The Rangitikei Electorate.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 105, 31 October 1896, Page 2

The Rangitikei Electorate.

_ ■» MR J. G. BROWNE AT FEILDING. Mr J. G. Browne, a candidate for the Rangitikei seat at the forthcoming general election, addressed the electors in the Assembly Rooms, Feilding last evening, when there were about three hundred persons present. Mr W. A. Sandilands was voted to the cbair and introduced the speaker. Mr Browne thanked (he audience tor their attendance and spoke in flattering terms of his belief in the judgment which the ladies would esercise when voting. He came forward as a candi date at the almost unanimous request of the electors resident in the Pohangina. He was an independent Liberal, and not a mere voting machine and nominee of the Government, and as such offered his services to the electors He had been told that it was useless for him to come forward without the sanction of the Premier. It was a degrading position for Liberals to be placed in to permit tbe Premier to stump tbe country and select candidates. This was going from a democracy to despotism. He supported the Liberal Government because they were the first who legislated for the masses. It was a Government of the people and for the people. One of the gravest charges urged against the Government was that they weie a borrowing and squandering Government, who added millions to the public debt and enormously increased the interest. They should take the expressions of the Opposition with a grain of salt. He did not deny but the Government had increased tbe public debt, but the borrowed millions were, with the exception of a small amount, paying interest and the interest charges had increased by very little. Since 1893 the national debt had been increased by £3,792,940, but of this amount £3,582,565 more than pays interest on itself, leaving the colony to find tbe interest on £210,385, amounting to £7,300 a year. If the Government could borrow ten millions on similar terms he would support their action. He did not approve of all the legislation of the present Government. He condemned their labor legislation as being too arbitrary and mischevious in its motives and likely to injure the working man. Referring to tbe co operative works system introduced by Government he said tbey were not so bad as tbe Opposition tried to make them believe, although be did not approve of the system altogether. He read the following particulars from the Public Works Statement, showing the wages the men earned in tbe different callings, viz., navvies and concreters 7s 2d a day. fencers 7s sd, bush men 7s 7d, laborers 7s Bd, platelayers and ballasters 7s lOd, carpenters (oil buildings) 8s Bd, tunnel men 9s lOd, slaters 10s 4d, plumbers 10s 10d, plas terers 12s, From this list they could see that the men were neither under or over paid. He was neither in love with tbe old large contract nor the co-operative system, both of which he condemned, while he favored small contracts of a minimum of, say, 4-50, and maximum of £500, when any laborer would have a chance of obtaining employment on the works of the colony. Every small landowner would be justified in supporting the Government if only for their having removed the Property Tax, which was an impost on the man who improved bis farm. There was much to admire and little to condemn in the Government for their action in settling the land. He was in favor of freehold tenure, as any other system smacked of selfishness, and was totally opposed to the lease in perpetuity. He would favor tbe removal of restriction with reference to the transfer of leashold property. He was opposed to the Fair Rent Bill as it would upset three-fourths of the leaseholds in the colony, wnile he was in favor of amend ing the Land Act to permit of the Land Board revaluing. Referring to tbe money borrowed for acquiring native land, he would not be in favor of selling any of this land until it was well roaded. The improvements could be weighted on the land. He was in favor of the Lands for Settlement Act and the Rating on Unimproved Values Act, the latter being the fairest way to raise revenue for local body purposes. It was optional wtih the local body whether it adopted the system or not. He opposed the Local Government Bill, as it was not desired by the majority of the ratepayers and small communities would lose the control of their own affairs. He supported tbe Advances to Settlers Act ; it effected a reduction in the rates of interest. He disapproved of the present system of distributing charitable aid, which should be done by local bodies. He lavoured tbe reduction of tbe powers of the Upper House, as it was scandalous that an irresponsible body should throw out the measures passed by tbe people's representatives. He was in favor of the Referendum Bill. He was a Freetrader and opposed Protection, which was a system of legalised robbery and gave advantages to the town as against the country. He desired to see retrenchment in the civil service, and insisted on a reduction in salaries. He advocated free State medical attendance to all. This might be termed Socialism, but was a desirable reform. They had State education and he did not see why they should not have free State medical attendance. Referring to Prohibition versus moderation, he said he had no hesitation in placing himself under the flag of moderation and liberty. Prohibition was a dangerous and suicidal policy, which would disarrange the colonial and local finances. It would result in a ' sacrifice of half a million of revenue, which would mean an increase in duties. fA woman's voice : " Put it on tobacco. "J Yes, they could put it on tobacco, for he was not a smoker. They would have to put increased duties on the necessaries of life, for they could not put any more on luxuries, and the land could not stand increased taxation. The present Prohibition laws were sufficient, and if tbey did not want drink tbey could vote " no license" at the | next election. Tbe old age pension scheme was a noble and commendable measure. He thanked the audience for the patient hearing accorded him, and asked them to support him if they were satisfied with the position he had taken up. If returned he would work for the benefit of the Rangitikei electorate and the colony. In reply to Mr C. Bray, junr., with reference to the old age pensions, he said he obtained his information that the Bill had passed from the Standard. He understood the Registration of Electors Rights Bill had passed. This was

the groundwork of the Old Age Pensions Bill, which the Government intended to bring forward next session. Mr P. Thomson asked how they were going to raise the revenue if they had no import duties. Mr Browne replied that he would propose to do so by increasing the Land and Income Tax. If they removed the duties on the necessaries of life, the land could bear a little more taxation. Mr P. Thomson said that they now lost two and a half millions a year in drink and one million in loss of time getting the drink. If prohibition was carried they would be two and a half millions in 'pocket. (Laughter). Mr J. C. Thompson : Are you a Single Taxer. Mr Browne was not a Single Taxer, but was in favor of a duty on spirits, silks and other luxuries. In reply to a question, Mr Browne sa|4 be would not be ia favor of reduping the honararum to members nor would be favor an increase. Mr T. A. Bryce asked, in the event of bis election^ if Mr Browne would giye a

general support to the Government in their policy. Mr Browne could not say what he would do ie tbe fotare until he saw what measures were brought down, but be would giva a general support to the Government. Mr Brvce asked in that case how wai it be was reducing the chance of (he election of a Government supporter. Mr Browne replied that he disapproved of tbe method adopted for selecting the candidate and that the Premier had no right to say what candidate an electorate should have. In reply to Mr Goodbehere, Mr Browne said he was not in favor of abolishing tbe totalisator. Mr J. C. Thompson asked if Mr Browne was in favor of free State legal advice ai well as medical attendance. Mr Browne replied that this was a matter for future consideration. Mr P. J. Murtagh wanted to know who gave the Government authority to raise the four million loan and if Mr Browne would support a loan if he was returned some years previous to oppose. Mr Browne : Circumstances alter cases. Mr Murtagh endeavoured to ask some* thing about the increased duty en chemicals, but tbe audience kept up a shower of lnugbter and interjections until he sat down. Mr C. Bray, junior, asked if medical attendance meant nurses. Dr Johnston said that they bad forgotten to mention feeding bottles. He asked if Mr Brown would be in favor of knocking parsons in the head. Mr Browne : Some doctors might be knocked in the head. |Loud laughter and applause.] Mr Colly asked Mr Browne if he was in lavor of skirt dancing. Mr E. Goodbebere asked what Mr Browne's views were on the Education question and was be in favor of increased powers being given to school committees. Mr Browne was not in favor of altering tbe present educational system, but was in favor of giving increased powers to school committees, centralising the adminiatration and doing away with Education boards. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Browne for hi 9 address on tha motion of J. C. Thompson. Tbe usual compliment to the chair closed the meeting.