POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 255, 26 March 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL.

MR. FISHER AT EKETAIIUNA. By Telegraph— Press Association. Ekctahuna, Wednesday. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher addressed a large meeting last night and had an excellent reception. His speech was on the lines of that delivered at Pongaroa. At the conclusion the Minister said he was prepared to diverge from the ordinary course and answer questions, but none were forthcoming. The meeting unanimously passed a vote of thanks to Mr. Fisher for his address and of con. fidence in the Ministry which he represented.

SIR JOSEPH WARD. REPLIES TO MINISTERS HEAVY BORROWING AND INCREASED TAXATION. Auckland, Last Night. What he described as one of the largest audiences he had addressed in the Dominion met Sir Joseph Ward in the Town Hall to-night, and accorded an attentive hearing while the Leader ol the Opposition replied at .length to re-' cent Ministerial utterances. Sir Joseph suggested no policy measures, saying he would be at this stage an infernal ass to give the Reformers policy measures to steal. • He said that influential newspapers were passing into the hands of wealthy landholders, and the press was not as fair as It used to be. He contended that the recent actions of the Government" proved that the Minister now admitted his (Sir Joseph Ward's) financial policy was the right one, and he referred at length to the. Various progressive Liberal and humanitarian measures of the Liberal Government. He condemned the local navy policy, as too expensive. The local navy was already costing- Australia ten millions per annum, and Australia wanted New Zealand to help her to bear the burden. Internal defence was costing New Zealand already half-a-million yearly. With the cost of naval defence, the total came to .£BOO,OOO. It would be a million next year, and a million and a-half after that.

He said that he could have settled the strike in two days, and alleged that the Government had been anything but impartial in its handling of the strike situation.

The Arbitrations Act Amendment Bill of last session was proposed by the Liberal Ministers, but had then been strongly opposed by the present Reform Ministers. He alleged that he had been bitterly and unfairly attacked in connection with the Opposition stonewall of the Second Ballot Repeal Bill. The Reform organisation had not repudiated the objectionable circular sent out in connection with that stonewall by oiie of its officials. This Government, which had promised to decrease borrowing and taxation, had already borrowed twelve millions and increased our annual taxation by ;C 309,(500.

HON. F. M. B. FISHER. BIG MEETING AT MASTERTON. Masterton, Last Night. Hon. F. M. B. Fisher addressed an overflowing meeting in the Town Hall to-night, hundreds being unable to gain admission. The Mayor presided. ■The meeting was the most lively ever held in Masterton, a small body of men persistently counting the Minister out and creating an uproar. Mr. Fisher stuck to his guns, and delivered a speech of an hour and a-half, during which he, explained the work performed by the Government and dealt with a speech previously given by Mr. WilfonT, M.P. At the conclusion of the. speech, a resolution of thanks was passed, with appreciation of the manner in which the affairs of the country arc being conducted. This was carried amidst vociferous cheering, mixed with groans.

A niRTSTCTIURCH MANIFESTO. Christchurch, Last Night. The Canterbury Progressive Liberal and Labor Association issued a manifesto to-night, setting out the objects of the Association, to unite the progressive political forces for the purpose of returning to power a party pledged 1o retain the privileges already won, and to initiate other progressive reforms for Iho uplifting and benefit of the masses 'of the people. Twenty-eight detailed reforms are set out, these covering matters affecting land, State enterprise, humanitarian affairs, Customs and income lax revision, and other matters. The manifesto wag submitted to Mr. Masspy to-night.

The Prime Minister said: "I don't know the persons or party responsible for the production, but it seems to me like an effort to outbid the Red Feds, in a desperate attempt to buy votes at any price, irrespective of principle or -political honesty. - Personally, I am certain that the intelligence of the people of this country will easily see through" this preeiona manifesto, and that they will deem it more worthy of contempt than serious consideration."