POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 278, 21 November 1914, Page 3

POLITICAL.

GENERAL ELECTIONS FIXED FOR DECEMBER 10. Peb Press 'Association. Wellington. November ‘2O. It was definitely announced to-night that the writs will be issued tomorrow. and that the general election will )>e held on Thursday, December 10th. The Maori elections w.d be held on the llth December. the premier in the south, ' Invercargill, November. 20. Mr Massey addressed a huge unci enthusiastic meeting in the Municipal Theatre to-night, the Mayor (Mi McFarlane) presiding. Touching on the war, Mr Massey said it had been brought homo the necessity of doing something adequate in the Pacific. He believed that at the end of the war theie would be a conference of the Emp re statesmen, and he hoped there would be an agreement by which there won! 1 he placed in these waters a fleet sufficient to hold its own against anything likely to come along. ■. .applause.) Mr Massey thought further sacrifices would still be required from New Zealand and other wards of the Empire. He condemned the Ward Government for not having borrowed while the market was good, compelling lbe Mackenzie Government to borrow on short-dated debentures. ' Concerning borrowing, he pomwcl out the inaccuracy of Sir Joseph Ward’s suggestion that the Governmeat wanted to borrow ovei 12 ii lion this-year. As a matter of fact, the Government did not propose re borrow more than three millions. The alleged increase of taxation bad no foundation. The Government had not increased the customs duty on any single article, and direct taxation had only increased in regard G the graduated land tax, and on incomes of over £2OOO a, year. He quoted from the Year Book showing that during- two years of the present administration the revenue from taxa tion per head had increased by 6s 2d and during the two years previom to the Massey Government ' taking office it had increased by 18s pel head. Had the war not intervened he would have revised , the Custom; taxation- would have placed the taxes on luxuries and removed Hum from nhcesities, of life. Exports had increased by £5,000,1 000 during the two years ending June 30, and hut for the war, bj the end of the present year, theiwould have been an increase of another £3,000,000. The Government intended to cope with influx of people to the towns, and already he was dealing with the valuation question. Laud should: only pay.,- its.. LOT- fett? 1 ’ 6 . , 0 taxation. -V

Mr Massey pointed out; that th. shortage of wheat in Europe a*>Australia was beyond the power c. the Government to deal with, and un less we grew enough wheat for ou. own requirements the price was bou x to. increase.

He referred to ti.e lemarKant prosperity of the coin iv, in spite o. the war, as evidence by the ,I*oßl Office Savings Banks, WPere for ten months of this year the deposits cx ceeded withdrawals by over a r.iillioli pounds,' almost a record. 1 (Applause.,

The Government bad ft> ■'! i.ed out i many of -its pledges as it had had time for, and would fulfil every pro mise. He ridiculed the baby bonus m the form proposed, enumerated tlie measures passed to assist rhe woi kei s and dwelt oh the increased saiar oi paid to State servants. The people had now to choose between tin present Government and a party that, if returned, ivould be 1 ragged at the heels of the Red Feds. A motion of thanks and contideuci was carried amidst cheers and count* er-cheers. A CANDIDATE RETIRES. Per Press Association. '•'Auckland, November 21. Mr Gresham announces that Sir Jos eph Ward liaving chosem Mr Poole a; Liberal < candidate Tor Auckland West, he will retire. This leaves a straightout contest between Messrs. Poole and Bradney.

CFrom a Correspondent.) The seating accommodation of the Bird Road School was fully taxed last evening when Mr W. H. Hawkins, Liberal candidate, delivered a vigorous address. The speaker said he was astonished during his round of meetings at the way the electors had turned out to his meetings. The meeting that night was a revelation. The address was punctuated with applause, and did not conclude till 11 o’clock, having started *at 8.20. Proceedings were more interesting because of the interjections of two or three opponents, oil' whom the speaker scored repeatedly. The Reform Party’s administration was treated to scathing criticism. The candidate answered a number of questions, and was acorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. Mr Giddy presided, and wa£ accorded the usual compliment. Mr Hawkins speaks at York Road this evening, and at Midhirst on Monday evening.