GISBORNE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 60, 4 December 1919, Page 8

GISBORNE

SIR JAMES CARROLL OPENS HIS CAMPAIGN. Gisborno, December 3. Sir James Cn.noll, the Liberal candidate for Gisborne, gave his first address at Gisborne to-night, heforo a very largo audience. He referred to the advancement of the Hast Govt duringi the many years since 'he took office, and said it showed that somebody must have been on the alert, otherwise the diitncb could not have advanced. He alio referred ti> the passing of the Native Land Titles Validation Act, with which he had a lot to do, and which had been responsible for a great' amount of settlement and clearing up of Native titles. He advocated a vigorous public works policv for pushing on railways and roads, but did not blame the Natural Governnient during its term of office for the slackening off. _ He also advocated the best service being given ho poldiors in the wav of repatriation as a portion of the.inflated land values \\'<;s' due to the security given by the soldiers. He favoured taking land comnnlsorily if necessary for soldiers' settbment. A State bank was also one of the Teforms for which lie stood, as well as nationalisation of the mines. Better educational conditions, and better -salaries for teachers were also required. Referring in tbo breaking-lip of the Coalition, he defended Sir Joseph Ward's action, though, he remarked that ho would not say it would not have been more in the Liberals' interests if the Coalition had not been dissolved till nflw the Bills prepared by Liberal Ministers of the National Ministry had been passed. A vote of thanks to the candidato was passed.

THE LABOUR CANDIDATE. Gisborne, Decernbfr 3. Mr. Thomas Brindle, Labour nominee, addressed a large meeting last night, outlining the Labour platform, lie received a vote of thanks and confidence.

Straight From the Shoulder. There is a refreshing vigour ami strnightspokenness about Mr, W. J. Cuttle, who is contesting the Wanganui scat against Mr. W. A. Veitch. Hero is a characteristic specimen of Ins style of stating his vicivs:—To-day I stand on ft clear platform, a phi form that conforms to my principles, and which offers to the people of the Dominion clean, strong, democratic government under tlio leadership of a clean, strong and democratic statesman, the Hon. W. F. Massey. Experience teaches, it has taught me, as I belicvo" it lias taught hundreds of thousands ot electors, tliat out of the small farmer there lias evolved a great staj.e<>nmn, and out of the big merchant there has emerged a pcttv, peddling partisan. I am for the statesman every time. ;J Mr. Cuttle, who is a "working man in tho fullest sense of the term, and widely rcspccted, bus made remarkable progress in his electioneering campaign, and is said to be gaining support every day. lie gave up his job in tho Hauwny Workshops at Wangauui to fight the contest «s a Reform candidate, and he is causing quite a llutler amongst the sup* porters of Mr. Veitch, who imagined their candidate had an easy time ahead.

Advances to Settlers and High Prices. Speaking at Seatoun last night Mr. Wright referred to the difficulty experienced by applicants for loans on account •if tho high price of land. Naturally the Department was cautious, and refused to accept the inflated estimates of land values, with the' result that the amount of money offered by the Department was insufficient to complete the transaction. The - difficulty wa.» caused by tho huge prices asked for land. But, contended Mr. AVright, the Government must devise a schenicwhieli would enable an applicant to secure a home, notwithstanding the high land values,