POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 63, 10 November 1914, Page 3

POLITICAL.

THE HON. W. HERRIES.

[Phr Press Association.] Auckland, November 10

The Hon. Mr Hemes addressed his constituents at M&n&waru last night. He said that the Party's platform included local and Imperial defence, a freehold policy, encouragement of subdivision of large estates by inflicting an automatic graduated land tax, the establishment of agricultural and land banks, a better system of hearing objections in regard to land disputes, continuation of the immigration policy, the establishment' of a Board of Trade and Commerce, the introduction of a Bill to protect the iron and oil industries, an empowering Bill to expend money on irrigation of dry areas, assistance to gum land owners, persionr for the physically infirm, State advances to boroughs, the overhaul of Customs duties, and insurance against sickness and-unemployment. "A hearty vote of confidence and thanks was carried.

ROLLS CLOSE 17th NOVEMBER,

Wellington, November 0

There is an unprecedented rush, a Times' representative learned to-day, to enrol on the supplementary lolls for the forthcoming elections. Nevfcr before have people been rushing the registrars so close upon the elections, and never before have registrars been so busy .after the issue of the main roll. These facts are attributed w the new system introduced this year for the so-called purging of the rolls. This system has resulted according to those directly concerned in a state of muddle as far as the main rolls are concerned, so, that thousands of bona fide electors mysteriously struck off are now hurrying to have their names inscribed on the supplementary rolls. It is anticipated that even with the present scurry, the totals of persons on the "rolls in each electorate will fall short of the figures at last election. Up till to-day, enrolments in electorates in and about Wellington were being made at between the rate of ,100 to 150 a day. The muddle over the rolls owing to the new system has resulted in the reversion to the old system of house-to-house canvas by an army of persons employed by the Electoral Department. For the last few days this canva"ss has been actively pursued), lilt is admitted that the satisfactory 'compilation of the electoral rolls is a difficult ta;-k. but the letter-carrier-police system, it w'as also admitted to-day, had broken down, and a resort to the house-to-house system had had to be made. It is expected that the rolls will be closed on November 17. '

THE PATEA SEAT.

Hawera, November 10

Mr W. Morrison, Liberal candidate for the Patea seat, addressed the electors at Hawera last night. There was. a, large ;attendance, and the candidate received an attentive hearing. He said he believed in the right to acquire the'freehold with limitation as to aHea. On'the,licensing question he declared himself in favour df• at 55> per cent majority on the local option vote and a bare majority on :the< national issuer He \yas against the 'referendum on the Bible in Schools, but favored the Nelson .system: A; motion was carried that Mr Morrison was a fit and proper person to represent the district.

THE TARIKI MEETING.

(From a Correspondent)

Mr W. H. Hawkins, the Liberal candidate, addressed a large and enthusiastic meeting in the Tariki Town Hall last night, Mr Harkness presiding. The candidate spoke for nearly two hours, md was frequently applauded. Two br three interjectors, handled good humouredly but vigorously by the speaker, added materially to the enjoyment and interest of the meeting. Speaking -m the Moratorium law, the candidate .varned settlers not to forget that 'at ;he conclusion of the war there would 1)0 an avalanche of mortgages falling due, all of which would have to be met within a period of six months. Moneylenders would demand payment of these mortgages forthwith. The point to remember was that if settlers were to be saved it was-absolutely essential to see to it that the Liberal Party should be in power in order that a sufficient supply of cheap money shall be provided by the State. The Tory Party were supported and kept in power by the financial institutions and wealthy classes, and just as sure as night followed clay the settlers would ,be exploited in the interest of the financial "sharks." With regard to the lending departments to-day, there was not a solicitor in Stratford who could deny' that applications for loans wore being turned down by.the Government every week. The evidence available in this connection was overwhelming. It was all very well for the Minister for Finance to boast that the Department was increasing the amount of loans, when, as a matter of fact, loans were being refused wholesale.

.At the conclusion of the address, many questions were asked and answered to the apparent satisfaction oi the audience. The usual votes, carried amid applause, concluded the'meetinp;.