POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 106, 25 October 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL.

TAUMAHUNUI SEAT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Waitara, Yesterday. Mr. C. K. Wilson, the accepted Opposition candidate for Taumarunui, after speaking from Te Kuiti downwards, addressed a large audience in Waitara last evening, the Mayor occupying the chair. The candidate said he would support Mr. Massey in the programme outlined, and in connection therewith he dwelt on the state of affairs in the King Country, oontending that the district was not making the progress it 1 should on account of the tied-up native land. He said the Opposition would alter this, and would no longer put up with the policy of "taihoa," and would not have a Maori aristocracy. It would ' individualise titles and, as'far as possible, put the native on the same foot- ' ing as the pakeha. The candidate also ' said'the public works policy had been a failure. The Government had promised the back-blocks a quarter of a million for four years, but had failed to carry ' out the promise. Turning to land settlement, the, candidate favored givinir young men land rent free for tjiree, four . or five years, to ensure more effective settlement. He criticised the railway management adversely. In answer to questions he said the education vote gave little satisfaction, because the boards were starved. He favored compulsory military training, and would like the labor problem closely investigated by ' the best heads in the country, to see if a remedy could not be applied to avoid collusions between the interest! involved. At the close of the speech the candidate received a vote of thanks and confidence by a unanimous vote., Following this Mr. W. Forbes, who was also out as a candidate for the seat, announced his retirement in favor of Mr. Wilson, and said he was standing for the,adjoining electorate of Taranaki as an N Independent Oppositionist. ' . THE WANGANUI SEAT. Wangamii, Last Night. Mr. W. A. Voiteh, president of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, who is contesting theHVanganui seat as a Labor candidate, opened his campaign to-night, when he addressed a , very large audience and received an excellent hearing. During his speech, when referring to labor troubles, Mr? Veitch expressed regret that any man should nave started the rumor that the railway men intended to strike, K any man in New Zealand, knew the temper of the railway men it was the speaker, and he could assure the public that the men had no intention of striking. The rumour which had been published did the railway men a great wrong. TIMARU SEAT. ~ Timaru, Last Night. Mr. J. H. Moore, Opposition candidate \ for Timaru, gave his first address tonignt. He described the chief points in the Opposition policy. THE TARANAKI SEAT. Elsewhere Mr. W. Forbes announces his candidature for the Taranaki seat as an Independent Oppositionist. He intends to take the platform at ah early date. •••> J