POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 130, 23 November 1911, Page 8

POLITICAL.

DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Wednesday. A gazette has been issued to-day dissolving the General Assembly and convening Parliament for December 23, also giving the usual lists of returning officers- and polling places. Nominations for Maori members are fixed for December 1, and polling for the 19th. THE PREMIER'S ENGAGEMENTS. Rotorua, Last Night. The Premier is to deliver a political address- here on Friday evening, and will speak at Te Aroint on Saturday. THE PREMIER AT TAIHAPE. Taihape, Wednesday. The Premier was accorded a most enthusiastic reception here last night. There was a large crowd on the platform. Replying to the Mayor's welcome and good wishes, Sir Joseph Ward referred to the excellent receptions he had met throughout the Dominion, adding that the prospects of the party were never brighter than now.

TE KOURA-STRATFORD RAILWAY.

FIRST SOD TURNED. Taumarunui, Last Night. •Sir Joseph Ward and party arrived last night by the express. The Prime Minister opened the bridge across tke Ongarue river in the morning, Lady Ward cutting the ribbon. In the after noon the Prime Minister journeyed to a point two miles south of Te Koura, where he turned the first sod of the Te Koura : Stratford railway. There was a large gathering of the settlers. He received a splendid reception. This evening he addressed a largely attended public meeting and received an enthusiastic reception. He replied to the Opposition's criticism regarding the Dreadnought gift, and also dealt with the present expenditure for defence purposes. He said that for a small expenditure of £250,000 we were getting the protection of the British Navy, whereas Australia was spending eight millions for only a local navy. He also touched upon the question of military training. There was a country (China) with a population of 400 or 500 millions whose shadow to-day was over the whole of Australia and New Zealand. Australia was only ten days' and New Zealand only fourteen days' steam from China. If these Asiatic hordes came into New Zealand the community would be debauched by their inlermarriage with the daughters of the people of N«w Zealand. • A voice: Nol

Continuing, Sir Joseph Ward said it had happened everywhere that they had gone, and this was a thing they should guard against. (Applause.) The expenditure on defence was well spent in guarding our shores from such a calamity. Workers, apart from this question, would be seriously affected, as the invasion of Asiatic labor would be a death blow to unionism and all its benefits. He also referred to criticism regarding the public debt, and the alleged increase of taxation. He said that the Government, esjieeially during his term of office, had enormously reduced taxation in several directions.

On resuming his seat the Premier was greeted with loud and continued cheers.

A hearty vote of thanks to Sir Joseph, coupled with a vote of continued confidence in the Government, was carried unanimously, amid applause and cheers. After the meeting Sir Joseph Ward was entertained at a banquet. He left by the express later for Pukekohe and Waiuku.

MR. MASSEY AT PALMERSTON. Palmerston N'., Last Night. Mr. Massey addressed a very large meeting at the Opera House this evening, hundreds being turned away. He was received with cheers and spoke for over two hours, covering similar ground to that traversed in former speeches. A number of questions were subsequently answered, the meeting closing just prior to eleven ocloek. In reply to a question as to why he had waited tiil after Mr. T. E. Taylor was dead to clear him of aspersions he had cast upon him, Mr. Massey said Mr. Taylor was. dead and he would say nothing but good of the dead. He denounced the asker of the question as a "cur," and said he had shaken hands with Mr. Taylor at Christchurch and they had said that they could settle their differences in five minutes.' talk. He denounced the correspondent who asked this question in that day's Manawatu Daily Times, and said that he was making a collection of such things all over the Dominion to hand to his solicitors, as there was such a thing as criminal libel. At the close of the meeting a vote of thanks and trust that Mr. Massey should secure a substantial majority to icnable him to take up the government was carried, an amendment of thanks only being cried down. AN EXCITED MEETING. Hokitika, Wednesday. At the close of Mr. Michel's address at Ross last night, after a most attentive hearing, a motion of thanks was moved, whereupon Joseph Grimmond, of Ross, mounted the stage to speak to the motion and reply to criticism by Mr. Michel of some references made by Grimmond ait Hokitika regarding Mr. .Michel's attitude about the sale of Hokitika Harbor reserves and Ross Flat management. Amidst some uproar, Mr. Grimmond commenced to speak, the Mayor, Mr. Bruce, asking for British fair play. Mr. Michel then rose to a point of order, stating there was no precedent to allow speeches or an attack on a morion for a vote of thanks. Mr i Michel immediately walked off the into the body of the hall, this being the signal for a regular pandemonium of cheering, hooting, and singing. Mr. Grimmond was unable to obtain° a hearing, but continued his reply to its conclusion amid continued uproar. The Mayor put the motion and declared it carried. The excited crowd continued the uproar for a considerable time afterwards.

THE WAKATIPU SEAT. Dunedin, Wednesday. Mr. Stevens has retired from the Uakatipu contest, leaving a strai<»ht■out contest between Mr. Eraser (Opposition) and Mr. Home (Ministerialist). THE TARANAKI SEAT. Mr. Forbes invites the electors to meet him at Upper Mangorei road to-night and at Kainii.ro to-morrow night. On Saturday evening he addresses "the electors at Korito. MR. OKEY AT LEPPERTON. Mr. 11. Okey addressed the electors at Lepperton on Tuesday evening, when there were between 50 and GO present, including a number of ladies. Mr. J.' Little was voted to the chair. ' The candidate dealt with several matters of interest to farmers and severely criticised the administration of the Government

in regard to a number of public works, also its extravagance in several instances, paying double salaries. Several questions were asked and satisfactorily replied to by the candidate, after which Mr. F. Atkinson moved hat Mr. Okey be heartily thanked for his address, and that this meeting expresses its continued confidence in him as member for the district. Tile motion was carried unanimously, and a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated a very successful meeting.

MR. McCLUGGAGE AT KAHOURI BRIDGE.

Owing to the courtesy of Mr. H. Johnson in placing his hall at Mr. MeOhiggage's disposal, the Liberal candidate was able to address the electors at Kahouri bridge on Tuesday evening. Mr. H. Johnson occupied the chair, and, in introducing Mr. McG'luggage, stated that the candidate was well known to them all and required no introductnu at his hands. Mr. McCluggage dealt with the principal political questions, of the day, and his pithy criticism of the Opposition candidates' tactics were very telling. He made reference to the fact that they were not giving the people politics, but were going around the country making all sorts of innuendos about the Liberal Party, and not substantiating them with direct evidence.

The candidate, in referring to the Mokau land deal, went exhaustively into this deal, and pointed out that the syndicate would not get any title to the land until they complied with the conditions of the Act. In other words it must have it cut up into suitable areas to comply with the Act, and have it completely roaded inside three years, otherwise they forfeit all their interests in this block. At the conclusion of a very forciful address the candidate answered 'several questions, and on the motion of Mr, J. Bonner, seconded by Mr. McCracken, a hearty vote of thanks for his interesting and instructive address was carried. The usual vote of thanks to the chair concluded a very interesting meeting.—-Contributed. MR. HINE AT TARIKI.

Although the climatic conditions were anything but pleasant on the night of the 20th inst., there was a good attendance at the Tariki Hall to hear Mr. J. B. Hinc's address. Mr. J. Knowles occupied the chair. M. Hine, who was greeted with applause, spoke on the lines of his previous addresses, touching on increase of taxation, the Government's land policy, the Mokau block, railway matters, and other important topics of the hour. His remarks were frequently applauded by the audience, who were evidently in full sympathy with his political views. After a number of questions had been answered, a motion that Mr. J. B. Hine be tendered a hearty vote of thanks for his address with renewed confidence in him as their representative, also that in the opinion of this meeting the time has arrived when a change of Government is necessary for the welfare of the Dominion, was carried amidst great enthusiasm. Cheers for Mr. Hine and a vote of thanks to the cliair terminated the meeting.—Own Conespondent.

MR. MACKENZIE AT OAONUI. There was a large gathering at the [ Oaonui Hall on Tuesday evening, when the Hon. T. Mackenzie addressed the electors. It is estimated that the audience numbered about 150 persons, thus making the gathering one of the largest political meetings ever held in the district. The proceedings throughout were most enthusiastic, applause being frequent and hearty, and at the termination of the address prolonged cheers were given for the candidate. Mr. J. C. O'Rorke, chairman of the Oaonui Dairy Company, occupied the chair, and in introducing Mr. Mackenzie paid a tribute to his work as a citizen, as a politician, 1 and as a Minister of the Crown. He (the sqeaker) felt sure that if Mr. Mackenzie was returned as their member, and there was little doubt but that would be the case, they would never have a better or more able representative. First of all he was the Minister of Agriculture, and it was particularly fitting that he should represent such a community as that comprised in the Egmont electorate, where dairyins. one of the most important branches of present day agriculture, was paramount. They had heard stated in that hall not So very l«ng ago that Mr. Mackenzie kept on one of the State Experimental Farms a class of catMe that were "bones and culls." There were some amongst them who did not know differently, but he (Mr. O'Rorke) could tell them that he went down to the Palmerston Show, where some of these "bones and culls" from the State farm were offered for sale. He went prepared to buy, and although he went sis far as £lO2 in his bids, he was not successful. One beast brought as much as £140,, and if Mr. Mackenzie was able to make "bones and 'culls" Worth those prices the more they saw of him the better. (Laughter.) They, as farmers, would soon forge ahead, and he would say this, that what Mr. Mackenzie had done in the way of establishing good herds at the farms called for recognition, and he was the right man in the right place. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Mackenzie, in the course of his remarks, explained in reference to the establishment of dairy herds at the State farms, that it was hoped that in the not distant iuture to devise means whereby the progeny would be made available "to the settlers at reasonable prices, it was true that at present they were being disposed of by public auction, but this was due to the fact that he wished to demonstrate the worth of the cattle and also to show that tire State farms could be 'in the total made to pay, in addition to carrying on the experimental work that was gone in for at these stations, and which in itself entailed no small outlay. At the end of his address Air Mackenzie asked for questions, several being asked and all answered satisfactorily. Hearty: votes of thanks to tne Minister and chair concluded the meeting.—Contributed.

THE PATEA SEAT

MR. O'DEA AT ARAMOHO. CHALLENGE TO MR. PEARCE. Mr. O'Dea had a splendid meeting at Aramoho on Tuesday niirlit, when he commenced the second round. Mr. Luxford presided. The candidate dealt at length with the Opposition candidate's attitude- on Uibor matters, and said that when asked at Normanby whether he had ever written a letter to the press saying that his reason for opposing the rise in the workmen's wages was that things were dropping. Mr. Pearce denied point-blank that lie had. (Hawera Star of November 21.) Mr. O'Dea said this was absolutely contrary to fact, and quoted a letter'written ' by Mr. Pearce in the Patca Press of December 20, 1007, in which, inter alia, he stated: "As a. correspondent in your paper, signing himself 'Worker.' seems to doubt my statement at the Council meeting that it. was an inopportune time to raise wages, as produce was dropping, may 1 trespass on your valuable space to publish the enclosed article on December 4 from the Mercantile Gazette. . ."' Mr. O'Dea also dealt largely with the national debt, and threw out a chal-

lenge to Mr. Pearce. Mr. Pearce had disputed the correctness of his (the speaker's) figures, and said that the interest per head had increased from £2 15s 3%d per head in 1891 to £2 18s S'/jjd now, whereas Mr. O'Dea contended it had decreased to £2 10s 5%d. He felt so sure of his figures, and so strongly over such misrepresentations, that he was willing to retire from the contest if his figures were proved incorrect, provided Mr. Pearce would do the same if he were wrong. This would prove the genuineness of his opponent's position. A vote of thanks to Mr. O'Dea for his able address, and confidence in him as their future representative, was carried without it dissentient voice, on the motion of Mr. Alderton, seconded by Mr. Pepper. Mr. Alderton, in proposing the motion, said there was no beating about the bush with Mr. O'Dea; he was straight from the shoulder, and the electors knew where he stood.—Contributed.

A member of the audience at Mr. Pearco's Normanby meeting wished the candidate to put up £SO in support of the correctness of figures quoted in previous addresses by him (Mr. Pearce) as against those quoted by his political opponent in reference to the same matters. To this Mr. Pearce replied that he would not, as it was in effect a challenge to bet, and willingness to bet as to the correctness of anything- was merely the argument of a stableboy,s»ys the Hawera Star.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE. Speaking at Mosstown last Friday, Mr. G. V. Pearce said that Mr. Hogan had issued a challenge that if anyone could prove that he had ever voted for party before principle he would retire from" the contest. Mr. Pearce said he would accept the challenge, and quoted from Hansard to show that on the matter of the Hine charges of last year Mr. Hogan had voted with the Government for the exclusion of the press from the committee's enquiries. The Government, however, was defeated by 39 to 31 on this motion. The press was a public safeguard, and by voting for its exclusion Mr. Hogan had voted against the interests of the public, and principle. Mr. Pearce charged Mr. Hogan with being only a faint echo of the Government all' the time, and with having voted for Star Chamber methods. He would like to hear Mr. Hogan explain his action in this matter, and if he acted up to his challenge he would retire, but Mr. Pearce did not expect he would.

MR. BELLRINGER'S CANDIDATURE To the Editor. Sir,—The oft defeated Mr. Belirmger's candidature is never taken very seriously in the country in point of fact, and one is inclined to sympathise with him in his long nightly journeys to such little purpose. A twenty-mile drive to give an alleged address to seven electors, as at Albert road, five-sevenths of whom are, say, against you, is far from encouraging, and is perhaps a record. After all one can go through the different speeches more comfortably at the fire*, side, though one would l like to have a little more information politically than has been forthcoming so far. For instance, seeing the huge gap socially between hereditary titled people and the common herd in the Old Country, you would like a satisfactory explanation as to why the principle should be introduced into this alleged democratic country where Jack is supposed to be as good as his master. Then one can't help thinking that it will take more than the proverbial sledge hammer to drive the fact into the heads of future stragglers on that historical Mokau block that the Government did the right thing in planting them under the heel of the bloated capitalist for the rest of their lives., Then one marvels at the thousands of pounds paid.out on the principle that "to he that hath shall be given," while the unfortunates in the mental hospitals are stowed away like sardines for want of more accommodation. Also you are reminded of the continual appeals by country M.'sP. for roads in the backblocks and the snubs and insults they are subjected to by an alleged Minister of Public Works. In the eleventh hour of the .late session the member for Taumarunui appealed strongly to the Minister on behalf of some of his constituents, the road to whose places consisted only of a six-foot track, and here they had resided for sixteen years! But no satisfaction could he get. Still there was that dandy nugget for the King, don'tcherknow, so what are those bally six-foot trackers growling about.—l am, etc., ALBERT ROAD.

THE GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. To the Editor. Sir —While advocating the claims of the Government you have freely blamed the Opposition for not giving both sides of the question when criticising Ministerial actions, so it is to be presumed you think it a duly to give both sides of the question. How does this theory agree with the practice adopted by the Government and its supporters? Mr. Isil.t, when he had been in Parliament a full fortnight, thought himself competent to give a certificate of good conduct to the Government, and so hard up were, its followers that this certificate was widely published as refuting all charges that, had been made by the Opposition. This same gentlemen, after longer experience, informs his constituents that "the Government is weak and vacillating, and composed of opportunists,'' hut I do not think even you, Sir, have thought proper to give this the I same prominence as was given to the] first, utterance.

Tlu> (iovcrnnient and its supporters elnim that BSI,-i;l;i acres of land was set! led last year, but tlicy do not toll us that (ill.li!)") acres of litis was pastoral runs taken up bv only 52 people, and that 300,000 acre's wove forfeited, which puts a completely different aspect on tlio case. When Mr. Field, in your columns, ventured to quote what the Dairyman bad said of the Hon. T. Mackenzie only a month or two before it went bald-headed for the same gentleman, he brought upon himself the full wrath of Messrs. Wright & Smith, the former kindly informing him be was | not included among progressive dairy-. man, and the latter that it was utterly irrelevant, an opinion that will be by no means endorsed by those who wish J

to know the whole truth of the matter, for, strange as it may appear to •ome, there still exist people who attach some value to consistency. These are but one or two illustrations among scores that could be given, and it surely is not very consistent to blame the Opposition for doing occasionally what the Liberal Party (save the mark!) is constantly doing. If any really want to know the real beliefs and methods of the present Government, as given by members of the same, let them read Sir John Findlay's "Homilies and Humbugs," and the answer given to Ms. Herries by Sir Joseph Ward, Bart, (please do not forget. that) when questioned as to when the policy enunciated by the gallant Knight in an electioneering address at Parnell was to be put into force. The former, in "Homilies and , Humbugs," states that all politicians are humbugs, and derides titles. The latter in his reply to Mr. Herries, states that Sir J. Findlay, when addressing the electors, is "speaking as a candidate, and the Government is not bound Iby his utterances." Electors in the Egmont and Parnell districts ought to make a note of the above, so as to know what value to place on Ministerial promises when electioneering. Two 1 gentlemen in New Plymouth (one of whom is a candidate for the Taranaki j seat) have been doing their utmost to belittle the claims of Mr. Okey in conI nection with the oil industry, but to , many their efforts appear to have resulted in something quite different to what ,they anticipated, and to prove that the charges of using public funds for party purposes are not unfounded. If the Government knew, the industrywas of colonial importance, being trustees of the public funds, any grants given to aid it ought to have been given through the representative elected by the people, and flouting him by givinggrants only on the solicitation of theirown partizans has not a very clean appearance.

And now (as I do not wish to occupy too much of your valuable space) I will conclude with a little personal experience that I had recently. When the Hon. Buddo was at Raho'tu a deputation waited on him to request that a, few J's.P. might be appointed between Okato and Rahotu, as those" wishing to find one had to travel a good many miles to do so. The names of myself and another gentleman (not noted as a Government supporter) were suggested for Warea, and I at once informed the Minister that I was not seeking the appointment, having long ago refused it, but that at the present time there was a real want, and that if appointed I would do my duty. Soon after a telegram for me and another gentleman (not the one mentioned by the deputation)' arrived from the Department, asking us if we would serve if appointed, l at once replied in the affirmative. From then till now no further communication has arrived, but the gentleman not named by the deputation has alone been appointed, and he only, you will lay, a trifle light as a feather. True, so I take it, but feathers, even better than more solid matter, show the direction of the wind.—l am, etc., JAMES BURGESS. Warea, Nov. 20, 1911. TO-NIGHT'S MEETINGS. Taranaki seat.—Mr. Okey at Frankley road; Mr. Bellringer at Tataraimaka; Mr. Forbes, at Upper Mangorei road. •tratford seat—Mr. Hine at Tuna, 1 p.m., Ackland road 8 p.m.; Mr. McCluggage, Toko road Hall. Egmont scat.—Hon. T. Mackenzie at Riverlea; Mr. Dive, Opua road 1 p.m., Oaonui 8 p.m.