THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2335, 30 October 1908, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THE GISBORNE SEAT. Mr. George E. Darton will address the electors at Makauri this evening, .and at His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday next.

THE BAY OF PLENTY SEAT. Mr. J. B. Gow delivered an address to a large number of electors in tho Ormond ball last evenng. The speaker dealt exhaustively with the administration of tho present Government and the land and native land questions. Tho - speaker was accorded an attentive hearing, and at the close of his remarks a vote of'thanks was passed. OwiTTg to pressure on space in this morning’s issue, a full report of the address is held over till tomorrow.

Air. J. B. Gow, tho Opposition candidate, will address the elector® at Whatatutu this evening.

[Special to “Times.”]

OPOTIKI, Oct. 20

Mr. "W. D .8. MacDonald addressed a meeting hero last night. There was a large audience. He stated that Ins reason lor standing was that he had been chosen by the Government. Replying to a question, lie stated that lie had not been a supporter of tlie Opposition, but-had been recommended to the Government by the Hon. J. Carroll, as the Ministerial candidate. A vote of thanks and confidence was proposed, and a vote of thanks only was proposed as an amendment. Mr MacDonald’s secretary addressed the meeting on flic confidence motion. The great majority of the people present refrained from voting. The chairman finally declared tho vote of confidence carried. [Press Association. 3 THE DISSOLUTION. WELLINGTON, Oct. 29. A Gazette Extraordinary will be published to-day, containing a proclamation dissolving Parliament. The Post understands that the writs will be issued this week, possibly to-mor-row or Saturday. MR, HINE AT STRATFORD. STRATFORD, Oct, 29. Mr. J. B. Hine, Opposition candidate, addressed a very large meeting here last night. Tho meeting was devoted principally to personalities and general condemnation of the Government. A vote of thanks was accorded. THE CANTERBURY SEATS. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 29. For Canterbury’s fourteen seats there are 47 candidates. Of these 21 are out-and-out Ministerialists, 13 are declared Oppositionists, and six arc Independent Liberals or . Laborites with (Socialist leanings. In only one electorate is there more than one Oppositionist in the field (Ashburton). In five there are more than one Ministerialist. No Oppositionist seeks election for South Christchurch seat. All the City seats are contested by Socialists. MR. McNAB’S CAMPAIGN. INVERCARGILL, Oct. 29. The Hon. M.r McNab opened his camnaign last night, addressing two meetings, at both of which votes of confidence were passed. His speeches mainly dealt with recent land legislation, with special reference to the cutting up of Hawke s Bay estate.., several of which wore now in the market* on terms that would enable those of moderate means to take u] sections. Regarding the now thur* impervious to watei. THE WELLINGTON NORTH SEAT. [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Oct. 29. Air O 11. Izard, who is standing for re-election as member lor Wellington' North, commenced Ins campaign to-night, speaking waimb ■>» support of the Government. Ht cceivecl a vote ot thanks and conild dice. THE HAWKE’S BAY CONTEST. [Press Association.] NAPIER, Oct, 29. Sir William Russell, the only Oppositionist out of five candidates for Hawke’s Bay, opened the campaign to-night at Hastings, addressing a thousand persons. Hie speaker, m a trenchant criticism of the Government railway policy, contended that a comparison of the systems in iorcc on the New Zealand Government hues, New South Wales, and the Manawatu Company would prove- unmistakably that political- control was bad. Whilst favoring a moderate borrowing policy, he strongly condemned the extravagant policy which had obtained of late years. Referring to- the defence question, lie declared that universal military training on the lines of the Swiss system was a necessity of the Dominion* if the Dominion was to make itself secure. Sir 'William referred to the need for more equitable distribution of public money between the North and South Islands;, and strongly urged tlie necessity of the East Coast railway as against the expensive Midland line. He declared himself an out-and-out freeholder, opposed to the second ballot, Jn favor of tho principle of arbitration, and opposed to the bare- majority on the licensing qutestbioii. He st/rongly criticised the Government's methods of doling out- votes to Education Boards, and advocated a system by which the Boards would know each year the amount they were entitled to; A vote of thanks was passed with somel dissentients.