Dominion, and who are not supporters ot (he genial, witty pearly composed of Air P. Fraser and his colleagues. At the conclusion of the meeting hearty voles of thanks to Air Newman, and confidence in him as the future member, as well as confidence in the Alasscy Government, were carried unanimously by acclamation.
Mr E. Newman addressed a large meeiing at Glen Orona on Thursday. Mr Newman staled Hial he expectml the i'osl of living lo fall when business got more settled in the Did Counlry. and the amount of paper money now current in New Zealand was reduced. A large number of questions were asked, and on the motion of Mr \V. Anion. J.P., seconded by Mr H. Lancaster, a hearty vote of thanks and contidence _in Air Newman as their representative in Parliament was carried by acclamation.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2067, 13 December 1919, Page 3
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1,704POLITICAL. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2067, 13 December 1919, Page 3
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