THE BY-ELECTION

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1920, Page 5

THE BY-ELECTION

IyiAJOR HINE AT STRATFORD. A VIGOROUS SPEECH. REPLY TO MR. MASTERS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The Stratford Town Hall was packed to its utmost capacity last night, when Major Hine gave his first political address in the town for the coming byelection. Every available seat in the hall was occupied long before the time of commencing the meeting, and people were standing in all the corridors, doorways, and on the back of the stage. The candidate was at times subjected to considerable interruption and boo-hooing from a fairly large section entrenched near tho doors, but the local police were in attendance, and assisted in maintaining order. Major Hine devoted a large' portion- of his address to replying to Mr. Masters' recent speech at Stratford, and frequently scored heavily over his Interjectors. His appearance on the platform in company with the Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) was the signal for an outburst of applause and dissent. The Mayor, in introducing the candidate, said that he was pleased to hear from Mr. Masters that he had agreed to take the verdict of the Election Court and fight the election in a clean, sportsmanlike manner. He was also pleased that Mr. Masters had asked his supporters to give Major Hine as fair a hearing as ho (Mr. Masters) had received. (Applause). He urged the electors to judge the candidates 011 their merits, and avoid any bitterness oyer the matter,

THE LIE DIRECT. Major Hine said that he was there to reply to what Mr. Masters had said at his meeting last week and to give some justification for the action of the petitioners in upsetting the election of Mr- Masters. (Applause and dissent). He waa also very pleased to hear that Mr. Masters had asked his supporters to fight as clean as they could—-"as clean as they can, mark you," added the speaker amidst laughter. Mr. Masters, lie continued, was, however, not playing the game as he had promised to do. Mr, Masters had stated at his: meeting that "on the night of the election Mr. Hine took him (Mr. Masters) by the hand and congratulated him. And Mr. Hine said to the electors that the fight had been a elean one and above board, and asked the electors to give Mr. Masters the same support they had given him (Mr. Hine)." "Now, Mr. Masters came before you and told you that I made that statement," added the candidate. "I give that statement the He direct." (Applause and dissent). The Mayor, at this stage, intervened, stating that a section af the audience were apparently Mr. Masters' supporters and could not stand what Mr- Hine was saying.

Mr. Hine read a newspaper report of the speeches" after the last election in which the words quoted by Mr. Masters as having been uttered by Mr. Hine were reported has having been said by Mr. Masters himself. "If JJr. Masters can prove in any newspaper in New Zealand tliat I said the words he credits me with" saying, I will retire from the contest, provided he will retire if he cannot prove them himself." (Dissent)'"Now, where are his committee? No one will come forward tc accept the challenge." (Dissent). Mr. Jonas Masters (father of Mr. Robert Masters), said that lie would accept the challenge on his behalf, as one of his supporters. This led to further uproar, during which the matter dropped.

CORRUPT PRACTICES. ' Referring to the petition, Major ifinc said the Legislature,laid it down that certain actions were corrupt, and that no man was to get into Parliament if he committed these actions. (A voice: Quite right!) The Legislature laid down that no candidate should break the law, and it would be a bad state of affairs if candidates were allowed to influence the public by giving free shows. It was not the first time he lmd fought for clean politics, and when he got backto Parliament he intended to make it doubly sure that no more corrupt practices would be allowed. "Now," added Major Iline, "I'intend ta give you a few instances of how candidates have been unseated for trying to influence votes." A Voice: Be truthful.

Majoi Hine proceeded to give instances of what had happened in connection with elections in England, and said Mr. Masters had stated that ho was the only candidate unseated tor an illegal practice and allowed to stand again. That was not correct. A Voice: The cases were different,. Major Hine: No they weren't. ' A Voice: They weren't for free pictures. Major Hine asked if c man, "betfause he had wealth, should be allowed to bribe the electors. Major Hine: I'm going to see that no man who has wealth is going to be able to buy votes from electors. Mr. Masters scoured the district, but was unable to prove anything against me. A Voice,' Yes, he did. Major Hine: What? A Voice: 75 per cent. (Lalighter). "Now, about this gentleman ■ who aspires to be a law-maker of the country, is the gentleman who is to represent Ihis district going to bo a law-breaker? The highest tribunal of the land has found him guilty of a breach of the law." (A voice: A technical breach). Major Hine: "There was no -mention or a technical breach in the judgment. Mr. Masters was proved to have broken the law and was outed. Though Mr. Masters claimed that he had not used the pictures and music for influencing the electors, the Court found him guilty of that." Continuing, the candidate said that it was the duty of the Government to interfere in an election where a candidate liacl broken the law. Keep polities clean and protect candidates from men who deliberately flouted tlio law. ALIENS' VOTES. j Referring to aliens, Major Hine said | he was Minister in Charge of NaturaliRotion at the time of the election, and he had issued six naturalisation papers for the Stratford district before the electionA Voice; \Vhose supporters were they? Continuing, .Major Hine said that it was impossible to naturalise many ftlian. at the time, and iomt oould not

yet be naturalised. Regarding tM Poles, he was sorry they could not to naturalised yet, for they were not Qer* mans, but merely under the subjection of (ierinaiiy. There were some alien* who had denied themselves the fight to naturalisation, and they preferred to w* main loyal to their own country. Major Hinc added that Mr. Master®* passive attitude towards militarism gained him the support of many aiione who were not sympathetic to New Zealand's defenee system, and not game enough to assist the country in fighting 1 il-; enemies. The candidate challenged Mr. Masters to say whether he would repeal the law which had unseated him, lie said he need not have resigned from the Ministry, pending the result of the election, but he preferred to fight the election as an ordinary citizen. lie thanked Mr. Masters for easing what might happen tu him if re-elected, and that he might again get a Ministerial position. If Mr. Masters was willing to say that the candidate didn't mind frit all. A voice: The Dominion said that. Major Hine: Well, the Dominion ig usually right. (Laughter.) PUBLIC WORKS.

Referring to Jhe soldiers' eettlemwtl at K'jtae, the candidate said that Mr« Masters had stated the property WM burdened with £OOOO, and that tile soldiers were not treated fairly, The Kofea settlement was not his, It had belong*! to a brothel of his, and was sold during the candidate's absence. He waa not responsible for it, yet Mr. Masters hadt spread the rumor that the soldiew wen ' burdened with an extra £6OOO, which they should not have to pay. The Kotae i settlement, lie contended, wag one of the most successful soldiers' settlements iu New Zealand. (Applause.) Speaking of the Public Works policy, Major IJine said that Cabinet, before tfca last election, decided to proceed with ft forward movement in regard to public works of tie country, and WMi going to carry out that policy, all the »« missness of the .past years to be made up, and this district to receive it* share. (A voice: Bribery!) Major Hine: fee, . possibly. Continuing, the candidate urg*< ed the adaption of the contract system la regard to public works, instead of tlko present policy. He also advocated that a system of canteens should follow the public works—dry canteens—in order that men on the works should not be at tho mercy of the storekeeper*, wlk» could charge whatever prion they liked. (Applause.) He also strongly; urged .the development of hydro-electric- 1 ity, so as to make it available throughout the country, in order to increase the prosperity of the country by new indu*i tries. Major Hine said his opponent bad appoared to take exception toa staibement lie had ne.it, about the coal deposits at; Tangarakau. He saw no reason why Mr, Masters should take exception to ilia statement about efforts being made to develop the coal. He wished the pro* moters of the comipany every success* ' and thought every encouragement should be given to the people who were trying to bring the coal within the reach the people. ; MB. MASSEY'S CEAKG& > i Diverting for a moment to ftnsral politics, Major Hine paid a tribute tfl Mr. Massey, who, he said, was now Prim« Minister. (Laughter, and a voice j Does he want a mate?) Major Hine: Yes, he said lie would lika a mate from this dis-tric*-. Continuing, Major Hinc said that Mir. Mwtey had never before had a fair chance, bat he now had a good majority, and would be able to prove himself the beat Prima Minister New Zealand ever kad. Mr.; Massey had had a strenuous tinpe during tlie war, and had acquitted himself well; A voice: He's being paid fox 1 it. Major Hine: Of course he is. Do yoij <■ expect him to do it for nothing? Another voice: Let him tvtrlcll farm. Continuing, Major pine said feat Mr, ' Masters was a member of a .party $6 dead as Julius Cesor. (Applause.) (A voice: That's how you'll be after the election.) The landidate added tint the " next election would be fought between' the R.eform Party and extreme Labor (applause and dissent), and tho majority of the Stratford people would be supports '' ers of the Reform Party. Mr. Massey, he said, was a friend of the working man, and had been successful in settling! strikes. (Applause.) * THE WAGES QUESTION Referring to the wages question, the candidate said that as the cost of living went up, so wages must go up. The railway men were now wanting better' conditions, and there was a good deal of justification for their demand. The raihvaymen were not going to strike. A Voice: How do you know? Major Hinc: I tell you that the trouble < will be settled, and probably before this' 1 ■ election is held. When Mi. Massey coßies* out of hospital he will Boon settle the trouble. He asked the workers not to bo so impetuous in their actions, and not to strike, and suggested that there should be a council between workers and employers. It was tried in the recent coal ' i trouble, and Mr, Massey came out trumps. The candidate also expressed his support of proposals for the endowment of motherhood.

LOCAL MATTERS. Reverting to local matters, Major lime inferred to Mr. Masters' slatei nient that he (the speaker), had done • notmng for the district, and tliat Mr. -Masters had done more in three mouth* t ' ,an . ' la <l done in eleven year#, The candidate said he had obtained a gfant for the post office before Mr. Masters . was a member of Parliament, and the removal of the railway station wad llted up Ion? before Mr. Masters had done anything. Ma-. Masters had nothing to (lo with getting the new Technical Sehool, which was sanctioned by the Cabinet of which the speaker wait a rnombpr. Also in regard to the Plifclio ' Trust Office which Mr. Masters elaitfced ' lie had eot for the district, this Was part of the policy Of the Government' and not due to any particular effort of . Mr. Masters. The Stratford bride© And the road to the mountain, ahd the roads of the country had had graftta voted to them—not due to any effort 1 of Mr. Masters. The district had received only its fair share of pufelio • i money. Mr. Jack Thomas moved, and Mr N, : B. Iryday seconded the following restfu. T^' this meeting congratulate* ,'■* Major Hine upon the success of hti for clean nolitics, and has every con*/" lidence m him " The rending of the resolution was In- t terrupted with cheers ahd disordw. tuft on being put to the meeting by tho si