THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2348, 14 November 1908, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THE GISBORNE SEAT.

MR. CLAYTON AT THE THEATRE.

Mr. W. Lissant Clayton, who is contesting the Gisborne electorate ms an Opposition candidate, delivered a political address in His Majesty’s Theatre last evening. Mr. Jehu Townley occupied the chair, and the theatre was well filled.

Mr. Clayton, who was received with applause, said he- had prepared liis own speech, and ilu.vd not had a speech prepared in Wellington, as many.of the Government candidates had, and on that account he would cl air

indulgence of the audience. He repudiated the 'statement made by the Government candidates that the Opposiion party had no policy, and was the friend 91 the wealthy and not of the workers- The Government was without- a policy, or what policy ... had was weak and colorless. Even somo of his (Mr. Clayton’s) policy had been stolen by Mr. Darton, particularly, in the case of the grazing runs. Am Opposition member lmd been the first to move to have the Workers’ Dwellings Act passed, and Mr. Massey was the first to advocate the Advances to Workers Act, which the Government at first refused to adopt, but afterwards' took the matter up and claimed) credit for measure. The 'Opposition also' advocated that the Civil Service should be removed from political influence. The people tliad now no control over tlie service, and it would be better if the civil service was put under lbcontrol of an independent board. Wherever that system had been adopted it had been found most successful. The Ministers had pitch-forked tlieir relatives .into positions, and merit or length of service had not been taken into account when the appointments were made. He did not blame those who accepted the appointments, but tlie Ministers for their misdoings. The teachers in public schools should be paid salaries in proportion to the value of their work.' Referring to the appointment of the Hon. W. Hall-Jones as '

Commissioner, Mr. Clayton said that it had been publicly stated that Mr. W. P. Reeves had been asked to resign, and a decayed Minister had been asked to fill the office. He (Mr. Clayton) held that it woidd have been better if Mr. Hall-Jones had been pensioned or paid a gratuity if he wished to retire.

Mr. Clayton then proceeded to criticise the new dairy regulations, which, he stated, made a man wash his hands by Act of Parliament. The Shearers’ Accommodation Bill (which was not passed) sought to provide that fir£pf»ceao should be built in every beduba#n--?!& receive cigarette butts. h|hc Water Power Rights of a law which enables tie Government to give a national asset to individuals without- restricions, and to the detriment of the country. The Arbitration Act was a sample of hasty legislation, which sought to punish an employer who took part in a. llock-out, but allowed him to sack all bis men on Saturday, and put a fresh lot on on Monday morning. Mr. Carroll had said lie disapproved of the gu clause in the Second Ballot Bill, and yet he voted for tlie clause. He (Mr. Clayton) would take care —if he was elected —to vote with his opinions without fear or favor.

Dealing with the question of socialism, Mr. Clayton said it was hard to define Mr. Darton’s opinions on that question. Mr. Darton denied that he was a socialist, yet the “Appeal to Reason,” an organ of the socialistic party’, claimed Mr. Darton as a socialist. Mr. Darton had also claimed to he a No-license candidate, but he (Mr. Clayton) was tokl it was a recent conversion. Mr. Darton also claimed to be a Government supporter, and yet severely criticised tlie present administration. He ( ' Clayton) could only class M. Darton as an undefined species, and perhaps a/ destructive socialist. Socialism meant compulsion, and that people were to be ruled, employed, and paid by authority. Nowhere in the world had socialism been a success. Ho did not think socialism would ever he ad-f opted in New Zealand, for while every man should have equal opportunity, lie could not have equal reward. .Socialism meant no ownership of anything, not even of wives, husbands, or children, who would all be wilder the care of the State, and that was not desirable in a British country. Dealing with the customs tariff, Mr Clayton said it would be admitted that the cost of .living was very high, and that the Government was not able to grapple with the problem. The Ministers said they desired to provide work and to* encourage industries .in the country, and yet imported materials for a Government building from France, Germany and America. The Government had also put a duty on workers’ boots and picket tea, and reduced the duty on silks and satins. Mr. Herrics said the tariff favored the man with £1 a day and neglected the man with 8s a dav. The tariff favored the rich man/yet tlio Government.claimed to befriend the workers. He (Mr. Clay - ton) agreed with that view. (Applause.) Mr. Clayton, continuing, said he favored the free supply of school books by the State, and every encouragement being given to the education of the young, so that workers could educate their children absolutely free of cost. The country also wanted a. proper and discriminating immigration policy 'SO that it coiiud. be kept free from Asiatics. Not onty must the population he increased, hut the country should be armed to afford adequate protection' against an Asiatic invasion. Every 'youth under the a no of 21 years should be taught military discipline. (Applause.) Mr. Clayton again referred to the Old Ago Pensions Act, arid said he would prefer to see a national system of insurance or endowment. The present system was wrong, and people were not encouraged to be thrifty. The Prime Minister objected to candidates touching upon financin'! questions under , the pretence that such (statements injured the country s credit. He (Mr. Clayton) would not say the position called for alarm, but for prudence and caution. The new railway station at Dunedin was an example of the waste of borrowed money to the sum of £40,000. Iho Government also proposed to build new Parliament Houses to cost £226,000, but the cost would mean

much more than that sum,, and at the end would' not be much .lew, than £500,000. The back-blocks districts should be attended to before money was so wasted. He questioned the' prudence of borrowing .largely in the Dominion, and taking the country's cash out .of circulation. The socialistic legislation drove money out of the Dominion, and to quote one instance, £40,000 went from the Hawke’s Day district to the Darling Downs. What was the reason of ail the haste to get the elections overt Was tiro Prime Minister afraid of tlssfailure of a loan or a financial stringency ? Deferring to railway construction, Mr. Clayton said the expenditure in the North-Island on railways during the past eight years was £1,710,000 less than in the South Island during that period. The Ministry had crowded men on to the East Coast railway at election time so closely that they could hardly-find room to Work. The district wanted to see the railway progress, and the railway pushed on to Wairoa and Napier, but it did not want waste for political purposes. (Applause.) The Government figures showed that the railways were hot paying their way as they should do, for the railways were used for political purposes, and as -x breeding ground for votes- The Ministry hod promised £250,000 for loading the back-blocks, but the additional vote for roads and bridges was only £SJ,000. The Government voted money for roads, but only spoilt a small portion of the votes. The Poverty Day district bad not had fair play in the matter of roadbjg the backblocks, for the amount voted for Mr. Carroll’s district was only £19,000, while Mr. Herries’ district got £41,000. Last- election year Poverty Day district got £21,000", and the Bay of Plenty electorate £50,000. The Government had neglected to develop the Morore hot springs, which were a valuable asset to the district. These facts showed that Gisborne wanted a more energetic representative, and bo (Mr. Clayton) objected to the Ministers coming around and expecting the people to kow-tow and bow to them for Government grants. A glaring instance of Ministerial patronage was shown .in the grant for the Puha School. After the first grant was made tenders were called for the building, but the tenders were too high. The size of the school was reduced, and again the tenders exceciL ed tlxe grant, but after Mr. Carroll bad visited Te Karaka the extra £lO needed to build the school was granted —granted .because it was ejection time. (Loud applause.) Mr. Clayton, proceeding, said bewished to emphasise the fact that lie was an a jflocatfk of the freehold, but not of tUdUafflgr-wj*ticn Jrof large estates. tenants should have“tkeopportunity to convert their leaseholds into freeholds. He knew that the leasehold had its uses, and he was not- absolutely against it, as the leasehold often helped a man. to get on to the land when lie could not afford to purchase a property. The leasehold was insecure, and that was shown by the trouble in the district over the renewal of the leases of certain grazing runs. The Native Minister had failed to answer the allegations that were made against him in regard to this matter. Why did Mr. Carrol! decline to read Mr. Hall’s letter in full, or' the extract from the Lands Guide ? The explanation given by the Minister was too thin to go down with the Gisborne public, and the facts were sufficient to show that the matter could be left to the judgment of the electors on Tuesday. Mr. Clayton also dealt with the taiiioa policy of the Department for Native Affairs, and the delay in settling the Native lands. Mr. Carroll had said the Maoris had been mgnanimous in giving their lands to the Europeans and in agreeing to the work of the Native Lands Commission, whereas the truth was the Maoris raised great objections to the Commission. The disadvantage the Natives were under was that few members in the House took anv interest in Native affairs. He Oh'. Clayton) held that Natives should be put on the same roll as the pakeha, so that the Native would get due attention from the member for the district. The Chinaman was allowed to be naturalised and vote with the European, but the Maori was refused that privilege. Such a condition of things was wrong. (Applause.) Mr. Clayton again referred to the sale of the Mar a eta 1m block to Mv. F. Hall by the East Coast Trust Board at a "lower price than was offered for the land, and pointed out that the Natives had not yetreceived a penny of the money because an action for the recovery of the money had been thrown out of the Supreme Court on a technicality. The case was a glaring instance of unfair play. , In conclusion, Mr. C‘,yton said, he was not an elocutionist, or lie would recite “Not Understood,” neither did he have the liowerv eloquence of the Native Minister. (Laughter.) He had merely given the electors hard political facts to digest, and he hoped those facts would be carefully digested. lie confidently awaited next Tuesday, and if elected lie would go to Parliament to honestly, faip.y, and, justly represent all classes. He was appealing on; his own merits, and was not holding up the No-license or any other flag to catch.votes. The country needed its laws justly and impartially .administered, and if the electors desired to see the country justly and impartially administered thenverdict oix "Tuesday would be for the Opposition party. -(.Loud applause.) At the conclusion of Ins address a number of questions were answered by Mv. Clayton, and « hearty vote of thanks was accorded to- him on the motion of Mr. 11. M. Dirrell, seconded by Mr. H. Wilson. A similar compliment to the chairman brought the meeting to a close.

LABOR’S DEMANDS.

QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES

The following questions were submitted to the local candidates tor Parliamentary honors by the East Coast Trades and Labor Council: — If elected will you urge the Government to the following: (U lo amend tho Conciliation, and Arbitration Act so as to provide for the statutory land unconditional preference to unionists? • (2) To introduce legislation providing for tlio referendum with the initiative in the hands of the people? (3) To amend the law by providing for the by popular vote, of

hospitals, charitable aid boards, aird all local bodies?

(4) To provide for a compulsory universal Saturday hall-holiday from 12 o’clock ?

(5) To immediately erect workmen’s dwellings in Gisborne? (0) To decrease the duties on the necessaries of life, that cannot be produced in. the Dominion

(7) To "amend the Legislative Council to be elected by the popular vole (8) To nationalise the marine, coa-t----al, and intercolonial service? (8) To alter the present local option to allow a vote being taken on State control, and the elimination of the reduction clause?

(10) To fix separate days, for the general election and local option polls ?

MR. DARTON’s REPLIES

Mr. Darton replied to -these questions as follows: CD Yes. (2) Yes. (3) Yes. (4) I prefer eacli district to choose the da.y for the half-holiday (from noon) by referendum. In some districts it might lae unwise to force the holiday on to a Saturday, but whatever day is chosen it should be universal for the district.

. (5) Yes. (Very urgently wanted here.) (G) Yes. (I prefer the removal altogether and thus reduce the cost or living.) (7)’ Yes. At the present time the Upper House being non-elective is a direct denial of the principle of equal rights, as the Upper House has the power and often uses it to thwart the desires of the people. " I am a strong advocate that the Upper House should be a chamber of experts, not political has-beens. These experts should represent the various arts and professions, and should be chosen owing to their special knowledge and. qualifications by the various bodies and unions representing these arts, sciences, etc. The duty of this house of expert's would be to consider all Bills sent on from the Lower House, point out all errors, and suggest amendments; and, being experts, advise the Lower House on all matters referred to them. Their power would be entirely advisory,* not administrative.

(8) I think the nationalisation of the intercolonial marine service is too big a job for us at present.. but the Government could, with advantage. run a coastal service, Tjarticularl.v a ferry service between Lyttelton and Wellington, and Napier and Gisborne.

(9) Although admitting State control would be better than the presentmonopoly, I am opposed to State control of the liquor traffic, and would prefer to see a Dominioii vote taken, and do away with the traffic altogether on a bare majority.

(10) Y'es. I advocate the local option poll should l be- taken on the day set apart for the election of the Licensing Committees, but votes not recorded atthe poll should not be counted against the proposal.

MR. CLAY’J

N’S REPLIES

(1) He was ii favor of amending the law wliereve - it was found necessary, as. at pres-: nt it was only in an experimental sti ge. He would not, however, go so : ar as to say that he should support inconditional preferenee to unionists. (2) No. He whs absolutely opposed to such a courseJ as then the members would be only delegates, and the matter should be lest in the-hands- of the Legislature. Atg present Parliament had the po-.vel to _submit anything they chose, to ilie direct tote of the people. | (3) He was net in favor of extending vote to all local boclicscSw&— to maly eases that would mean/fcppres£iitatjon/>intliout taxation. He of extending it to 1 1 os]) it a Is) aii|i u doing away with many of 'thes£!<JrWrnment nominees'on Harbor IMarus. » (4) He was of opinion this was a matter-which cop’d be decided by the different {towns. (o). Yes. entirelk’, particularly .os rents were so higll in Gisborne and as such facilities wsre afforded in the larger centres. > (6) and (7) He wak strongly in favor of both of these, wliich were planks in the platform of the Opposition. (5) He did l not tljink the time had yet come to consider this question. Their railways were not paying, and any such proposal would mean additional taxation. ; (9) He thought that for the time being it would be 1 etter to allow the law to remain as* il was. He would, however, -strike ou ; the reduction clause, which be belli to be illogical, and considered that* the issue should be straight-out licerfcc or no-license. (10) Yes. He thought that cepajpxte days were eminently desirable. Owing to the Hon. J. Carroll’s absence from Gisborne, replies have not as yet been, received from him.

The Hon. J. Carroll will address the electors at Mangapipa this evening, and in His Majesty's Theatre on Monday evening. Mr. W. Lissant Clayton, the Opposition candidate, will -address the electors at Patutahi at S p.m. to-day. Mr. G. E. Darton will give addresses to the electors at Malta m i tonight and in the Garrison Hal*., Gisborne, on Monday night. POLLING DAY. HALF-HOLIDAY TO BE OBSERVED.

The general election will be held on Tuesday next, and, for the.information of shopkeepers, factory owners, and publicans, the following sections of the Electoral Act dealing with the usual weel*y IrfPTf-Uft) l da ho closing of of facilities t]TToyfr® “record their votes are given : Sub-section 115 of the Electoral Act, 1905 provides that where the polling day at any election is other than that appointed, as the weekly lialfholidav under the Shops and Oifices Aeti, 1904, the provisions of tuiat Act relating to the weekly half-holi-day shall bo deemed to refer to tho polling day in lieu of the day so appointed, and it shall not bo necessary for any employer to observe the day so appointed in tlio .week in which the polling day falls. . ' In regard to factories the Act provides that it shall not be necessary for any factory to during uny

voiking hours on the polling day, but the occupier of the factory shall afford each of his employees a reasonable time to record his vote, and no deduction shall be made from the wages of the employee lor the time so occupied, provided the time does not exceed one hour. It is also unlawful to sell intoxicating liquors in any. licensed premises between the hours of 12 noon, and 7 p.m. on polling day.

THE CONTEST IN WELLINGTON

[Special to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, Nov. 13".

There are no new developments in connection, with the local elections. The campaign is proceeding quietly, and without personalities or bitterness.

LABOR LEADER CENSURED. In an interview published in Friday’s “New Zealand Times,” Mr. W. H. Westbrooke, secretary to the Wellington Trades and Labor Council, expressed the opinion that the Labor party was committing political suicide in severing its alliance with the Liberal party. At last night’s meeting of the Trades and Labor Council Mr. Westbrooke was censured aud suspended till next week, when a special meeting will be held to see what further action shall! he taken.

MINISTERIAL METHODS

BOYCOTTING OPPOSITION JOURNALS.

[Special to “Times.”]

OAMARU, Nov. 13. For fourteen or fifteen years the majority of the Government advertisements have been withheld from the “North Otago Times,” an Opposition newspaper, and this has now been extended to apply to election notices. The “Times,” in referring

to the subject, characterises it as Corsican-like vindictiveness, the application of the public purse to the purpose of depriving its readers of information that is as essential to them as to Ministerialists, and a method of attempting to mould all political thought into Ministerial channels. It asks how many Ministerial papers have suffered in the same way.