THE PRIME MINISTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1919, Page 5

THE PRIME MINISTER.

AN ADDRESS AT NAPIER. A MIXED RECEPTION. By Telegraph.—Press Assojiation. i Napier, Last Night. Tlie Fremier addressed about 2000 people in the Municipal Theatre to-night. Mr. Massey was well received by a large section of the audience and a lew gave him a mixed reception. He was subjected to considerable interruptions and occasionally found it necessary to pause during temporary uproars. However, he was frequently loudly applauded and cheered in tlie course of his address.

The Prime Minister spoke of the ur-1 gent necessity for increasing production to meet the increased indebtedness that had come about as a result of the war. He urged the necessity for the same determination and tenacity as had been displayed in meeting problems during the war, and said they must be applied to meeting present conditions. To increase production Mr Massey insisted upon the necessity of increased settlement, extended railways and trade, and the utilisation of water power. All these things would have his attention in reasonable time. He would not say that I next year there would not be a home in | the country without electricity. Mr. Massey dealt with the question of the meat trust, which, he said, lie would never allow to become established in this country, and he referred to legislation passed making it necessary for exporters to obtain a license. The question of shipping was mentioned, Mr. Massey stating that the Government intended to see that sufficient shipping was available to export our produce, and, if necessary, vessels would be purchased. He had received a telegram stating that ten insulated ships would -be available for February. These, after allowing for dairy produce, would carry 915,000 freight carcases. There was space available in January for 477,000 carcases, making a total of 1,392,0(10 for two months. The news would be welcome all over New Zealand, Legislation passed during last session was reviewed by Mr. Massey and he outlined most of the points of the Reform Party's platform. At the conclusion of the meeting a vote of thanks was carried. amidst overwhelming cheering and applause.

SIR JOSEPH WARD. I i GOOD RECEPTION AT WELLINGTON. Wellington, Last-Night. Sir Joseph Ward addressed a meeting of electors in the Town Hall to-night. The hall was filled in all parts and Sir Joseph Ward, who was greeted with prolonged applause, was given a quiet and attentive hearing. He outlined the policy set forth in his manifesto and defended the nationalisation proposals. The public works policy of the present Government, he said, .was a policy of stagnation. He advocated rapid and heavy expenditure on the completion of main roads and the main trunk lines of railway. At the conclusion of his speech, a vote of thanks and confidence in the Liberal Party was carried by acclamation.

WELLINGTON SEATS. AN INTERESTING FORECAST. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. Tlie candidates for the Wellington seats are having their final rallies, and moat of them are saying they expect to win. A confident forecast of the result of the polling is not easy to make, owing to the difficulty of providing for possible slides in one direction or another. The Labor candidates profess to expect a big increase in their votes, and the Liberals are saying that they are going to profit from the Bins of the Government. The Reformers says that the solid sense of the community is going to prevent either Liberalism or Labor from gaining ground. Mr. Wright (Reform) and Dr. Newman (Reform) look like winning Wellington Suburbs and Wellington East respectively by comfortable majorities. There is a triangular contest in each case, and the Liberal and Labor candidates will split the anti-Government vote thoroughly. Any surprise in these electorates is improbable, though Br. Newman is less securely seated than Mr. Wright. The Wellington North fight has readied un interesting point. The seat would be. held easily for Reform by a better candidate, but Mr. Luke, the sitting member, is not popular with the Reformers, and he has made a very poor fight. As far as surface appearances go, the Labor man, Mr. Read, does not look like winning, but he will poll well, while the Liberal, Mr. Oakley Brown, cannot be disregarded. He has had excellent meetings, and his friends are particularly confident, but old campaigners in the electorate say that Mr. Luke is going to pull through.

The Wellington Central sea'; is likely to remain in the possession of Mr, P. Frascr. Mr. Pirani, who id opposing Mr, l'rasor as a Liberal, lias gained ground through the persistent interruption of his meetings by Labor supporters, but lie is not the Pirani of other days. He laeks punch, and he can only win if there has been a strong turn of public opinion against official Labof .in the electorate since the by-election of last year. There is 110 indication of such a turn. Lieut.-Colonel Mitchell is making a strong fight against Mr. R. Semple in Wellington South. He is bound to poll heavily, and he might just win if the older parties poll solidly, but Mr. Semple carries the heavier political gains, and his popularity among the workers, in what is very largely a working man's electorate, is a strong factor in his favor. His soldier opponent has him extended. Mr. Wilford is equally expected to hold the Hut:t seat, but a strong Labor opponent will take votes from him. The Government candidate, Mr. Rish worth, is I considered by his friends to be in the I luuning.

The uncertain factor in all the Wellington electorates is the Labor vote. If that vote has increased to any large extent by the accession of discontented civil servants or otherwise there may be some surprises. The tone of meetings and other indications do not suggest that this increase has taken place. The Labor organisation admittedly is good, while that of the other two parties appears poor by comparison, but the disorderly tactics of the Labor extremists | have made it pretty certain that, the silent voters, .who are mostly Governlatent supporters, will go to tie pell)