POLITICAL ADDRESSES,

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1474, 7 June 1905, Page 3

POLITICAL ADDRESSES,

HON. JAMES CAKBOMj AT ORMOND.

UNANIMOUS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.

There was a large attendance at tho Ormond JPcblio Hall last ovoning, when tho Hon. James Carroll dolivorod a political address, and tho speaker was accorded a most enthusiastic woloome. Mr Julius Caosar presided, and in a few woll-ohosen remarks briefly introduced Mr Carroll, for whom ho bespoke a patient hearing. Mr Carroll, who was most cordially received, said that it was some time sinco he had had the pleasure and honor of appearing before an Ormond audience. Many things bad happened since ho had addressed them, bus ho could congratulate : them on the continued prosperity of their j district. (Applause). Referring to his j absence from tho district prior to tho last oleotion Mr Carroll said that there was really 120 issue to faco and no question to j fight out of a political nature that de- I manded his presence in tho district. The I Rev. Jsitt, who opposed him, had made it j quite clear that ho was only contesting the j seat for the reason of having a poll on the | no license question. No one had oonde- I scended to stand for the election,and when I ho was called away ,from Gisborne there I Was nothing to cause him to stay. He re- I garded the no-licnose question as one of I a social character, upon whioh they all had J their individual opinions. (Applause). J Passing on, Mr Carroll spoke at some ( length in favor of the legislation of tho j Seddon Government, which he coDsidorod | had done much to forward thß best in- I terests of the colony. Ho was pleased to I see both She Premier and Leader of the I Opposition travelling through tho colony, I placing before the eloetors the position of I affairs as it affected both sides of the I House. Tho Opposition had for over ton I years endeavoured to supplant the present j Government, but all without effeot. Of t over sis hundred Acts whioh the Seddon I Government had! passed, the Opposition j could only suggest the repealing of four I clauses in one and a slight amendment in I another. This fact spoke for itself, I and was unmistakable testimony that the I legislation had met with their approval. I (Applause.) There was nothing in the I complaints of tha Opposition, whioh were I bat vapour and the empty rattling of a j kerosene tin. (Applause.) He asked I them to pause and consider how the legis- j laiion of Oho present Government had I affected them individually, and they would I then see how much better their position I was to day than when the Seddon Govern- j meat took office. In their own district I they could see how they had prospered. I He had only to mention the railway to Te I Karaku, which at the commencement was I scouted at by so maoy. There were some | who said that the train would not get to I Te Karaka in twenty yeeTs, but they had I reached that place in five years. (Ap- J plause.) If they progressed as well daring I the next five years as they had done in I the past, they would do very well indeed. I (Applause.) Throughout the colony sta- j tistics Bhowed how they had progressed in I regard to exports, but in no place had this j increase been so marked a 3 it had been in I their own district. (Applause.) The I population of the colony had increased | greatly, but he considered that New Zsa- I land was easily capable of carrying over a j million more than at present. The land I question was the question whioh had done | so muon for the colony, and been the I means of bringing about the prosperity which they now enjoyed. Tha land I laws were the most liberal, and in | She interests of the men with small capital. I (Applause). There was no need for them I to blow their own trumpets, as it was being I done by men far more gifted than they I were. At the present time there was a I great controversy on the question of free- I hold v. leasehold, in regard to whioh the I Opposition sought to make a groat deal. I He had studied the criticisms of the I Opposition in regard to this matter, but he I never could fiod whore they came down to I solid proposals. They were still in the air. I The Opposition said that they must fight I for the option of freehold to tho lease holder. They traded simpiy on sentiment, and that w&s all, not caring to 'dive into I the practical side of the question. All tbo Crown land 3 of the colouy had been bought out of the consolidated funds, and had been let out under different tenures. ; The State could not possibly give away whatever increment there was in the land for tho reason that it did not belong to them, but to the people as a whole. They were only trustees. There was also the question of allowing persons to change their tenure. Ha was not opposed to freehold, but was certainly against giving the laad to holders at the price at which they originally took it up. If they did this they were giving away something that rightly belonged to the people as a whole. He was a strong believer in freehold, in a re strieted estate, contending no man should hold no more than a certain area in the colony. (Applause). They should have fixed areas. Ho did Dot object to a man having fifty thousand or a hundred thousand acres, which he had . acquired under some previous Act, but he would certainly prevent him acquiring any more land. (Applause). When a holder sold ha should bs limited to his reduced area Every encouragement should be given to closer settlement. In regard to the questions of valuations, this matter should be decided between the State and tenant, and the fit its should have the right to acquire laod at ten per cent, advance on the 1 value arrived at.

Parsing on Mr Carroll remarked that it had been stated that the Government were running the country to the doge on ao count of wasteful expenditure. He did not thing that this was true, and was certain chat there was no evidence of it in the Waiapu electorate. They had not in this district been bribed to keep the present Government in office. The district had received its fair share, but their wants were almost insatiable.

Tho speaker at some length dealt with the financial position of the colony, ably justifying the surplus which the Government had each year shown. It was stated by their opponents that they were overtaxing the community, but this could not be justified by the amount paid in Customs. The increased returns only showed the increased spending power* of the colony. Thera wa3 ample proof to justify the contention that the country was prosperous, and the people in it were also prosperous. (Applause.) By way of reduced railway freights the Government had given to the formers no less a sum than 11450,000. They wore the host friends the farmors ever had. (Applause.) The Government had creatod special departments all in the interests of farmers, and none could say that those departments had not proved successful. (Applause.) Their predecessors had perhaps thought about these things, but they never had the courage to carry them out. There was no reason at all for tho farming community to bo opposed to tho presont Administration, and their only objection could be of a personal nature. The question of freehold and leasehold should be fought out on a fair basis, but tbe personal element should not be introduced. He behoved in unions, so that those engaged in particular industries could forward their own interests, and in this direction everyone should support the Farmers’ Union. Continuing, Mr Carroll quoted statistics to show tho manner inwhich the district had progressed—a marked advance being shown under almost every head. The Gisborne district, coupled with Palmerston, had, during the last five years, gone ahead more than any distinct in the colony. (Applause.) Touching on the question of native lands the speaker said that the advancement of the East Coast was in no small measure due to the settlement of tbe nativo land, no less than 100,000 acres having been dealt with since the passing of the last Act setting up the East Coast Trust Board. On one property recently disposed of by the Board there were 100 men at work felling bush. Since 1900 over a quarter million acres of native land had been settled. (Applause). From 1895 to 1905 by sale, lease and mortgage, etc., 420,940 acres had been dealt with. In conclusion Air Ca.rroll said that lie bad always met with q warm welcome at Ormond, and he sincerely hoped he would always retain their esteem and regard. (Applause). He would do nothing to forget the trust they placed in him. There were many matters of a social character in regard to which he would strive to represent thejjnkto the best of hie ability. During 'ling session the Govern-

mont had hopes of formulating a schomo whioh would still further laud to tho settlement of tho native lauds. A superannuation schomo for sohool teachers would also ho considered, and all branches of tho Civil Sorvioo would bo classified. Tho utilisation of tho natural forces of the colony was another rnattor that should rightly claim tho attention of tho Government at an early date, and would add greatly to the promotion of industries and electric powor. (Applause.) Now oondilions wore daily arising, and tho Government, in order to retain tho confidence of the people, had to bo alivo and keep abreast of the times. Ho thanked them sinoeroly for tho patient hearing they had aocordod him. Questions being invited, ono was asked os to tho object of tho Land Commission. Mr Carroll in reply said that it had been considered advisable to appoint a Commission to inquire into tho opinions of those porsons holding land under different tenures. It wns desired to get the best evidence from all classes of holders. The roport of tho Commission would no doubt oontain many voluablo suggestions. Mr W. Turnbull proposed, “ That this meeting records its confidonce in Mr Carroll as its future representative, and also oonfidonoo in the present Government.” Mr O. Bolton seconded tho motion, whioh was unanimously adopted. Mr Carroll briefly replied, and on his motion a hearty vote of thanks was aooorded to the chair for presiding. Mr Carroll will speak at Patutahi tonight, and Gisborno to morrow night.