POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 151, 2 December 1914, Page 8

POLITICAL.

SIR JOSEPH WARD. FIXE MEETING AT DEVONPORT. (By Telegraph.—Special to News.) Auckland, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward continued his strenuous campaign to-day. He motored from Whangarei, in the Marsden electorate, tnis morning, and addressed a meeting at :llikurangi, a coal-mining town in the Bay of Islands electorate. Th<- local hall was crowded. The Liberal leader received an enthusiastic reception* and at the conclusion of a short speech lie was accorded an unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. Tile, motion, which was carried with tho greatest enthusiasm, expressed the hope that tho Liberal party, with Sir Joseph as its head, would speedily be returned to office.

Sir Joseph returned to Auckland by the Manaia, arriving at 7 o'clock, and an hour later addressed a huge meeting at Devonport, in the Waitcmata electorate. Tiie Parish Hall was packed in every part, and scores of people stood in the passages and behind the stage, which was also crowded throughout the evening. There were well over IOOQ people pre:,wit. The Mayor of Devonport (Mr. W. Hundley) presided. Mr. H. C. Tcwolcy, the liberal candidate for Waitcmata, occupied a seat on the platform. The Liberal leader received a most cordial welcome, loud applause greeting liin: as he entered the hall, the demonstration being repeated when, after being introduced by the Mayor, he rose to speak. CHEAPER CLOTHES FOR TIIE MASSES. Before dealing with general political que, tit ns of- the day, Sir Joseph referred to one or two matters which, he said, lequired to be mentioned to dispel wrong impressions which might be abroad. For instance, there was sometalk g i n.' the rounds .to the effect that the readjustment of the tariff proposed by him in his policy in regard to taking the only off tiie necessaries of life and certain articles required for clothing for tiie masses would be in the direction of introducing manufactured articles free. He gave that an absolute and Hat contradiction. He had never made such a suggestion. He had been always 011 the side of widening the avenues of employment, and helping the industries of the Dominion. If the duty on certain articles required for clothing for the poorer people were reduced, it would give further employment, as the material would be made up in .the Dominion, and it would be for the benefit of the people as a whole. (Applause.) ONE FOR MR. PA APE. Referring to a statement published in the Auckland Herald, and coming from tiie "Reform" organiser, Sir Joseph said Mr. Paape had actually declared that | he knew what had been done by the 1 Liberal leader, and there must be. an alli--1 ance between the Liberals and the Red Feds. What Mr. Paape said made one 1 smile. He was going down to tlio West ' Coast to stand against a sturdy young Liberal in the person of Mr. T. Seddon, • but he had not a hope of winning. (Loud ■ applause.) What were the Reformers to ; do about "their Red Fed. candidate?" • Mr. Paape boasted about an alliance between tiie' Liberals and the Red Feds., I while there were seven Red Feds, stand--1 ing against Liberals throughout tho country. It had also to be remembered i that a few years ago Mr. Paape bad 1 stood for a southern seat with ideas 1 so advanced and extraordinary that tho Radicals in the district would not run ■ him, and Mr. Paape bad nfcver showed , that he had changed his opinions. (Ap- , plause.) REPLIES TO RUMOURS. All sorts of nonsense -was being disseminated through the country to create a wrong impression. The Liberals had held office for twenty years, and no one could point to a singie instance where they had not constitutionally governed the country. (Applause.) They had always put the law into operation, whether it was against employer or employed, but that was more than their opponents could say. They had tried to make political capital out of recent industrial troubles, but the Massey Government were afraid to put the law into operation. "That is my statement to those opposed to me, and we won't be afraid. We are coming into office on December 10th. (Loud applause and cheers, and a voice from the body of tho hall: "We will all bo stone-broke if you 'don't!") SANE POLICY PROMISED. Continuing, Sir Jr--Mi said that they I would carry out th \ir <. of the country, and do the thing to all classrtt. introducing for the general ljenefit of the . •junti-y as a whole. At the present juncture a sane policy was needed, and a well-directed financial policy to help every man and woman in the Dominion. (Applause.) TOO MUCH SECRECY. Dealing with the navy policy, Sir Joseph said the country was entitled to know the nature of the negotiations which had taken place between tho Minister of Defence, the Commonwealth Government, and the Home authorities. The Government said the information was secret. "I say it's not secret," he declared. If it was a matter dealing with •strategy, he would not ask for the facts, hut it surely was not a secret whether the Admiralty was to place ships around our shores, with Auckland as a base, or whether we were to have the Philomel brought out, and our subsidy to the British Navy cancelled. He (Sir Joseph) had entered into an agreement with the Admiralty whereby -we were to have two Bristol cruisers, three destroyers, and two submarines in New Zealand waters, and our subsidy was to he continued, while we had reserved to us the right of manning the vessels with New Zoalanders. (Applause.) The Prime Minister announced in the House after he came into office that we were to build one Bristol cruiser—(laughter)—while the Minister of Finance arranged for the

Philomel to come out lievc. It wag the people's undoubted right to know what arrangement Mr. Allen had made, and it was the right of the taxpayers to know what the financial burden was to he. (Applause.) They should be told what was the reason for the change. An honorable agreement had not been carried out. The British Admiralty never broko their pledges unless they were relieved, and New Zealand had never been given the reason why tho agreement had not been carried out.

'At the conclusion of the address, which lasted two hours, a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried, the resolution expressing the hope that the Liberal party would receive a majority on December 10th. There was not even one dissentient voice, although the chairman called for those against the motion. The meeting closed with cheers for Sir Joseph Ward. A TREMENDOUS TASK. MR. JENNINGS' TAUMIARUXUI CAMPAIGN. • (Special to -Daily News.) Te Kuiti, 'Last Night. As showing the work involved in traversing an electorate like Taumarunui, Mr. W. T. Jennings, the Liberal candidate for the seat, finished his itinerary at Honikiwi to-night. lie started his campaign on October 10th at Mairangi, and has addressed !)o meetings, on some days giving two and three addresses. The electorate starts at Corbctt Road (northern end), three miles from New Plymouth, and ends at Kawa (northern end), a distance of 130 miles. Addresses had to he given in all sorts of placeshalls, schools, bush camps, sawmills, and in the open-air, and outside one coal mine. All sorts of transit were used, including railways, bush tramways, horses and traps, motors, steam launches, horseback, and konekes. The weather lias, with the exception, of four days, been 'splendid for getting about, and the attendances, owing to increase of populatV"> a:id dr- ro'.'ds, have been unusually h'rere. Tn six Piectincs out of the total number addreost-il, when adverse amendments were moved, great majorities were recorded for him. At two meetings ladies moved votes of confidence, and at three bouquets were presented to tho candidate.

'Mr. Jennings states that the whole of the country he passed through was looking its best, and stock were doing really well.

At Puketarta last night Mr. W. T. Jennings spoke to a good meeting. Numbers of ex-Taranaki settlers reside here, the chair being occupied by Mr. Jack O'Sullivan, formerly of Matapu. )A vote of thanks and confidence was moved by anotlier ex-Taranaki farmer, Mr. Chas. 'McGovcrn, of Eltliam, and carried with applause. Mr. Jennings also spoke at Mapara, the vote of confidence being moved by Mrs. Jonson,' wife of a settler. At the conclusion of the Otorohanga meeting, the candidate was presented with a boujuet by the Otorohanga ladies. HON. JAS ALLEN AT NELSON, By Telegraph.—Per Press Association,Nelson, Last Night. Hon. Ja's. Allen addressed a crowded meeting here to-night in support of Mr Fidd's candidature. I-le. had a good reception, and delivered a speech -on the lines of his recent addresses at Winton and elsewhere. A resolution of confidence in the Reform Government was carried by a substantial majority. The meeting concluded with cheers for Air Allen and for Mr Atmore, the Opposition candidate. THE INVERCARGILL SEAT.

Invercargill, Last Night. Mr J. A. Hanan, Opposition candi-( date for Invercargill, addressed the electors of North Invercargill this evening. He twitted the Government of living on the reputation of the Liberals. He said that the Reform party had shuffled on the Huntly disaster. . He expressed amusement at their warning the public against an alliance between the lieel Feds and Liberals, when at the last election Mr Massey used Labour to oust the Liberals, and supported the candidates at Otaki and Grey Lynn. He foreshadowed the return of the Liberals with progressive legislation at the polls. He received a vote of confidence and thanks, and the expression of the sincere hope that the Liberals would l)e returned. VOTING UT TEENTIIAM CAMP. Wellington, Last Night. Polling for Parliamentary candidates and on tho licensing issues took place to-day at tho Trenthain military camp, special oilicers of the Electoral Department "supervising the voting. MR. D. J. HUGHES AT FRANKLEY ROAD. Mr. Hughes, tha Liberal candidate, adrossed a meeting' of about thirty electors at Erankley road last night, Er. Norris presiding. The candidate receiv- } ed an attentive hearing, and at the conclusion of the address was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, 011 the motion of Messrs 33. S. Allen and Downs; MR. ASTBURY AT KLTHAIM. Mr D. L. Astbury, the Liberal candidate addressed Intween 000 and 700 people at the EHha.ni Town Hall last light, the Mayor presiding. Mr. Astbury, who was in good form,'received sin excellent rearing* and made some telling points against the present administration. He effectively contrasted t'.u condition of all'airs in the days of tha old Tory regime with the 'improved conditions Wlvic-li resulted from lite advat of the Ballance, Seddon and Ward Governments, who brought in such progressive .legislation. He pointed out that at present tho reactionary party occupied the Ministerial benches, to administer this fine legislation which they l.ad so strenuously opposed and denounced. The failure 01 the Government to reddemj its election iplcdges Fas clearly exposed. -Mr. A-stbuvv criticised the local navy policy, and explained why New Zealand should adhere to the policy of paying a subsidy and ol>-

taming tlio protection of the grcilft' Imperial navy. At tile conclusion of an excellent address, -which was most favorably received, the candidate was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, confidence being unanimously expressed in him as a fit person to. represent tne Egmont electorate in Parliament, and in Sir Joseph Ward as leader of the Liberal jf.rtv. THE EGMONT SEAT. (From a Correspondent.) The Reform candidate for Egmont is having good meetings in the Opunake district, notwithstanding that the weather conditions are not very favorable. Mr Wilkinson addressed a large meetin gat Rahotu 011 Saturday night. A couple of men in the audience were very free with a running lire of interjections and had to be called to order by the chairman. At the conclusion of the address questions were numerous, the ; two interjectors being most in evidence. The candidate more than kept his end \ up, and satisfied the audience. During this part of the proceedings one rather noisy individual was answered by another person, and an instant challenge to mortal combat was made. After a while tile challenger subsided, no damage heilng done. A prominent Liberal moved a vote of thanks. This was not acceptable to the audienc.-, and a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Wilkinson was proposed by way of amendment and declared carried by an overwhelming majority, Mr Wilkinson is holding two meetings daily in order to cover as much as possible of the electorate. The election promises to be quite a3 interesting s usual, although the result, the Reform supporters declare, cannot he otherwise than a handsome win for Mr Wilkinson. THE PATEA SEAT. When Mr Pearee i-.poke at Waitotara, a motion of thanks and confidence found 110 favour, but 011 a show of lmnds a no-' confidence motion was carried practically unanimously. Mr Pearee stated that lie was not a bit surprised, as he did not expect much support at Waiand had not many Waitotara votes in his favour at the last election, but ho had won 111 spite of that. However, the signs are not wanting that many other places besides Waitotara will turn Mr Pearee down at the coming election, and that when the numbers go up Mr Morrison will be found on top.—Wangamii Herald. MR. G. W. RUSSELL AT PORT . CHALMERS. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Duncdin, Last Night. Sir G. W. Russell addressed a large audience at the Town Hall, Port Chalmers, this evening, and was very cordially received. He traversed tiie administration of the Massey party, particularly on the question of finance, and received a most attentive and enthusiastic hearing. Referring to the statement that there was an alliance between the Liberal party and the Red Feds, IIG fiftid that ill his own district jio w«3 being opposed by the president of tho Federation of Labor, and that the Liberal leader, if returned to power, would absolutely refuse to carry 011 the Government of the country at the dictation of any set of men, but would give effect to the policy of the Libei'jil party as declared by him. On tho question of defence, he said the Liberal party was led by the greatest Imperialist in tho Dominion, and that whatever was necessary to give full effect to the wishes of the Imperial authorities and the patriotism of the people of New 'calami would be provided by the Liberal party. In the matter of men, food, and equipment there would be no baiting in the work of assisting tiie Empire, and a change of Government would possibly mean even greater energy and assistance to the Mother Country than was being shown at the present time. A unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried.