POLITICAL ADDRESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1560, 16 September 1905, Page 3

POLITICAL ADDRESS.

MB LISSANT CLAYTON AT TINIROTO. Mt Lissant Clayton has beta moating with atcong aappori in the several country dialriota which he has visited. In his initial address at Tiniroto he dealt with the optional freehold tenure, and pointed out that tho agitation for the freehold bad not originated with tho Opposition! but with the farmers Ihemselvei, when they found that the leasehold was insecure. He referred to Mr Seddon'a attitude on the freehold, and how he had brought down a aeries of proposals, but refused to formulato a policy, leaving it to the House to do bo, although previously he had expressed himself as being strongly'opposed to the freehold. Me Clayton also dealt with Mr Carroll’s attitude on the question of freehold tenure. He emphasised that there was no desire on the part of freeholders to Insist that everyone should have the freehold, but only that they should have the right to acquire it. The present lease in perpetuity system he contended was a loss to the State. Passing on, Mr Clayton dealt with the native land question, and described Mr Carroll’s polioy as one of taibao, wbioh was neither just to the Ruropoans or their Maori brethren. He gave varioue instaaoes, and explained his attitude and the remark of Mr Seddon on the subjeot in the House. The question of the Native Trust Board wes discussed, and ii was urged that no special credit was due to Mr Carroll for what had been done. Mr Clayton advocated that facilities be given to tho Maoris for individualisation of thru titles as far as an endeavor to promote a system of, exchange between Maoris so as to unite their holdings in one block; Maoris to deal with their lands as think fit, provided they have sufficient for their sUßtananoe, to the satisfaction of a Native Land Court judge. In regard to the question of roads aod bridges, Mr Clayton urged that roads /should precede settlement; money should be given to local bodies for expenditure ; a system of small contracts instead of cooperative labor should bo instituted; grants should be automatic, and not dependent on the will of a Minister, and ehould be expended when voted, not allowed to lapse or be transferred. He compared the expenditure ia various electorates with that for Waiapu, maintaining that this district had received nothing like its fair share. He deprecated any alteration in the present franchise for local bodies, and dealing with the question of railways compared this with other districts. He pointed out the extravaganoe of the works, and contended that double the distance ought to be built for the Bams amount of money. At some length Mr Clayton criticised sevorely the Public Revenues Act. Mr Seddon’s peouliar Bystem of book keeping, be said, was ridiculous, and showed bow maintenance charges were paid out of capital instead of revenue, and . how tho proceeds of the sale of land which was bought with borrowed money was described as revenue, and went to swell the surplus, Mr Seddan’s heart bled for the back blooks’ settlers, and the manner in which ho showed his sympathy towards them was by only spending roughly about, a third of the money allocated to them. The surplus showsd that eithsr tbs people were overtaxed or had an utterly incompetent Colonial Treasurer. The debt of the colony was increasing out of all proportion to the population. Tbe candidate stated that he considered the Civil Service to be offioient should bo utterly beyond the power of Ministers either to make appointments or dismiss officers,so that inefficient and incompetent billet hunters were not pitohforked into billets for whieh they were unfitted, purely for political reasons. | It was io the interests of the oivil servants themselves that some system should be I arranged, such as a Board, to regulate ap-1 pointmeots aod remove them from the •utooratio power of Ministers. Maoy others matters of general interests were discussed, the speaker throughout having a moat patient bearing. A hearty vote of thanks was accordod to thejoandidate. At Mr Clayton's meeting at Hangaroa, the ohairman (Mr Watt) expressed pleaBure in presiding at tbe first political meeting held at Hatigaroa. There was a large attendance, and Mr Clayton’s address was listened to most attentively. In acknowledging a vote of thanks, he contradieted a rumor that he contemplated retiring from tho contest, and emphasised wary strongly that he would go to the poll. Mr Clayton speaks at Motu this evoniDg, f wsd Rakauroa on Monday. ; J