THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 265, 2 November 1908, Page 3

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

TflE TAKANAKI SEAT. J£r. Maloae 'held a meeting at Motu»a on Bmrsdty night last in the Mission HaM, Major Coleman being in the chair. The speaker held the attention of » friendly audience during the whole of to speech. Questioa a asked were Mtiatactorily answered. A vote 01 thanks to the speaker was carried. An amendment of "and confidence'' was. at i, n ? U ?. 3 re l uest . withdrawn, He said Wat he telt sure tiiat h c could have had earned at every meeting a vote of confidence, r,ut he .preferred « I Z'l-?,Lll Kh i Co|ll<l b<; with I uuuuaity. (Jonhdem-e was for tie ballot-box. A vote of thanks to the chairman was also carried. On Kriday .AJr, Alaloiie delivered a fcUort and pointed speech to the wharf Jv!" Was acc °rded a vote cf thanks on the motion of Mr. W. Smith. He was also given throe hearty cheers. Mr. Milan* addressed the electors at x-ginoßt Road Hall on Friday night. H? was well received bv a very good house including many ladies. Mr. Greenwav was voted to the chair. Jfr. Mayn't justified the political faith in him and

received a capital hearing. He specially drew attention to Mr llassev's latest appeal to the electors and character'sed it as an appeal not to the intellect and reasoning power of the people but their party prejudices and passions The appeal was illogical and misleading In admit in one breath as the Lead"of the Opposition did. that the policy of the Government was practically perand in the next to make the anneal referred to was complete evidence 01 despairing weakness. Several questions were asked and satisfactorily answered. A vote of thanks to Mr. Majone and to tne chairman concluded the meeting. On Friday evening Mr. Bellringer gave his address at Upland Koad, there being a fair number present. Mr. J. Martin was in the chair. Referring to the stncture» ; passed upon him by Mr. Hine at Stratford, Mr. Bellringer said that he was not going to make any personal references. In the heat of the moment Mr. Hine had made statements that were absolutely incorrect, and

which could only recoil on his own head. The Government had been repeatedly urged to increase the number of men on the Stratford-Ongarue railway; they had promised to do so, and, keeping their promises, were now accused by Mr. Hine of sending men there to influence the elections. He had much respect for Mr. Hine, but these statements were T a ™ right on the border of the Taranaki electorate, and were reported in the Press. The Government bad done the right thing, and he wss prepared to defend their action against Mr. Hine or anyone who attacked them. It was of infinitely more importance to Taranaki that this railway should be pushed on at a rapid rate than that even Mr. Hine should be elected M.P. for Stratford. The matter was one vitally affecting New Plymouth, and in fairness to the Government he had every right to refer to the matter and defend their action. They might rely upon his doing the utmost in his-power if elected to push on this very important work. A vote of thanks was carried by acclamation. Mr. Okey speaks at the Theatre Boyal to-night.

ISSUE OF THE WBITS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Saturday. A Governor's warrant directing the Clerk of Writs to issue writs for the election was received last night, and the writs were issued this morning. Christchurch, Saturday Night. Surprise was expressed in Christchurch when it was announced that the writs liad teen issued to-day. It was expected that they would aot be issued until Monday or even Tuesday. Saturday is an mconvvnient day for the purpose, as it is not likely that persons are not enrolled will take steps to-day to have their names placed on the rolls, '■there 13 some confusion in regard to the time of closing the rolls. They are supposed to be open all day on the date of issuing the writs, and "all day" is taken to mean until midnight. Several of the Registrars had closed their offices at 1 p.m. for the Saturday naifholiday. When the announcement was received, however, some of the offices were re-opened. In the Christchurch South electorate 8110 persons have beea enrolled on the main and supplementary rolls. It is stated that thv roll for that district discloses some rather striking movements of the population, about 20 per cent, of the population having shifted from one electorate to another in three years. On the Christchurch Xorth main roll, tliere are 58811 electors, and on the supplementary roll 3500, makin" a total of 9380. On the Avon roll tliere are 8184 electors, in eluding thirty-two voters' permits and One seaman's light.

THE PREMIER'S MOVEMENTS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch. Last Night. The Right Hon. the Premier and Lady Ward, accompanied Iby Mess-s, Hislop and -Matthews (private secretaries), left for Wellington by the Maori on Saturday evening. On Thursday night the Premier proceeds to Auckland for the official opening of th.> North Island Main Trunk railway, and will deliver a political address in the northern city before returning south. En route he will probably speak at several centres, and he hopes to be iu Christchurch on November 9th (King's Birthday). It is probable that white in Canterbury at that time Sir Joseph will speak at Tirnaru in reply to Mr. Itaseey.

MR. MASSEY ON THE STUMP. Christchurch, liaet Night. Mr. W, F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, left Christchurch for Wellington by the Monowai on Saturday night. He is to reply to the Premier at Palmcrston North on Monday, and will speak at Carterton on Tuesday. He then returns to Auckland, and addresses several meetings in his own constituency and at other centres.

After addressing meetings at Pirongia, Terauamoa. Oparau, and Ongarue, Mr. Jennings left for Oliura on Saturday mornhig. and from there will go to Awakino and Mokau. He has had enthusiastic full meetings in over thirty places. Mr. Okey, .M.P., met with a good reception at Carrington Road on Friday night. There was a very large attendance, the candidate's remarks being followed with considerable interest. At the conclusion Mr. Okey was accorded hearty vote of thanks and confidence. The ladies generously supplied refreshments.