POLITICAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 293, 9 December 1914, Page 3

POLITICAL.

A SERIOUS CHARGE. Per Press Association. . Auckland, December 8. A sensation was caused here to-day when it became known, upon the authority of a statement made and sworn before a Justice of the Peace, that the organising secretary of a. Reform candidate.had signed, stamped, and delivered an agreement, guaranteeing to the Social Democrat candidate £IOO, payable on 11th December, provided the Social Democrat goes to the poll against the Liberal and Reform candidates. Fearing the outcome of this transaction, the organiser subsequently offered £IOO for the return of the document given to the candidate. This was refused. The idea, of course, was to keep the Social Democrat in the field against the Liberal, with a view of splitting the Liberal and Labor vote.

MR PARR’S REPUDIATION. Auckleand, December 9. In reference to the sensation caused by the circulation of a document purporting to disclose an offer made in writing by the secretary of Mr Parr’s committee in the Kden electorate to Mr Westley Richards, one of the two Liberal-Labour candidates, of £IOO conditionally on Mr Richards going • o the poll, in to-night’s “Star ” Mr Parr publishes the following advertisement: “I am informed that yesterday, while I was absent at Cambridge attending the funeral of my sister, W. Harris made a signed offer to Mr Westley conditional on his going to the poll. I desire most emphatically to say that this offer uas made during my absence from town and without my knowledge, sanction or authority. I utterly repudiate the transaction and all or any connection with it. C. W. Harris is mo longer secretary of my committee.”

THE PREMIER AT AUCKLAND.

Auckland, December 8. The Prime Minister addressed electors and others at the Alhambra Theatre to-night. The hall was crowded to the doors, many hundreds being unable to gain admission. The meeting, no doubt, was the most enthusiastic of the campaign, in spite of the fact that the Red Feds and Oppositionists were present, though in less numbers than previously.: The rowdy section was for the . most part outside the hall. The Premier delivered a very powerful fighting speech, being frequently cheered to the scho.

Mr Massey referred to the inaccurate Press Association telegram regarding the Hon. Herdman’s meeting at Wellington. Having read ' the message referred to, he said he had not believed it, well knowing that Mr Herdman always had a good hearing in Wellington. In reply to a telegram from the speaker, Mr Ruddle, chairman of the meeting in Wellington, wired that the statements were absolutely incorrect, a large majority being with Mr Herdman, and that he had declared the motion of confidence carried by a big majority. (Loud cheers.) At” the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks and confidence was carried, with only three dissenting out of over one thousand, amidst enthusiasm. There was some hooting from the Red Feds when Mr Massey left the hall.

SIR JOSEPH WARD’S CAMPAIGN.

Otautau, December 8

Sir Joseph Ward addressed a packed gathering at Otautau to-night, over 800 being present, and was accorded a most enthusiastic reception, being continually cheered. Sir Joseph’made a jpoint of the Government’s land , legislation, and their attempt to ridicule the Liberal land achievements in the past, stating that the Government had been going to “play the very gooseberry,” in the land legislation, but had done nothing. He stated that there were numbers in the Conservative Government who were more reactionary than any Red Feds. (Applause.) Ho assured his audience that the Liberal party, with its great 21 years’ record behind, it, would assuredly be returned to power. (Cheers.) The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to Sir Joseph Ward and confidence in the Liberal party, find a hope that, after the election, Sir Joseph Ward would again be the Leader of the Government of the Dominion, the motion being carried with loud cheers and few “noes.”

A CONTRADICTION.

Masterton, December 8

Speaking to a reporter, Hon. A. L. Herdman said Ids attention had been drawn to a description of his mooting in Wellington last . night sent through .Now Zealand by the Times, representing the. Press Association. It was. about time, Hon. Herdman said, ‘that the Ne.w Zealand public understood how utterly unreliable is the news telegraphed through this channel. The majority of those present were obviously in favor of the Government, but a body of Liberals and Red Feds determined to punish the Government for its action in suppressing lawlessness during the strike last year played the part of the hoodlum with a- considerable amount of success, but the behaviour of this kind from this source is expected, and public men on the Reform side are getting quite accustomed to it. “It is stated, I understand, that an adverse vote was carried , This is un-

true. No adverse motion was moved. It was quite patent to any impartial •observer that the motion of confidence was supported by the great bulk of the people present.” HON. A. L. HERDMAN AT WASTE RTOM. * Masterton, December 8. Hon. A. L. Herdnian addressed the largest and most enthusiastic political meeting ever held in the dis. trict, in the Drill Hall to-night. Hundreds could not gain admission. At the close of the meeting, a motion of thanks and confidence in the Government was proposed. This was followed by an amendment of no confidence, proposed by a Social Democrat. The amendment was easily lost, and the motion was,carried amidst a scene of unparalleled enthusiasm, men waving their hats, tfomen their handkerchiefs, all cheering the Minister to the echo. The demonstration lasted for several minutes, after which Mr Herdman returned-thanks for the magnificent reception accorded him. Wellington, December 8. It appears that the motion of confidence in Mr Herdman last night was carried. The chairman made an announcement to that effect, but there was so much noise going on at the time that, apparently, , the declaration was not properly heard. LIBERALISM IN TAUMARUNUI.

Taumarunui, December 9. The final meeting in the campaign of Mr W. T. Jennings was held ii Taumarunui last night, the theatre being packed to the doors, and many, not getting in. The Mayor persided. The candidate was accorded an ovation, and at the conclusion of a temperate address he was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, accompanied with enthusiasm and cheers for the success of the Liberal Party. MR HAWKINS AT NCAERE. Between 30 and 40 electors gathered in the Town Hall, Ngaere, last evening, to hear Mr Hawkins, the Liberal candidate. This was the candidate’s second visit to Ngaere. The meeting, however, was not allowed to proceed. After speaking for a while some persons started “monkeying” with the acetylene gas metre, which is located outside the hall. The gas was turned out several times, and stones were throwh on the roof. The majority of the audience being ladies, many of them were nervous on account of the danger of fooling with acetylene gas. Mr Hawkins remarked that there were evidently some. “Tory—Red Feds about.” When members of the audience tried to get out of the ball it was found that the doors had been securely fastened from the outside. Mr W. Morrison, who presided, was very indignant concerning the whole wretched business, and apologised to Air Hawkins for what had happened. ~ MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS. Waihi, December 9. The Hon. Herries addressed a large meeting last night. His speech was on the lines of previous addresses, and was punctuated by frequent applause. A vote of thanks and confidence in the Government was, carried unanimously.