ON THE HUSTINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 266, 3 November 1908, Page 4

ON THE HUSTINGS.

Mr h. M. B. Fisher, in uu addrcs t u the electors of Wellington Central, paid a tribute to Mr Massuy. U.; referred to tiio eoiiaiatcut plugging and pertinacity of .the Opposition leader, whom he believed to be actuated by the highest motives, Jle was always pulling hard on the collar, and pulling in ivh.u he believed to lie a right direction. The Wairanpa" Daily Times gives the loliowing forecast of tile comi'jg election -The result should be a slight strengthening of the Opposition Party —say, (Joverninent forty votes, Opposition twenty roles, lt n<( independents twenty. This would really mean a working majority of lifty votes to the Government, for at leapt half of lire. Independent members would join the stronger party, leaving a minority of thirty members composed oi Oppositionists and Independents.'' it is Jell for a .pedagogue to devise a scheme for the salvation of New Zeahind ; to settle tile baekest of the back-blocks with sturdy home made settlers and till the land' with the prattle of chubby children.

j Mr A. \V. Tyadall. „ readier of Blue Spur, Otiigo, who says that the attendance at iiis school has increased tiy 25 per cent, since hj ,; announced his candidature, desires to put "a rather heavy lax on bachelors, and use the resultant cash in bonuses ior babies. Who will say now tnat school teachers aw not practical menV

The West land contest is bceumiji' strenuous and bitter. Mr T. 10. Seddou spoke at Ross and subsequently was criticised ut length by six .iiimclitcs. Jle was asked if ] u , j,, ul nssislcd tile mining industry at Ross with his own money. Jle said lie had no money avid declared with all the force possible that a man had a right to come forward and ask for their sulfrage whether he' had money 0 r not. j-],, ] Wl i b( , ell o| r eml shares m the Ross Flat Mining Company and also r;i a Te Aroha scheme and hail refused them both because he wished to be able to sity that he was personally disinterested when urging these claims on the Government,—Mr Haddock : Why did he call the supporters of Air Michel locusts j—Mr Seddon said it was because, while his own supporters had been very quiet indeed, the supporters of In,, opponent bad been buzzing about the country.--(Laughter.) Mr. Haddock : Was Mr Seddou aware that locusts had stopped a train in Australia? -Mr Seddoii : Yes. lie believed that they had caused thai a mount of public

inconvenience, and they would a i so \ IL aware that locusts were one of the seven plagues of Egypt.—(Laughter aid .applause). Further interruption interfered with tile meeting. The chairiiuiu said that a social was to be held after the meeting, and it was evidently the intention of the •• locust '■ to upset thu social by prolonging the. meetin". Considerable uproar followed, -but eventually a motion of thanks and eonlidenec was carried. The caliii judicial way in which Mr 1 homas Wilford weighed up the Government ami the Opposition at I'etono will bring merry smiles to both parties. Mr Wiltord put on the wig ami gown and judged them all. lie was counsel" lor liie defence ami the prosecution, he was the jury and tue judge, and his verdict was for the Government. "A Government is a necessary evil—like jjo-carts or crutches," lie" said in that pleasant, expansive manner of jibs, and lie picked on a very nappy smile. It is one of the contentions of the Government's critics that it is too much disposed to use the pap-spoon, the go-cart. | and even the crutches for the " crybabies '" who are ever on the increase -u .New Zealand.-l'ost.

"\\ hat about that machine-made speech for the Government candidates'" said a Wellington reporter to Air Massey. " I have got a copy of it in my bag now,'' replied Mr Mass'ey, "and further, I have with me sheets of an immense amount of literature that is being forwarded from Wellington i:i the interests of the Government candidates. The curious thing about it is that this printed matter bears no imprint upon it. It would be interesting to know where it is printed and who i" j paying for it.'' " \\ )iy didn't you speak the truth in the HonseV" shouted an irate htcrjeetor at Mr Fisher's meeting in Welling \ ton. "Su I did," replied the candidate, who added, amidst laughier, "hut not ■living accustomed to it you did not recognise it." Writes our Tariki correspondent:— Mr. Walter Nynies, Ml'., the Government candidate, addressed here on the 2Sth nit;, when there was a good attendance. .Mr. Viiughau llarkimss wis voted,lo the ehair. Mr. Synies apologised for the fact that iiis meeting clashed with one being held at "U'aipuku; had he known in time he would have made other arrangements. .Mr. Symes spoke for an hour and a half. !'«' eon .'need by intimating that he would run a "211-1011 roller" over th.' criticism and statements of the opposition candidate, and lost no time in setting this somewhat weighty machine in motion. lie vigorously defended the financial policy of the Premier and the administration of the present Government, lie considered the attacks of the Opposition party as destructive onlv. They had nothing, to oiler, and referred back to the time when t/ticy were in f power, contrasting it with the term of the present administration. He paid a warm tribute to Mr. Massev, the leader of the Opposition, who, hj,. n aid, was a very aide man, but lonely, and, he thought, likely to be still more lonely after the coming election, .lie- (Mr. ■Symcsi was a freeholder, and had always done his utmost in advocating op lional tenure. Me did not consider the present system or land valuation satisfactory, and favoured main arterial roads being maintained by the Govcrn-

mcnl, and ivould place greater power ill the hands „f L,.t-al bodies, lie did not object to fair criticism, but protested against tile, tactics of his opponents, i which he characterised as stabbing in the dark and hitting below the bell. He challenged anyone to prove that he had ever been guilty of an underhand or dishonourable action. In .speaking- of

the dairy regulations, he said the farmers had no occasion to be uneasy. The new regulations would not be put in force for some time to come, and in Hie .meantime would lie considerably moililied. He advised, any farmer who had suggestions to' make to forward them to the Agricultural Department. A number of questions were answered, and, on the motion of Mr. Kason, seconded by .Mr. .1. Knowcs, a hearty vote of thanks Mas accorded to Mr. Symes.

-Mr A. K. Atkinson is a deliberate and tireless humorist. The oilier 'night ho suggested additions to' the abortive gag clause in the Second J'allot Bill. "Xo candidate shall appear in the street without a permit from a rabbit inspeeI lor : his clothes shall be branded with the broad arrow and the letter (' in a' conspicuous iplac-e. Kverv candidate shall wear a dog chain of such size and pattern as tile (iovernor ill Council inav prescribe. Any candidate found speaking to more than two electors at. the same time, unless in liie presence iii' a police constable, a justice of the peace. or a rabbit inspector, shall be deemed to be an idlr and dis,.nlciiv peiso-.i. and shall be liable io a lerm of imprison- : mcnl not exceeding six months." This [ sort of humor alwavs pleases the crowd. And this sort ofliuuuM- is tiie easiest of ] all sorls to make. \ crv shrewd is Mr A. I!. Alkiiisim.

While Cabinel was deciding about (he dale of die general ehrlious, some o", the candidates acordinj; to file Wellington I'ost, hud anxious hours. "I'hev fried "l.v all Die arts of themselves an',l their liiemls to rend I lie Ministerial minds, 'but (his Coveniincnt article was locked fast in Cabinet, and declined (o ' be visible. The wooers of the elector--il(es wei- nnistlv anxious l'i secure ii serviceable hall for (he hist night of the campaign, tin- eve of the elections, to I have the last word with the voters, the liual elia-au- Id make their own slock jump lo a hiirh premium, and In bear .their rivals' scrip down to nothing. As soon as the contest, was lixed for November 17, (here was a scramble, but some* (hough thev lost no( a moment, found Unit enrlv'birds had arrived be-' fore them. A few who were smart oh" (lie mail; arc wondering how "(lie "Iher fellow" managed lo get ahead of ' them. ( .