THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 273, 11 November 1908, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

m wiliunkon at lowgartu. ; (in Saturday, at Lowgarth, Mr. Wilkinson addressed the largest meeting that has been held during the present contest—.Mr.. 15. Booker in tlie chair. .Mr. Wilkinson dealt exhaustively with the following nine planks of his piriform:—Borrowing to be largely tapered down, with ultimate cessation; sinking funds to be provided for all loans; consideration ol eventual repayment of debt; economy of administration; national retrenchment; freehold of Crown lands; reorganisation of defences; a new system of local government, providing a better -system of linauce and larger control by local authorities; prison reform; an improvement to old-age pel-1 sion system. Mr. Wilkinson also dealt with Mr. Wake's statements at Maugatciki respecting No-license. Mr. Wake at that meeting said that the No-license movement was too sacred to be twisted into a vole-catching machine, and i'l- ' fcrred that the speaker was doing this;

at the same time ho put in his own claim for support by stating that everybody knew that he (Mr. Wake) was a keen prohibitionist. 111'. Wilkinson | said that Mr. Wake was not bold enough to advocate bare majority, although it was in the forefront of t'le temperance party's platform, simply owiiiji' to the fact that he might lose votes. Mr. Wilkinson further allirmed that the three-fifths majority policy was the Trade policy; and in advocating that this majority be retained Mr. Wake was not acting in the true interests or tem-

perance reform. Thirty-six more electorates at the last electorates at the last election would have been under nolicense if bare majority had been law. New Zealand had been under bare majority rule from 1881 to 1893. The day would come when the license party would ask for bare, majority in order to will hack license, and they would no

doubt get what they asked for. _ The •speaker dealt with simple majority as a political principle and defended it on other grounds. During the address and at its conclusion Mr. Wilkinson was warmly applaucleu. Mr. Wright moved a vote of thanks and said that Mr. Wilkinson was a man who held to his opinions firmly, and was not like the American politician who said; ''These ure my opinions, but if you do not like them I can alter them." Mr. Wilkinson, the speaker said, would sooner break tlian bend. (Applause). The motion was seconded by Mr. Booker and carried. A vote of thanks .to the chairman and to the factory directors for the use of the factory concluded the meeting.

THE STRATFORD SEAT. Writes ourKohuratahi correspondent: Mr. Synics, Government candidate for this electorate, attended by a large contingent of supporters from Whanga and Pohokura, journeyed to Kohuratahi to address the oleeors here. Mr Shcwery was appointed chairman. Mr. Syines, in opening his speech, apologised for the unseemly hour at which he had called the meeting. He made a bitter attack on the person to whom one of the now famous letters was addressed, saying that the party concerned was trying to get him to read the letters in public and then prosecute him (Mr. Syines) for libel. He also referred to the party's father, saying that lie had been sent to Wellington over the leases, but had only succeeded in incurring £3OO in legal expenses, while he (Mr. Syines) had to live in Wellington on nothing.

A voice: No. Mr. Symes: What had I to live on, then'!

The voice: £3OO a year. Mr. Synics said that if Mr. lline did not mind himself lie (Mr. Symes) would say something to his (Mr. nine's) discredit.

Voices: Spit it out, then! Don't say things like that if you are afraid to iay them openly! Mr. Symes could not be induced to

substantiate his statement. Referring to the rival candidates, he said that Mr. King was not worth mentioning, and that, practically speaking, hi! said, "Them's my sentiments—if they don't suit I can'alter them." lie criticised .Mr. lline vehemently ami at great

length; in fact, devoting the reniaindeJ ui his speech to Mr. Hine. He defended the dairy regulations, and said that Mr. Hiue bail stated that under these regulations a man took bis milk to a factory in one cart and had to take his skimmilk home in another. A voice: Mr. Hine ditl not say so.

Mr. Synics went on to nav that the party that .Mr. lline supported had built bridges in the colony, and the bridges had rotted away without a dray going over them.

A voice: If you took thu trouble to jro round your constituency you will liiul bridges built by tin; present Government rotting awiiy without a dray going over them.

Air. Symes said that he was a freeholder, and that if it came to a vote of

want of confidence oil the freehold he would vote against the Government, even if his vote turned the Government out. lie defended the large number of inspectors, and stated that lie would I even like tu sec more appointed to grade I wool, meat, etc., before they left the colony, lie would like to see all the lioad, Education, and Hospital Boards and the County Councils amalgamated and one large board, on the principle of the old Provincial Council, to work tho whole. I In answer to questions, Mr. Symes said that the speech on the LJI.P. question attributed to the lion. Mr. Millar could only have been made by a lunatic, and that he had much difficulty in be lieviug it. A voice; It is in Hansard, Air. iSymes: A lot of things arc put in Hansard.

In answer to a question, Mr. McCutclieon said that he supported Mr. Symes, but that as soon as a good man appeared he would support him. He was glad the question had been put. A voice: Your looks deceive you, then!

A voto of thanks *o Mr. Symes and confidence in the Government was proposed by Mr. Bennett and seconded by Mr. Ryan (Wlianga) and curried. THE PREMIER AT PAHIATUA. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Pahialua, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward addressed a meeting of electors this evening. There, was a large attendance. The greater part of Sir Joseph's speech was devoted to emphasising the futility and miscliievousness of the Opposition'* criticism of the country's finance. Tf'a Remarks were on the lines of hi* New Plymouth address. At the conclusion he was accorded an unanimous vote of tbuw I and confidence.

SPEECH BY MR. MASSET. Auckland, l.ast Night. Mr. Masf-ey, Leader of the Opposition, delivered a political s.ieecli at Oneliuiiga to-night in reply- to the Prime Minister, and was well received hy a very large audience. Referring to "the North versus South question. while disclaiming any wish to set one against (he other, pointed out that at the end of the finanical year the South Island had 1510 miles of railway* against 955 in the North, although the North had the larger population'. Even including the Manawatu mirchnse and the new section of the Main Trunk, the South Island still had 400 miles t <> the good.| and all the Prime Minister's figures would not get over that fact. Toiichin ?

cm financial matters Mr. Masscy said that Sir Joseph Ward got very ang-v at financial criticism l>v a AVplliii-rfoii paper but he should reeonMiso if, "vas tile duty of public men ami Uie Press to call attention to anything wrong or unusual. Whatever was said to ' the contrary, it was a fact that the expenditure for t lie September quarter 'exceeded the revenue bv C2G,7IS, in spile of the fact Ihnt there was mo transfer as provided by law from the (onsolidal cd Fund to tile Public Works Fund. For the. corresponding quarter of List year <OIOO,OOO was transferred, but this last quarter tliore vns m>thin<r!' ;nnl yot t lie eNpenditiuv exceeded tlie I revenue, irad that "was not nil, for tlvl

(•ovemmont arranged for ;C200,000 worth of treasury bills to be issued for the redemption from land tax; luext month. Ho (Mr. Masscy) did not wish to make the most or worst of the position, for i 7, sr( i| e ot - reckless mismanagement of the public finances, the coiiutrv was sound. The Opposition's policy Of prudence and eaulion was more than .justified, and what had happened showed the necessity of slrai"ht . h'Wsl and reliable men in Parliament.' J.lifl T nine Minister stated thai (he inIcvcsl and sinking fund paid out of ToTo-no'' 1 T™ 110 ,nst T™'' was t ,15(.41f1, and implied that was all whereas under permanent charges there was l"J30,000 per :i I1!11!111, which would "I, 1 mid sinking fund to l«o and a-hall millions. Thu.i if lt« '."""l''J' borrowed (wo and a-half millions in one year, not a sixpence could come here. 11 would have to stay in J.ondnn to par debts, allhongh he did Hot say that the country borrowed for 'he ])Ui'pose of paying interest. Ir c referred to the increased rates in election year and to the unexpected balances after elections. He dealt 'cxfrnV sivcly with native lands, saying tlit^t

native land legislation was a hopeless muddle. He supported the Land Settlement Hill, but tile Government cropped it because it was opposed by the antifreeliold section, lie favored (lie volunteer system receiving more encourage-1 ment and thorough military traiunnj}' system without conscription. There had bffen increased taxation by means of increased valuation. | ilr. JJasscy was accWiled a vote of | thanks ami confidence.

PALMERSTON SEAT. Palmei'ston X., "Night. Mr. llilverton, an Independent candidate for Palmerston, addressed a meeting to-nigllt. He was subjected to much banter, the audience refusing to take him seriously. INVERCAKGILL SEAT. Invercargill, Last Night, Messrs. Paape and Hanan (the sitting member), candidates for tin l Invereargili seat, spoke to-night. .Mr. llanan had a cordial meeting at Clifton and was ae-! corded a vote of thanks and confidence. Mi*. Paape has deelared himself a straight-out Labor candidate, lie urges a State bank and Stale control of practically all productions. Ho also holds that tile State should provide work for (hose who want it. He is against liirtlicr borrowing and no-lieens'.'. The meeting was attentive and passed a vote of thanks and confidence, rejecting a motion for thanks only.