TAUMARUNUI

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1304, 6 December 1911, Page 8

TAUMARUNUI

SPEECH BY ME. WILSON. ' i Ir '- C - m K - w "lson, the Reform candidate lor Taumarunui, addressed a crowded and enthusiastic meeting at Te Kuiti f T« ?- M !- (1 lle had Ravelled through the King Country from one end to the other end met with a condition of things which was no credit to the present Government. There were men and women in the back-blocks striving to mako a home for' themselves, and it is the duty of tho people of this Dominion to arise and strike a blow to help those who are. the'backbone, of tho country to improvo their position. Ho was there as a representative of the party of Reform and progress. • The candidate proceeded b>. deal with questions'of finance and Civil Service reform. With regard to the Aative land question, Mr. Wilson said he would deal with it.as it would bo dealt with after December 7 when the Opposition came into power. (Loud and prolonged applause.) The Opposition intended not only to'settle tho idlo Native lands, but to bring tho Native population ou to the same footing as the Luropeau. There seemed to be a. singular discrepancy between the figures supplied by hir Jas. Carroll and those bv the Hon. Mr. Agato, but ho would take the latter. Those figures showed that if the total*area of Native land was placed on a productive footing each Maori would bo in receipt of an income of one hundred pounds a year for each man, woman and child. He maintained that tho present administration of Nativo land was creating a state of thriftlessncss among the Maoris. At the conclusion. Mr. 'Martin proposed tho following motion: "That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Mr. Wilson for his able address, and that it is the opinion of this meeting that tho timo has arrived when, iu tho best interests and welfare of the Dominion, we should have a change of Government." IFpon tho chairman calling for a seconder there was a geoeral chorus of "Wo all do." However, upon Mr. Boddio again calling for a seconder, Mr. A. Julian said ho had much pleasure in so doing, and tho motion was carried.

At the termination of tho meeting hearty cheers were given for tho candidate, and also for Mr. Massey.