POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 153, 24 November 1914, Page 8

POLITICAL.

Till'. PREMIER AT THE BLUFF. OFFERS TO SUBSIDISE THE PORT. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Invorcargill, Last Night. lit. Hon. W. F. Massey addressed a meeting at the Bluff at noon to-day, about 250 being present. The meeting was most good-humoured, and the interjections made were all in the form of questions. The Premier answered these at length to the satisfaction of the questioners. Mr Massey was applauded on rising, and dealt with the condition of the Dominion when he took office, on the lines of his former speeches, and also touched on finance, taxation, pensions, etc. Answering a question re the port of Bluff and the Union Company, the Premier said that if the company could show him that there was not sufficient business to make their Bluff coastal business pay, and that a subsidy was necessary, he would see to it that the Government made the necessary arrangements. (Loud applause.) The speaker also referred to the visit of Professor Prince. There was plenty of iish for the New Zealand market, and so they had commenced reciprocal negotiations with the Australian Government for the removal of the duty on fish exported from New Zealand. They hoped the Australian Government would agree •to it. With regard to the wheat question, Mr Massey said arrangements had been made for vessels conveying wheat from Canada to call at the Bluff, which would be the first port of call. (Applause.) A vote of thanks to the Premier for his interesting address was carried unanimously, with applause. The Premier was afterwards entertained at luncheon. THE PREMIER AT WINTON. AN INSPIRING MEETING. Winton, Last Night. Mr Massey had an audience to-night nearly as large as that attending Sir Joseph Ward's meeting here last week, , and on rising was cheered to the echo. He commenced by enumerating his pledges given three years ago and showed how lie had carried them out. Tlie land policy of the country had been changed from leasehold to freehold. Native land legislation had been satisfactorily reformed, and the Legislative Council had been reformed as pledged. The civil service ' had been removed from political influence, and the Old Age Pensions Act had been amended so that women now got pensions at CO instead of 05. The Government had carried out all its -pledges, except the reform of the Parliamentary grants—a Bill for which was drafted and would be passed—and insurance against unemployment and sickness, this question proving very difficult to deal with.

Mr Massey then outlined the present platform of the Reform party, being loudly applauded on the naval question. He was gratified that the country was so prosperous ill spite of the war, and was confident of very quick recovery after the trouble was over. (Applause). In regard to agricultural banks, he had collected all evidence and handed it to the Board of Agriculture, and upon their report he had no doubt he could do something to assist settlers in their finance. The Government proposed fostering industries, as, for instance, the oil, iron, fish, and fruit industries. Mr Massey dealt with taxation and the Huntly disaster on the lines of his Otautau speech, both points being well taken,, while the methods of repressing strikes were loudly applauded. Mr Massey spoke of the danger of the combination between the lied Feds and the Opposition, and described the Opposition as a very mixed lot. Joseph's coat was nothing in comparison with Sir Joseph's party. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks and confidence, coupled with appreciation of the Government's action in connection with the recent strike, the audience cheering continuously.

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S TOUR. GREAT RECEPTION AT ASHBURTON (Special to News.) Ashbnrton, Last Night. To-night Sir Joseph Ward addressed a crowded meeting in the Theatre Royal, Ashbnrton. The seating accommodation was taxed to the utmost. There Avon; about .'JOO poopje on tin' l platform, and at every window and door largo crowds peered in. Uundreds of people were unable to g:iin admission, every seat and available space being occupied long befor tlie meeting coimnone-'d, Ftillv J.jHO

people Were present. It was a lovely summer night, and dozens el' peo;dc outside (lie hall were able to hear the addi'e.s in the Oj.rii air, the speaker being heard clearly and distinct.!v outside. The m«vor, Mr 11. Davis, pr 1. nil arrival at the Ira' '• : -soph was wildly cheered. The a svas deafening, and lasted i ssiderable lime. His arrival i platform, which was reached witn ! i cully, so dense was the crowd, was lie- ..ignal for another outbui'st, and there was a wild (lei.ioustraiii.il -when Sir Joseph rose to speak. '1 he leader of the Liberal party was ill particularly good form. He dealt trenchantly v. it h the programme id' the Tory administration, and denounced t hem for (heir pledge-breaking. Throughout his aiiitrc-s (lie applause was frequent and prolonged. He "was cheered (o the echo when he declared that the Liberal party Here coming back to power in Hi cember. and a great demonstration took place when lie mentioned the Dre.id,-ioi;g];r. \ever has A>hbt!r[oi! witnessed ,-uch a successful public meeting. ami 110 public man has ever before received such an enthusiastic hearing and reception as this. When Sir Joseph roMiiuod his seat after speaking for a little more than two hours, lie received an ovation, the cheers and ap-p!eu-e being deafening. A motion was carried unanimously, and with great enthusiasm, [hanking Sir Joseph U'ard for his able and iiis(,rueti\e address, expressing eonlidi-iiee in the Liberal parly, eongrauilating him on (he patriotic stand lie (001-c in Parliament, by dropping party when the crisis was on, and expressing

till- hope thai a-, till' .iMiit lit' t In* election i;i* would be restored to i!i" position n: I'riii.i' .'\!iui-;.er. A ji-n>ai-l; lili! - closed with c'mth iit Nir hi;,l I.luI;.- WV.nl. : !»:•• - ri Mi'■!r i-:.wr <"'hristcliur.'li, ' ■ , !. A!''. 'I. I>. ' 11-. i'l-.-in daic i'.r ('hi': ;,''iurfii I'si'd. ynve hi: ii !• liii'i- ■ i •. ::i- ! ; .1 -1 ' i '■! 'li ,1 ~e-i'i" >i i sin ml Vs 111! 1' had 1 io (1"! ; tin: scat as noWly lictti-r wis ofiVriw". It was a jfrcat pify thai; «> >nauv nici of ability and i-\|ici'ic-i,o- would not ranic forward as candidates. The Povormn.-nt.. when returned, liad promised /.rood leyislatiou, anil that promise had been kept. The candidate then referred to 11n> legislation of the past three years, claim"lg that a great deal of good liad boon

tion, also a 55 per cent, majority on the licensing question on both issues, lie was accorded a vote of thanks. AIR'. 11. G. ELL AT CIIRISTCHURCII. Christclmrcli, Laßt Night. 'Mr. 11. G. EII opened his campaign in Christclmrcli South this evening, addressing a good audience. He outlined in exhaustive detail the work of tin? Liberal party, and his own connection with anil advocacy of progressive measures. lie specially advocated for the future progressive laiul tax, increment tax, an adjusted stamp duty upon land and house transfers, and reform of Customs duties to admit all common necessities free. IThe aim of the speaker was, he said, to show that the Liberal party had in the past done a great deal of good, and was still capable of doing good. It was a thousand pities that they had beon turned out. The candidate's speech did not touch upon direct and current political questions, but was rather a review of the last 21 years, to the credit of the Liberal party. A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded tho candidate.

THE WESTLANiD SURPRISE. REFORM CANDIDATE'S WITHDRAWAL. Tfokitika, Last Night. A most unusual position has arisen in connection with the Westland Parliamentary campaign. Mr. J. A. Murdoch, Mayor of Kumara, the Reform candidate, quite unexpectedly announced on Saturday that he would not contest the seat. This declaration has placed the Reform party in a difficult position, for the reason that it relied on Mr. Murdoch entering the field. As it is now only a / little more than a fortnight until the poll is taken, another candidate is placed at a disadvantage. In spite of Mr. 'Murdoch's withdrawal, arrangements are being made for the seat to be contested in the Reform interests, but the principal objection, so far as eligible candidates is concerned, is that the time to prepare for the contest is too brief for them to successfully cover the extensive electorate.

THE TIMARU ELECTORATE. Timaru, Last Niglit. About a hundred Labor and Libera! supporter.} of t'lie Ward F'arty met tonight to consider the situation of the Timaru electorate. A deputation of four was appointed to wait on Mr. J. Craißie, to ascertain definitely hid position, and failing a satisfactory reply, to draw up a list of men who might be, asked to stand, and to submit tlicse to a future meeting. The name l of Sir John Findlay was mentioned. The roll closed with 9,01-5 names, or 54 more than at last election. THE CHALMERS SEAT. V Dunedin, Last Night. Mr W. D. Mason, Liberal candidate for Chalmers, addressed a largely attended meeting at Mosgiel this evening. He charged the Government with having failed to fulfil its promises, and spoke at length in support of the policy put forward by the Opposition. At the conclusion of the address, Mr Mason received a vote of thanks and confidence, which was declared carried on the voices though there was considerable dissent.

MR. D. J. lIUGIIHS AT WESTOWN,

_ Mr. D. J. Hughes; the Liberal candidate', addressed a meeting of some thirty electors at Westown last night. Mr. J. •]>. Sjlo presided., and at the conclusion a vote of thanks to the speaker and of confidence in the Liberal patty was carried on tile motion of ■Mr. M. Lobb, seconded by Mrs. J. W. Garcia. Mr Hughes touched oil the Public Trust Department; and criticised the Tory Ministry's attitude towards this great Iwneficial State institution, lie showed iiow the internal workings of the Department were being interfetrcd -with, mentioning the increase of ICO per cent, in one charge alone. Mr. ' Hughes explained that in a ease where a man sold land and applied for the Truster's consent to transfer, the lease held from the Public Trustee, tint charge under the Liberals for that consent w*« five shillings. Directly the Tories got into power they doubled the charge to ten shillings. The same thing applied to consent to mortgage, and it seemed to the speaker that the whole l aim of the Minister who controlled the Department and who stifled reports and opinions of the Department's officers unless they helped liis political party. was to increasy the pre tit.-; of his lawyer friends, 'this line State institution aiu.4 !.c brought- back io tii.t people, and the Liberal party at next election would M -t (arne-Hy to work to undo the harm that tli-j Tory party had already done.

MR. OKEY AT BELL BLOCK. Mr. 11. Okey addressed a meeting of some lliirty or forty electors at Bell Block last night, in the course of a. speech -mpporting tile present- Government Mr. Okey mentioned that his opponent, Mr. -Hughe.--, had claimed at Voge'ltown the other night that lie (Mr. Hughes) had gob the £4o{.M> grant for the High School, a-i well us claiming credit for getting Government assis£ano" for the oil industry. This Jr. Okey denied. AI the eonoliwion of the ad-dre-s a lieartv 7o(e of thanks to Mr. Okey and of (•on(hh i m > e in him and Mr. wa* carried, with cheers. ['Mr. Okey is misinformed as to 'Mr. Hughe-.' w\ t.'i'itiu'e. Tiii* litter gentleman cer!:tit;fy clalmd In have been to f-om'e extent instrnnu nlal in curing the £!WOO I'onile or gr.uifc for the petroleum comrnny, b' ; :t in regard to the "High School irranl ex;:iv--d the opinion that the whole tiling was but an election bribe ,;ind that there was no money on the Estimate* fo;/ the school, nu-rely the promise of a payment next March if 'Mr. Massey is still in, power.]

votks voi; :i:\Ti:mTTOX.U!Y !■"( viu 'i:. Sl-!'('L\L ROLL AT Till: CAMP. Mr 11, I 1!:;",' received tin' following ti'lcyiaii! l!u- Hon. I'. ~M. 'li. Fisher', hi ■•M.'i'ih. :' : of t!if e\pcdii binary forces i! i > !,' (!»• "s 111111' ■ r soivial . lO! ■: ': . ■ i; |ill.' : ; ' .; -i.;...1 in- L hi- Kh.v- ---: ! i ■ '■ i r: : i ■■■; o: tin' ..Ihh't-s. ' .i, . ~:ii V.iii i.e'taken l-i'..'-ii... ; ! I . > 1 . i.' ' i I, u)l Milt I i I ' n 1 i 1 I :'il l 'liloll':' Nl'W PIM-llVl-rV to ille YO!lil"C, 1, f'tlih! without fear of consequences, as it is absolutely free from all opiates and narcotics. Wise mothers will always keep a bottle of this remedy in t'lie house, to Jfle_ai_fcliejir3t sign of a cough or cold.