WELLINGTON CENTRAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 3, 28 September 1918, Page 8

WELLINGTON CENTRAL

MR. W. T. HILDRETH

NATIONAL CANDIDATE'S ADDRESS

Mr. W. T. Hildreth, the Liberal and National Government candidate for the Wellington Central seat, addressed a meeting of electors in St. Peter's Schoolroom last night. Mr. J. Hutcheson was in the chair, and the hall was crowded. A substantial section of tho audience evidently' represented ike Labour Party, and the candidate was subjected to a great deal of interjection, and interruption. The noise was sometimes so great that Mr. Hildreth could 1 not bo heard, except by tlie people in the front of the hall. Mr. Hildreth first expressed his regret that the-death of his old friend and colleague, tho late Mr. R. Fletcher, had created the necessity for a by-elec-tion in Wellington Central. He bad come forward as a Liberal, with the endorsement of the leader of the Liberal Party, and of tho National Government. The first plank of his platform was proportional representation. Ho had always advocated this system of election, as the solo means of getting a true expression, of the will of tho people. Tho present "first-past-the-post" system was thoroughly insatisfactory. There were six candidates in the present contest, and whoever won would be a minority representative. He would support the immediate introduction of a Proportional Representation Rill. The next plank in his platform was the repeal of the present system of settling industrial disputes. The system had proved a failure in practice, owing to the-fact that it was impossible for the members of the Arbitration Court to master tho details of all the industries that camo before them for review. His idea was that in every trade there should be an employer and a worker, thoroughly conversant with their industry, to sit with a conciliation commissioner, to hear, disputes. If this body could not settle a dispute, the conciliation commissioner should stand aside and the . experts should sit with a permanent arbitrator or a Judge of tho Supreme Court. ■He believed that a referendum should be taken on the liquor question at once. The bare majority should decide and tho people should havo an opportunity to voto for State control as well as for tho Efficiency Board's scheme of immediate prohibition with compensation.''for the Trade. Ho'did not wish to see three issues on the ballot paper, and was in favour of a direct vote on two issues, State control with compensation, and prohibition with compensation. A voice: At £4,500,000? Mr. Hildreth: Yes, and cheap at that, because it would get tho thing settled and out of our politics. The liquor issuo in politics is a confound-' ed nuisance. Then I am in favour of a general election being held without delay.

A voice: Don't tell Massey that. Mr. • Hildreth: "At the last election I fought Mr.. Massey for all I was worth. (Interruption.) At this election all that has to be put aside. There could be no party fighting' at the present time. The parties led by Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. Massey .had undertaken not to opposo one another at elections while tho National Government was in oxistence,, and he was convinced that if an election were held itt, #10 near future the result would ho' the return of the old members, supporters of the present Government, m most of tho constituencies. With regard to education, he was in .(favour of maintaining tho present system of education, free, secular, and' compulsory. The system was by'■no'means perfect, and it required improvement and extension. But it was based on sound principles. Tho teachers were i wretchedly paid, and their conditions ought to bo improved. The school accommodation was not nearly adequate, and tho playgrounds required extension. A very large increase in the education vote would have to be sanctioned by Parliament, the education system was far too important to be neglected. Sound State education was saving New Zealand from the sort of trouble that was now afflicting Russia. The ■. Government Bhould help the parents by providing school books. He believed'in a Stated owned steamer service, coastal and ovorseas. This had been one of tho planks of the platform of tho Knights of-'Labour when ho was president or that organisation in 1890-91. The shipping octopus had its grip to-day on the whole community, and was working in conjunction with tho banks. The coal mines ought to be nationalised. • A voice: What is coal? . Another voice: Pretty slack. ■ Mr. Hildreth said that coal was an essential national product, and it ought to be,in- the hands of the State. He know it was urged that the coal companies wero not making large profits, but he also knew how stocks were watered and reserves built 'up. The repatriation of soldiers was a matter .that ought not to be neglected. There should be a central bureau of repatriation, headed by a responsible Minister, with committees in each-centre. He had three boys of his own at the front, and so spoke feelingly on the subject. Increased fees ought to be paid to jurors and witnesses in civil cases. Ho felt that goal workers were a class of workers whose wages should be increased. Ho advocated a national pension scheme, wider in its operation thaii-the National Provident Fund. Ho had been instrumental with the late Mr. Fletcher in. establishing the very valuable- superannuation funds controlled by the Wellington Harbour Board and the City Council. The friendly societies should bo assisted to bear tho heavy burdens placed upon them by the war. He was strongly convinced that a better method should bo devised of breaking up large estates. The Government ought not to pay the hugo prices asked to-day whqu it required laud for close settlement. Soldiers should not be sent into the backblocks while big estates were held'in the richest districts oif Now Zealand. An earnest effort to reduce the cost of living would have his support. Now Zealand was better off than most other countries in regard, to prices. The pinch of war had not been felt in this country as it had been in many belli.gerent and neutral countries. But there was room for State effort to help the people. Wellington people ought not to forget that in all other parts of the Dominion rents had fallen during tho war period. The Wellington- peoplo had suffered from a shortage of houses, and ono way to help - them would bo to build moro workers' homes. Mr. Hildreth quoted figures to show that some articles of common use, such as sugar, wero cheaper in New Zealand than elsewhere. The Board of Trade had proved a dead failure, because it had.a power to report but r.o power to punish. A new board should bo appointed, representing commercial and Labour interests, to sit daily and hear complaints. Any man found by that board to have been guilty of exploitation should bo sent to gaol. Tho prices of primary products in this country wero not unduly dear, in view of the war conditions. But in regard to imported articles it had to bo remembered that New Zealand was buying in. competition with the whole world, and the prices had gono up everywhere. Wheat was costing 9s. a bushel in America. New Zealand nad bought wheat in Australia- at Gs. 3d., and could have got it cheaper if the Government had been prepared to take woovilly, mouse-tainted grain. AtI tempts woro being niado to hoodwink

the electors in regard to the cost of living. In conclusion, Mr. Hildreth said that ho had lived in the electorate for 35 years, and he had served a long apprenticeship on local bodies. He was standing as a supporter of the National -Government, but there was no donht about the position ho would take up in the event of a split between Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward. Ho vas a progressive Liberal, and ho would bo found in the ranks of the Liberals in tho future. He held that it was the duty of the peoplo of, New Zealand to-day to stand by tlie National Government until the war was ended. (Applause and interruption.) He was lighting the official Labour candidate in the present election. (Interruption.) He had nothing to say against tho Labour candidate personally, but he was right against the policy that Mr. Fraser had enunciated from the platform. The leaders of tho Labour Party in 'New Zealand did not reflect the opinions of the rank and file of the party. (Interruption.) He made that statement fearlessly with somo knowledge of the Labour Party. The workers of New Zealand were loyal—(hear, hoar)—but some of the leaders of Labour were not loyal. (Applause and uproar.) The doctrines that wore preached from the platform by Labour leaders were not such as any man loyal to his King and his country could , support. Mr. Hildreth emphasised the importance of tho contest, and asked for the support of all loyal electors.

Tho president of the Wellington North branch of tho Labour Party said he challenged the candidate's statement regarding the loyalty of Labour leaders. He himself was just as loyal as anybody else. A voice: Well, got up and sing "God Save tho King."

After a good deal of interruption Mr. Hildreth was able to reply. Ho said that the leaders of Labour in Now Zealand had opposed conscription. (Applause.) They cculd not do that at the present timo and be loyal. Some of the planks that they, had laid down in their platforms were such as'could not be supported by loyal people. Tho Labour candidate had burked a question regarding his loyalty. Answering other questions, Mr. Hildreth said he was not in favour of tho ropeal of tho conscription law. With regard to the tramway trouble. Councillor Shorlandi and himself had . stood by the men throughout. He was not in favour of any German boing in public employ. Ho did not believe in the genuineness of men who said they had conscientious objections to fighting 'for their country. The reason Labour was not represented in the National ■ Government was the refusal of tho Labour members to take a seat in the Cabinet. He "believed Ireland should havo Homo Rule, but tho question could very i well stand over until the end of the war. 0 The candidate was kept under a liro of questions for some time by the Labour section of the audience. The questions woro often inaudible* and the candidate was seldom allowed a hearing when making his.replies. . The candidate was accorded a hearty voto of thanks. Whilo the meeting was breaking up a section of tho audience gave cheers for the Labour candidate.