WELLINGTON SUBURBS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 61, 5 December 1919, Page 8

WELLINGTON SUBURBS

MR. R. A. WRIGHT AT MARANUI,

Mr. 11. A, Wright visited Lyall Bay last night and addressed a good attendant at the Maranui Church Hall. Mr. Sullivan was voted to tho chair. Tho meeting at times was exceedingly lively owing to tho aggressive attitude adopted by a small section of the audience, who insisted upon interrupting Mr. Wright by raising points of order, challenging his statements, and making spceclies" Mr. Wright, however, proceeded with his speech, although the time occupied by the meeting was unreasonably long, Mr. Wright dealt at length with''tho "go-slow" policy in tho mines, and quoted figures to show that tile production for the first seven liioijths of this year fell short of the production for tho first seven mouths of last year by not less than 1G8.075 tons. This .amount was more than sufficient to run our railway system throughout the length ami breadth of Kew Zealand at full pressure and full lime-table for the period referred to. The evidenco overwnelimngly proved that the miucrs wero pursuing a "go-slow" policy. A voice: What do you mean by going

Mr. Wright: I mean that when a miner has been in tho lmbit of hewing a given amount of coal in a certain time and then reduces the output, he is "eoinsr slow. 5

A voice: But if you pay him better wages he will ceaso "going slow." Mr. Wright: "That is by no means clear. He understood that miners could mako from J!1 to 255. per <lay. Such a wage was by no means contemptible. But still, if it couid be 6hown to the people ot New Zealand that (he miners were being paid "sweating wages," public opinion would insist on a change At present, however, the feeling was that tho miners were "going slow" in order that no surplus might be created, and that this was being done from undisclosed bill sinister purposes, in answer to questions which were tired at him for a'great length of timev Mr. Wright said he was in favour of tlio people being properly housed, fed. and clothed. He denied absolutely that any member of tho present Government wa.? directly or indi rectly connected with the American Meal Trust. He was unable to explain why Armour's label was on the New Zealand meat supplied to our soldiers. It was certainly not attached to tho meat when it left this country. 110 was not in

favour of either State control or continuance. He denied emphatically that tho leader of tho Reform Party would expel aiiy member if lie voted against a Government measure.

A vote of thanks to the speaker was passed, an amendment of thanks to tho speaker, but no confidence in his party being negatived.

MR. SLOANE AT WADESTOWN. Mr. Dunbar Sloane addressed a wellattended gathering of electors of Wadostowii last night. Mr. Joplin was in tho ohair. Mr. Sloans spoke at length on the land question, and warned returned soldiers and civilians desirous of going on the land to consider well the advantages of a sccure tenure under a leasehold system as against the freehold. He instanced cases of failure, not through the inability of tho young farmer to make good, but through tho sinking of too much, money into tho freehold. Tha man with plentv of spare capital and the nian with the fixed income might consider tho freehold, said Mr. Sloane, but noli tho young, hopeful business man with limited capital or perhaps none at all. Expeiimental farms on up-to-dato and progressive linos were advocated by the speaker. And every facility given to farmers old and young to bring their lands up to tilifir utmost pitch of productivity. Mr. Sloane stressed the importance of developing the secondary industries and local manufactures. These with- a jood sound State banking system should bo encouraged and firmly established. It irtis an astonishing thing, said the speaker, how little encouragement tho secondary industries and local manufactures had received from tho Slate in tho past. Ho could see 110 reason why New Zealand should not manufacture tweeds, boots and shoes, woollen goods, and many other articles which

to-day were imported from outside countries. The sneaker saw no difficulty in importing tho necessary machinery and experts to start these mills and factories. Mr. Sloane spoke on many other subjects, including the terry service, taxation, fisheries, and afTorestatiorj. A hearty vote of thank?! and confidence on election day was carried unanimously.