POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 314, 14 June 1915, Page 7

POLITICAL.

TAUMAKUNUI BY-ELECTION. • SPEECHES BY MESSRS HOENSBY, M.P. AND W. T. JENNINGS. ' The Clifton Hall, Waitara, was filled to its utmost capacity on Friday evening, when adresses were given by Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, member for Wairarapa, and by Mr. W. T. Jennings. The Mayor (Mr. Beckbessinger) occupied the chair, and briefly introduced the speakers. ME. J. T; M. HORNSBY, M.P. In opening, Mr. Hornsby referred to the fact that everyone deplored the fact that political matters should be put before the people at the time of such a great crisis as the world was passing through at present. Sir Joseph Ward had done everything in his power to have the general election postponed, but the Government would not agree to it. THE BY-ELECTIONS. ■'"■"w.\* i ai^^w^^s^^^s^ The next matter dealt with \vas~thc by-elections. It had been inferred, he said, that Mr Munro had lost his seat at the first elcttion. This was not true. He had won it in all fairness, but had lost his seat because an incapable de-

puty returning officer had stamped the number on the back of .the ballot paper instead of on the counter foil. If such proceeding were allowed to defeat a candidate any .two unscrupulous men could prevent the return of any candidate. By all law, justice and fairness Mr Munr'o was still member for Dunedin Central, and not Mr Ktatham. The speaker then spoke of the McNab-Campbcll contest in Hawke's Bay, whore OS votes cast for the Liberal candidate had been given to j Mr. Campbell. (Shame!) The speaker i traversed the proceedings that would I follow upon the defeat of the Oovern- ) ment iu the House, but declared that there could be no dissolution for (Sir Joseph Ward, as he would tell theni himself shortly, had pledged himself to assist Mr Massey, if, in the event ; of the present Government being defeat-' ed (a very unlikely occurrence during the present crisis), he was unable to carry on the Government of the country himself. Mr Ilassey was a of politics, but Sir Joseph AVard was a statesman. (Applause.) Speaking of flic Bay of Islands by-election, Mr. Hornsby remarked that Mr Deed had a brother in Auckland who had declared that his brother was not to be blamed for the Bay of Islands bribery, but Mr Massey, and him only. (Hear, hear.) In this connection the speaker warned his heavers not to believe in all the numerous bribes that Mr. Massey had no doubt offered the people of the Taumarunui electorate during his visit of the I past few days. He could asure them that not half of the promises would be j kept. I

LAND SETTLEMENT.

,| ''Land settlement, more settlement, I and still move settlement'' had been th" I cry of the Reform Party during the [election campaigns, but what bad they ,< done? He would give them one instance. 1 1 Snow capped mountains, tens of tbo.iI sands of acres of mountainous country I had been bought by the Government from Wright and Stevenson to be cut tip for land settlement. (Laughter.) What was tbe result? No one would lake it at any price. The rent was reduced by 40 per cent., and later to a greater extent, but with no. better success, and now—the land was over-run ! with rabbits! (Laughter.) The speaker iwent on to refer to the easr> of a Maori named Raugi Koreoma, who was EuroI peaniscd under the Government's new ( Act, and persuaded to part with his I land at a ridiculously low rate. About j this transaction, he would have sonic ] uues'tions to ask on the floor of the House, and also about the appointment j of one of the parties to a semi-public position in the Wairarapa.

COST OF LIVING AND THE WAR,

Mr. Massey had declared that tin: cost of living vas bound to rise during a war, but that food was cheaper in New Zealand than in any other country. That, said Mr Hornsby, was no doubt the reason why one ship load of butter waa sent away and then brought back, because a better price could be obtained for it here. More than one biff firm had refused to take ''blood money" as was ordered to be done by the merchant "ring," which "ring" the Government was afraid to tackle. Speaking on the wheat and flour difficulty the speaker referred to the manner in which Mr Massey had assisted the bakers and people, and then after paying Sd a bushel on half a million bushels of Canadian wheat, threw the market open, with the result that prices went up with a bound, and the merchants reaped the benefit. Since the commencement of the war, Mr. Massey said that there was le=3 imcuiplu.deii.t now than in the past. He boasted that the country was wonderfully prosperous—there was j more money in the banks. But anyone ] who had the slightest, idea of political economy knew that the locking up of money in the banks simply paralysed tiade.

The price of meat was another subject that Mr Hornsby dealt with. He stated that tin; many freezing companies were holding any amount of meat, but could not get it away. Sir Joseph Ward had warned the Government of ihis last year, hut they would not listen to him. Again, why were the freezing companies holding? Because the Government was paying them so much per lb to do so. Why did Mr Massey not do the same as Andrew Fisher, the Labor Minister of the Commonwealth, and have all this meat sent to the Old Country at the same price as it was sold before the war? But, no; they put the price up at the time of such a crisis, when the people of the Old Country were badly in need of it, and could ill afford the extra price. MASSEY METHODS.

Ail imitation telegram sent by Mr Ma.-scy to (lie electors of tho'liav of Island- was then exhibited by Mr Hnrnsbv, which, ho said, anyone else would lie lined or perhaps imprisoned for producing or causing (o bn produced. Hero again Mr Massoy shoved himself a political cheap-jack, appealing to tlie people to vote for bis party by such means ami in such a style as that message was eouehod. This was another matter be intended to ventilate on the floor of the 1 Touse. The ,: rats "—by whose aid the fiovernment secured power—were referred to briefly, and the. speaker went on to detail the Massoy party's many broken promises, including those.''to assist _ back-block settlers, to reduce borrowing, and to reduce the cost of living. Mr Allen's criticism of the Liberal Party's finance was next touched upon. The TTon. James Allen had declared that the Liberal credit balances or surpluses, were bogus. But Mr Allen's own prospectus to (lie money lenders of the Old Country had proved that, every word be bad spoken against the surpluses was untrue. This was the greatest condemnation that could be imagined of any man, in his own band writing.. The "State Pawnshop," as the Reform i Tarty called it, was one of the benefits ! conferred on the. country bv the Liberal fPartv. Many that bad been first helped | in this way chose to forgot it now. Mili- | tary training was brought in by Sir Joseph. Ward, although tho othei side

now claimed the -credit. The. story of the gift of the Dreadnought 113 told by Mr Hornsby gained three cheera for Sir Joseph Ward. THK TOY NAVY. They were told, said Mr Hornsby, that they should have a navy of their own. They should have a Bristol cruiser—to keep their trade routes open. (Laughter.) They might as well ami a kerosene tin. (Renewed laughter.) The Government had stopped the subsidy to the Imperial Government, but lie was sure that everyone of them would prefer one Imperial Navy us tlicy had one Empire. (Hear, hear.) Referring to Mr Jenning's candidature, Mr Hornsby reminded them of the good work done by that gentleman in the past, which they all knew he would continue, and appealed to those present lo support their old member. Mr Hornsby concluded his remarks amid considerable applause. MR. W. T. JENNINGS.

Mr. Jennings, who was received with loud and continued said if his audience had heard the reception of Sir Joseph Ward at Otorahanga the previous evening they would have no doubt as to the result of the forthcoming contest. A passing reference to the gift of the Dreadnought had aroused a scene such as he had never witnessed before.

Referring to the election petitions Mr Jennings said he was most pleased that the judges of the Supreme Court had stated that although defeated there was not a stain on his honor or honesty. Hid speaker then explained on what TII'V'S , 1 - 3t , " 8 S( ' at ' a,:d P oi, out that if Jus opponent had been given all the dual votes he claimed still he (the speaker) would have had a substantial majority. In nil small places, said Mr Jennings, he considered that the ballot box when closed should be locked seaed, and taken to the nearest large centre, instead of allowing them to remain in the deputy-returning officer's' hands for such a long pericd as at present. In answer to a «p,estion, Mr Massey had declared that lie wished the Court had gone into the irregularities m connection with the petition. What would have happened then, asked the speaker? Proceeding to reply to his own ques ,„„, ho that 0(11^. I'lowohM hav, ; been proved to lave committed perjury. u

HLECTIOiVETCRINf!. On May 2nd the Taringamutu brid.-e M-n.s opened, by the Hon. W. Frlr & ili.-.ninKilianga Hall was opened b toic the election was settled. And vet - Mr ■ Massey haddeclared that he wo , , i>ot have come ,nto tbe district bad be »ot board that Mr Jennings was £ ti » so much assistance. After refcrrin" o ««> ar S e number „f Reformers tha bad been travelling up and down tbe laumarunui electorate recently \\ r Jennings gave details of several sli,*« at adbee„p uMlpoin ,;rbyi„^ S us of tbe Government. His invitations to the two particular functions mention < arrive.l 100 late to be aYail d on "'. ,ISh n °t asked to address a n-itri otic meeting at whicl, several of tbe Government we e tL ea r"l ff - f " SSC >' ''''"l been a, , d the district offering bribes on all bands and t , th o > jam , ity! The present Government bad deel n thcr office until the war was concluded, and gave this as an excut ?"r asking tbe people of < bat elect,,e " turn lum down He bad been asked wha be would do if after his return to House a responsible member of ids lary proposed a no-confidence motion Jal sne. ' C, ' mnent H!S re P J y M that such an occurrence was a most improbable one while tbe war lasted, but that i such an event did occur he would '•hvo to be guided solely by his co ' th ?™ y ei ™ m «*"- ces that would be necessary to cause such a happening.- He did not ask them to vote for the man, but to conim' in l\t ■ WM ri P ht ai,d v °t« according to their consciences, and expressed the hope that the contest would be fought amicably and in good spirit throughout. (Hear, hear, and applause.) THANKS AND CONFIDENCE. No questions being asked, Mr Jenkins proposed: "That this meeting accords a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr J. 1 M. Hornsby M.P., for bis able and instructive address, a vote of confidence m Sir Joseph Ward as leader of the Liberal Party, and in Mr W T Jennings, who is considered a fit and proper person to represent the Taumarunui electorate in the House."

Mi, 1 roctor seconded, and the motion flas carried unanimously, the mcetinconclnd.ng with a vote of thanks to the chairman and cheers for the candidate