Mr. Ivess at Feilding.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 81, 3 October 1893, Page 2

Mr. Ivess at Feilding.

The attendance at the Assembly Rooms last evening was very large to hear Mr J. Ivess' political address. The number of ladies present was a substantial increase on what it usually is at similar meetings, and the speaker was listened to attentively throughout his speech, which lasted for an hour and a quarter. The Mayor, Mr E. Goodbehere, occupied the chair, and in introducing Mr Ivess said he was sure a Feilding audience would give the candidate a fair hearing. Mr Ivess commenced his remarks by saying it gave him great pleasure to meet a mixed meeting like those present. He was a stranger to most of them, and the opinions expressed by him might not be in accord with theirs, but he was certain a patient hearing would be afforded him. He was not in the position of a candidate, but had received an invitation from Faraekaretu to contest the Rangitikei seat. He would not give a decided promise before he had tested the feeling of the electors, and tbis meeting was held with that object. Six meetings, one of which had already been held at Marton, would be addressed by him before he decided what to do, as he had no desire to thrust himself on an unwilling constituency. It was understood another gentleman had been .selected by a so-called Liberal Association, having its headquarters at Marton, to contest the Rangitikei seat, but if that were the opinion of the meeting he would not be tiiere, as numbers at Paraekaretu, where one-fourth of the electors of this district were, had asked him to stand. He was willing to bow to the decision of the people, and the challenge had been thrown out by him for the other Liberal candidate to address six meetings and to take a ballot of those present as to who should represent their interests, but the Association preferred to debar all from having a voice except those of the right color. Class legislation was degrading, and he did not believe in it, as he thought the intelligence of the people should be appealed to. Election pledges should not be broken, whether conditions altered or not. A bogey had been raised about Conservatism and Liberalism, but we were all liberals in New Zealand. Conservatism was a misnomer here. The question of the land laws was causing a lot of interest, and to devise means of settling land to the advantage of the people was the position of the Government. A man should range himself on one side or the other, although it was a game between the ins and outs. He was on the side of the present Government, but would not vote in opposition to election pledges. Ministers should be in their positions for four reasons, viz. : Wisdom, experience, impartiality, responsibility. How do things stand at present ? They are put in by a majority and are responsible only to the majority in the House. It is impossible for a Premier to be impartial and the system of the "spoils to the victors" was rampant atid would continue. It was all the fault of party Government, and one party was as bad as another when they had the opportunity. He had been in the House before, and when in opposition was often refused requests for something for the district he represented. On the other haud, he was seldom refused anything for his constituency when the party he belonged to was in power. They were entering a new order of things now that the franchise had been extended to women in this colony. He was of opinion it was a wise step, and we must admit there was something in it, but people were slow to recognise responsibilities although the franchise had extended wonderfully the last eighteen years. They would now have the two sexes combined, and he would not object to it restricting the effect of public houses. Women's votes would tend to purify the next and future Parliaments. The finances of the colony were very satisfactory, and they had one of the largest surpluses this year, which meant about half a million would be spent on public works. He thought that in a colony like New Zealand it was impossible to abstain from borrowing, where such extensive works required completing, such as the North Island Main Trunk line. If the Woodyille-Eketahuna line was completed it would be a source of profit. They could not complete the work out of ordinary revenue, and he would not like to see the works suspended. The Government profess to stop borrow* ing, but Treasury bills were issued, am money raised in this manner affected | private investments, as the banks had to reduce overdrafts. The Government expectations were realised in the amount of revenue derived from the Income-tax. A Bill had been carried to exempt improvements, but he thought this was a mistake. It was right enough to exempt improvements to bush sections, whereas in large centres, such as Wellington, Christchurcb, and Dunedin, there should be no abatement tor improvements. The condition of the colony did not warrant it. There were revenues open for a reduction of taxation, such as the duties on the necessaries of life, from which L.311,000 were wrung from settlers. Tbis was a grand opening for the Government to step in and remedy. In New Zealand the duty on tea was 6il per )b, Queensland 6d, Western Australia 4d, South Australia 3d, Tasmania 2d, Victoria Id, New South Wales free, which shows that duties are very oppressive in New Zealand as compared with the other countries. Splendid markets and products were responsible for the present prosperous condition of the colony. The Government should give more attention to the industrious classes, and rut more taxation on the monied classes. There were many ways open for effecting a saving. The large expenditure of £66,000, or £67,000, on defence could be saved. The best defence was to put sturdy settlers outhe land. One essential requirement was the construction, of roads and bridges for the people to get ou the land. More consideration was due to those settlers who took up land. He knew of selectors in the Paraekaretu who bad to pay £10 to £15 a-ton for packing in stuff to their sections. The slovenly manner in which the surveying had been carried out was a disgrace to the Government, as they were too .slow with it. Some districts had been favored, but this one was very backward, and it might be due to their not iaviug a Government supporter to represent them. However, this should be thrown aside and greater inducements >ff«red to the sons of farmers, who had jiven up the pleasures and comforts of nties ; and this was the class of men de« serving encouragement and better treatnent by the country. If anyone would ■cad his speeches, when he was in the [louse, on Land Bills, they would see li.it he bad given consistent support to jiberal laud laws, and he thought the sountry could only progress by thib

weans. The, Liberal land laws of America made that nation what she is. The present Gorernment had done very good work in land settlement, but he thought Native land or land along railways should have been bought in preference to the Cheviot estate, although he believed it would come out all right, as it assisted to break up large estates. The Government would be justified in forcing improvements to large estates. He did not believe in confiscation, and thought a title should be held sacred. The railway question would be submitted to the people at the general election, and lie thought the Government of the day had renounced its functions when it vested the railways in the hands of three men. The people should say how they were' to be regulated, and he advocated a Minister of Bailways. The railways of New Zealand were half a century behind those ' of other colonies, with slow travelling and inconvenience. Corporation was not new or novel, as it had been introduced 20 years ago by the Provincial Government in Canterbury. Defects certainly did exist, but they would be gradually remedied. He considered the system worked admirably and as a proof of tbis it was being copied in Australia and would probably be adopted in England. The Upper House/ was in a peculiar, position in rejecting several Government measures. He did not believe in a nominated Upper House, as the people had no voice in the selection and the privilege was often abused. He admired Sir William Fox for declining to be nominated after a defeat, and he thought no man should be appointed unless he proved himself to be a fit and proper person. Half a million acres of land had been purchased from the natives by the present Government. The Native Land Bill was a sensible measure and he would like to see native lands bearing a portion of taxation. Law reform was urgently needed , as he failed to see why a landlord should have preference over other creditors and that a poor unfortunate man, who could not pay a debt, should be imprisoned. Education was considered a ticklish question, and every cacdidate would be closely catechised on the subject. He i believed in free, secular, and compulsory, education, all children to be taught from \ one set of books and on one platform, everything religious to be expunged. It ' was said one section in New Zealand did 1 not send their children to ordinary state ! schools, and to meet this difficulty he , ' would not oppose the appointment of a committee to enquire into the matter, and he would go so far as giving capitation, ' subject to an examination by an inspector. He knew the temperance party would bring men forward who would; 1 support their views, but they should send impartial men to represent them and not i extremists. If prohibition were carried b in any licensing district those who were f rich would be able to import in bulk. He instanced Ohingaiti, where liquor could be had at one time, when licenses were ' prohibited, and now it was under police ■ control. He was willing to place the ; power in the hands of the people, and . thought the Bill introduced by the ; Premier was fair and would meet the t difficulty. Mr Ivess thanked his hearers for the patient hearing they Had given ' him, and said he would be guided by the feeling of the people whether he would contest the seat or not. The chairman invited questions, but as > none were asked he proposed a vote of . thanks to Mr Ivess, which was carried by acclamation. ' A vote of thanks to the chairman, on ' the motion of Mr Ivess, terminated the ! meeting.