A STORMY MEETING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 127, 20 November 1911, Page 8

A STORMY MEETING.

MR J. B. HINE AT WHAXGAMOMOXA, A CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, i (From Our Own Correspondent.) Mr. J. B. Iline, the Opposition candidate for Stratford, addressed a largely i attended meeting at Whangamomona 011 Friday night. Some difficulty was experienced in getting a chairman, and finally Mr. Coxhead took the chair. The, audience was a very representative one, 1 farmers being particularly in evidence, the inclement evening not deterring them from rolling up in large numbers from! all parts of the district. The workers on the railway line were not largely in evidence. :

The candidate spoke for nearly two hours. In dealing with the Lands for Settlement Act and The Widows' Pension Act he gave credit to the Government for putting these Acts on the Statute Book. Mr. Hine then criticised the Ward administration on the same lines as usual, but some of his "points" met with strong opposition from a large gathering of the audience. Mr. W. A. McCutchan took strong exception to Mr. Hine's criticism of the finances.

Dealing with the land question, the candidate declared himself in favor of any tenure. Then the Mokau transaction was referred to, and the* Government was severely criticised for not preventing the matter going through. He made much of Mr. R. McNab being chairman of the syndicate now holding the property, but would not disclose the names of the other members when challenged to give them.

[ Mr. Hine also touched lightly 011 tariff reform, and said that amongst other remissions lie would take the tax off Hour. (A voice: "There are no wheat growers in your electorate.") He made referenc# to the sugar trust, making much of the "immense sugar trust now operating in New Zealand." Coming to co-operative works, he said that whilst the principle of co-operative works might be .all right, and would probably be in vogue for the next fifty years, the administration was at fault. He would favor the introduction of modern tunnel appliances, so that the amount of labor to be employed would be reduced. Mr. Hine also referred to the Hine charges, and to his Work during the three sessions of Parliament, which, he considered, entitled him to the continued support of the electors, in whose hands he felt he could safely leave the issue. Questions wi re invited, and the candidate hail a bixy time. Mr. Landir asked: What was your position in the House regarding the strike in the WliangamomOna tunnel a few weeks back?—l asked the Minister what could be done. 1 Mr. Lundon: What was the co-t of the Hine inquiry?—£s49. Was that the full cost?—No, because I had to pay my own costs. Are you aware that the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie at Ngaere said that directly and indirectly it cost the country some thousands?—l am aware of it. It is incorrect. The cost was £549.

In reference to Mr. Massey and the Auckland wharf strike in 1801, Mr. Iline said it was unfair to couple him with hi» leader in matters like these. Mr. Morgan made a statement, which lie offered to back with £IOO if desired.

Mr. \Y. A. McC'ut'ehan drew the candidate's attention to the fact that Mr. Hine had given the amount of the public debt. How much of the 80 millions of borrowed money was reproductive?— Mr. Hine said that 55 millions were reproductive, and 25 millions were not.

Mr. MoCutchan: Why didn't you till us that in your speech? hi answer to Mr. filecson. Mr. Hine Said he did not consider the railways reproductive. Mr. Mordaunt asked concerning a speech by Mr. Ilinc in the House during the 1!)1() session, condemning the extravagant expenditure on public works. Could he remember what he replied to Mr. Laurenson's interjection, "That that money was distributed amongst the workers?" I Mr. Iline could not remember his

words. .Mr. Mordaunt: Yon stated '■That is what I object to. \ou do not care what it costs the country so long as the workers jfet it." Mr. Iline said those were his words, but they were not intended to bear the construction that Mr. Mordaunt sought to put upon them, to which Mr. Mordaunt replied thai on the eve of an election it was essential for Mr. Hine to put the matter oil' in this way. Mr. Jennings asked, "What Acts of the present Government would the Opposition repeal if returned to power?"—None.| An interjector: Then why did the Opposition condemn them when tliev wire brought down in the House? ! Mr. Stock well moved, and Mr. W. T'acon seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr. Hine. He said he would not add confidence, for the meeting assured that.

Mr. Gleeson moved, and Mr. Lander seconded, an amendment that a vote of thanks be accorded the speaker, and that a votes of confidence in the Ward administration be carried.

Matters were very lively now. Mr. VV. T. Bacon attempted to move that a vote of confidence in Mr. Hine be added to the original motion. The chairman, however, ruled him out of order. He then proceeded to question whether Mr. Gleeson's amendment was in order, but Mr. McCutchan forcibly explained that the amendment was perfectly in order according to the rules of debate.

The amendment was put and carried, those in favor of it effectively drowning the opposition. A show of hands was called for, and the demonstration was so strongly in favor of the amendment that the chairman deemed it unnecessary to put the original motion, and left the chair in confusion, Mr. Iline having no opportunity to thank the chairman or close the meeting in due form. A CHALLENGE. Mr. McCutchan queried the correct ness of some of the figures quoted by Mr. Hine in his speech. The candidate challenged Mr. McCutchan to prove the figures incorrect, and said that if he eould do this he (the candidate) would retire from the contest. The challenge) was accej)tod.