ELECTION CAMPAIGN-

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1922, Page 5

ELECTION CAMPAIGN-

LEADER OF THE LIBERALS. SPEECH AT AUCKLAND. PLEA FOR HIS PARTY. By Telegraph.—Press Association Auckland, Last Night. The Leader of the Liberal Party (Air. T. M. Wilford), addressed a very large meeting at the Town Hall this evening. He received an enthusiastic reception, ami was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence in the party by an overwhelming majority. The Mayor presided. Mr. Wilford replied to the criticism regarding his attitude to Sir Joseph Ward, saying the latter was a man who would be of immense value to the country as a financier if only he could see his way to stand. Liberalism refused to recognise class. Mr. Wilford referred to Mr. Massey’s statement regarding the raising of a short-dated loan at a low rate of interest which was confidential. We haa to pay the rate and had every right to know what it was. The objective of the Reform Party and the Labor Party was to get rid of the. Liberal Party. “We say absolutely,” said Mr. Wilford, “that it would be a bad thing for the country if the Liberal Party was ever pushed out of existence. Tt was the party which made the country in the past and it can make it. in the future. We say the Reform and Labor parties have compacted and grasped hands to get us out if possible.” At the conclusion a vote of thanks and confidence, and expressing the opinion that it was time there was a change in Government was carried by an overwhelming majority. THE WAIRAU SEAT. Blenheim, Last Night. Mr. R. McCallum, the sitting member, opened his campaign in Blenheim to;night before a large and appre 'alive audience. He announced himself as a Liberal, adhering to the Liberal principles of the historic Liberal Party. He believed Sir Joseph Ward was Mr. Massey’s only possible rival, and he would only pledge himself to such a leader. A LADY CANDIDATE. Christchurch, Last Night. Mrs. A. E. Herbert, Independent candidate for Avon, had a good hearing on. her first address to-night. She dealt chiefly with social questions. She said that on a no confidence motion, if it involved Mr. Massey remaining in power or Mr. Holland being put in power (there was no use in considering the Liberal Party, as it stood at present), as she was not in favor of revolutionary methods, she simply could not vote for Mr. Holland; and if the choice was between Mr. Holland and Mr. Massey, she would vote for Mr. Massey, much as she would hate to do so.

A WEST COAST INDEPENDENT. Westport, Last Night. At the Theatre Royal, to-night, Mr. John Menzies, Independent candidate, addressed a large and enthusiastic meeting of electors. He opposed the reduction in the Public Service salaries of men drawing £3OO or under, and advocated placing the railways in the hands of an administration composed of capable business men. On ano confidence motion he would vote with the Reform Party. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks. LABOR’S AIMS MADE CLEAR. Gisborne, Last Night. Mr. Brindle, Labor candidate for Gisborne, delivered his opening address tonight. The candidate outlined the Labor pcl'cj declaring that his party was aiming at the goal of social democracy. He denied there was anything about Sovietism in the Labor Party’s platform. * He agreed with Mr Massey that the light was between Reform and Labor, or, as he (Mr. Brindle) put it, between robbers and the robbed. There would not be industrial peace until the workers in industries owned and controlled those industries.