Election Echoes

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 39, 1 December 1911, Page 13

Election Echoes

Mr. J. W. Munro., Socialist candidate for Dunedin West, addressed a meeting in the Garrison Hall on Nov. 20. The attendance was large, and the candidate received a good hearing. He dealt with the land question, and attacked the Opposition for its at tempts to dispose of the freehold of the public estate. The attitude of the Government in Attempting to treat the railways as a money-earning concern was, he said, to be deplored. He asserted that neither Mr. Massey nor Sir Joseph Ward had any solution of the probiem of the cost of living, because the members of both parties were supported by people whose interests would toe infringed.Upon if the cost of living were reduced. He favoured a secular system of education, free from the primary school to the university, and strongly advocated the instituting of a •State currency. He supported the bare majority for local option and Dominion prohibition, and opposed compulsory military training. A motion was carried expressing thanks and pledging the meeting to endeavour to return the candidate at tJie head of the poll. ■» * * .Mr. F. R. Cooke, a candidate for Cnristchurch East, addressing a mee-t----ing at the Addington Workshops, spoke of the unfair treatment of the manual workers in comparison with the highlypaid officials. The speaker was invited to pay- another visit, which lie promised to do. At another meeting at the corner of Byron street and Barbadoes street, Sydenham, Cooke received a good hearing, and answered many questions on the military position. * * * A lady has written a novel in which the names of well-known writers are bestowed upon its characters, as a protest against the present law of libel. She wrote to a number of well-known authors asking their consent, which was generally given. Mr. Cecil Chesterton wrote: "You can rely on mc to bring no libel actions. You may depict mc as a burglar, or a blackmailer, or a man who steals pennies from blind beggars, or even as a politician." "Even as a politician" likes us well! • • a Mr. F. T. Moore, at Makara last week, said that ever since the advent of popular government, social reformers Shad been striving for the adoption of an ideal plan of administration that would establish harmony between capital and labor. To-day this ideal form of administration was in sight, because Labor was determined to see placed on the. statute book economic schemes for the definite separation of these two great factors in the production of wealtli. The only way to establish harmony between labor and capital is for the former to swallow the latter. Mr. MacLaren on political acrobats: "My opponent, Dr. Newman, says 'he has not the figure of an acrobat,' but, then, figures are sometimes --deceptive. The portly figure of; George Reid, of Australia, was not like that of a contortionist, yet -nevertheless he could ■perform wonders in the line of .yes—no. The Opposition candidate for Wellington East is now performing some remarkable feats of tumbling, jugglery, and contortions, his physical figure notwithstanding." David himself, though -his "bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible," is 'by no means despicable as a political. contortionist, as a study of ''The Worker's" front page last week -will show. , - - it ~ « About 35 people turned up to hear little Elijah Carey at Thorn don last week. Elijah dubbed Dr. Izard a snob who was xirifit to represent the people. Amongst other harmless things, he said that the. policy of the Labor Party had not been criticised by either the press? or-politicians. Quite so. They know that it is worth nothing. The same remark, does not apply to the Federation of . Labor and its organ. They liave come in for much criticism. That is because press and politician fear them. They don't fear Elijah. *» • ■ An organisation to be known as "The "Young New Zealand Party" has been established in Auckland, having the Hon. G. Fowlds, M.P., as patron,-and Mr. R. Coulter president. The promoters intend to establish branches throughout the Dominion, with a view of exercising an influence in the general election three years hence. The platform of the party is:—(1) Total.prohibition of the liquor traffic; (2) suppression of all forms.of gambling; (3) conservation of natural resources with land values taxation ; (4) establishment of a State bank; (5) > electoral reform; one adult, one vote, one value; proportional representation; elective executive with popular initiative and . the referendum ;~(6)'-public-ownership of all monopolies and the securing to the workers of the. full reward of their labors; (7) reduction in the cost of living. No. 6 is a good omen. Is the Hon. George' also amongst the prophets? Why not-join .the Socialist party at once ? '. • " *"■ ' ■ ' Mr. J. A. Millar (Parliamentary . "honorable") has announced .tliat ho ;.fo the . i)i'cnik>rship. .Miliarias : premier would- be a scandal indeed, and ; worse'than Flunky Joseph.-. A frk-.nlcl ;of, private enterprise "in its worst forms •R-as no right to be the foremost man iir Ciod'e own. etraxftrj.