THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 266, 3 November 1908, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

'i'O-N 1W11"S MEETINGS. Mr. Okey Egniont Road. Mr. Hell ringer ... Eguiont Village. .Mr. ilaluiuj .... Upper Kent RoaTl. Mr. Syures Katapiko. Jlr - Hme Brewer itoad. -Mr. Kmg Matau, Mr. Astbury Oaoiiui,

ISSUE OF WHITS. THE PREMIER INTERVIEWED. rJy Telegraph.--Pres3 Ansociutiou Wellington, Monday. The Premier, in an interview, staled with regard to the issue of the writs that they could not be issued till lire whole of the electoral 'arrangements throughout the Dominion were known to be quite ready, so that it was dillicult to lix a dale in advance. To have left the issue until Monday would have left only five working days till the closing of nominations, which was insufficient time. Ho thought a flexible system iu regard to the time of issuing writs was necessary. It was improbable that any procrastinating people would be prevented from enrolment through not knowing that Saturday was the final day.

CAUGHT NAPPING. Auckland, Last Night. There was some complaint iu official circles this morning in regard to the unexpected issue of the writs on Saturday afternoon. No notification was received by the Auckland Registrars up till 1 p.m! on Saturday, and the liegistrars, in accordance with custom, closed at that hour for the usual halfholiday. It was not until the evening paper appeared ia the streets that most of those concerned knew that the writs had been issued, and the official .notification bears the stamp of having J been received at the Auckland telegraph

office at 2.30 p.m. or thereabouts. Thcj result was that the Registrars and their assistants had to hurry to iheir oiiire- ' and continue to receive claims up till linidniglit. "People were taken just as much by surprise as we were,' meiared one Registrar.-and the number of claims made without avail this morning proves thnt a good number have been caught napping. Saturday was lue very worst day that could have been, chosen for the closing of the rolls, and none of them really expected the issue of the writs before .. oiiday Or 'luesday. Despite the fuel that nearly all the electoral offices were closed for some hours on Saturday afternoon, there was a heavy final rush, and, in some electorates, the claims for enrolment totalled as many as 300.

WRONGFUL DECLARATION: A HEAVY FINE. Auckland, Last Night. A young man named Ernest Pearson, who staled that he had been canvassing in connection .with the local option poll for the Licensed Victuallers' iis»ociatiou. pleaded guilty at the Police Court to-day to Slaving last July signed his name as a witness to a signature without hearing the person signing it declare it to be his own signature a-nd signed as his own proper name. Mr. Mays, who appeared for the Rcgi i«r of Electors, said that it was a case of a wife signing her husband's name for enrolment. Mr. Kettle, S.M., expressed the opinion that this canvassing for enrolment was a wrong principal altigeMier, and opened the way to grave abuses. The maximum penalty of £i>o showed that the Legislature considered it to be a serious oll'cucc. Defendant would be fined £lO and costs £1 Bs.

THE SECOND BALLOT. Timaru, Monday. In response to an inquirv from electors of Timaru, Mr. J. \V. V:v,:slHd. Chief Electoral Officer, has telegraphed thai absent voters' permits anu Seamen's rights will not be available for a second ballot, as polling booths foi second ballots' will not be open everywhere throughout the Dominion.

Ml!. .MASSKV AT I'ALMKUSTON. Palmerston X., Last .Night. Mr. Masscy replied to lire Preinier at tile Opera House 10-nighi, and was accorded all enthusiastic; reception, the building 'being crowded. The spcaku dealt at length with Hie principal points of the l'reniier's recent speech. Ke-' ferring to ine audit system, he criticised tile Government l'°st audit proposals, and siud that a complete re turn oi every penny of Government mo ney expended should be made, for whatpurpose and by whonr receive,i. ne furlher criticised the land policy, and alter quoting from h„>i»urd many opinion., of Ministers, characterised itie Government's policy as being detrimental to tile interests of the whole country, lie (looted wolds of Sir Joseph Ward that the policy of the (loverninent was the first to lind out what the people wanted and ihcn to do it as they wanted it done, which he referred to as a humiliating position. lie rend a speech purporting lo have been prepared by (iovernmeut candidate,-,, lie rciler-. ateil a statement tout the new Government buildings would cost half a million. .Referring to the advances to workers, he said thai was a proposition of his own. lie first .suggested it to Mr Soddon. As. however, the Government thought it unwise for such a proposal to come from the imposition, it was defeated and re-introdueed by the Go- ' vernmeiit. He rend a letter dated 20th of October from a member of the Locomotive Engine - drivers' Association, thanking him on. behalf of the branch for his services and sympathy, and said he had as many, such letters as any member of the House, lie repudiated the suggestion that members of the. Opposition were, not in sympathy with workers, find also dealt with the advances lo settlers, public debt and dairy regulations. On-the closing of his address lie was received with great applause and cheering, and a vote of thanks and confidence was accorded him.

MIIXISTEI! FOR LABOR BEFORE HIS COXS'JTJTEXTS. A LIVELY MEETING. Dnncdin, Last Xiohi. The lion. .). A. Miliar addressed a very large gathering of Dmicdia West constituents to-night. As a political meeting, it was quite the liveliest that lias been held (luring the present campaign. A section of the audience consisted of a number of socialists, and many of that section of the Labor Parly that is at open war wit'!: th" .Minister fov Labor. These kept i;p a running fire of hoots, interjections ami int'enupliuus, but Mr. .Millar received a very cordial hearing from the great body of (doctors present, and at the conclusion of the meeting received from a large majority of the'electors a. vote of thanks and confidence. A member

of the socialists' parly sprang on the slage and aOcmpled to move an nnrviid""'ill. bill (he audience would not lolorale him and howled him down. Mr. Millar dea.ll ooinpivlioiisivelv with the Joejisliilinn. passed during Ihe last three .VW3. and said that the future policy of the t.'overinnent was to progress on the same sound lines that had characterised the rtovi'viiiiient in the past. He launched into a strong defence of the new Arbitral ion Act, jusli.-ying his altitude therctowards. and pointing out tii unionists that legislation placed on the Statute Book, while intended to pite.v'ent strikes, yet gave, to a dissatislied union the opportunity of eancollim.' its registration and striking every hour of the day without Imaging itself i;n der t'he pains and penalties of tii-. v

He jn'itiiiontly asked why a union h av . nij? registered and being in the enjoyment of tlio lulviiiiliisc {riven liy liie Act should still have freedom to strike or lend assistance to another union or strike, and lie Killed it|ion workers and employers alike lo comply with this new labor legislation which in its dill'ereiit. stages was more or ]e ss cxperimfiilnl and so assist Wow Zealand in its attempt lo solve one of the world's problems.

JIK. I'liWl.l.ls O.V Tilt: Kll'vvn;!" AC) . . ■ Auckland. Last Night. Hon. CVo. Fowlds addressed a lnr"r meeting tonight at Mt, lioskil]. Spcsilc--ing on the Kdncation Hill. ho said V believed t Mjorilc of teachers rocognised it as a very bvnolicienl Act. The liiirrowest inlerpri'liilii,ii meant an increase of .between CIO.OOO and £17.000 in 'the first year in salaries, will, eonsideralile i>d\ances in suc.-ecdin" rears Tile Minister added (hat 1 hoy" would appear to lie anomalies b the mensore which re.|llire,| to he adiuslcd bv (lie frown T.aw niliec. A lion of (hanks and contiJcnc" was passed.

N'EAA' OAXDrnATKS. ' Tavercanrill. Alondav Mr. A. A. Paapc is announced as <, l.nii'-.r candidate for Inverramiil „,„] Mr. W. Mur.'is a. lmier,e,„lev,l"\,,,,|id. ale for Awarna (Sir Jo-cph WV'i's senH. ' .urnvKKA kk \t \>Wi. Afondav _ Mr. F. AV. Kinitli (Onnositienisi). wh.i is retiring from the KeU-oa contest, in-l nnnnc'ps iimself in ,i. onndiihte for Motuekn ngiii'istMi - . I!. McKenaie, I

THE TAUHAKUA SKAT. -u m? , C'aniDridgc, Monday. Mr W. H, Hurries (OppusiUonisL) and Mr. J. A. loung (Ministerialist) have been nominated for the new Taurun<»a seat, ° THE WELLINGTON ROLLS. Wellington, Last Night. The numbers of names on the Wellington electoral rolls are—Wellington North, 10,200; South, n.200; Central, 0305; East, 8040; Suburbs, SWu.

THE MAORI ELECTIONS. Tile elections to return four representatives of the Maori race are to ne flmld Oil December 2nd. THE STRATFORD SKAT. Mr. Walter Symes, M.P., announces iliat on Monday, the Kith inst., he will re|)ly to the "unfounded, misleading, and unwarranted statements" made regarding him by. Mr. J. Hi;ic on 28th ult, Duncdiu. L;xl '":.'■! Mr. E. H. Clarke addressed a large meeting of Chalmers electors to-night and uvet with a good reception, and "re-1 eeived a vote of -flunks ami conlidcnce. j Mr. J. Louden lias deliniieiv decided not to contest the I'-u-e seat. Timnru, Last Night. ] Mr, dames Cniigie. Ihe Mayor, addressed 'his first meeting to-night. The building was packed long before the hour of the meeting, and he received an attentive hearing, lie spoke as n supporter of the present (lovcniment. He stated that he did not require a Government brand, but came out because he was asked by 1300 electors to do so. A vote of thanks was carried by general applause. n ;■

Interviewed at Wellington yesterday, the Premier, Si r Joseph Ward, said lie believed the Government's prospects at the coming election were, quite as good in the North Island as in the South.— Press telegram.