POLITICAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 152, 3 December 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL

THE PRIME MINISTER AT TAUMARUNUL

By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Taumarunui, Last Night. The Prime 'Minister addressed a crowded gathering at Taumarunui to-night. He said lie had heard that day that the Expeditionary Force was quite safe, and in good spirits. Another force was re- . lired, and was going in two months' 'lie. He dealt with the land policy, ■viiich had changed from leasehold to freehold.

'Despite the war, the Government had made up its mind to keep the public works going, and was employing increased numbers since the war commenced. The demand from South American cities for fruit had led to thousands of acres of apples being planted, and he predicted within a few years an export of a million cases a year. lie believed that when our own ironworks were going the next generation would build its own Dreadnoughts. The Government iiad given unlimited orders to Price's for engines. Referring to railway classification, he thought the time was coining when we would have "administrative and manual divisions, lie objected to the division betivcsn the first and second divisions.

The Government had 290,000 bushels of wheat coming from St. Johns, also 100,000 from the other side of Canada. A report had reached him that day that there, were approximately one million bushels of wheat in New Zealand, and we wanted 500,000 bushels a month. No new wheat would be available for two months. He believed tiic quantity ordered would see lis over the difficulty. If people did not grow enough, the price would be higher than for thirty years past. The Government had been charged with borrowing too much, but, he said, they hed borrowed to pay their predei cemr&\ debts. Ho compared the condition el the country now with that of four years ago, when a thousand men | Wert; turned oil' the public works, the result of a drop in the price of wool. He wanted to see New Zealand prosperous, with a well-educated population. Teachers should fce well paid. Increases in salaries had been given to these, and to tiie Railway and Police 'Departments, if h;s opponents objected, he asked for a vote of no-conflednce when Parliament meets, lie would take the consequences. t'Amidst interjections, he explained that 'he hud not voted against the Old Age Pensions lull until he had found there was no specific provision to provide money payment. Then lie voted against it. A vote of thanks and confidence in the Reform party was carried with enthusiasm and cheers. SIR JOSEPH WARD. IX THE PREMIER'S CONST ITUEXGY. | Pukckohe, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward addressed about HO'I electors in the Premier Hall, Pukekohe, this evening. The Majo:, Air. C. K. Lawne. presided. The building w:ui crowded long before the meeting began. Sir Joseph Ward arrived at 8.30 p.m. Cheers greeted his entrance. Immediately a strong section called for cheers for Mr. Massey. These were given, but there was dissent from a larger section. When Sir Joseph rose to speak there was great cheering. Three cheers for Mr. Massey followed, accompanied by slight hooting. Then came a strong volume of cheering for Sir Joseph Ward.

The people, Sir Joseph aaid, had been promised reform. (A voice; "We've got it!" Cheers and dissent.) .Sir Joseph: When I lieard that I wondered if Rip Van Winkle had been resurrected. After dealing with taxation and borrowing, Sir Joseph Ward asl:ed what was the result of Mr. Massev's first term of years? (Voices: ''The freehold!" Cheers rail disorder.)

.At this stage tlic chairman appealed for a hearing. > Sir Joseph Ward: I am r.ot fjoinj; into flic freehold, except to aav >tills —it is the tenure of the country. It is not going to lie altered. Mr 0. E. Steinbridge moved a vote of thanks anil confidence in the party under Sir Joseph Ward's leadership. Mr C. A. Xidd seconded. Mr Eanies moved an amendment of thanks, but, as no valid i reason hr,d been advanced, that the meet- , ing expresses continued confidence in ji the Massey administration. The chair- !' man put the amendment* and amidst a : gm;t ih'inonstrat'u.n. of ehering, hats and hmulkorehiofs flying in the air, the eliairauai declared the amendment lost. AnotiiVf similar demonstration followed the pul ling of the motion of confidence in the -speaker, which the chairman declared carried. There was an endless stream of interjections throughout the eveniijg, hut the Opposition leader ' answered the points and was always abhi -t;' secure a hearing. • LABOR AND REFORM. , HOSTILITY TO JfASSEY GOVERX- £ MENT. | By Telegraph. —.Per Press Association. } Dunedin, Last Night. ;{ !At a meeting, if the General laborers' [i X'nion to-night "Hue following motion was : i carried-—"This meeting emphatically aga-isssi the action of Mr. | Masse.v, Minister of Labor, in declining, ; after promising-live months ago to coni- ! -.pel the enforcement of the union's in--1 'dustrial award, and urges the fellow- ' workers of all classes to use their best ; .efforts 'to relegate him, and all Parliamentary candidates pledged to support J'liim, to the arena allotted to fallen poli--1 tieal opportunists, in order to secure the S iiTqiartistf administration of the ArbitraJ iioa Act." IlviX. SiSHER'S LIVELY JiSSIJXO. mot. Wellington, Last Night. Men. F. 3d. B. Ki«hcr addressed' the elector* its ,Srt> t—ni,vi>: T.ir meeting was wry v.ei-»-y t'>.-oup'...>i;i. gootl-lmrnouml till the end, an t the Minister jna4e his speech. A reflation was proposed, expressing no-confidence in -Mr. Fisher, and expressing emiiider.ee in Mr. iFk'tjJwr (his opponent). An anlet(dj;ient'expressing e.oniidence in the Minister and the Govcragysnt was lost on a show of hands by a'large minority, .but as the meeting (there were !2iX) present) broke up in disorder, the chairman made no declaration, ami the original mo lion was not put.. The. proceedings closed with cheertf' for Mr. Fletcher and Sir Joseph Ward, and as Mr. Fisher appeared outside the hall a Bection of the crowd itiade ft hostile demonstration, but the presence of the police" prevented any disorder. MR. HUGHES' CAMPAIGN. Mr. D. J, Hughes, tihe Liberal caridi-

about '25. Mr. Bailey v prcs!aod. At ! the conclusion of the address aevtral questions v/oro answered satisfactorily by the candidate, especially regarding tlifi Advances to Settlers Act, and the ridiculous back down of the Tory party. A vote of thanks was {.asscd'to ftCr. Hughes on tho motion of Alessrs JJailsy and Pearcc.

At Kent road there wore about thirty present, including several ladies. Mr. Rowlands presided. The "voting v:m an enthusiastic one, and .Mr. Hughe* created a very favorable toprwayoii. Mention was made that Mr. M wus energetic in speaking at two jilaws i.i (lie one evening, and that an an;gctie limn was needed for Taranaki.