POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 288, 3 December 1914, Page 4

POLITICAL.

THE PRIME MINISTER. Pee Press Association. Taumarunui, December 2. The Prime Minister addressed a crowded gathering at Taumarunui tonight. He said be had heard that day that the Expeditionary Force was quite safe, and in good, spirits. Another force was required, and was going in two months’ time. He dealt with the land policy, which had changed from leasehold to freehold.

Despite the wah the Government had made up its mind to keep the public works going, and was employing increased numbers since the war commenced. The demand from South American cities for fruit had led to thousands of acres of apples being planted, and he predicted within a few years an export of a million cases a year. He believed that when our own ironworks were going the' next generation would build its own Dreadnoughts. The Government had given unlimited orders to Price’s for engines. Referring to railway classification, he thought the time was coming when we would have administrative. and manual divisions. He objected to the division between the first and second divisions.

The Government had 290.000 bushels of wheat coming from St. Johns, also 100,000 from the other side of Canada. A report had reached him that day that there were approximately orte. million .bushels of wheat in New Zealand, and we wanted 500,000 bushels a month. No new wheat would be available for two months. He believed the quantity ordered would see us over the difficulty. If people did not grow enough, the price would he higher than for thirty years * past. A vote of tlianks and confidence in the Reform partv was carried with enthusiasm and cheers.

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Pukekohe, December 2. Sir Joseph Ward addressed about 1100 electors in the Premier Hall, Pukekohe, this evening. The Mayor, Mr C. K. Lawrie, presided. The building was crowded long before the meeting began. Sir Joseph Ward arrived at 8.00 p.m. Cheers greeted his entrance. Immediately a strong section called for cheers for Mr Massey. These were given, but there was dissent from a larger section. When feii Joseph rose to speak there was great cheering. Three cheers for Mr Massey followed, accompanied by. slight hooting. Then came a strong volume of cheering for Sir Joseph W ard. The people, Sir Joseph said, had been promised reform. (A voice: “We’ve got it.’’ Cheers and dissent). Sir Joseph; A) hen I heard that T wondered if Rip Van Winkle had been resurrected. After dealing with taxation and borrowing, Sir Joseph Ward asked what was the result of Air AlaSsey’s first term of years? Voices; “The freehold!” (Cheers and disorder). At this stage the chairman appealed for a hearing. Sir Joseph Ward: I am not going into the freehold, except to say this—it is the tenure of the country. It is not going to he altered. Air G. E .Stembridge moved a vote of thanks and confidence in the party under Sir Joseph Ward’s leadership. Air 0. A. Kidd seconded. Air Eames

moved an amendment of thanks, but, us no valid reason had been advanced, that the meeting expresses continued confidence in the Massey administration. The chairman put the amendment, pud amidst a great demonstration of cheering, hats and handkerchiefs flying in the air, the chairman declared the amendment lost. Another similar demonstration followed the putting of the motion of confidence in the speaker, which the chairman declared carried. There was an endless stream of interjections throughout the evening, but the Opposition leader answered the points and was always able to secure a hearing.

LABOR AND REFORM. Dunedin, December 2. At a meeting of the General Laborers’ Union to-night the following motion was carried:—“This meeting emphatically protests against the action of Mr Massey, Minister of Labor, in declining, after promising five months ago. to compel the enforcement of the union’s industrial award, and urges the fellow-workers of all classes to use their best efforts'to relegate him, and all Parliamentary candidates pledged to support him to the arena allotted to fallen political opportunists, in order to secure the impartial administration of the Arbitration Act.”

A LIVELY MEETING.

Wellington, December 2,

Hon. F. M. B. Fisher addressed the electors at Aro street to-night. The 'meeting was very noisy throughout, hut eood-humored till the end, and the Minister made his speech. A resolution was proposed, expressing iu> confidence in Mr Fisher, and expressing confidence in Mr Fletcher (his opponent). An amendment expressing confidence in the Minister md the Government was lost on a show of hands*’ by a large majority, but as the meeting (there were 1200 present) broke up in disorder, the chairman made no declaration, and the original motion was not put. The proceedings closed with cheers for Mr Fletcher and Sir Joseph Ward, and as Mr Fisher appeared outside the hall a section of the crowd made a hostile demonstration, hut the presence of the police prevented any further disorder.

(From a Correspondent.) Mr W. H. Hawkins addressed a l ar g 6 and enthusiastic meeting of electors in the Inglewood Town Hall on Tuesday evening. The candidate delivered a vigorous criticism of the Reform administration and methods, and was frequently applauded. Interjectors were given a certain, amount of latitude, but the speaker scored all along the line. At the close of the address a number of questions were asked and answered. A vote of thanks to the candidate for his able and instructive address was carried amid enthusiastic applause. A vote of thanks to .His Worship the , Mayor for presiding, concluded a splendid meeting at 10.15 o’clock. Mr Hawkins speaks in the Town Hall, Stratford, to-morrow evening.