POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 121, 15 October 1914, Page 4

POLITICAL.

THE EGMONT SEAT. MR. ASTBUBY AT ELTOTAM. The Opposition candidate for ftho Eemont sealt, Jtr. D. L. Astbury, opened his political campaign at the To \m Hall, EMham, last, night, whom there were between 260 and 300 electors present, about fifty per cent, being ladiea The Mayor presided and briefly introduced the candidate. In the course of his address Mr. Astbury referred to and freely criticised the present administration, expressiing the opinion tihat Mr. Massey was a party politician and not a statesman. With regard to the prevention of strikes, he advocated! the use of the ballot-box. He also dealt wiiiJh tflie IboirowKng policy of ■the Government, and their political appointments, specially mentioning Mr. Hiley'a appointment as general manager of railways. Other matters touched upon were the naval policy, camlt'ctemi contracts, Native leases, Bible-in-sdhools, licensing issue (in regard to which he favored a 56 per cent majority), and proportional representation.

At the close of hi* address Mr. Astbury was accorded, a hearty vote ol thanks.

LABOR IN WEIXIXGTOV. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. As a result of a conference of representatives of all the labor unions in Wellington, the Labor and Social Democratic parties havo formed a political union and established a Labor Repre-, sentation Committee, wliicli will consider what seats in Wellington and suburbs shall be contested at the coming election, and select tho candidates therefor,