THE ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1919, Page 5

THE ELECTIONS.

HON. J. B. HINE AT RATAPIKO. Major Hine addressed a very enthusiastic meeting at Ratapiko on Wednesday evening, the school being well tilled. Mr. Therkleson presided. At the conclusion of the address, Mr. Hair moved a hearty vote of thanks to Hie speaker and confidence in the Government, both motions being carried. THE PATEA SEAT. • A LABOR CANDIDATE. Mr. P. B. Filzherburl, who has received the official nomination of the Labor Party, notifies that he will contest the Patea seat in Hie interests of the Labor Party. The dates oi his addresses will be notified later. STRATFORD ELECTORATE. MR. MASTERS' CANDIDATURE. In view of the boisterous weather last evening, the attendance at Norfolk Rond to hear Mr. Masters was very satisfactory, about 50 persons being present. The candidate spoke on similar l'nes to his previous speeches, Mr. Masters pointed out that although the Reform Party professed to have no sympathy with the extreme Labor Party, it '«* a coincidence that they had not put up a candidate against Messrs. Sempl?. Holland, and Eraser. He icontonled that Mr. Massey, as in 1011, when he got into power with the assistance of the Red Feds, was angling for their support. In the event of both parties being even, he could then appeal to extreme Labor for support by showing that his Party had not contested any seat their leaders had attempted to wiii. Mr. Masters received a most attentive hearing, and at the conclusion of the meeting Mr. W. >T Kendrick moved, and Mr. Gibbs seconded, that the candidate be accorded a vote of confidence, Mr. Masters being a suitable person to represent the district in Parliament. Mr. Masters was entertained by the ladiis of the district to supper after the meeting. THE WAITOMO SEAT. MR. W. T. JENNINGS AT WAITARA. Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., who is a candidate for the Waitomo seat, was given a very enthusiastic reception at Waitara last night, when there was an attendance of over 150. The Mayor (Mr. R. Morgan) presided, and formally introduced Mr. Jennings, who was given a great reception on entering the hull. Throughout his address, which dealt with the leading political questions of the day, he was frequently applauded. Questions were invited at the conclusion, but none were forthcoming. The following resolution, proposed by ' Mr. W. E. Jenkins, seconded by Air. T. Taylor, President of the Freezing Works and Allied Trades, was carried unanimously by acclamation: ''That this meeting heartily thanks Mr. Jennings for his interesting and instructive address, and expresses its continued confidence in him as its representative." Mr. Jennings was subsequently entertained to supper by the lady members of his committee. NO DECISION RE HAWERA SEAT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hnwera Last Night. The Prime Minister (Mr. Massey) spent a busy day in Eltham to-day, and in the evening he motored to Hawera. Mr. Massey spent the evening here at a private conference with local supporters of the Reform Party. There is no public statement to make. He will meet three deputations to-morrow morning.

THE NAPIER SEAT. Napier, Last Night. Mr. H. Hill, Independent-Progressive candidate for Napier seat, addressed a large audience in the municipal theatre to-night. He commended the Government's work in the settlement of soldiers in business and on the land, and urged the reduction of the cost of living from this workers' point of view, though high prices were inevitable. He advocated the establishment of suburban homes in reclaimed" swamp lands in the vicinity of Napier. Tariff reform was urgently necessary. He commended the notable'legislation carried by the National Government, and urged the settlement of waste lands. He put in a strong claim for the completion of the East Coast railwav, and immediate work on the Waikaromoana hydroelectric scheme. He received a vote of thanks and confidence. WELLINGTON NORTH. Wellington, Nov. 20. Mr. J. P. Luke, the sitting member, and candidate for Wellington North, addressed a crowded meeting to-night. A minority in the audience interrupted almost continuously, and subjected the speaker to a running fire of noisy interrogations. Mr. Luke thought the time had come for settling industrial dillerer»es by means of industrial committees. It was'absolutely necessary for the safety of the Dominion that old differences of opinion, social unrest, and misunderstanding should be settled. He advocated nationalisation of coal mines, and Stateowned colliers, and a ferry service between Wellington and LyHelton. He stood for the present free, unsectarian, and national system of education. He favoured the development of the back country, and the speedy completion of the main lines of railway. He was given a vote of thanks. THE WAKATIPU .SEAT. Dunedin, Nov. 20. Mr. Scott, candidate for Wakatipu, spoke at St. Ltitlians on Wednesday. After defending the National Government, he asked why it was not continued after the war, when the country was faced with a multiplicity of complex problems. Referring to the Lobor Party, he said there was a danger of sufficient members being elected to hold the balance of power and put Mr. Massey out, and then dictate their own terms. He considered there was no'tiindamenta) difference between the Liberal and Reform Parties. He was not in favor of the State Bank until a stable Government was.formed. The speaker said the sooner the party system was dropped tiie better, but he saw no hope of doing it. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried.

iION. G. W. RUSSELL.

A MIXED RECEPTION. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Nov. 20. The Hon. G. W. Russell, member for Avon, received a mixed reception at the opening of his campaign to-night. He said that after the war started the main parties, which were evenly balanced, united for the purpose of administering war measures, and the Liberals had played the game fairly, although there was generally a feeling that that party was in a minority in the Cabinet, and no Liberal Minister had an important portfolio. Sir Joseph Ward seceded from the National Government in exercise of his rights. While the speaker had the administration of the care of the sicK and wounded soldiers, no criticism was raised. He did not think it right that the sick and wounded soldiers should be under the control of the military authorities. A large percentage of physically unfit for military service w.as, he thought, duo to insufficient medical observance of the children, and he considered that the Education and Public Health Departments should be more cooperated. The State should see that no person should suffer on account of inability to pay for medical services. The present bureaucratic system of, governing education from Wellington should be changed, and more money should be at local disposal for educational needs. Dealing with finance, he said that Sir Joseph Ward had built up 15 millions surplus, mainly from income tax. He had not taxed necessaries of life, except tea. He strongly condemned the miners' "goslow" policy, and said he would support any Government which would ensure sufficient coal being produced for the country's needs. The speaker's remarks on this matter were subjected to much uproar, and cries of "Give us the cost of living!" Concluding, he said it mattered little to him whether Sir Joseph Ward or Mr. Massey was returned to power, but he would not support any party which depended for support on Labor extremists or men who were disloyal to (he Empire. Towards the conclusion of his address the extremist. element was much in evidence. A vote of confidence in the Hon. G. W. Russell, and admiration for his administration of public health and internal affairs, was declared carried, amid uproar. THE HUTT SEAT. Wellington, Nov. 20. Mr. T. M. Wilford, Liberal candidate for the Hutt, delivered his opening address at Eastbourne, having a good reception. The Liberal Party, he said, stood for increased graduated land tax on large estates, graduated tax on large incomes, and death duties. The graduated land tax was the only thing that would prevent aggregation. He condemned a local navy, which would involve a huge outlay. He questioned the efficiency of the Arbitration court on account of the inability of members of the court to grasp the details of every dispute coming before them. Men who considered disputes should be experts in tho traae or profession involved. He wished to see education free, from the primary school to (lie University. He favoured the nationalisation of coal mines. Mr Wilford strongly urged, in view of the perilous industrial situation, the calling of a national conference of employers and departmental heads in order to define the national industrial policy. Unless such a conference were held, a disastrous crash would come, and it would then be too late to appeal to reason. A vote of thanks and confidence was given Mr Wilford. •

Mr. W. T. Cotton, candidate for the Hutt, addressed a gathering at Petone to-night, and received a rather noisy reception, being continually interrupted. He said the present labor unrest was caused by the wage system, and was partly the fault of both labor and capital. Things were unsatisfactory, and increased production was needed. The goslow policy and stop-work meetings would not increase production. Capitalists were afraid 01 labor, and this was driving molipy out of the country. The Government should own its coal mines. An adverse vote was passed. ,

THE WESTLAND SKAT. Cireymouth, Last Night. At Mr. SwMon's first address at (Jrevmonth there was a fairly hve meeting and lie received a good hearing. He defended the Liberals' coalition actions, which saved an election costing £6(1,000. The cost of living was niainlv increased by profiteers. He hejd that arterial roads should m> nationalised. The timber report limitations were unfair and retarded particular districts. He was opposed to four months' militarv training, which Sir James Allen alone wanted. He favored the pre-war territorials. He opposed the Coal Mines Act clause permitting inexperienced men in charge of colliery pits. Indentured labor must go from Samoa. The war finance legislation treated the Greymouth Harbor Board unfairly. The lioard needed its relations with the Government readjusted. Many questions were asked. CHALMERS SEAT. Dunedin, Last Night. Mr. J. Gilchrist, Labor candidate for Chalmers, addressed a meeting at Mosgiel to-night. He enlarged on the planks of the party's platform, emphasising, such matters as State banks, the prevention of aggregation, reduction of the cost of living, State-owned steamer service, and other matters. The platform, he contended, meant the unity of the human race, a league of peoples, as against n league of nations. The great objective of the party was to secure to the people the means of life. At the conclusion of his address, he was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks. DUNEDIN WEST. Dunedin, List Night. Mr. John A. Brown, Labor candidate for Dunedin West, addressed a crowded meeting of electors this evening. He advocated a State bank, the nationalisation of coal mines, the acquiring of land contiguous Co cities together with dairy herds, in order that increased production might he obtained, the fostering and extending of education, and providing better opportunities for poorer classes to obtain higher education for their children. His address Was well received, and at the end he received a vote of thanks and confidence.

FLABOR'S POSITION

DEFINED BY MR. HOLLAND. \ 'iWestport, Last Night'.' l % Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., Labor candi- *. date for Buller electorate, addreaied ft ' .ij; large meeting in the Theatre Royal to- j; night ami {rave an exhaustive review of s the Labor Party's work during the recent sesflion of Parliament. He strong- •« ly contended that Liberal and Tory, were :/! one, and that a deep chasm separated ' both from the Labor Party. When asked how the Labor Party would vote on a no confidence motion,' Mr. Holland said he hoped the Labor Party would i'l come back from the elections as the ''; constitutional opposition, but if it did ~;| not, and Sir Joseph Ward moved a vote ." of no confidence, the Labor Party would * join with him in ousting Mr. Masse?, .\ but it would not support Sir Joseph •[ Ward, unless he then enacted the leg]*- ■'■ lation the Labor Party was fighting lot. A- vote of thanks and confidence WM : H carried with cheers. «