THE ELECTIONS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3036, 5 November 1908, Page 6

THE ELECTIONS.

Sir William Russell was nominated yesterday morning for the Hawke's Bay seat.

The total number of names on the Wairarapa Electoral Roll, including the supplement, is 6,532, an increase ot" 1,184 on the 1905 roll.

Mr W. C. Buchanan will address the electors at Te Parae Woolshed to-day at 12.30 p.m., and at the Woolshed, Brancepeth, at 2.45 p.m.

"If we want to preserve the noble Maori race we must break up its communistic habits, give each Maori a plot of land, sell the surplus areas, and invest the proceeds for the advancement ot the interests of the Native people."—Mr R. Thompson, at Bayfield (Auckland). Mr Darton, candidate for the Gisborne seat, addressed the electors on Tuesday night. He criticised both the Government and the Opposition, ani expressed himself in favour of a heavier graduated land tax, also of a Dominion local option vote. He spoke strongly in favour of prohibition.

Speaking at Kawhia, Mr W/ Jennings said that with the completion of the Main Trunk line, and the more rapid opening up of Maori lands in the Kawhia district, freezing works would soon be established. There being an excellent harbour there, and owing to the fact that it is the nearest port to Australia, a great trade would quickly spring up.

■ If the "vote of confidence" is ?tiy criterion there will Have to be second ballots in quite a number of Auckland electorates. The surprising regularity with which these votes are accorded seems to indicate either that the average elector is a very deep Kind of person, disguising his real feelings, or else that supporters of one candidate rarely go to the other candidate's meetings.

A large and enthusiastic meeting of Mr J. Hunter's combined ladies' and men's committee was held in the Dominion Hall last evening, when reports were received in connection with the work of forwarding Mr Hunter's candidature. The reports stated that excellent support was being received on all sides. Various matters dealing with Mr Hunter's candidature were arranged, and the meeting adjourned.

"The real charge against the Government," writes the "Southland Times," "is that New Zealand alone of the Australian States has failed to make use of the exceptional opportunities offered by the last ten years of prosperity. In Australia some of the States have ceased borrowing, and some have actually reduced their debt. To New Zealand alone belongs the questionable distinction of having increased the rate of its borrowing in the fattest years it has ever had"

Mr J. Hunter had an excellent reception at his political meeting at Tane on Tuesday night last, and his address was listened to with keen interest by the large number of settlers present. At Marimm yesterday afternoon Mr Hunter held another good meeting. Mr Hunter has met with a splendid reception throughout the country districts, and it is confidently anticipated that he will in these districts obtain a majority. He will speak at Hamua this evening.

Neither shops nor factories are compelled to close on election day. Factory owners must give their employees up to an hour's leave, without deduction of salary, in order that they may record their votes. Shopkeepers may observe election day in. place of the usual half-holiday-, unless the latter is definitely fixed by an award of the Arbitration Court, in which case they must close on the award date. There is no clause under the Shops and Offices Act requiring special time to be allowed, so that shop assistants may be able to vote.

Speaking at Dunedin Central the other night, Mr Arnold said that every effort he could make would be user! to help on the forward march, step by step, to improve the condition of the masses from time to time. A voice: You ought to be Minister of Labour. (Applause). Mr Arnold: "I might be yet," Up to date, this is the tenth member of the last Parliament who has been mentioned or has mentioned himself —as a possible Minister. The bunch of carrots' i 3 evidently being worked for all it is worth.

In a political speech the other night, Mr A. L. D. Fraser.advocated that the land tenants of the Crown should be permitted to acquire the freehold of their selections. It had been suggested (he said) that to grant the freehold would be a breach of contract in connection with, the 999 years' leaseholders, but how could it be more a breach of contract than taking land for settlement from people who held a land transfer title? The 999 years' lease had-now probably served its purpose, and he would give the tenants the freehold if they desired it.

The compilation of the electoral rolls affords some insight into the evolution of mankind. In one instance, in one Auckland suburban electorate, the elector was first enrolled as "carpenter;" he removed to anotner street, and having in the meantime taken up a finer branch of his trade he made a fresh claim as a "joiner." His worldly affairs continued to prosper, and he was next found after a further change of residence seeking enrolment as a "contractor." An investigation on the part of an alert registrar disclosed the fact that instead of there being three persons there was only one. In another case, which occurred in the city, an elector has made the unusual change in his calling by ceasing to be a "draper" and becoming a "gasfitter." In this care it might very reasonably be assumed that there were two persons of the same name, but inquiry proved the contrary.