POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 279, 23 November 1914, Page 7

POLITICAL.

ALL ROLLS CLOSED. Per Press 'Association. Wellington, November 22. Writs .for the general election were issued on Saturday morning to all returning-offioers for 7(i European and four Maori constituencies. All supplementary rolls closed at 6 o clock last evening, so that now the printing of rolls will Im pushed ahead. THE PRIME MINISTER. Invercargill, November 22. Mr Massey addressed an overflowing meeting at Otautau last night, fully a thousand people rolling- up. As to his future policy, he stressed land settlement, preferential tariffs within the .Empire, and assistance to oil, iron, fishing, and fruit industries. Referring to the Huntly disaster, he said its use against the Government was the meanest thing in the history of the colony. The delay in passing the Coal Mines Act had nothing to do with the accident, as under the old Act the inspectors had all the power they required. At the close Mr Massey received an ovation, and only a very small body of countercheers.

HON. R. H. RHODES.

Christchurch, November 22,

Speaking at Springston, Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes said that, as Post-unaster-General, he had been able tc make' a good many important eoncessions to the public, with a view of extending the usefulness of the important services- he controlled, rhe.-! would probably remember the difficulty that was experienced in many places in getting provisions, even tlunecessaries of life, particularly on the West Coast, during the industrial troubles of last year. To meet the difficulty he had temporarily raised the limit of the weight of parcels from 101 b. to 211 b., and he was glad to be able to announce there for the first time that on the Ist December an important amendment of the parcel post regulations would come into force, in time for the Christmas traffic providing for the extension of the limit of the weight of parcels from 111 b, to 281 b. for places served by rail or steamer, rates to be 3d for the first lb., lid. for each additional lb. up to' 131 b., and Id. for each lb. from 131 b to to 281 b. This .amendment of the regulation also provided' for giving to the sender without charge an acknowledgment of the posting, and the taking of a receipt from the addressee for each parcel delivered instead of for certain classes of parcels only, and the institution of ar express service ensuring special!) rapid despatch of all parcels on whici a special fee y was paid. A good deal had been said by the Opposition, no doubt for party purposes, about the system adopted b) the Government in connection witl the preparation of the electoral rolls but a return he had just receive) showed that in nearly every elector ate the numbers on the rolls were lar gely in excess of those on the ok rolls. He found that whereas tin. Canterbury roils, as purged according to law after the 19li elections, show ed 72,253 electors, the present rolh up to the 18th inst. showed 87,328 hn increase of over 17 per ceht. THE AUCKLAND ROLLS. Auckland, November 22. The Auckland supplementary rolls are not H vet complete, but on the registrar’s estimates the seven roll when complete will carry about 72,800 names, as compared with 6-1. 051. in 1911. The main rolls, as com pared with 1911, showed a decreasi of 700, but the totals of the supple mentaiy rolls more than compensate for that loss. The district rolls compared with 1911 as follows Cit) Central, decrease of 1700; City East increase of 400; West, increase ol 1400; Grey Lynn, increase of 1750: Manukau, increase of 2000; Parnell increase of 1600; Waitemata, increase of 1700; Eden, increase ol 3000.

HUIRANCI. (From a Correspondent.) Huirangi is greatly agitated thest times on account of the assaults wi are getting from political candidates as being on the confines of the Stratford and Taumarunui electorates, all candidates visit us. During the last week we have had no less than three of them, Mr Hine being the last on the scene. A good number turned out, although it was an afternoon meeting on Thursdav last, and Mr Hine may have no fear but what the large majority he obtained here last general election will be repeated this time. The settlers here are mostly strong “Reformers,” and we say: “Long live the Massey Government.” We hear Mr Massey is coming to Waitara; if so, we shall all be there. Mr Turnbull was in the chair, and at the conclusion, votes of thanks and confidence in Mr Hine was carried unanimously. On Thursday evening at Kaimata, one of Mr Hine’s many strongholds, a good attendance welcomed their sitting member, with Mr Capper in the chair. The meeting was evidently at one with the speaker, and cordially approved of the many matters which Mr Hine explained had been carried out bv the

“.Reform” Party. The placing of the Civil Service outside the hounds of political patronage, the improvements in the financial position, and the granting of the freehold to Crown tenants receiving approbation from the gathering in no uncertain sound.

On the motion of Mr Old, a. hearty vote of thanks to, and continued conlidence in Mr Mine was unanimously carried. On the proposal of Mr Hine, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Capper for so ably presiding. NCAERE.

(From an Occasional Correspondent.) j At Ngaere on Friday evening, the “Reform” candidate, Mr Hine, made his political address and was listened to attentively throughout. He combatted the statements that have been circulated so largely in the opposition press that the Reform Party had failed to carry out their platform pledges. He showed that for the period the Reform Party had held the reins of Government, less borrowing had taken place than for a similar period of the Ward and Mackenzie administrations, despite the fact that “Reform” had been compelled to borrow in addition to the legitimate requirements for the developmental works, the huge sum of £4,500,000 to repay the short-dated loan Mr Myers had been unwise enough to borrow for two years. This loan fell due last July, and Mr Allen bad to again borrow to pay it off. Ngaere takes a pleasure in supporting the “Reform candidate,” which was clearly demonstrated at the conclusion of the address, when the meeting unanimously accorded thanks and confidence in Mr Hine and also every confidence in the Massey admiistration. Mr T. Coleman presided, and his duties were of a very light nature. Upon the call of Mr Hine a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the chair.

At York Road on Saturday evening, Mr Hawkins, Liberal candidate, addressed a large and enthusiastic meeting of electors in the schoolhouse. There was a goodly proportion of ladies present. 'The meeting, which lasted until 10 o’clock, was distinctly sympathetic. A number of questions were asked and answered, and the usual complimentary votes were earned. The meeting closed with three ringing cheers for the candidate. Mr Hawkins speaks at Midhirst tonight. “The whole of life is a gamble,’ 1 was Mr J. W. McLarin’s (candidate for Vfanakau) answer to a question at Itahuhu as to whether he was in favor >f legalising “sweeps” in New Zealand. He added: “We put ‘sweeps’ uvay many years ago, but I still fancy qeople get their' tickets all the same. 1 gamble on my crops and my cows, the nerchant gambles on the rise and fall of the price of goods in the markets )f the world, but I dare venture to say die biggest gambling shop of all is on the Stock Exchange.”