POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 152, 23 November 1914, Page 8

POLITICAL.

WRITS ISSUFD ON SATURDAY. ALL ROLLS CLOSED. By Telegraph.—Per Press AiMciatleii. Wellington, Last Night. Writs for the general oleetion were issued on Saturday morning to all re-turning-ofiicers for 7G European and four Maori constituencies. All supplementary roll 3 closed at 6 o'clock last evening, so that now the printing of rolls will be pushed ahead. THE PRIME MINISTER LX SOUTHLAND. Invercargill, Last Night. Mr. Massey addressed an overflowing meeting at Otautau last night, fully a thousand people rolling up. He dealt first with the land question, and the GovcrnI ment's steps in granting the freehold, and was loudly applauded. New markets were opening in America, Canada, and Great Britain, and the Government proposed improving the means of communication to initiate a great forward movement in trade and prosperity. He believed New Zealand would get through the war without decreasing any of the public employees. He had spent three millions in public works, and hoped to do- more this year. In regard to land settlement, since he came into office he had placed 4837 settlers on over a million acres, which was an extremely good record. Re the purchase of lands for settlement, he quoted figures showing that he had done much better than his predecessors. The grievance against the Valuation Department, that the extreme value was placed on land, and that improvements were insufficiently exempted, had been carefully examined. He had decided that the Valuation Act was defective. The Assessment Court was not up to expectations. He had appointed a Commission, and as a result of their investigations he hoped to amend the Valuation Act and get over the trouble. The Government had initiated legislation to stop the drift from coun--1 try to town by providing small settlements, really rural workers' homes, which would be paid off on a rental basis. They had four of these settlements going, and if they could find money they could start another dozen successfully. (Applause.) Mr. Massey traversed taxation, the price of flour, raval policy, ad- ' vances to settlers, and financial questions on the lines of his Tnvcrcargill speech. He quoted Hansard to show that he was the. first man in New Zealand to propose universal training, in substitution for voluntary service.

As to'his future, policy, he stressed land settlement, preferential tariffs within the Empire, and assistance to oil, iron, fishing, and fruit industries. Referring to the TTuntly disaster, he said its use against the Government was the meanest thing in the history of the colony. The delay in passing the Coal Mines Act had nothing to do with the accident, as under the old Act the inspectors had all the power they required. At the close Mr. Massey received an ovation, and only a very small body of coun-ter-cheers.

THE OPPOSITION LEADER. VISIT TO BANKS PENINSULA. AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. (Special to The Daily News.) Christehureh, Last Night. 'Much enthusiasm was displayed on Banks Peninsula yesterday over a visit paid to the district by Sir Joseph Ward. The leader of the Liberal party had never been in Akaroa before, and he was greatly impressed with the beauty of the country, the splendid harbor, and other natural advantages. He motored to Akaroa from Christchurch, being accompanied by Ladv Ward and his son (Mr. Cyril Ward) and daughter ('Mrs. 15. B. Wood). A stop was made at Little River, and an address of about an hour's duration given in the local hall. Mr. J. Coop, chairman of the County Council, presided, and there were about 200 persons present—a very large audience for the district. At the conclusion of the meeting a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was passed, the motion expressing the hope that Sir Joseph would lie returned to the position of Prime Minister ns the result of the general election. Subsequently Sir Joseph and Lady Ward and party were entertained at afternoon tea at Mr. Coop's residence.

Akaroa was reached at a little after fi p.m., Sir Joseph being welcomed by the Mayor (Mr. G. Armstrong) and Mr. J. Bruce (chairman of the County Council). Sir Joseph was then entertained at a banquet provided by the' Borough Council, and presided c by the Mayor. He gave a political a<. *in the evening, the seating accr ".. lion of the hall being taxed to i almost. Dozens of people were unable L 3 get inside. It was the largest political nn 'ting ever held on the /Peninsula, and there must have been close on 800 people present, including a large number of ladies. Sir Joseph, on arrival at the hall, received an ovation. Hig speecli was listened to with the greatest attention, and was punctuated with frequent applauso and cheering. A unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried, and the hope expressed that the Liberal party would be returned to power in December next. Sir Joseph's visit to the Peninsula was undertaken for the purpose of assisting the Liberal candidate, Mr. J. C. Free, who is opposing the sitting member, the Hon. E. 11. Rhodes, 'Postmaster-General. Mr. Free, who occupied a scat on the platform at both meetings, was introduced to the public, and made short and appropriate speeches on each occasion. The cordiality of Sir Joseph's receptions everywhere he goes, and the enthusiasm displayed at his meetings, augurs well for hi g party at the approaching elections,

HON. R : H. RHODES AT SPRINGSTON. EXTENSION OF POSTAL FACILITIES. Christchurch, 'Last Night. Speaking at Springston, Hon. R. Hcaton Rhodes said that, as PostmasterGeneral, lie had been able to make a good many important concessions to the public, with a view of extending the usefulness of the important services he controlled. They would probably remember the difficulty that was experienced in many places in getting provisions, even the necessaries of life, particularly on the West Coast, during the industrial troubles of last year. fFo meet the difficulty he had temporarily raised the limit of the weight of parcels from 101b. to 211b., and lie was glad to be able to announce there for the first time that on the Ist Deeerabej: an important amendment of the parcel post regulations would come into force, in time for the Christmas traffic, providing for the jßxtenflion of the limit of the weight

serred by rail or steamer, rates to be 3d j for the first, lb., IVid. for each addi-1 tional lb. up to 131b., and Id. for each lb. from 131b. up to 281b. This amendment of the regulation also .provided for giring to the. sender without charge an acknowledgment of the posting, and the taking of a receipt from the addressee for each parcel delivered, instead of for oertain classes of parcels only, and the institution of an express service ensuring specially rapid despatch of all parcels on which a. special fee was paid. A good deal had been said by the Opposition, no doubt for party purposes, about the system adopted by the Government in connection with the preparation of the electoral rolls, but a return he had just received showed that •;n nnarly every electorate the numbers on the rolls were largely in excess of those on the old rolls. He found that whereas tho Canterbury rolls, aa purged according to law after the 1911 elections, showed 74,253 elee.tors, the present rolls up to the 18th inst. showod 87,828, an increase of over 17 per cent.

THE AUCKLAND ROLLS. Auckland, Last Night. The Auckland supplementary rolls are not yet complete, but on the registrar's estimates the seven rolls when complete will carry about 72,800 names, as compared with 04,051 in 1011. The main rolls, as compared with 1911, showed a decrease of 700, but the totals of the supplementary rolls more than compensate for that loss. The district rolls compared with 1911 as follows: City Central, decrease of 1700; City East, increase of 400; West, increase of 1400; Grey Lynn, increase of 1750; Manukau, increase of 2000; Parnell, increase of 1600; Waitcmata, increase of 1700; Eden, increase of 3000.

MR. C. K. WILSON AT TIKORAXGI. (From Our Own Correspondent). Mr. C. K. Wilson addressed the electors at Tikorangi on Wednesday, Mr. D. Alexander presiding. The candidate, who was excellently received, traversed the political situation generally, specially stressing the action of the Government in firmly dealing with the strike, and also the Reform policy in connection with native lands, and particularly the West Coast reserves.

In reply to questions, Mr. Wilson stated that lie was pledged, and had voted for the 55 per cent, majority on the licensing question, and was in favor of a referendum on the subject of Biblereading in schools. On the motion of -Mr. J. W. Foreman, seconded by Mr. TTine, the candidate, wag accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address, and renewed confidence in him as a fitting representative for Taumarunui.

THE STRATFORD SEAT. Judging by the increasing interest ta'kenin Mr. W. 11. Hawkins' meetings iho prospects of the Reform party of retaining the Stratford seat are becoming more and more remote as polliag day draws near. All the Liberal candidate's meetings arc largely, attended, settlers attending from lon gdistances. '.Mr. Hawkins 'reputation as a vigorous speaker and unsparing critic is one of the principal factors in drawing attendances at his meetings. At iviahoe and Rowan his meetings were very successful, while on Friday evening every available seat in the Bird Road school-house was occupied. The. meeting was easily 'the most enjoyable and interesting yet held in the building, and lasted until ll' o'clock. Dealing with a vast array of political questions, the. candidate succeeded in holding the attention of his audience and was frequently applauded. Two or three reckless Reformers hazarded interjections,, but wese answered effectively but good toumoredly. When giving his reasons for not allowing votes of confidence to ue moved at his meetings, Mr. Hawkins said uat such resolutions did not mean, anything, for he knew at least one case in the present contest where a vote of noicnfidence had been carried against a candidate but the fact was suppressed in the report of the meeting. At other mcetingi where the attendance was less than ten electors votes of thanks and confidence were caTried. How' could Mich votes be of any value; All ho asked for was a courteous vote of thanks at any of Ms meetings and then only in the event of his audience considering his address wortli such a compliment. At the conclusion of the address, a number of questions were asked and answered, and the usual complimentary votes to the speaker and chairman concluded- a record meeting.—Special corI respondent.