POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 149, 19 November 1914, Page 8

POLITICAL.

THE PREMIER AT DUNEDIN. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Dunedin. Last Night • Mr. Massey gave a 'brief address at a meeting of Mr. T. Dalton, Reform candidate for Dunedin South. He retried to what New Zealand was. doing to assist the Empire in the war, and said that if the call was madef or more men he was sure- the traditions of New Zealand would be nobly acted up to, and men would be forthcoming. He dealt - in strong terms with the suggestion that the Government was responsible tor the Huntly disaster. The mine had not been regarded as dangerous. The statement was made that if the Act introduced in Wl2 had been passed the calamity would have been averted. The statement was wrong. A Commission, acknowledged to be a good one, had investigated the matter, and had exonerated the Government and Department from blame, and anyone who suggested that the Government wasi to blame was not fit to associate with decent mwi. Dealing with finance, Mr. Massey explained the drop in the State Advances, and showed how they were being built up again when war came on. He criticised the finance of the Liberal Government. 'Dealing wMb the war, he said that New Zealand was in a better position than the other Dominions of the Empire. She would continue the public works and so employ the men, and the war loan was to be obtained with the assistance of the Homo Government. ,

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S CAM'fIAIGN. Invercargill, Last Night. Over tiOO electors, many of theni ladies, braved the elements to-night and attended the Waikiwi Hall, two and a l:alf miles out -of Invercargill, and in the Awarua electorate, to hear a political address by .S-'ir, Joseph IWard. The ball was crowded, ;.ud many person.", stood throughout. It was .probably one of the roughest nights ever experienced in Southland. A bowling gale was blowing, rain was falling heavily, and it was ■bitterly cold, and a number of the ladies brought rugs to keep them warm. ' 1 'Sir Joseph had a great battle with the i elements, so to speak. So heavy were the intermittent rain and hail showers that, at times, his voice could not be beard above the din of the storm outside, and he bad to wait until there, was a lull in the weather. Mr. W. Morris occupied the chair, and in introducing Sir Joseph, he said he had stood against him at the last election, but was a ■Warty supporter on this occasion. (Applause). Sir Joseph, who was accorded a most enthusiastic reception, spoke for two hours, his speech being punctuated with frequent applause, he reviewed the general politics of the eoHintry, and explained the policy of the vLiberal Party. At the conclusion ol "bis address a unanimous vote of thanks •and confidence was carried, the mover congratulating Sir Joseph on the fine spirit 'he had shown in dropping party Jn Parliament and in the time of the crisis, and expressing the hope and be'Hef that he 'would as the result of tne general elections once more occupy the position of Prime Minister.

HON. F. M. B. FISHER'S CAMPAIGN. Wellington, Last Night. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, (Wellington), Minister for Customs and Marine, addressed a crowded meeting in the Town Hall this evening. There was from time to time a considerahlc amount of interjection, but on the whole the meeting was of a highly successful character from the point of view of the Minister, who met his interjectors with a vigorous candour. Mr Fisher said that had the Government not decided to bold the elections now, a cry would have been raised throughout the country that the Government were hanging on to power and taking advantage of the war. The Government were in a winning mood. On the naval question, recent events had proved the wisdom of Australian statesmanship. Many improvements had been effected in various branches of the civil service. The profits under the Massey administration in regard to the State fire insurance greatly exceeded those under the Ward Government. Closer' settlement had been encouraged, and the. housing of the workers had received the earnest and practical consideration of the Government. Ho defended the suspension of the Shipping and Seamen's Act, and said that under similar circumstances he would suspend it again. He taunted the Liberal party with having formed an unholy alliance with the socialists, and said that it showed what a mournful picture the remnants of a great party now presented. When a vote of confidence in the Government was proposed there was considerable uproar, and Mr Fbher merely thanked the meeting for its courteous hearing.

DUNEDIN SEATS. Dunedin, Last Night. Mr T. Dalton, Reform candidate for Dunedin South, addressed a very largo audience this evening, a large number of people being unable to gain admittance. The speaker made a strong vindication of the policy of the Masscy Government, and he said he was in favour of the freehold in conjunction with the leasehold; a strong advocate of the workers' home scheme, and on the labour question they would alwavs find him supporting a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. The speaker devoted a considerable amount of time to criticism of Sir Joseph Ward's policy. The candidate was subjected to a considerable amount of interruption, but on the whole received a good hearing. A vote of thanks and confidence was defeated.

Mr W. Downie Stowart, candidate for Dunedin West, addressed a large gathering of electors this evening, and was accorded an excellent hearing. He dealt with the naval policy, and stated that though the war iiad not, so far, adversely affected New Zealand, the timo of financial stringency was likely to arise. The alliance of the Liberal and Labour parties was condemned by the speaker as not being at all in the interests of the latter, the old Labour party having found it necessary to withdraw from Liberalism, and the new alliance would serve labour no better. 1 lie Government's action in tegard to the I'ood Commission was vigorously defended.

CHRISTCHURCH SEATS. ~ _ „, Christehurch, Last Night. Mr J. McCombs, Labour candidate for Lyttelton, addressed a meeting of electors at Opawa to-night. He dealt with the business of the last Parliament, and condemned the Government re tho Huntly disaster. He was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr T. H Davey, Independent candidate for Christehurch East, gave his nrst address at Sydenham to-night. He explained that he was opposed to the MacKcnzie Ministry and became an Independent, and intended to remain bo He would pledge himself to neither party on a no confidence motion. At the clese of the meeting a motion wan afr. DftTeWor' Ifa »#?'

dress, and regretting that, after hearing his explanation of his position, the meeting could not see its way to support him at the coming election. MR HUGHES AT INGLEWOOD. Mr D. J. Hughes, the Liberal candidate for the Taranaki seat, addressed a very largely attended meeting at the Town Hall at Inglewood, last night, his Worship the Mayor, Mr G. Young, presiding. Mr Hughes, who was in good form, spoke for an hour and a half, covering a lot of new ground in criticism of the rule of Reform, and driving home the benefits accruing from the legislation of the Liberals in the past, legislation which invariably was for the benefit of the masses, and not the classes. A few interruptions only served to give the candidate an opportunity to display his native wit, and the "meeting was a swinging and good-natured one. After a number of questions had been satisfactorily answered, Mr Hughes was accorded a hearty vote of thanks 6n the motion of Mr D. Todd, seconded by Mr R. Fawcctt. THE STRATFORD SEAT.

The electors of Ngaere turned out in large numbers on Monday evening to hear the Liberal candidate, Mr W. H. Hawkins, and, judging by the splendid hearing accorded tile speaker, the audience was delighted with the address, which lasted practically two hours. Captain Allen presided, and in his opening remarks, spoke of his astonishment when he came to the Dominion a few years ago at seeing the wonderful development that had taken place in a country with such a comparatively recent history. After studying the conditions of the Dominion he could not help associating the progress of the Dominion with the name of Sir Joseph Ward. At the conclusion of Mr Hawkins' address, which held the close attendance of his large audience throughout, a hearty vote of thanks for his able and entertaining address was accorded to the candidate. The motion was carried amid loud applause. A vote of thanks to Captain Allen for presiding concluded a very successful meeting. On Tuesday night, Mr Hawkins addressed another large and successful meeting at Cardiff, Mr Crossley presiding. He spoke at Mahoe last night.

, FARMERS AND PARTY. There pro no less than 25 farmers who arc nt the present moment standing as candidates in the Liberal interest. This is highly gratifying, and is a proof that farmers are beginning to recognise that Liberal legislation did some good for them, ami that they are prepared to' sek further instalments. If our young farmers could only look back and compare their present legislative advantages with the position of afl'airs twenty years ago they would quickly recognise the improved conditions. But they have grown up under a Liberal regime and are not in a position to make comparisons. The union of Liberalism and Labour did much for the farmers of this country, but many of, them have grown rich, and, tempted by the freehold bribe, have deserted the political party who "gave them their chance." But the number of farmer candidates on the Liberal side is an excellent sif,m that not all the farmers are against the Liberals. One peculiarity of the situation is that any Liberal legislation benefits now enjoyed by the farmers were resisted tooth and nail by the party who now call themselves "Reformers," and who flatter themselves that they are the farmers' representatives.—Eltham Argus.

THE PATEA SEAT. Mr Pearce's meeting at Hawera on Monday night was an unusually disorderly one. It broke up with 'cheers for Sir Joseph Ward, and it was evident throughout that party feeling was running high. The speaker waß freqnently interrupted, and hoots and cheers were freely intermingled, says the local Star.

y MEMBER FOR TAUMARUNUI. e . Reports published in the Taranaki r papers indicate that Mr C. K. Wilson, e member for Taumarumvi, has everywhere | been heartily received by his settler--1 constituents in the course of the tour ;' which he is now making through his exa tensive electorate. This indeed is no more than he deserves, for the back- '• blocks settlers of the Dominion have no more tireless and determined advocate ® of their claims in Parliament than the 1 member for Taumarunui. When Mr a Wilson was new in Parliament some or his opponents ridiculed his appeals on ' behalf of the outlying settlers whose cause he has so much at heart, but as y time went on these scoffers discovered s that when the member for the backblocks had the floor it paid to give him a clear run. Mr Wilson established his position partly by a turn for damaging repartee, but far more by the sincerity with which he pleaded the cause of isolr ated settlers and their wives and children , subjected to all the hardships of a pio- [. neuring life. In season and out of sea- . son he asserted their claims to considcra- . tion with dogged pertinacity, and he . deserves a fair share of the credit for . what has already been done to expedite , the roading of the backblocks and for the further enterprises in this direction , which have been planned by the Government. Many of the most pressing demands for roading in the Taumarunui district and elsewhere have been met, but of course much yet remains to be done, and Mr Wilson may be trusted to vigorously continue the work which he has so well carried out up to the present time.—Dominion. "

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY. Speaking at Hawera on Monday, Mr G. V. Pearce, M.P., said:— Someone had proposed a vote of confidence in the Liberal Party, and no confidence in the Reform Party because of the deviation of this line from the Commission's recommendations. He was I not there to make any excuses. He was of opinion that the best junction would have been at Normanby or south of Te Roti, but he would like to point out that when fighting for this, the then Mayor of Hawera publicly stated that the line should go along the reserved route

(which was nearly a mile and a half north of its present location). They must see that when Hawora's Mayor made a statement of that sort and the North Taranaki members were pulling I ,« th ?> t directio ». they must give him j (Mr Pearce) credit for having got it where it is. The Public Works Depart-

ment had fixed the junction 30 chains on the other side of Te Roti, but said that the exact position was not determined One of the governing factors in finally fixing the junction would be the requirements of the Railway Department for working the traffic. When he (Mr learce) went to Wellington it was to work, and on the question of this railway' junction he had the assurance of Mr Hiley that he strongly recommended to the Minister that the junction should be at Te Roti or south of it. There the

matter now stood and as Mr Masscy would shortly be visiting the district ißUttßttdlM»M the

junction where those responsible for working the railways desired it to be. (Applause).—Star. . POINTS FOR ELECTORS. Under clause 14 of the Legislative Amentment Act those whose names have been struck off in error may still vote if they make a declaration required and provided by the law. The clause in question reads thus:— "(1) If at'any election any person whose name is removed from any certified copy of the roll supplied to the returning officer in pursuance of section 24 of the Legislature Amendment Act, 1910, applies to vote, he shall be given a ballot paper on this making a declaration in the form numbered 2 in the schedule hereto. "(2) Every person who knowingly and wilfully makes a false statement in any declaration under this section is liable to a fine of £50." The required declaration is as follows: "I do hereby declare: (1) I am the person whose name appears on the certified copy of the electoral roll as —, and which name is ruled out thereon. (2) I was legally qualified to be enrolled as an elector for the aforesaid district, and am still so qualified. (3) lam not registered on any other electoral roll, and am not aware of the circumstances that have caused my name to be so ruled out. (4) I have not already voted at this election."