WELLINGTON SUBURBS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1290, 20 November 1911, Page 6

WELLINGTON SUBURBS.

MR. LUKE AT PAHATJTANTJI. Mr. J. P. Luke addressed a meeting of suburban electors in tho Hall, Pahautanui, on Saturday night, with Councillor Galloway, of tho Hutt County' Council, in the chair. Tho chairman, in introducing Mr. Luke, stated that he could vouch for the solid public work tho candidato hod dono in connection with the City Council and Hospital Board. As chairman of the latter he was associated with the candidate, and ho could say no man could work harder in tho office ho was elected to. As. member of Parliament during the past threo years, Mr. Luke had rendered faithful and energetic service to the Dominion and to his constituency.

Mr. Luke thanked tho chairman for his kind remarks, and said, as he was speaking to a farmiiig community, ho would deal with some points of land policy. _ The Dominion lands represented C 6 million acres; 18 millions had teen parted with by way of sale; public ' reserves comprised 12 millions; leasehold (all tenures), 18i millipiis; 1 millions wero barren; roads, lakes, and rivers occupied 2 million acres; and the Natives possess 1\ millions, leaving only some 5} millions not yet dealt with. It behoved the people to conservo the national estate, and to safeguard the interests of succeeding generations. The proposal that the 9 million acres endowment lands should be sold could not bo tolerated. The truo interest of old age pensions, education, and hospital work'rested on the endowment lands. ' Future land settlement must be by way of purchasing surplus Native lands, together with acquiring under tho recent Acts land by associations of people with tho State guarantee, and in that way to continue settloment without largely increasing tho national debt. The time had arrived when the Natives should, out of tho created wealth caused by the settlement of the Europeans and public works, contribute by way of land taxes similarly to Europeans. The Maori Estate had in twelve years increased from three million pounds in vnJuo to '11 million pounds, and while their areas have been reduced during tho period mentioned by 25 per cont., tho monetary value had increased by 300 per cent. He was convinced that the Dominion, having linked itself up with Imperial responsibility, must contribute a fair amount to the British Navy. "Universal military training servico should hnve tho loyal support of the people. Mr. Luko stated ho was a supporter of a free, secular, and compulsory system of education, and would not bo a party to anything being introduced to disturb the present condition. The Licensing Act now provided fpr a national vote, which ho supported on a bare majority, leaving tho local option to be determinod on a voto of 55} per cent. Civil Service classification and railway matters were dealt with. The latter, the candidato said, should bo carried on with a view to promoting settlement. The suburban area should apply equally on the different lines. Tho discontent on the Manawatu line was deep and ominous. Tho time had arrived when tho Minister must give more generous provision thero, and provide early train connection from Porirua to the city. Othor questions receiving the attention of tho candidato were the hydro-electric scheme and tariff revision. A hearty vote of thanks, proposed by I Mr. T. E. Iggulden, and seconded by Mr. Chas. Gray, was carried unanimously.