DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 132, 28 October 1914, Page 8

DISTRICT NEWS.

HAXAIA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Mr. D. L. A. Astburj-, the Liberal can. didato for the Eginont seat, addressed a public meeting at the Town Hull on Monday evening, Mr J. J. 'Moldou being voted to the chair. There was a fair attendance. The address was mainly of a critical character. The rival merits of Sir Joseph Ward and Mr W. i<\ -Massey were discussed with much astuteness.! "While the services of the former were available to all c'asses of the community," said the speaker, "the latter ojlly serves those who specially benefit themselves." He considered the present Administration had not the broad sympathies of the Liberal party. Ther were for the most part wealthy men, with money invested in the large commercial concerns, and when such happenings as the recent strike affected ; these concerns, legislation was so framed as not to press on such institutions. In ! the recent strike the sympathies of the | Government wore entirely w it'll the

] shipping companies The appoiiilmuit of' , -Mr lliley was criticised, and the opinion I v,a s expressed that quite as capable a man couhl be secured in New Zealand. The manner in which loans were granted was al o c aimed to he. uiisat'i-iuetorv; ' | tho method, by which allocations /or-' one departi.ant were juggled to other-, showed the ii.-.-r:i.-ity of urgent chang:' to place the dilterent departments on something iil;,- a business footing, The gift of the Dreadnought was also placed ■by the speaker to Sir Joseph Ward's ciedil. (A Voice; l[ u knew sometliing!) Tiie Now Zealand was now in the lighting line in the North Si.a, defending our interests, and tiie statesmanship" that prompted the gift of this battleship was referred to by .Sir Edward Grey as "an ait which consolidated tho Empire." The methods of reducing taxation were aiso adversely handled, particularly in the Department of "the Rainbow Minister." The introduction of an Act whereby all goods imported for the Governor were exempt from duly was vehemently condemned. The Governor is getting a-salary of £500!) per allium, house allowance of .CI.VJO, and travelling expenses AloOl), and why should he he exempt from taxation—(A Voicr: lie has a family to keep!)—when lie is in receipt of so large an income!' questioned tbe speaker. The attempt to bribe Mr Wilkinson by a seat in the I'pper House, to prevent his opposing Mr Vernon Reed, was quoted to the discredit of the Reform Party, while Mr Malcolm Ross' visit to Salnoa a» guide to the Forces wl-ijit. -rea.ly the Dominion ncwspa.peT's representative, was s[i-..-i.dly ['.enounced. .Mr Astbury spoke

eavuig'y again-t the. referendum introdueid through tile effort of the JSiblc-m-Seiiools party, •'which is going to move you to the very depths." ' The speaker raid that a; one time -Mr Massoy had dec.arid: "i am in favor of mora! and religion., instruction in the schools of tlie Dominion." He subsequently declared himself in favor, of the secular system, :o that al one time he was in

fa\(T of secularism, and another dcuuminationaliam. The immigration po'icy was aUo criticised .to its detriment. The yeuuh of six-feet-three, 20 years old, with six years' farming experience, and weighing 1.3 rdone. who was imported at a cost of £lO to work as ail agricultural hand at 7s fid per week, was quoted as an instance of the competition set up by the improper use of immigration privileges. The nomination system ot electing the Upper House was' condemned, and a propor:.'oiiate representation favored, 'the selection ot the men whose ages ranged from CO to 70 years, \\3.& quoted as an instance of the evils of the nomination system. The method of handling native lands in giving ten year.,' lease to the original owner was regarded as unfair, and the canteen business was quoted as a notable instance of .Ministerial incapacity. In reply to Mr Barley-man's 'question, "Is it right to pay .Mr Hiley while we pay a Minister to do the work?" the speaker condemned the appointment of Mr lliley, and the- expense set up as outlined by Mr liarleyman's question. Mr 11. S. Craig moved, and a hearty rote of thanks was accorded Mr Aslbury for his address. In returning Uianks, >'he lat'er j MI plied that he w.m'd »,,, be on the road again, and go more fully into qiicsiums than on (.1,,, present occasion, which was m.ule purely critical.

A meeting- of the Manilla Xo Licen-.c I-eagilc wa, held on Monday- evening in the Mettodbt Church, the'Key. w" J| Howes being ;„ the chair. There was a good muster of members, including tt deputation from the Eginont Xu-U-civ* Counoil. Mr Clement, the president of the Ellham _\'o-].ii-ens c Council, spoke iu favor of the. necessity of voting local -Nodiccnso, as well as for the larger issue Mr l.ibcan gave tins council advice in to the best methods of working oae-h district, and showed samples of lit-ru-ture, useful and effective, in wurkiii"" a campaign. Mr Iluirell dealt with t\c council's finance, pointing out; that \i \vd* not so unsatisfactory as was feared" and instructed that donations would at any time be gladly received br Mr I Übean. It was resolved—"That it be a recommendation to speakers ami workers to emphasise the importance of oeal xVodicense, as well as of national I ronbit.on." It was further dßcWed that etu.rts be made to obtain the se--VK-es ot the 1!,V8. lbunmond and Kee he later / or ~„„ week, if possible, al*. that, fadmg Mr Fee, the services of either ibssrs McUibbona or McGregor be obtained. The following were aY pointed as scrutineers:-Manaia: Mossr* 1. A. l.ndge and F. Muggeridgo. Kal»»": Mr. W. A. l>aw,on. Eiforts are ; also to b e made to find suitable i-onre-sentation at Inaha and Auroa ' i . The Gonaiiarcial Hotel, Manaia, ha,, just changed hands, Mr J. i la rcour(, I'crng ttia new •proprietor..-' Mr "W ' Moore, th o lata landlord, propose, „™il-' j "ig m the. .town f or , ome tirne taking- u? active dutie. elsewhere.