POLITICAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 125, 17 November 1911, Page 7

POLITICAL

THE WAIPAWA SEAT. By Telegraph—Press Associatien. Waipawa, Thursday. Mr. A. E. Jull, the Liberal candidate addressed a large meeting last night. He strongly defended the Government policy. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. THE PATEA SEAT. Mr. O'Dea had a good meeting at St. John's on Tuesday night, when he addressed the electors in Mr. Meuli's residence. Mr. Collier presided. At the conclusion, on the motion of Mr. Cull inane, seconded by Mr. Wadey, the candidate was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks. THE TARANAKI SEAT. MR. BELLRIXGEII AT BELL BLOCK.

Pespite the unfavorable weather, there was an attendance of thirty, including several ladies, at Bell Block to hear Mr. Bellringer on Wednesday evening. Mr. Horsup presided. Mr. Bellringer, who was received with applause made a splendid fighting speech, anil after one or two interjections at the start, was most attentively listened to. -Ho traversed a good deal of the ground that we, have already reported. He emphasised the fact that personally Mr. Okey and he Were good friends. They differed in politics only.

RAKJXI'I UP THE PAST. Mr. Okey had said in New Plymouth j that the policy of the (lOvernment was I raking up the past, which the members of thi) present Reform Party had nothing to do with. He himself tried' to forget the past and live for the future. "Let the past bury the dead; 1 live for the future." This was simply the most •delightful thing that had ever fallen from Mr. Okey's lips. The Opposition policy was simply nothing but raking up the past. Charges had l)ecn made again and again by members of that party, and Mr. Okey, with the words still warm on his lips, had proceeded to do the very thing he professed to condemn.' ,jt)id Mr. Okey in making the statement that the present members of the Re;'form Party had. nothing to do with the ;past expect to be believed ? When was Mr.. ■ Ma-racy: re-incarnated ? When was Mr. .Taines .Allen re-created? When did M,r. Herries change his skin ? Every prominent man upon the Opposition side had been amongst those who had for years derided and opposed; the humanitarian, ; proposals of the,government. The Mr.' :Mas6ey- of years ago was the same Mr that led .the Opposition of. to<i»B jffe.'jiftd.' not changed. His hench,«ien were th(j same,. Unitedly they had scorned'and scoffed., at the humanitarian iisgfolatpon of >the: : liovernment. There! yarn scarcely a (measure designed for the. 4>eoplo> good.that .they had not opposed) ,JPoubtlesS" aij;. .■ Okey would like to bury that past, but buried it could not he. ; Mr;.Okey was.not strong enough to dig & 'grav;e ioj»a record such as these the I fading Oppositipnists had against then! in the records: of Parliament: The j«oi ,-ple of. New Zealand, were not going to ! -Jje. deceived by such puerile statements a»' /these. ;,•/ -v '< i'. ' ' - .•• 5 i s-. sCBITKaSMrOK. THE PREMIER;--c j J-fherf 'tike 'r'enJarks'fcdnceFnjwg Knowledge of-'fhV, law in regard*© tfu* bini iT"his',t6werj■lgfuSwrtitioftl' gantes:-r/roc.eeik td ; flra4 :» I .«Atnptmon' t*«(v?ee» fsif ; ttk'iis.tJie jgn'oramus; Mr. Mas"j*.yiMe''enlightened a-H-wiso-legislatw. iCoukfcahrthlri'g 4how" more' titter poMcall 'S'oitld anything Kltew"s* i an utter lacks-df "kit- : ;3Vw|Flr. MTffrt] jts-i-business mail-and 4' ' iint«*miHi«J**tt«r wM nmlottbtedly' trne' I>*of...th ckeerienfc nn d best-ih formed-' 'men' iji ' elector* oould''judge ; ior ithsmseiVoA msJnuatioiis'of tliis'krhd. ■'' - ■.< Betoiqg to the charges that the 0(1-.Merßjiiwttc.-iJadiJiiol opened .the 4nn«U 4or.s*K>l;e<Jtio.n,;he -pointed tnit tfiajt' .ISbv Joseph Ward's aibninktrationH Itall been the most successful and lmd'<r<j-.iiUtpl-in largely.; itici'eaxcU .settlement. ,H,e, quoted figures wliicb show*d> tfiajt during, tejvy«trs-iH'aHy nve-fni].' Jion,,. acres •■ of Urow,i»_ jaiids bad ..sMeh. Aukpiup h x IftM* Selectors, /nioivef agu. dming, tlie_.nve years that .SirXTd.scpli,,Wara:%d beeivvPfciinier wrts 328]440 .acres per annum, and for the "flvfe years previous 430..532. Yet thev werf told by jLLLCJipppsition that there wafe no land policy ! This record, howeveij,' proved conclusively that.the land policy' had boMl.one-to'meet tire needs of the people. | .

OTHER MATTERS. j Up also .dealt at length with thfe I Advances to Settlers and Advances tj>. workers, pointing out that the growing demand-for ftdvanetis under tliese show! a splendid record of beneficial legislatiojt . It was maintained that,we were bonWing too extravagantly, yet he pointedou|t ' that i:~.orM.!J3;> bad been paid out for' the advances to settlers and was not costing the State one farthing in inteif .cst, and settlers were .saving a largi amount in Interest, a result more'e'onivineing than all carping, cavilling crrtt cisni. •.■•- '•" i j

Refcring to-tho- (,'ovenwnent administration of finance, ho pointed out that although tlie national debt, was, roundjly. .180.000,000, yet only 31 per cent, of this was non-productive. lie also ret fcrred to the alleged extravagance ok the. Government, and submitted figurefc showing that it was quite justified. He considered-money spoilt on cdnea]fion was absolutely the best spent in tht> Dominion. It was impossible to-have, too perfect a system. It had been very successful in X,. w .Zealand, and as \ result Xew Zealand had produced some men who had become famous all over the world. Tie instanced Professor Rutherford and others.

hi conclusion. he referred lo the prosperous times in store for Tnrajnki, and eulogised the good work doiu or the harbor by Mr. .1. H. Coiiii.tt. and as the result n f diat genth-nian's persistent cllorts ami contiimou-' work ocean-going boats would be. here within twelve months. (Applause). Sir .T. G. Ward had rendered great service in sotting the Bill through, although Mr. Okov took all (he credit. lie referred to the oil prospects, and said that within a fortnight Mr. Carter would be bad;, accompanied by a roi>iv-=piitative of ~ London company (Mr. Brown), and no doubt before long a bore would be sunk in their immediate neighborhood.

''What has boon done in Taranaki iliiriiifr (ho past, throe years?'' ]io asked. Their interests would iie best served by rotiirninjr a man who supported the progressive Government which was in power, a (-'overnnient v.ilb a record beliind it and one Unit, (bore was no need to bury. lmt wliicli could be held up nn hijjll. The people, lie felt sure, would recognise what the Cnvernmont bad done for (liem and send them ])■'■■]: int.) imiw.-t a- fbev bi,d ' ! -ne diirii:.,- U- „,,.'. |w,„|y ~..,,.5 ; M r. , Mas.-oy. he assured linn), would never I h-nd Parliament, in this country. I At the conclusion of the ineetin". the I candidate was asked numerous questions, which were answered satisfactorily. I Mr. Conned, moved that Mr'. Tiell- ' rinjrpr be accorded a hearty vote of tliank9 for his lighting address

Even those who opposed him must admit that he had held his end up well. Everyone liked to see, a man put up a good fight whether he won or not.—The motion was seconded by Mr. Pearce and eoinried.

A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.

Mr. W. Forbes addresed the electors at Oakura on Wednesday evening, and considering that it was a fearful stormy night there was a good attendance. Mr. C. Mace occupied the chair, and in introducing the candidate, said Mr. Forbes •was well known amongst them, and he was sure that in his speech he would ihow them that he was the man they wanted. Mr. Forbes- spoke on the vital question of the day, and showed clearly that he was a keen student of political and social reform, and the manner in which he dealt with the national debt, civil service and land questions showed his hearers that they had a serious question before them in choosing their rcpre-j sentative, and that they would require the best and ablest. A vote of thanks,, proposed by Mr. Adlam, seconded by Mr. Morris, concluded a most successful meetiif. THE STRATFORD SEAT. MR. HIDE'S CANDIDATURE. The last few days have been very busy ones for Mr. Hine, four meetings having been held on Monday and Tues- j day. ( At Tututava on Monday a midday ' meeting was held, and although the hour | was an awkward one, over 30 settlers irned out to hear Mr. Hine's political : ews. In his remarks, the speaker iticised the administration of the GoTnment and placed the Reform Party's . iews before his hearers. At the conclusion of his address, Mr. Hine received ] a vote of thanks and renewed confidence, and a vote of thanks to the choir concluded a most successful meeting. At 8 o'clock the sarnie evening Mr. Hine held a meeting at Punewhakau, and, despite the- fact that the elements were against it, a goodly number of settlers attended the meeting, when the speakpr dealt with the political questions of the day as on previous occasions. Here, also, Mr. Hine received a vote of thasks and renewed confidence.

At Makahu on Tuesday a midday a large number of settlers turned out to hear the candidate. A vote of thanks and confidence was moved, and an amendment of thanks only lapsed for the want of a seconder, and the original motion was carried,by a large majority. The weather on Tuesday night was very niuch against political meetings, but in.spite of this an audience of over 60 ladies . and gentlemen attended the Stratlimore Hall, a few coming from Te Wera. At the conclusion of an able address a. number of questions were asked, after which Mr. M. O'Neill moved a vote, of thanks .to Mr. Hine for his address. . Mr. Diggins offered as an amendment n vote of thanks to Mr. Hine, but a Vote of no-confidence in the Reform Party, but this amendment lapsed for the want, of a seconder. A further -amc'pdmetft of thanks and confidence was finally tarried by a big majority.

, ■ „'■,■ • MR. HINE AT XGAERE. r( i,(From. -Oinr Stratford Reporter.) ••» 'Aft:'J. -B. Hine addressed a well-attend-'edfoeetteg of electors in the Ngaere Hall whi Wednesday evening, Mr. T. E. Cole--taian''presiding. Aa in his previous •'Speeches* Mr. Hine severely criticised the administration of the' : party in power, and explained fully the Mokau land ■transaction, 1 Whilst he also went into the l matter of the Hine charges. A large number ; of (juestions were forthcoming, iftii'ti tte.ehndklate gave straightforward replies;! A : Vote of' thanks to Mr. Hine iandof confidence in him as memher, and • !:ai.!n-M)ftitJ*nl' , t'o' :Mie effect that in the OtOTi'tortlofi'tlie'lileeting the time had ar,rived'wheJi'iu.elultjger of Government was ; the' welfare of the Domin- ■ 'towl \ver , eo<ja;riiedSvif,hout dissent. i' l '; night at Huiroa, '• art'ditK-nig]lt'-h - e will'meet the electors at 'Wtetagoinottionn. ' Next week, commenc.•iirijfl'eh'iJ(f(W)!day, Mr'Hine will meet the ■ Irpieqtorfe b»" tfte'-v&i'ioiis roads between Midhirst' an& Ingiewobd. .m'i-.iii;in'' Milt .-; •■' - inArRr;':M«C{jL:«GAGE'S CANDIDATURE. < . ! M». McC3t(gga<»e l ilddressed the electors 'Jit.lKsimaUa mit- Monday evening. Alvery rough, a good i '»irAtart'tariWdi. out- to hear the candid- ■ »te< ''MA teller voted' to the chair. The candidate. Tewivftd 1 a good hearing, MK>iat thfe conclusion' was asked several iqiiestjioma,'wMcli hevansHvered satisfac- • lipi'ily.i'A! heartjt''vote of thanks was ' pa*sed ; " for liis ad 1 - I'dresai'.-'i '-""I '<<■'■ : '-' '■' '■'■'■

(Dft'Tttcwftiymight Sir. McCluggage addressed ■& '.Uutgo'Mivdeting of electors in the'Waitifi school. 1-he btiilding was fill•Bd.'^Mn.■};. Saddler was voted to the touched on the 'Moka'tv-Mhiirdal,' 'and "galfi he was sure best ''thlifg" had been done :tfbno»illroori«Mi*l'-'m this block. life limerttooiTesl"' it''\*JCs : '-n()tic:eable that tti«: il\»f«r«i i'Pftrty-never' stated that if this'-'felocfc iS"flot'mutably cut up in ' nrcafe' to, comply- with 1 the 'Act and the ■• Woak'i i'-6ade<P''i\tMh'in"i three years, the ; K.VJndipA*^-'•■ftA^siS"fo'rfeit 'their interests therein.l.i"Hei ; als6 | 'dw v ielt''o;n the Oapitaji indite !of' , staMasl/-!g§neiM''>'election over thfe • (IfttrjifWgilltttfMlsi, artdl'-fuYtliW. speaking (ffl no=xfoUs i 4vec4s; said towould advoc'atfe • gtoi'ng'in ■ 'for scientific i lmv«i*tJiiga<lion.s : tft'Trnd 'the".best methods? "At (miditntinfi'iblackberry, which weed ife 'getthlg-'Sut'or'control in some parts o'f -•TarrtTi'a-k-i(-an'<i has' got 'beyond the power of the local bodies. He'saiirhe thought tli«'f!overittnth't should-experiment in i practical way, tofmd sbinc means of killing' thfipbßt'enti»'etv."and he would support'ri.ivy'measnre iivihat direction. HI 1 .thought tional -one;!-us it : is almost impossiblp for a farmer to clear his farm if once blaci-borirygots- a'good hold. Nothing but science can cope with it. arid if eli'cted' to the House' he would use bib best endeavors to get the Government to take the'matter; up. At the conclusion' Of his address. Mr. McCluggagc : Wits • Warmly applauded, and several questions were asked-and answered. ; A'voto of : lhanks:was accorded (o th|e camlid-.itci and theaisua'l thanks to thje chair ■terminated the meeting.

■'.Vim LIBERAL PARTY CRITICISED, To. the Alitor. : (1 'S'ir^-I'have"always admired Mr. dames for his businesslike manner, and on dairy- ; irig matters I tllirik he is, hard to beat. 1 Init his" letter on the present political 1 question rfppfafs to me to be a bit weak, i T 'th-ifile' nearly everybody will claim : .thai; tbcv 'vle.w ; ''polities with an .open, unbiassed I 'mind." 'Mr. 'Mnssey and ljis party, arc undoubtedly a bit weak. .Hence ,1 Tie'urgent nerd of strengthening their ranks," but"if given ."the opportunity, inI 'dividuaily 'M'i\ Mrts'sey" would prove himself a stronger man than the great ijlir ,T. C. MrvfanTcT quotes the increase 'in the post office savings bank deposiis for the, hist ,20 ycar.s.Cnintcd Mr. James' figures are correct, that increase would take place under any government, jtist so long as the seasons were good and the people wanted to save. In fact, it' is quite possible that had the Opposition been in power the deposits would have' shown even a greater increase. But it is

characteristic of the Liberal Party's methods. They are like a drowning person, grabbing at straws. That .people have left this country, and are doing a great deal better than ever they did here, is no use denying, and also that people from other prosperous States have come here and are only too glad to get out of it if the.y could raise sufficient money to take them out, is a fact. Only the other day, in speaking to a Queenslander, he voiced himself in these strong terms: "It was not the country, but the bad legislation for the prime producer."

Mr. James also states that the London capitalist is not afraid to invest his money in this country. They are also not afraid to invest their capital in other countries such as South America, j Russia, China. Yes, Sir, under a more progressive government there are a great ! many industries and important works that should and would have been boomed long before this, lint it is evidently not the present Party's policy to encourage foreign capital, and they are unable to finance the undertakings, and consequently they are left undone. Now, Sir, you have yourself gone a bit too far in some of your criticisms of the opposing Party. 1 almost fancy you know different to some of the points you profess to criticise. You pay a poor compliment to; the thousands, aye! and tens of thousands who will be found voting for a better .state of affairs on the 7th of December next.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie, at one of his political meetings, is reported to have said that "all the farmers had, they had to thank the Government for." Now, Sir, you know tlmt that is a fairly tall statement, and not very complimentary to the farmers. If it had been reversed it would have been nearer the mark. Directly, or indirectly, all the Government have- got they have to thank the land-users for. We know very well there are some who support the great Liberal cause merely for personal gain, and that is the extent of their politics. A very poor, miserable cause to fight for. We small farmers know only too well what we have suffered through neglect on the part of this Government. We also know what we have had to pay for conveniences doled out occasionally. While some on the land continually applied to the Advances to Settlers for assistance and never got it, the Government candidates came round and bellowed down our ears the beauties of the Advances to Settlers. The Noxious Weeds Act is a very bad piece of democratic legislation, and if rigorously enforced would drive; the settlers off the land. It reminds me very much of the conditions in Germany and Russia about 40 years ago, where the inspectors came in swarms to the different people, mostly to feel the people's pulses and act between them and the Government and inflict penalties according to color, etc. The great wave of democratic feeling all the world over this last 25 years lias been given effect to.. New Zealand, comparatively speaking, no more than any other, and it. would not' have mattered a great deal whatGovernment was in power. It would have been on democratic lines, only a little more so had our Opposition been a bit stronger. lam speaking now of some of the drastic legislation which the Opposition prevented from becoming law, and also some good legislation was put on the Statutes through their instrumentality.—l am, etc., . ... 0. M. BOLDT. Inglewood, November 16, 1911, " THE BICSBLOCKERS."

i To the Editor. i Sir,—lt would be well for the small settler and those in the towns who would like to go on t]ie land to remember Mr, Okey's words in connection with those in the backblocks. i.e., "'He could not find words to express the conditions of many of the women and children who, with h:ave hearts, had gone away from the different'centres of civilisation into the t.ackbloeks in the.hopes of bettering their position and, after 10, 15 or'2o or 30 \ears of toiling and"self-dcnial, when there was a possibility of taking life a l'.ttle easier, found their health broken down through the. hardship they had had 'to encounter." Mr. Okey forgets i't was the land policy of years back of the party he supports, that forced these men out'into the wilds; he'forgets that his partv are fighting'in the interests of the big i'unholders. who .are. -holding, large and splendid areas of land away from elf se settlement-'.and no quibbling or denying can 'dissipate that fact; he forgets it was-thei liberal Government, against which 1 his party are stuffing the ears of all 'unthinking electors with gross misrepresentations of all descriptions, stood to the weliheing of the man with small moans." wherr-they- tackled the bursting of large estates and thereby enabled men wishing to 1 ' go- 'on the .land to make hflmes ; near civilisation, and kept thereby men with families out of the back-blocks. Xo man with a family should be forced /into , out-of-the-way corners; and,.lJtcJd the bursting up process had been in vogue twenty years or so ago the country would have been thousand* aiid! 'thousands the better, both in capital and'population. As I mentiontidTtliteisrnail 'man would do well to think over the--words quoted. Perhaps-ttie-tlWe'hi'"ReformTarty" lias been ; adtf(ited'%V stricken causers i\i- t ifis '-Wk'blocks trouble, and have now'recognised l the"wirong they did in the pastfwfKßlghrd-ifrg Mr. Okey's idea aS'td clearing 1 ' off • noxious weeds, the inference' to lie'taken- from his reply to a'-rfurts'Mdn f(-lii ; '"\^ , ?tljl-'lic l says: ''Tie cciisidered-'tlie'frhdle'charge! of clearing r.cxious weeds shorrid be oorne by the land.")'is tlia'S "a' tSx 1 or'charge on farmers is, in his opinion," the proper thing to do. and that that includes the clean farmer as'welKgoes-without.saying. How about tha*,i'Mrl Oockey.'?' 'Mr. Okey objects to'natltfa terwrff*being.cleared of 1 noxious weed*'wi!.t'ht»->cowritry ! s expense, and ther'eioW,! t-A - 'be-logical,'would not agree to''t-llei wh'6lfl-eonnitry bearing the cost of cleaning the wliite'man's land! Xo. Mr! Small'Fa oileri don't forget the party that 'hnsutn'd will still further assist us. and who and still is fighting in our interests against the grab-all big n'hn; the, is..trvmg, ;\]l spi;ts.of devices t'o bamboozle us.' 'lVt can play the same game, and T hope just as well as they!—l am, etc., -il'.-J'. ■■■■■. • .'..■:-..! M'i ■',-I-o ;! l.-:-! ;■ - T - ] '- S - ■ TnglewnQijl. Nov. 15. 1011.' „ ~.,.,,:.