THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 604, 6 September 1909, Page 8

THE RANGITIKEI SEAT.

MR. F. F. HOCKLY AT EASTOWN. , Mr. F. F. Hoekly, who is standing as a straight-out supporter of Mr. Massoy and the Itoform Party, addressed a representative) .and appreciative audience of electors in the Dominion Hall, Eastown. Councillor G. W. M'Cvil, in .the unavoidable absence of the .Mayor of Wanganui : East, occupied the chair. Wo take tho following extracts from a report of tho" speech published in the "Wanganui Chronicle" :-r- .' ' Air. Hockly; who was well received, commenced his address by expressing his pleasure at meeting .the electors of this end of the constituency for tho'first time. ' After' expressing his regret at the cause of the present ' 'election, and mentioning that, though differing' in .politics, ho and the late Mr. Keinington had been personal friends, Mr. Hockly proceeded to give tho

Reasons for Candidature, ' . i "It is customary, and a good custom, too, I-think, , that when a ma'nfirst offers himself for 'political honours,- that he should advance some justification for his candidature. . Of course, wo. all admit that it is.f.u honourable and worthy ambition in any mail to wish to. serve his country'. • Further, that it is tho duty of .every, right-thinking man to do what he can to promote, the welfare, the progress, and the prosperity of. tho community. And in that respect I can,claim that.l.have never turned my: back-upon my duty. So that to-night I stand before you having already had considerable experience of puMiclife, and I consider that, except in a few notable instances, it is essential before a man essays to , enter the largo sphere of Parliamentary politics, he- should first have the traiiiing arid gain the experience which participation in. local politics must necessarily give him. My connection, with public affairs^ has led a- large number of tho electors of Bangitikei to consider that 1 am a fit and- proper person to represent the constituency m-Parliament,' and 1 have come forward' in response to repeated Yequests -from almost every ' section of''tho' community. ■ This'is . essentially a-farming J constituency ;■ the towns that aro within its boundaries ,'aro- all of . comparatively ' small djmonsiqns, and are-all entirely dependent for their>progress and prosperity' on' the farming interests, fho farming interest is undoubtedly the permanent interest in this country; Out of a total export in 1907 (tho jast year that figures are available for), of £20,000,000, the . farming interests contributed nearly ■~£16,000,000. ' Nowj I contend that this important, interest (yours/, and imno) is quite 'inadequately represented in Parliament Thero aro, altogether too ■ few practical farmers in , tho Bouse—too few men who, when matters co'mo. up for, consideration affecting the farmers' interests, • are able to bring a practical experience to bear. I consider that : the /.time has arrived for ' this important constituency to bo represented by a farmer, and-I'stand', before you to-night in , that, capacity, as. a man: who has been on tho land , for the last twonty-fivo years, who. has a practical and intimate knowledge of the wants arid requirements and aspirai tions .of the man on the land. (I: coni ' €s ?. politics' have always . exorcised a fascination for. me, arid,ever since I was, a lad I have mado a.keen and Bustained study of the-questions.that have agitated the body politic, from time to time -in -Now , Zealaod_ .dnring;- .tho-flast' twenty-fiyo years. ,oo . that while 11 am' a novice' bs ' far as' tho conduct , of'.a,.Parliamentary election is'concerned,.-I;,am 'by no means a',political tyro, but have: principles and convictions that lam preparod.to stand or fall by. Arid during thisclectionlwant my viows to bo clearly, understood. I want to enter Parliament on my merits. If my views appeal to you, ■ as' :I behevo they will, 1 shall expect your,support.- At any rate, one thing is certain, I shall neither trim no; cringe. One-, thing I congratulate myself upon and that is upon my opponents,, two of them I bave ; counted as my personal. friends■ for many, years, .th* other ia a gentleman who has.had vvery wide oxperience in cleetionoering ...who knows every rulo of the gama and Whllo. tho contest is going.to bo , short a "n i f°"P< J havo overy cohfidonco that'-it , will bo. fought on clean, straight lines. • Wo shall all hit hard, but it will bo always abovo the bolt. 'And; I' express tho hope ! that when, the eriioke of the battle clears away wo'shall all be,as 'good friends as we are to-night,.; and. that thefo will bo no bitteraoss or rancour left behind. I think that that is quite sufficient by way of.preliminary. Now ■wo can got down to politics. lam standing as a pronounced- opponent of , the present Government, and-as a supporter of the lleform Party under tlio leadership of Mr Massey." :'..-■..'.' . ' •

.''■•: ,'■••'■'■ The Reform Party. ' After paying, a high- tribute to the work and jiorsonal. character of Mr. Maesoy, 'the candidate continued:—"Tlio country to-day realises his worth, realises tho great/work he has done/in Parliament, sees that' he is on right.lines in' the reforms that cates so'strenuously—the country is on tlie point of giving.him% mandate to take' tho reins of government, and I shall bo proad to bo; at his ■back, proud to" help' him -in carrying out' those gi-eal reforms that are so pressing and so essential, not only to'tfa progress prosperity, but the. very salvation of the ' Dominion. But while I announce myself asup'portor of Mr. Massey, I go to Parliament absolutely a free 'man, trammoiled only by my principles arid convictions and by , the/opinions that I shall give expression to. That is a feature of every member of the; Reform 'Party in' Parliament, to-day. Thank Heaven thai) wo.aro. not bound hand and foot like. tho of the Government. Party, that, wo have not to. obey every crack of tho party whip, to come to-' feel when.commanded, to speak or keep guiet according to orders'. I would nover go to Parliament if; I, had to go'under those conditions. .I' am prepared at'all 'times to support anything, no matter by whom introduced, that. I -think is right' and in tho beet I interests of. everybody concerned, and lo oppose, anything that, will: have -an opposite eifect. My policy every thro will •bo /the welfare, of tho.country, , arid, if that 1 is achieved, parties'' , ;or personalities may sink or/swim.'. , '■■ , ' '. . "-.-', ".'''. " ■' -■".''

\' Socialism. Mr. Hockly. then dealt at soino length with tho rapid spread, and advance of Socialism, with its attack; on property and its attempt to break down tho fabric of. government which haa been built up upon tJie political .economy which tho experience .of centuries has evolved as tho, safest and,best. Mr. Hockly,said that one, of his : strongest objections to the. present' Government' was the fact that they' wcro , so strongly.' Socialistic both in,the personnel of the Cabinet and in tho trend .'of their'actions. .He'pointed out that although Mr. Hogg, by reason of his indiscretion, had been expelled, Mr. Milbr, Mr.'Towlds, and Dr. Findlay still remained, and he considered '..that , ' the ' maintertnnce of a ■ Government ,in power the four strong members: of which., wcro ■ p'rasassod of , suoh -. strong Socialistic : tendencies was'. a menaco and 'a . danger to tlie country. (Applause.) -Mr. Hocldy,' however, was careful to make it clear that he could alvrajs be prepared to , give credit—where credit' is due. .No Government, no body of men, no individual coiild be all bad, and'. rememberho (t!io';speakerj alwayn; strove to bequite fair; There; were- nieasnren introduced tho : Governmen.', , the .main, principles'of which ho - ar!provcd,; such, for instance, ,is the Old Ago ■ Pensions, Lands" for; SettlcV ment; Advances to Settlers and 'Advances to Workers Acts. 'But, while conceding this, he emphatically ..declared .that the. whole tendency of tho administration of this continuous Ministry.had been disastrous for tho country. -'■'•:•■-.,-■■■ '■,■'■■

Standing Still. Why? . ; "While we had an era of prosperity, unexampled in our history, we were too busy mating; money, too happy and contented, to havofcitlicr time or inclination to look ahead to sco what tho: olfccfc was going to ho. But now wo hiivo wakened up with a shock. Wo find tho effects aro upon us, and thoy find us unprepared.- .Wo find tho. population Hocking to ,tho towns, becaufio there is not sufficient Inducement for, men to, stick to tho land. Thoy seo'thc .Governmont quito out of sympathy, q'u'ito out of'touch, with: tho tillers; of the soil. They sec the burdens of taxation being shifted in cvcr : incrcasirijj proportion on to tho land. They- seo thoir. demands for a tonuro which alono will 'satisfy them being constantly ignored, and seeing these things, they decide Co throw ia their

lot with the many and take their'share of the harvest which is being exacted from tho few. .We .find capital, tho most sonsitivo thing in the wide , world, frightened and uneasy. We have wonderful-and inexhaustible resources only waiting for capital, to develop'them. But tho enterprise of the community is crippled, there is no confidence, and therefore no expansion. ' Wo. have unemployment staring.at us .in , .all directions and in all callings. . The country is standing still because there, is no money. ...And it is entirely owing to tlie fact that wo have a Socialistic Government in office. .(Hear, 1 hear.) Because, •. remember this,. there is plenty of money for investment tralia at 4'and 4J per cent., plenty, in London at from 2j t0,3 per cent. But .if you ask them for any for Now Zealand you get a blank refusal. And '■ this'.state of affairs will continue as long ,as the Ward Government remains in office". Mr. Hockly! wont on to say .that if they wanted this-serious state of affairs, ended and mended .they, must entrust the government'of thevcouhtry j to the Reform Party, and the fir-st great work to this,end was the successful settlement of the land. ■ Mr. Hiickly dwelt at length.oh this important subject, on .tho linos .of his previous speeches, and declared himself to bo. emphatically in..favour of "the , freehold overy time." Incidentally, he stated that-' it wbuld.be his-effort to. have tho terms upon which Crown tenants aro. enabled togct.tho freehold mado more equitable. Ho was prepared to support a proposal that tho price should bo arrived at by actuarial valuation. Ho would also, give the tenants .. under !thq I/ands for Settlement Act the option of , tho freehold on the samo. basis. .• (Applause.) After referring to the extravagdnt borrowing policy, pur-sued , by tho Government, and stating, that ho advocated borrowing for reproductive work's only, Mr. .Hockly, reverting to the land question, , went on to trenchantly criticise "the atrocity perpetrated by.- Mr. M'Nab in the, 1907. Land Act—the insidious attempt to nationalise . 17,0pd,000 acres of Crown'land under the specious plea of endowments." This proposal, said, Mr. Hockly, ignored the legitimate plea of the would-be settler , for tho option of the freehold ■ and ! pandered ,to the Socialistic element.' (Applause.) . " . ■ ■' . ',■ ■. '..'•' The Policy of Talhoa. ; ,

Speaking ■on Native lands, naturally ■ tho question of settlement of tho largo- , areas iff tbo hands, of the-Nntives was--dealt -with— land, that was capable' of great, production, but that was at'the. present time onlygrowing weeds and rabbits and other-posts'. Tho response- to the strong outcry", for settlement had been "Taihoa, Taihoa." ■ Promises had been inadoj a Royal Commission set up, but no advance had bsfin ; madc. Proposals wero in the air, but nothing, as in tho past,' would be done, and never will by the present Government. In-the. Native land policy of the : Reform Party, the interests,wants.and aspirations .of the. Natives would: be conserved. Thev. should be encouraged to as much of the land'as they can profitably do, as nothing '.would ;raise their Eelf-rcspectJ implant a spirit of'seliTreliance.,.and-,'enable them.to, gain their old prestige as a people, so much as the individual occupation* r of tho land, and the tiro* had arrived when all distinctions betweciuthe Maori'and the pakeha should'cease..'-'. (Applause.) ;Thcrc should be one' law. for both.-,Tho time had for treating the- Maori' ns.'iohildren.; and keeping them wrapped'in swaddling clothes. -They were quite capable-of looking; after, theirown interests. The Natives-uso: tho -roads, but arc exempt from paying rates unless thoy choosoj and they cannot.bo sued unless tho Minister gives' consent, wKich Mr. ; Carroll has never yet'done.' It was ihigh'-timo ■ that,. when they reap all the advantages of the couptry, x they should share sonic, of; : tho' responsibility.; ..' ■ ', \ ''. .' ' ,'.'■ • Mr. Hockly-satisfactorilv answered a.number of questions, after which, on tho< motion of Mr. R. Ncilson (who said that while, ho was, a supporter of Mr. Hutchison he; would, if Mr. Hockly. went .to-the second ballot, vote ..for that gentleman) .the candidate.whs I accorded a hearty vote of thanks.' . ■'■.'■■

ME AT WANGANBI jEAST.; Sir. Hornblow, who is contesting ; the Rangitikei seat as.a Liberal and Labour can:, didate, bad a small meeting in: wet weather at the Town Hall, Eastbrook, last Wedncs■day..... • ..... "■ , I ■'■~., ~.,-' ': - ,■; ■ Tho.candidato (accordihg to a report in tbo "Waiiganui Chronicle") said that, if rqturn-' ed, he would support, the Government so long as they carried out the views ho. was' thero : to,express., Ho was not foolish enough toattempt to. d'eeivo; his hearers ;by. saying the Garernmont wiis perfect. . They had made mistakes', but'lie believed they , were endeavouring to rectify those mistakes, and ho for 'one would assist in getting them' back into>the right'groove which, was so beneficial to tho people in the days of thelate-Jbhii Ballance, M'Kerizje, and others. There were some people .in. this country whose insincerity' arid hyprocrisy came as a revelation to'the Dominion during ',an- election. 'NYbatcver might be the demerits of, the "present , Government, they had done,at great arid everlasting service to'tlio' , workers and the struggling , settler's, >vhiclr entitled theni to tho everlasting,.gratitude of the democrat; Whilst the speaker lboked to farr' mer for support, ho would support every progressive measure which'woufdlcontribute to the' uplifting: arid general .welfare','of !tho workers ..and the good of-the ..country. Whilst ho favoured. Unionism, the speaker had no time professional-agitator. In',England strikes and lockouts cost the Fedora-, tion : Driiohs.no ]css I t))an.£l22;Bl9' 14s. •■■ Yet tliis, sum was surprisingly sniall when compared with thecost 'of the countless disputes in Now Zealand, which loses; more than. £122,819 per annum:. The- candidate was favourably"impressed, witli the'-'ArV bitration - Act,:, and was opposed to labour laws which would inflict- severe hardships on the farming community. . '.Speaking 'on tho land quostion," ho. considered there. Jad been' , too much tinkering legislatien , 'during l tno past few. years, in the direction of preventing Crown tenants obtaining the'freehold. ,He : wanted to ' see the wholo of the-'Crown lands thrown open under.tho optional' sys-' tern,; so that every selector should 'nave tho oppdrtiuvty.-of .acquiring..his ffeiliold, subject t-p the limitation of; areas, arid the provisions in reference to residence and improvement'. ■ They must have tho'optional tenure'if they were to attract, the right class of settlor. '.Hβ -was. of. opinion. that .-sufficient>. Nativo. lands . should; be. .'set '.. aside 'fas;, reserves for the sustenanco of the' Natives, and that tho rcmainiiig. lands should be disposed of jVeither ■ to ' the Government ;pr • private individuals, with the samo limitation, of areh/as in the Crown'lands.. Ho denounced immigration on-existing 'felt bonviheed the scheme of . attracting." people "without means, into the Dominioh ivas' encouraging an undesirable class 'and increasing our un-' employed. . Dealing ■ with, tho question. ■ of financej he attributed .".tho' .depression.'. to causes outside the Doriiijiioii..' No doubt wehad been too extravagant, both in our, Government and private. , :. , expenditure,-and the I severe. I 'lesson, would be a blessing in disguire. He did-not agrco- with those who said we had. Men: the,-'worst of .tho.'doprcV. sion. That-there, were fewer.:unemployed was duo to the, fact that the. 06verranent and ; all the. local .governing , 'bodies'■ we're-ox-pending, hundreds of ' thousands oh'works merely, to the demand 'of! the unemployed., ilus.coul4 not go on unlopsive had a- return of. prosperity very .'different' to ,what. we found in- the Dominion to-day. A change in our administration.' would ndt : be conducive .proSDpritv:'-' ' - :;.. '

The candidate had a -good hearing,-'arid re' ceivcd, a hcartv. vote of thanks;'. Mr. R , NciJson presided. '. .': , , \