THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 276, 16 November 1908, Page 4

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THE ECMONT SEAT. Mil. U A. WILKINSON AT ELTHAM. .'..'REPLIES l'U MR. WAKE. A EEXOTIIY AND LIVELY MEETIXi; Mr. C. A. Wilkinson addressed the electors at the Eltham Athenaeum 0,1 Saturday night. The building was densely packed, an d the •'overllow'' was accommodated at the back of the stage. Mr. W. Stanuers, Mayor of Eltham, presided over a gathering which lasted for nearly three hours, and was "lively" throughout, the chairman giving the "lads at the back" extraordinary latitude.

Mir; Wilkinson's rising evoked tumultuous applause, and he soon settled down thoroughly to a "lighting" speech, roundly condemning the Oovenuuent nuance and re-iterating the gist of his previous utterances on this subject, do-1 daring that his belief .had not'been .it' all shaken by the attacks of his opponents ana "critics. In opening, he sain that during his travels through the elect-orate his candidature had progressed in a marked manner, and if this continued there seemed little doubt that lie would be elected to represent the (lis-, trict in Parliament. Before his first] speech there had been an idea that i.e was not to be taken seriously, but tli.it feeling had been dispelled. He claimed to have fought a strenuous fight, but he I had- fought fairly. He had criticised I hard, but fairly, and he bore no illfeeling against any opponent. His candidature, he claimed, had uplifted tin l Opposition sentiment in the electorate in a marked manner, so that there n>-| mained no doubt that an Opposition candidate would be returned. Before; going on with his speech proper he wished to return his hearty thanks i 0 .many kind friends throughout the dls-l trict for their kind hospitality extended to him. THE FIRST REQUISITE in any country, slid Air. Wilkinson, was good government, and next to this wi>s the necessity fur a strung Opposition. The present Opposition party contained some good men, but there was hardly enough of them. He trusted the elect-ors-would do their duty in returning an Opposition candidate to Parliament'this time. The basis of a country's prosperity was its finance, and he' did not feel that he could congratulate

THE .PRESENT GOVERXMENT upon the soundness of its finance at the end of its seventeen years of olliee. The last quarter's returns had showed a deficiency for the first time,-and, despite the falling-off, there had been an increased expenditure. JO veil when a surplus had been claimed he doubted its existence, and now there was a deficit. The Government tried to account tor the deficiency by stating the amounts given to the people in concessions, but made no attempt to explain the enormous increase, in expenditure, particularly before the elections. Jt had been urged that he was the only man in the Dominion who was so alarmed, but Mr. .lames Allen, perhaps the strongest financial, critic in the House, had said in a'speech the other day that never in the history of the colony was there such need as now for PRUDENCE AXD PATIENCE.

Mr. Wake hud denied that borrowing -led-to'-extravagance, but the late Mr. Scddon. speaking us Colonial Treasurer jn-lSHil,=Jia<i;arimifcted the fact and had '.Stated he would not allow the borrowing to continue l.'iiiurtimatel}' he had not ai ted up to that profession. People were getting liold of the idea that we could do nothing without borrowing, but he claimed that we should he selfreliant in the matter of public works, and that borrowing was justifiable, only at a time of crisis in our finance, or if 'tile money was being invested in some undertaking that would return a good rale of interest. At present a lot of the borrowed money showed no direct "return, and the taxpayer had to make it good, to what extent the Government would not state. He advocated a. sinking fund with every loan raised.

OUR BORROWING. Although this country had Imiiowi:! BS'/j millions, we had received univ .V, millions in actual cost, and had 'paid 5!)% millions in interest. So v.c were paying more for interest that the principal amounted to, a;ul still we owed all the money, lie pointed out thai although (he Government would not have a sinking laud in it- borrowing. .1 would not lend unless provision was made for sinking fund. He would not increase taxation, in order to provide the shilling funds, but Jie would provide those out of savings effected by a policy of retrenchment and economy. XO .SURPLUS. Mr. Wake at Kaponga had -aid Mr. H ilk-nsou wa- the only man who denied the existence of the surplus Jin!, Mr. Dive, another of his opponents, had Mated in. several of his speeches that there was no surplus, though lie now admitted there might l„. a small inc. Mr. Dive was all right, but he had such a bad memory. (laughter). Mr. Wake, as the Government candidate to-day, i said no one could read the balancesheet of the Government and sav that there was no surplus. Mr. Wake as an Independent Liberal three years ago had his doubts about it, and said he would have the Colonial Treasurer .o. bring the surplus oa to the Door of the House in a box to assure him that it. really existed. Mr. Wake was very changeable in his opinions. When aii Independent Liberal lie could charge the Government with extravagance, hut now, as the Government candidate, he said "Amen" to every word of the .Minis! ry.

There were two accounts, the Public Works Account (or borrowed money account), and the Consolidate Revenue Account, and by merely charging items io the wrong account the surplus was adduced, lie instanced a number of payments which he said were made out id borrowed money ami which had no right to be charged to it. They included Public Works and. Roads. Departments oilicers' salaries amounting to £21,000. Amongst others were the salaries of the Under-Secretary, fifteen engineers, assistant engineers, nineteen clerks, fifteen draughtsmen, six .storekeepers, shorthand writer. Minister's private Servian-, and even the salary of tiie ho v who got his ijs a week was charged to borrowed money. Postage and telegrams, iravcllicg expenses, compensation fur accident, rates ~„ Maori lands— a most extraordinary charge against loan - aey- were al-o shown. Kxpcnditure oil tourist road-, tourisl and health iesorts, immigration, harbor works, li.jhthousc-. chicks f,,r public buildings, were wrongly charged to borrowed nionev. These clocks were partially bought by the Government for the burger towns. and the iieoi.hr who never saw them hail to help to pay for them. Additions to Depart menial buildings, additions to Minister's residence, preparation of plans, supervision, large slims for painting buildings.-and other sums should have been charged to revenue instead of to the borrowed money. If any private business nia.i ran liis alVairs on those lines he'd s , fall, and if he were a company director he'd doubtless receive his reward. 1

Mr. Wake and tin- Klthani Arjin-, did not prove tin- existence of the surplus, but sheltered behind Air. Massey's relorted statements. (Generally condemn;i;r Mr. Massev, thev nuoted liini when t suited their'purpose. Mr. Wake had dated at Kaponga that these critieis-.ns vere but a re-hash of one of Mr. ,lolm lutliic's speeches, lie had not had any speech of Mr. Duthie's. The figures vere bis own,, and he had i WoUKKD UKK A IIEAVKU 11 get them out, instead of trusting to icwspapers and other people's speeches. . ~Spplauso). Me condemned the Covern. uient for nut conducting its Jinanec along lines on which it compelled private companies to conduct theirs. What private concent would think of expending borrowed money on the I'iako -wnmp. and then, when .celling tli ■ land.paying the proceeds to revenue?! The .CVJ.OW to he spent on goldlichlsl this year was a. debt to lie liand.dj down to the future, hut people of the y.rc-cit day were 10 get the benefit "f| it. One item of deficiency in the re-, venue. V.7.IiKI.O(M> for costs „f raising loans etc., showed where I lie money went, yet all the lno-.iey eariu'd by Iho.-ej loans "was credited to revenue. I

MR. WILKINSON'S POLICY, lie was nut merely „ destriiclhe po-. litician. lie had a policy, and the following were some planks ot it:—Borrowing to bo gradually tapered down until it ultimately ceases-; sinking funds ' to be provided for all loans; taking steps to effect the repayment of all loans; economy of administration and national retrenchment; curtailment of the cost of government by some reasonable means; the freehold to be made available to all Crown tenants, including the right of lease-in-perpetuity tenants to secure the freehold at the original value. He absolutely denied the statement that this was the first (government which had given the poor man the chance of securing land, and he referred to tile successful deferred payment system of the Rolleston Adniinistratioii. - THE FARMERS' UNION

had gone beyond its proper scope : n submitting the question oi the Arbitration Act to candidates, in asking that Customs duties should be for revenue purposes only, the farmers seemed 10 forget that our own industries employed upwards of (iO,OI)() people, who received about £5,000,000 a year in wages, over twelve millions were invested in buildings and .plant, and that the workers created a good market for farm produce. If the farmers threw all those employees out of employment, and render that capital idle, lie would not Hid to have to adjust the consequences. Customs tariff should protect in a measure our own industries and operations. He gave AX UNQUALIFIED DENIAL.

to Mr. Dive's statement at Kaponga that the speaker and the Eltham Argjs were in league to keep Mr. Dive out f Parliament and let Mr. Walce in. Was it likely that he would work as strenuously as they knew he had done in this campaign to let another man into Parliament If He was out in liis own interests, of course. Mr. Dive had giv.'ii three opinions concerning the repeal of the Aribtration Act. At Eltham he favored protection of our own industries by means of the tarilf; at Hawera r.o was against it; and at Stratford uo would foster local industries by tariff or any other means, lie should be called: "Yes, no. yes, Dive." (Laughter). He was a chameleon, changing the color rf j his coat according to the objects near lam. MR. ASTBUUY. Mr. Astbury's single-tax beliefs were untenable for a farmer, and single-tax would kill all our industries. Nine years ago Mr. Astbury had declared he would hold aloof from following the wheels of a party; now he was a pronounced party man. Then he. was against the freehold: now he was a professed freeholder. THE PREMIER COXTRADTCTED. At Kaponga Mr. Wake had referred to the speaker's statement that repairs for public buildings came out of loan and not out of revenue And Mr Wake had read there a telegram from Sir Joseph Ward as follows:—"Anyone who makes statements that repairs of bnild- ! ings in any part of the Dominion, or repairs connected with any Department, are paid out of capital, is stating what is untrue.. All repairs come out of revenue only." The following items were a complete answer to the Premier: Additions to old Parliamentary Buildings, £1110; additions to Minister's residence, £857; additions to Departmental buildings '(Auckland). , £4011; addi- , tions to Departmental buildings at Wellington £4750; enlargement and alteration of Christcliurch post office £2340; alteration of old Nelson post office £503; additions to Timaru Courthouse f.2l!>; alterations, etc., to Auckland post office. £1458; alterations to Wellington gaol £432. Mr. Wake .had said that any schoolboy could teach Mr.. Wilkinson finance, and possibly his other statements were just as reliable asthat one. Mr. Wake had endeavored to put into the speaker's month words clcpma'tin;.' ediuation of children, which was tuif.'-ir

and misleading, lie had a great r-00-.t for the schoolchildren, too, for;:' >.•.■;>!. c

and Mangatoki "mock ballots" ! : ?.,i l-.-n . held amongst the schoolchildren, an I at I each place he (Mr. Wilkinson} hail been I elected by a big majority. .Some of Mi". Wake's remarks; showed lie was the I "funnv man of the show: the clown °f the circus." .fie (Mr. Wake) had said i that posterity would reap the benefit | of inon-ey expended on public buildings ; —and most of our public buildings were [ of wood! Mr. Wake claimed some ideas of education. Why didn't he do as the. I speaker had done? Why didn't he get j on to (he school coniiiiitlee and 'do something for cdm-alien? lie believed I that cduea'tion should be free from ! primer to university. MR. WAKE OX I'TXAXOE. Mr. Wake had endeavored lo justify the amount borrowed for the benefit of the tourists by paying that not all the i .money came out of loan, for £3.1,1)00 was in lflOfl-7 paid out of revenue to- ! wards the Tourist Department. And It . had to be remembered (hat for a tourist i traffic of 0000 at £SO per head, th> I country should do something. Mr Wake I seemed to think that a tourist coniiag j here just handed over his £SO and went ! away, but the tourist really look care . to get good value for his money. Our , people had to carry him about on the j railways at a low price, provide his fond and drink, and merely get a profit on their labor. Mr. Wake—should he say stupidly—thought we got the whole £SO for nothing. -Mr. Wake seemed to argue in reference to our burden of debt ■ that though it was greater we didn't owe as much as before, and though the interest account was bigger, we didn't feel it as much! The more they borrowed, the less they owed. That reasoning was good enough for a Government candidate, and Mr. Wake should be quite satisfactory to Sir Joseph Ward. XO-LICEXSE. Mr. Wake had been saying lately that it was remarkable that Mr.' Wilkinson should first take up the stand for temperance and no-license just before an election. He claimed to have done more for temperance in Kltham than Mr. Wake had done in his whole life (applause), and it was absolutely wrong to say he voiced temperance sentiments only at election time when the prohibition feeling was strong. When the no-license movement was in its infancy, and there was a danger in being mixed up in if, the speaker hail been in the forefront of the light. The temperance sentiment was too sacred to be turned into a vote-catching machine. (Hear, hear), lie was "OUT OX HIS OWX,"

and he was not claiming (he support fact that'll llahotu. where the temperance feeling was not as strong as in Klthain. Mr. Make had avoided' Ihe subject, and at another place he had had to apologise lo his audience because he had "left his notes at the hotel." il.auL'hlcr). Air. Wake had

staled further that the Opposition wis representative of stagnation, and the Government of progress. Progress in getting into debt, he supposed. He claimed to be A MAX OF PROGRESS.

He paid more wages in one year than Jlr. Wake in ton. Lie had done more in making Kllhani progress than JJ.r. Wake would ever do. ]lo had first moved in asphalting KUbani's streets, had prevented private monopoly of Ellliain's lijslilisijr- ''ad Vcn largely instrumental in gelling Mr. Senile to give to flic I lovei anient file present post ollice site, had taken -in active part in creating the lire brigade, ami had done mo.'c than any other man to make Kltliam a commercial centre. .Mr. Wake hud fold his hearers of the impossibility of fooling all tile people for all the time, which was quite true, mid the Kgniont electors were not going to be always fooled by I lie arguments of the Government candidate, but on Tuesday next would show their opinions of the facts laid before them by both sides, anil vote for the iini'ii pledged to support the Opposition interests.

When Ulo hind and lnnif applause lia<l subsided, Mr. Wilkinson answered a number of questions arising out of his address. He urged Hint the floveniment should .set aside a certain amount annually as an insurance fund to provide for the ro-orcction of (lovernmenl buildings destroyed by lire; he favored amendment of the Bankruptcy Act; believed Eltliuiu's iiominercial men would he jrainers under no-lieense: he would not limit the Advances to Settlers Department to .cfi.nnn.iini> to work upon. He refused to subscribe to the doctrine that we enuld not eauv on our public works without borrowinir. Jt was not,

his idea to cease borrowing right away, ; for the tioverument had already entered upon works for the completion of which money must be borrowed; immediate cessation of borrowing was not practicable, but it should be brought about. He would not favor a State Bank, or any alteration of the present banking system. Mr. Wilkinson also replied at length to the criticisms of the Eltham Argus. A questioner asked if Mr. Wilkinson thought no-license would be a good thing for Eltham if Stratford and

ilawcra retained licenses. He said Unit lie had as nuieh to lose as anyone in ElUuiiii, Imt he reckoned no-license would uieau gain, not loss, to him. His rates in tins town wei'e over £l5O per year, and lie was not a liil frightened, but thought that the earning of nolicense would be a great step in the material prosperity of the district. Upon the motion of Mr. Walsh a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the candidate for his address. PERSONAL.

In returning thanks, Mr. Wilkinson said he had been a resident of JOllliu.n for l~i years. Jt had been cast at him that lie would never receive a majority vote of his own town, but lie trusted Tuesday's poll would falsify that impression. He had fought this confusl on more principles than one. It was a light for freedom of representation in Parliament, for many people h:;u said he had no business to come out as a candidate at all. His idea, if elected, would be to uplift the country, and develop it along safe and progressive lines. He thought they eould trust him not to disgrace the people of this place. New Zealand was one of the best little countries in the world, and it would be better still when it was more self-contain-ed. It had almost every natural advantage, and all it needed -was to get gooil government. This eould be done by returning the Opposition member. (Interjections). If they thought he was lighting for £3OO a year they were greatly mistaken, for if he were elected he would probably lose twice that amount.

A vote'of thanks to tile chair concluded the meeting.

Til 10 TAKAXAKI SEAT. Correspondents write:—Mr. Malum: met llie electors at Harrington, road fmt'oiv on Thursday morning last and tin u went on to the top of the road, whereat noon he held an open-air meeting. Most of the settlers, including two ladies, turned-out and gave the speaker a capital hearing. Votes, of thanks \o Mr. Maloue and to Mr. Billing (chairman) were duly carried. On Friday morning .Mr. Malone wis at Kraiikloy road factory. With Mr. Tippius in the chair, Mr. Maloue gavi a most interesting speech and was accorded a vote of thanks, as also was the chairman.

On Friday night. Air. Malone had a wcH-itltciKk'd meeting at Westown, with AJr. eiolu in the chair. His spuecli was well received. In answer to questions, Mr. Alaloiic thought that in the interests of commercial men and tradesmen Hie bank holidays should be brought into line with those of business people. He believed in the progress oi .New Zealand, and tlial therefore public works should be somewhat ahead of .the times, especially so in the matter of buildings. He decidedly believed that efficient loading should precede settlement. He saw :io objection to savings banks keeping current credit accounts like ordinary banks, lie did not helieve in the principles of the Swiss referendum, except in an extraordinary special matter such as State control or Dominion option. He preferred 'permanent work, hut thought that to open up back country speedily light railways were proper. Votes of thanks to the speaker and chairman concluded a capital meeting. Mr. Malonc had a good wind up to his country meetings on .Saturday night last at Waiongona. There'was a good ■attendance of electors, including a strong bevy of ladies. .Mr. 1 1 . Hemvood was voted to lire chair, and in a neat speech introduced Mr. Mnlone to the settlers. Mr. Mali 's speech (m ll»lines already reported) was well received. .Several questions were asked and

satisfactorily answered. A vote of thanks for an "able and instructive address'' was carried by acclamation, the chairman remarking that he would like to hear such a speech at least- once ovcry week. We remind readers of 'Mr. Malonc s final speech at the Theatre Royal tonight, lie will give his views on three mailers unintentionally omitted from his lirsl speech, but the main feature ol ids address will be a scheme of practical progressive politics for the advancement of Taranaki and New Plymoutn, and the prosperity of the people of the province. THE TAVMAKI'NUI SEAT. MR. .IENXIXdS AND MR. BOWATER AT TIKOIUNGI.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The political storm raging in dill'ereiit parts of tin; Dominion passed gently over this district cm Friday t>vciiin<r. when tin* two candidates lor' Taumariinui addressed ihc electors. Mr. Foreman was voted to Hi,, ,-liiiir. .Mr. Jennings prefaced his remarks In saving ho wits trespassing on liis opponent's good nature by appearing there that night, luit in so large a district it was difficult to arrange dates without clashing, and as a message had been received that Mr. liowaler would not arrive tintil after !i o'clock he would therefore give a short address. Mr. Jennings said that since leaving wailnra a uionlh ago l.e had travelled over I ill I miles and spoken at fifty-live different meetings. He found the back country looking splendid, and was much, struck with the great future that lay before it. JJealing with ; the chief .political questions of the day. .Mr. Jennings declared himself a stauirjh freeholder, and his vote had been sleadMv given in that direction, and he instanced .Ireland as a country that had been kept back owing to the'land being generally 'held under lease. He thought any increment accruing to backblock settlers was , very hardly earned. (Applause.) He considered the trend of political power was northward, and the new Minister should be a member from (lie Xori.li Island. As regards the increase in the I'ublic debt, it was not alarming, as nmst of ih,. money borrowed was reproductive, lie made' a strong plea for adc'pialc payment of school teachers, considering that the education of the voting was the best asset a country could'hav," lie approved oi labor legislation, and eulogised Sir 11. Atkinson's attempts to improve the status of female emplovees. lie thought the enormous tracts 0 f unoccupied native lands should be settled mote speedily. Mr. .leanings noted that llie country last year owing to the dl\>p in wool, llax, and kauri gum, vet the all hough a l,oitt .fi.ilOD.duO was'lost to country emerged from the tinancial position most satisfactorily. He referred to the remissions of Customs, railage. ct:v, ami also to the fact that £i25(»,00U per annum was allocated, for back roads, lie opposed the dairy regulations ax (irst introduced, but considered that with the exception of the cow-tax there was nothing very objectionable in I'ic amended ones. Mr. Jennings concluded by asking the electors, if thev considered he had represented theiu'i,, a lilting and .proper manner, to express : their confidence on Titesdav next at the ; ballot, (Applause.) Hi answer to questions, Mr. Jennings [ said the cost of (he railway deviation at New Plymouth included compensation for land required, lie did not consider the recommendations of the Native Land Commission a satisfactory solution of the laud question, and was in favor of selectors of native land having option of freehold. (Applause.) Th-' candidate thought money required by l.'overuuieiif should lie borrowed outside the Dominion, ~111! considered that aiy increased value derived from the erection of co-operative dairy factories, etc. should not be regarded as unimproved value, but reckoned as an improvement, Mr. Jennings was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. ' |

mi;, now.vra; haviii"; now arrived, \va- introduced l< I In' electors hy ll„. chairman, llr. lie water on rising revolted the latenesof llii' hour iif liis arrival, lull when they rcali-ed Unit yesterday moraine. hj( was at Marakopa' llciuls he fell Flul the indulgence »f the nic'tiii- would lie i'xl(.|i,|,.,l („ him. 'l'],,, fiimlld:,!,. .aid tli.U up In now tile various narN of the clc-toralc Imd liccii isolated. I'll! since tin- ciini|ili'liii„ i.l' Hie Main 'l'nml; Nailwas' this had tu a yrcat extent lii'i'ii remedied. Personally lie knew .lie was imkiiiiwii in this part of the electorate. 1.111 he Iro-led td have the -import of llKisc who ncre ill .•i.rnril Willi his views (HI 111.. VlM'illlW |lillilicill (jlte-lions (if ! l.c iluv. lie favored the nn'piiinliilciil (if a Civil Service Heard, the M-i ! 1.-inolll el' Crew,, land- en the oplional system. individuali-in- native lam!- 1 .-eiilinent. nf ill,- same. reduction of duties 1.11 ucccs-avies nf life, n Ml'Mlilllieill ('!' til*

of the right stamp, more consideration for primary education in (lie baekblocks. and the establishment of agricultur.il schools. Mr. Bowater thought Mr. McXab a good Minister of Agriculture,' but as Minister of Lauds he was not u success as far as the North Island wis concealed. The candidate quoted the views of most of the members of the Unbind on the land question, contending that they were out of sympathy with tlie pioneer settler, who deserved every consideration. He did not think the native land question would be solved as long as the present Native | Minister was ill office. The lion. ,1. Carroll seemed tired and should be given an extended .holiday. Mr. Bowater was opposed to the aggregation of large estates, but, condemned the last Land Bill. He was also opposed to the increased duty placed on dairy machinery, and condefiined the dairy regulations, also tlie .Shearers' Accommodation Bill, which lie described as ridiculous, lie considered Sir Joseph Ward, was wanting in courage, instancing the backdown or (.he Government on the Land Hill, Shearers' Accommodation Bill, the dairy regulations, and the gag clause of the second ballot. In conclusion, >'•■ Howalcr said he was thoroughly conversant with the requirements of the district, and if they thought fit to n turn him as their representative lie would do his utmost to serve them faithfully and well. (Applause.) There being no questions, Mr. Bowater was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address.

JOTTINGS. "T would make those fellows work under the whip if T had the chance.'' —Mr. laird on husbands who won't work to support their families. The Stratford, Post lias received a message from the Premier, informing it that no Government candidale has been selected for the lOgmont seat. The Opposition candidate. Mr. J. P, Iline addressed the largest meeting yet seen at lngle-wood on Friday uiglit. lie gave a short address. A resolution a"cording a hearty vote of (.hanks to Mr. Iline for his address and expressing a want of confidence in the administration of (lie (lovernment was proposed. An .amendment to express thanks only was defeated. The resolution was carried by a tremendous majority and ihrec cheers were given for the candidate. Tile nominations for the Western Maori electorate are:- Il'enare Kaihau, To lleuhen Tukio, I'epene Eketone, llemii Te 00, and Eurere te Kaliu. Electioneering matters are progressing very i|iii'et!y here (writes our lialiotn correspondent), and there is not nearly the excitement that -prevailed durhig the hye-eleetion. Each of the four candidates appears to have a fair number of supporters, and the chances of each appear about equal as far as Eahotu is concerned.