POLITICAL ADDRESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1005, 21 December 1910, Page 6

POLITICAL ADDRESS.

-t MR, WRIGHT AT BROOKLYN. -"TOO MUCH BORROWING." The electors ill the Brooklyn district were addressed by Mr. Wright, M.P. for Wellington South, last night. Mr. Hendricksen occupied tho chair. Iu the course of his remarks, Mr. Wright spoke on lines similar to those which ho followed in his speech at Newtown.

Mr. Wright prefaced his address by stating that he felt it his duty to meet his constituents as soon as possible after tho session. Referring to the Public Debt Extinction Bill, ho declared that regret must be felt at the rate at which the national debt was mounting up. For himself he would have liked to see a taper-

ing off in that direction.' II« did not believo that a redemption scheme would be successful so long as borrowing was continued.- As regards the water-power scheme, Mr. Wright' said that he thought tho Government should make hasto slow-

ly. Ho was strongly in favour of starting with only one scheme—tho best that could bo tried. Some bad Bills wete passed last session, but tho Crown Suits Amendment Bill could not (Mr. Wright' held) be included in the number. Helerring to the National Provident Fund scheme, ho remarked that ho hoped it would not be the case, as was believed by some people, that it would injure the various Iriendly societies. It was his opinion that tho scheme would tend to encourage thrift. He went oil to . deal with tho Workers' Dwellings Act. No indication had, he said, yet been given by tjie Government as to where the houses would be built. In the course of further remarks, Mr. Wright referred to the Hine charges. The fact that the committee, which consisted of a majority of Ministerialists, had found that seven out of the ten charges were proved showed that tho charges should have been brought. (Applause.) Some people asked: What good had been done? Ho would reply that the committee had resolved to urge the Government to bring down legislation which would prevent members of Parliament from taking part in negotiations between the Government and the owner iu regard to tho acquisition of private estates. Ho believed that as a result of the inquiry the Parliamentary .life, of . this country would bo cleaner than it might have been had the charges not been brought. As regards taxation, Mr. Wright claimed that too great increases liad- taken place. The increases totalled .£148,000, whilst the requirements amounted to only .£300,000. It had to be remembered also that retrenchment was supposed to have taken place. The object seemed to be to secure a big surplus for next year. Unless there was a change of Government, borrowing would never cease in this .Dominion. Country members, he found, were loth to opposo the raising of further loans.

Proceeding, Mr. Wright .criticised the Government's want of policy. It was his opinion that the Government . should frame a policy by which it should stand or fall. (Applause.) He bolieved that thero should be an elective Upper House, ■elected on a broad basis. With referenco to the retrenchment scheme, Mr. Wright asked why it was undertaken. It was stated that the retrenchment was necessary owing ,to the amalgamation of Departments. He thought that if such were the case there were Departments which should never, have'«been created; For himself ho felt that a reduction of tho salaries of Ministers and members should

have formed part of the. retrenchment. Why, on - 30s. u day travelling allowances Ministers could make money. (Hear,

hear.) In the ]fouso a member had very little power: the whole of tho power centred in the Executive. Referring to tho Public Works Fund, Mr. Wright said that its administration bj; tho Government was .the weak spot in the system of government in New Zealand. He

thought it should be administered by the local or an independent ' board, is long, a^:.tho present system continued, the Government could sway. tho people. Oil tho question of Government advertising, he claimed that every reputable paper which had a reasonable circulation should get railway advertisements and similar advertisements. A newspaper in Wellington and' others, including one at Dannevirko,. had been badly treated in this, respect. (Loud applause.) Replying to a question, Mr. ' "Wright said he thought that a good deal of money might bo saved by tho Government by careful administration. He did not believe that borrowing could be stopped at present. By more economical administration borrowjng might' he gradually tapered oft. A hearty vote of thanks and confidence was accorded Mr. Wright on tho motion of Mr. Whorton. .