THE ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1919, Page 5

THE ELECTIONS.

THE TARANAKI SEAT. There is a likelihood of a contest for the Taranaki seat, after all. A candidate to stand in the interests of the Reform Party has been approached, and a large and representative deputation will ask this candidate to come forward in the course of a few days. | MR. MASTERS' CAMPAIGN. The Huiroa schoolhouse was crowded on Thursday, when Mr Masters addressed the electors of that district. Mr Kerrisk was voted to the chair, and in introducing the speaker, pointed out the great work Mr. Masters had done in the cause of education, especially in country districts. The candidate warned the electors that in the event of the Reform Party being returned to power Sir James Allen's scheme of military training would most certainly come into- operation. The proposal to take our young men into camp for four months of the year was one of his planks. Mr Masters ridiculed the suggestion of the moral training camouflage. One hundred men were being trained in Trentham at present for staff officers, while machinery and guns to equip two divisions was on its way from England. The Defence vote for 1018-1919 was £4)l-6,247; which included five months of the war period, and the vote for the coming year was nearly £600,000. This alone indicated the policy of the Government in this direction. At the conclusion of the address a number of questions were- asked and satisfactorily answered. Mr. Mitchell moved, and Mr. Kippenberger seconded, a vote of thanks to the speaker for his address. Mr. A. C. Bevans moved, and Mr. W. B. Martin seconded, as an amendment, that Mr. Masters be accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. The amendment .was carried, amidst applause, there being one dissentient. THE EGMONT SEAT. The Hon. T. M. Wilford will reply to Mr. Massey at Eltham on Monday evening next, THE PATEA SEAT. The Prime Minister (Mr. Massey) met the Refoi/i Party again yesterday morning, as a result of which it is expected a decision will be reached in a few days respecting the particular candidate who is to receive the Government's imprematur. SIR JAMES ALLEN. FIRST SPEECH IN CAMPAIGN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Milton, Last Night. Sir James Allen, Minister of Finance, opened hi* election campaign in the Bruce electorate with a speech at Milton to-night. After an appropriate reference to the war and New Zealand's share in the conflict he touched on finance on the lines of his remarks already published in the press. He pointed out that under the Defence Department the number of individual patients in and out of hpspital undergoing vocational training during October, 191!), was 1307, and as some men attended more than one class the total attendances were 1754. He referred to the fact that the Repatriation Act was prepared and put through the House by him on October 20. Training hid been arranged for 2004 men and 2230 were receiving training. In the coal strikes between 1010 and loll) there were -427 days lost in addition to the loss n_s;asioned by the "go slow" policy. During the settlement of the September, WIS, strike the miners' delegates suggested setting up a dispute.-) committee to settle differences and avoid strikes. This proposal was agreed to but nevertheless no fewer than 150 strikes had since taken place. In regard to the cost of living Sir .Tamos quoted figures to show the inI crease in the cost of living in Australia, Canada, the United States and other countries between 11)14 and 1910. The Board of Trade had dealt with many grocery items and had fixed the prices of bacon, wheat, flour, bread, etc., and in order to make better provision for the control of prices and to stop profiteering the Reform Government had this year passed the Board of Trade Act, which included special provisions to prevent profiteering. Mr. Massey hjul always been an earnest advocate for the housing of wageearners, and in 1905 he urged the insertion of a clause in the Advances to Settlers Bill to provide for advances to wage-earners who wished to become their own landlords. In 1906 the Government, no doubt influenced by Mr. Mjissey's action, brought down a Bill for advances to workers. The amount authorised on loan between April and November, 1919, was £535,000.t0 1312 settlers and workers. In addition, commitments under Jhe Housing Act had already been made for 07 houses at a cost of £25,000, and land had been purchased in various places for housing places to the exxtent of £16,086. The question of the position of Samoa would be considered by Parliament next session and before that date members of the House would pay a visit to the islands. He referred to the satisfactory arrangements made by the Prime Minister with- .regard to the supply to New Zealand of valuable phosphate deposits. He pointed out that when the National Government was formed, a seat in the Cabinet was offered to a Labor momber, but the offer was not accepted. The speaker touched on a number of other matters and answered a number of questions, and was acocrded a vote of thanks and continued confidence. THE WHANGAREI SEAT. WTiangarei, Nov. 21. It is authoritatively stated that Mr. Fred Murdoch, Independent Progressive candidate for Marsden, has adopted the Liberal Party views without sacrificing his independence. Approval by Sir Joseph Ward is signified, and the Marsden Liberal Partly has' decided to support Mr. Murdoch. THE NAPIER SEAT. Napier, Last Night. Mr. J. Vigor Brown, M.P., Liberal candidate for the Napier seat, addressed a largely attended meeting in the municipal 'Theatre to-night. The candidate criticised the policy of the Reform Party and what he considered the Government's failure to carry out its promises, A very big section of the audience comprised supporters .of the Labor Party and they continually interrupted the speaker, who occasionally had to pause for some minutes to get a hearing. A motion to the effect that Mr. Brown no longer enjoyed the confidence of the electors was declared lost amidst uproar, the '«« •JKirgafe QY«rJf«tl«lffliiia T «i» bo<li,

SIR JOSEPH WARD. TOUR IN SOUTHLAND. (By Wire—Special to News.) I nvercargill, Last Night. Sir Joseph Ward is having a most successful tour in Southland. He U re*> coived everywhere with unusual cordial* ity, and is entertained by settlers and' others after meetings. He has already addressed meetings at eleven centres. At the Winton Show, Sir Joseph Ward was entertained at luncheon by the executive. Responding to the toast of his health, he said the Show authorities, by, purchasing land themselves for an «x-' perimental farm, showed. practical faith in the value of scientific training for new and youDg farmers. It wag all ne«e»sary, as the future reconstruction of the country required an enormous increase in the quantity of exports to help to restore the equilibrium of the country's finances. When the time came within the next few years of a reversion to normal conditions tiie country must expect lower values for staple products, as the war prices were bound to recede, and an in* crease in quantity would then be necessary to prevent a shrinkage in the aggregate value coming to the country for the payment for exports. He had the greatest confidence in the futuro of the country. Increased land settlement at values of land that would leave a profit to the settlers was an urgent necessity. The present unnatural appreciation of land values was a danger to the future success of the country. Ho was, and always had been, opposed to the introduction of colored labor to New Zealand from any country. Indentured labor for working the Pacific Islands should be done away with at the earliest opportunity, and free labor substituted. BAY OF PLENTY SEAT. Wellington, Last Night. A Tokomarn Bay telegram states that Mr. K. S. Williams stands as the Reform candidate against the Hon. W. D. S. Mac* Donald for the Bay of Plenty.