POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 159, 26 June 1908, Page 2

POLITICAL.

THE FRANKLIN fcSIiAT. • By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Mr. J. T. Stenbridge, Hunua, lias decided to contest-, the Eranklin scat in the Government interests, against Mr. W. 1\ Massey, Leader 01' the Opposition, at the forthcoming! election.

MR. MASSEY AT TE KUITI. Auckland, Thursday. ■Sir. Massev, M.P.,. replying to the Premier's recent utterances, said in a speech at Tc Ku'iti that a majority o'.J the Ministers were prepared to accept the Socialist platform, while probably not 25 per cent, of the people of the country were in sympathy with it. Sir Joseph Ward's statement as to tile taxation was both right and wrong. !So ' direct taxation had been imposed, but the unimproved value of land had been increased to a degree and land tax anddeath duties were increasing rapidly. In consequence oilieial returns showed that taxation was increasing yearly. Mr. Massey contradicted the statement that the Opposition was antagonistic to workers. It was thoroughly democratic and Liberal, and anxious for the well-being of the country and people.

Mr. Massey was accorded an unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. Subsequently he was entertained at a banquet.

Mr. G. Spencer Clapham, who has been announced as a candidate in the Government interests for the Hawkes' Bay' seat at the forthcoming general election, arrived in New Plymouth last night Wythe mail train. Mr, Clapham is very well known throughout this province, a? a scholar, a lecturer, and a commercial, man. Although, comparatively speaking, a newcomer to Hawke's Bay, wpl have little doubt he will soon he appreciated in that district as he has been in places that have hitherto recognised hi# many qualities, evidenced by several public addresses presented to him. -As a young New Zealander, and a keen student of sociology and political economy Mr. Clapham should make his mark. Judging hy tlio splendid ouconiinms he earned while in America (wheie he delivered a large number of political ..address with conspicuous success), as a lecturer in the cause of New Zealand, lie is a patriot to the core, and no man could take the platform with loftier aspirations.