POLITICAL ADDRESS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2152, 19 May 1914, Page 5

POLITICAL ADDRESS

THE WANGANUI SEAT MR; P; PIRANI OPENS HIS CAMPAIGN (By Telegraph.—Special OorresDondont.) Wanganul, May 18. Mr. Fred I'irani, the Reform candidate, for tho "Wanganui seat, opened hjs oampaign in tho Opera House to-night, when he was given a vorv good hearing l>? a crowded audienco. His speech was in tho main a criticism of tho speech delivered by Sir Joseph-Ward on Friday Jiight, and created a very favourable impression, tho speaker being frequently applauded. Ho was subjected to considerable interruption, biit turned this to good account, generally scoring oft' tlio interjectors. Mr. Pirani ocatliingly criticised Sir Joseph Ward's v attitude and utterances on the- naval question, Legislative Council appointments, tho railways, advances to settlers. Customs concessions, old ago pensions, finance, '.tlio second ballot repeal, and tho guillotine. Tn connection with tlio Advances to Settlers, ho pointed out that Mr. Seddon himself had in 1885 voted ngainst Mr. Macnndrew's Public Advances on Land Bill, which provided for advances to settlers.

The Candidate's Platform. After dealing at some length with tho various subjects enumerated above, Mr. I'irani wont on to outline his idea of the political platform lie desi.red to see. adopted in tho now Parliament. Ho stated that ho had always been strongly in favour of an Elective Executive- and Upper House, and ho favoured a Stato Note Issiue and reduction of borrowing abroad. ■ •

In regard to tho land question, ho declared that thero was plenty of room for reform, although somo of the' leading questions had already been settled by tho Massey Government. Ono of tho most important reforms required was tho abolition of gambling in connection with Crown lands by means of the ballot box, ami tho inauguration of ,i system of selection of applicants. Tho method ho proposed was that any applicant should bo allowed to roaster liis namo with the Land Office, and after inquiry had been made as to his bona fides, his name should bo placed upon the selection list in order of application. .When land was open for selection tho board should intimate the fact,to'the applicants in order_ of application that they should oxorciso their option within a certain time, those nnc doing so to fall automatically to the bottom of the list. Tho system of- compulsory 'acquisition .- of private land under Government guarantee should be extended and perfected, and means taken to ensure that the provisions' were more widely known. To prevent tho aggregation of land unfairly, legislation/should bo passed blocking the granting of titles for more than a prescribed area of land at the Land Transfer Office. If tho graduated tax already in existence- was not sufficient to ensure-subdivision of estates it should bo increased and provision embodied !ii tho law to compel subdivision of large estates at the death of tho present owner. Death duties "should bo altered so as to boar less hardly on tho recipients of small legacies and provision made that when landed property was bequeathed hardship should not 'bo inflicted upon-the recipient by demanding tho duty in cash when it was not advisable to disposo of the land. The development of the country by means of roads and light railways should be pushed forward, and land should not bo disposed of for settlement until pro-per-moans of access were provided.

The Wharf Labour Problem. In'regard to wharf labour steps should bo taken to end the present state Oi affairs whereby men wero only able to earn a precarious living, and their families compelled to live in many instances in euch a way that it was impossible to get the advantages which should bo availablo in a yoiin* and growing country. Land should be set apart on railway lines within easy dis-tance-of largo centres and settlements established for tho workers rn tho wharves, and buildings erected on somewiiat the samo system as workers' Jiomos._ Schools, libraries, and other conveniences of. civilisation should be V \T* ; , m ? h resit,ent <*ould have sufficient land of good quality upon TVharf labour should bo under the oS r °anH f ti ,6 'r'horbonr boards only, and tho day before men wero rcqmred notice, should" be given at tie settlement and nominal fare! only charto Zα f ral y - for thc t-ransitof to and-fram' tlicr work. This would do away with tho existing system of compulsory loafing at wharf ends, and ensure w.der and greater comfort fo *hr' vcs , Bnd famillcs nf «"> men. Some system of superannuation and provision " cas f. ,°f ill-health should also ho provided This would be the greatsst safeguard against strikes. Education and Other Matters.

As was only to bo expected, Mr Pirnm had a deal to say about education, and ho enumerated a number of reforms and improvements on the present system which would tend to make it more efficient and vocational. Tlio present system of tho payment of teachers on avenge attendance should 1)0 abolished, ■he contended, and payment by classification substituted, in regard to local-legislation,- lie favoured equal rights to women as in Parlnmentary matters; the establishment of Government hostels for girl workers in towns; homes for convalescent patient-, not in a position to go-to work after leaving hospitals; the substitution of tho cottage homo system for industrial schools, and tlio introduction of a method of dealing with tho mentally afflicted that were not violent cases by the inauguration of some system wherohy they could bo oared for in private homes similar to the method in vogueon the Continent of Europe. At the conclusion of his address. Mr. Firam was accorded a vote of thanks.