THE BY-ELECTION

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1920, Page 5

THE BY-ELECTION

MR. MASTERS AT STRATFORD SOME HARD HITTING.

There were scenes of the wildest enthusiasm at the Stratford Town Hall last night, when Mr. Robert Masters, c-ndidate for the by-election, gave his first address there. When Mr. Masters appeared on the platform he was greeted with prolonged applause and cheering. He hall was packed to its utmost cap- I acity, people standing in all parts of the hall, while the entrance was tightly packed. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) presided, and in introducing the candidate referred to the result of tire recent petition. He assured the vast audience that Mr. Masters could be depended on to play the game fairly. Mr. Masters, on opening, asked if anyone had a Jew's, harp in the audience, or a tin whistle, or a banjo; if so to hand them up on to the stage. (Laughter), If there were any in the hall they might go off, and some people might say he was influencing the election. (Laughter). He didn't want another petition, and he wanted to fight the election cleanly and straightforwardly, as he had done at the general election. Continuing, the candidate said that on December 17th he had been elected by a majority of the people as their representative in Parliament. (A voice: You will be again)—and he hoped to 'be re-elected at the coming by-eleetion. (Applause). If his opponent, Major Hine, had been elected, he (the speaker) would have accepted the decision and congratulated the winner. He then read the decision of the Election Court, and asked the audience if there was ever a cleaner conviction entered against any man in

this country t)«in the one entered against him? (Cries of No!) So clean had been his conviction that the petitioners had to pay 75 per cent, of the costs of the petition. (Applause.) "A CLEAN AND FAIR FIGHT."

Tho speaker said that on December 17, outside tho King's Cinema, Major Hinc liad publicly congratulated the speaker on his victory, and stated clearly and distinctly that the fight had been a clean and fair one, and lie hoped the public would give Mr. Masters the same measure of support that he had received. Yet, within two days of that statement, the machinery was set in motion for working up the petition. Mr. Hine had had eleven years' Parliamentary experience, and he used all his knowledge of political methods, and all his power, in trying to find grounds for upsetting the election. His touts were semiring the country trying to work up the petition, and even typists and office girls were employed in trying to upset the election. The petitioners had put sixteen charges into the petition, but they only succeeded in one. (Laughter). With regard ! ,o that one, be asked if there was anyone who honestly believed that he had put on the pictures and music for the purpose of influencing their votes? (Cries of No!) It was an insult to the intelligence of the electors to suppose that they could be influenced in their political opinions by three-pennyworth of pictures. The petition had not gone the way the petitioners had wanted it to go. They' wanted the scat to be given to Major Hine, and the speaker to be disqualified, but they had not succeeded. (Applause.) There had never been another election petition ii\ Now Zealand as the. result of which a candidate charged with corrupt practices had been allowed to re-contest the seat. (Applause.) 1 TWO JUDGMENTS.

Dealing 1 with the case of the electors whose right to vote had been challenged by the petitioners, Mr. Masters referred to cases of New Zealand born women whose votes had been challenged. He asked what right had George Hall, William Home Hargmves Young, and J. B. Hine to challenge the votes of these people? (Applause.) If there had been a principle at stake, wouldn't Mr. Hine have challenged all alien voters instead of challenging only those he knew had voted against him? (Applause.) "They had no principle at stake," added Mr. Masters; "all they wanted was the seat, and they were not going to get it." (Prolonged applause.) There were two judgments on the petition; the one ho would call the Hine judgment, and the other the judgment of the Supreme Court judges. The Hine judgment was the statement Mr. Hine had made to the Press on the result of the petition, in which Mr. Hine had stated "the candidate was protected who observed the law." "Now, I'm going to show you how this purity party, these lily whites, observed the law themselves at the last election," added Mr. Masters. "Now, who brought people from other electorates to vote at the last election?" (A voice: The lily whites). The candidate said that numbers of people were j brought in from other electorates—from

three miles the other side of Inglewood—and these people were put on the roll, the persons putting them on knowing they were doing wrong, and also knowing that these people were not going to vote against Mr. Hino. (Laughter). There were also other people put on the roll by his opponents who had only been in the electorate a few weeks, and one prominent member of the purity party had enrolled a man living in Mangaweka, 200 miles away, and, although the man hadn't been i-hree weeks in the electorate, had stated 011 the enrolment form that he had been 3£ months in the electorate, (Laughter.) "I wouldn't mind so much if they only put on Taranaki electors," remarked the candidate, "but when they go 200 miles for a man it's too hot." (Laughter.) BRIBING THE ELECTORS. Mr, Masters then proceeded to make a charge against the Department of Internal Affairs in connection with naturalisation matters, and he read a telegram from the Under-Secretary of the Department to an alien, received a day before the rolls for the election closed, stating that naturalisation had been granted, and reminding him that the roll closed the ffcllowing day at 4 o'clock. He also quoted another case, in which one of Mr. Hine's supporters had received naturalisation before the roll closed, though some of his (the speaker's) supporters did not receive word until two days too late. Was that fair treatment? (Cries of Shame!) Referring to the editorial in the Dominion, in which it was suggested that Mr. Hiue'i r«-fllectioa for the wat. would

enable him tc render useful service in a Ministerial capacity, possibly as Minister of Public Works, Mr. Masters remarked | that it was nothing short of bribing the electors, and the intention was to give the electors the impression that if they elected Mr, Hine they -would get all their railways completed, and that plenty of Government money would iba spent in the district. "I challenge Mr. Massev to state if Mr. Hine will he appointed Minister of Public Works before the election is held. If he's going to appoint him, let Mr.

Masaey say bo now. (Applause.) A voice: Mr. Coates has been appointed Mr. Masters said Mr. Coates had received the permanent appointment of Minister of Public Works, and the influence of the Auckland province was so strong that thoy would not allow MrCoates to be relieved of the Public Works portfolio. The speaker ridiculed the idea of Mr. flirie being appointed Minister of Public WorksDealing with the Stratford Okahukura railway, Mr. Masters said the line had bpen neglected by the Government. It was an important Main Trunk line, and the Government should push on expeditiously with the work for the benefit of the whole of the North IslandThe Government had been starving the line in spite of, what Mr. Massey said to the contrary.

"There's coal at Tangarakau," said Mr. Masters. "Mr. Hine lias just found it out. It's just sixteen years ago since I saw a sample in a chemist's shop. The geologists made their report- then, yet Mr. Hine. has only just found it outVVliat lie has been doing during his fifteen years in Parliament not to know about the coal I don't know. I '*prasume Mr. Mnssev must have told' him about it " (Laughter.) ' • Reverting to the petition, Mr. Masters Baid that Mr. Hine hod stated that the principle underlying dcmocrative , government was that the voice of the ■ people should have full effect.. "Now, is Mr. Hine allowing the voice of the people to have full effect in this electorate? I was elected by the people, but Mr. Hine did not allow the voice of the electors to have full effect." '

Voices: You'll get in again all.right!. SYSTEM OP ELECTION. Continuing, Mr. Masters Fftid -;Mr. Massey hail promised that when he waa returned *to power he wculd change the system of voting so that the voice <jf tii? people would have full effect, tot he had not done so. At the last election the Tories had polled 200,001) votes, and had secured 44 members; , the Liberals, with 1041,000 votes (only 10,000 less) had only got 22 members- T.ftbor polled 127,000* votesj and only got eight members, while the Independents with 12,345 votes secured two members. Working this out it meant that each Massey member represented 4092 electors, each Liberal 8947 electors, each Labor 15,870 electors, and the Independents 0172. "I ask," said Mr. Masters, "whether you think tlmt. it is a fair system of representation which allows that sort of thing to happen?" (Applause.) . Mr- Masters then referred to the shipping question, and the failure of the Massey Government to take any steps to deal with the great shipping monopolies. The speaker then referred to various foodstuffs and other necessaries of life, the prices of which he contended the Government could have kept down If they had tackled the shipping question. " He referred to the Board of Trade as the "Board of Humbugs," and described the members are unsuitable for the work they had to do. Referring '.o the position in regard to flour, he said that the Board of Trade had not fixed the retail price of small quantities of flour, but were carefully watching the position to see if a rise took place. Tliat rise had taken place, and the Board merely looked on. RAILWAY LEASES.

Speaking of tlie Stratford railway leases, candidate said that one of the concessions- ho had got- from tlie General Manager of Railways was that the lessees should lwtve at least 12 months notice before tlie leases could bo terminated. He had also asked that the lease should be 21 years, a very fair thine to ask, but 90 far had not been able to get it. The speaker insisted that full compensation should be paid for imnrovements, but the Government had not yet agreed to it. He quoted a case in which he asserted that a merchant in a lai?e way of business hod secured a renewal of his railway leaFe, and had been given full compensation for improvements, yet the small •torekeeper could get nothing for the improvements he had made. Mr- Massey had recently stated in a letter that he regretted he could not agree to vary the present leases, which gave the lessees the right- to'remove their buildings at the termination of their leases. He contended that what was right for the big man was equally right for the small store-keeper, and it was his in-1 tention to fight for their rights. (Applause.) The candidate then proceeded to deal with educational questions, and outlined his intentions in relation thereto. He then referred scathingly to the kind of houses provided for school teachers, and said that there were not 10 per cent, of Op school teachers' houses in TaranaKi which were provided with bathrooms. These conveniences should be provided in every house at once. (Applause.) In connection with the health of school children, the candidate advocated that sufficient doctors and nurses should he provided to attend to all the medical requirements of school children, and that the cost should be a chargo upon the Stato. He considered the Department • should grant • greater facilities for games at the school, and he asked that as an export on educational matters, he should be sent to Parliament to help to remedy the present, deplorable defects of the present educational system. (Applause.)

DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIES. Dealing with the development of the industries of the Dominion, the speaker deplored the fact that wool, hide 3 and minerals, and raw materials of all sorts, should be sent out of the country, and the manufactured poods imported- He said that no country could attain its full degree of prosperity by depending on its primary industries only, and he strongly lirged that the manufactures of the country should he developed. There was no reason why New Zealand should not carry a population of at least eight millions, and bo a great manufacturing country. (Applause.) Tne electrical power was in the country, and only waiting to be developed. He firmly believed that New Zealand, besides being a primary producing country, should become a manufacturing country, at least as great as Australia. (Applause;. In conclusion, Mr. Masters said he had fought the last election off his own bat, and he intended to follow the game sourie now. He Vr, Bint to

fight the election on his own. Bat «t 4 ' neeting of Mr. Hinc's supporter* tb* pre* ,1 Fiona night, it had been decided that Mr. " Juckeridge should give three, day* ft week to organising work, and that he should! ' speak at the places which Mr. Matters \ could not visit. Mr. Master* Mid that ; Mr. Hine had represented them for eleven ; years, and had been a Minister for about '; six months, yet what had ho Cone! j „; A voice: Nothing! (Laughter.) j ' The candidate claimed that he ]kd done more for the electorate* (goring the three months he had been a "half-pie" member of Parliament than Mr. Hine o*4 done, even during his six months ag * Minister. (Applause.) H« £ad obtftiW • the establishment of a branch of the ' Public Trust at Stratford. He had £3> ( '' vanised the Department into action. xhjß ' '■ plans for the new Post Office' would, fa* % rive in a few days' time, abd he kflft',.' shaken up matters in oonnectUi trwi the removal of the railway station. (An- • - plause). ,„ "*"' '; FRIEND OP THE MA&Sfc9. ,;! After paying a' tribute to Mr. W. D. '' S. Macdonald, Leader of the Liberal Baf • ty, the speaker stud that when he til returned "to Parliament he. intended tev support every measure for the •befteQlfe of the masses, whether it was introduced 1 by the Kef orm Party, the Liberal V*tf}, '< or the Labor Party. He appealed for ft*' good a hearing for Mr. Hine as he feed received, and, in conclusion, claimed thftt he had 'fought the last election cleanly, . and honestly, and intended to do tw ; same again. (Applause.) ; On Mr. Masters resuming his Beat, the chairman intimated that the candidate ' would be pleased to receive and answer *; questions, but no question woe forti* .' coming. ' Mr. V. D. Gaffaney moved the follotM « ing motion, and while he was reading It' ■ the huge audience cheered again and '<! again:—-"That this meeting of Stratford -J electors express their regret that Mr. Robert Masters was unseated by a Uteft) ; technicality of the electoral law—further, > that, we consider he won the seat fairtjr' ; and honestly, and that we pledge our- ' selves to confirm the result of the loft poll and return Mr. Masters to lepra* \ sent' us in Parliament." The motion was seconded by Mr. A. W. . Reid, and carried unanimously, cheer* ,j being repeatedly given for Mr. Mooter*, who, in thanking the meeting for the • unanimous vote, said that he had the full* J est confidence in thu decision of the) electors on polling day.