' & - Mr John Edie addressed a meeting of elect tors at Pukerau on Thursday evening. There was only a moderate attendance, owing prob ably to the stormy night. Mr J. Norton was voted to thS chair, and briefly introduced the candidate. "Mr Edie spoke for nearly two hours, and received a very attentive hearing. Mr Harming : How do you reconcile your policy of " measures, not men " with your willingness to vote against your convictions rather than turn your party out ? — He woujd always use his own judgment ; but if, say, on the hundredth vote it was a party measure, he would- vote against his own opinion on the measure rather than help to : turn his party out and thus allow the opposition to come into power, thus giving them an opportunity to destroy the effect of his 99 previous votes. A man could not have his own way on every occasion. Mr Dawson : Why do we need Party Go vernment at all ? — While we had our present system we must have Party Government. Mr Potter:" If you stop the drink traffic, how will you raise the revenue ? — I will answer : that by quoting Mv Gladstone's opinion. He said " Stop the drink traffic and I pledge you my word that no additional revenue will be required." Replying to Mr Dawson re Poraahaka, the candidate went very fully into the matter, explaining the result of some six or seven interviews he had had with as many settlers on the estate, all of whom were satisfied Avith their bargains. One said : "I have known the property many years, and bought a sec tion from Mr Douglas some years ago. I have now taken up another section on the Pomahaka Downs. I consider the land good enough, but certainly would not object to a reduction of rent. Of oourse, men coming to the place must have a certain amount of capi tal to give them a fair start. I consider my bargain as good as gold." The reply was considered very satisfactory. To Mr Norton : Co-operative work, does not cost 4-5 per cent, more than under the con tract system; I maintain it does not cost more. Under- the co-operative system the men get the whole value of the work, saving the contractor's profits. 