WAIAPU ELECTION

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1571, 29 September 1905, Page 3

WAIAPU ELECTION

MR LISSANT CLAYTON'S

CAMPAIGN.

STRONG CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT POLICY.

The mooting bold by Mr Lissant Clayton at Patutahi on Wednesday was ono oi tho moat iargoly attended of tho present campaign, and tho speaker created a moat favorable impression. Starting with tho land question, Mr Clayton eovoroly criticised tho administration of tho presont Government, iis remarks being frequently appended. Ho referred to tho Land Commission as a wanton waste of monoy, which had failed to accomplish tho end for which it was established. Ho contended that tho State was losing considerably by the lease in perpetuity, whioh was a most objeotionable form of tonnre. The Hon. James Carroll was, ho said, an advocate for tho rostrioted freehold, and therefore, from his own showing, oonld only be I designated a leaseholder. Boferring to the statements made by the Hon. James Oar-

rou ns co toe amount or native mna in in Waiapu district lying in an unprodueliv state, the speaker said that either th honorable gentlemen was very inac onrato in the matter or ho was nttorl; incompetent for the position ho held. Hi (Mr Clayton) oontended that it was in i groat measure owing to the inactivity o the Native Minister that all the native land in the distriot bad not been brought [ into a state of production. Speaking oi the treatment of the natives by the Government, the candidate instanced a ease where the Maoris wore offered i>3 to £4 I per aoro for the timbor rights of their I land, but they wore only offered 2s 6d to 3s 6d per acre from the Government, and they wore debarred from disposing of it to anyone else. He was no great lover of the Maoris, but he desired to see them treated honestly and fairly, and put on exactly the same footing as their European brethren. (Applause.) After severely oritioising the actions of the East Coast Trust Lands Board, Mr Clayton referred to the Maori Counoi), whoso only duties, as far as he could judge, appeared to be oonfined to dealing with noxious weeds and the want of registration of dogs. (Langhter.) There was no Mr Carroll at Wellington. That gentleman had long'Bince lost I his individuality, and was only looked upon as the political son of the Premier—at all times ready to do his bidding. The policy of the Native Minister bad for a long time been one of passive resistance. I Passing on Mr Clayton said that there were vast areas of native land lying in an unproductive stale, and they would all recognise what additional prosperity this meant to the oolony if it were opened up as it should be. The Hon. Mr Carroll, moreover, had a strong leaning towards the Maoris, and spoke with one voice to them and another towards the Europeans, j In sapport of this contention, Mr Clayton pointed out what had been done in con- |

nectiou with a reserve in the To Araroa township. Dealing with the question of roads and bridges, Mr Clayton songht to show that the district had been treated in a miserably mean manner oompared to other parts of the colony. He was strong on the administration of cooperative labor, which,be denounced in strong terms. Co-operative labor was not fair to the laborer, because it brought the good man down to the level of the bad, instead of bringing the bad man up to the level of tbe good. He considered tbe Joeal bodies should have tbe expanditure of all monies in their own hands, and what was placed on the estimates each year should be spent, and not held over from year to year and revoted, as was done in the ease of the Uawa bridge. “ Your present member is a nonenity,” he added, " he does not get as much for you as the most inoffensive member of the House would. I can prove this to you by figures of what the d'sirict has received compared to other plaoes in tbe ooloDy.” Continuing, Mr Clayton referred to the manner in which Mr Carroll had treated his conssitnsnts at the last ebotion, when he did not even tabs tbe trouble to address them at tbe several centres. He

(the Bpeaker) assured them they would receive better treatment during tbe present campaiga. (Applause.) At some length tbe candidate dealt with the question of railway construction, criticising the wanton extravagance of tho co-operative system, and comparing it with the exoellent resuits obtained under the contraot system on works in New Zealand and elsewhere. Tbe line so far had only bean a political move, which was evident from tbe faot that when they put on a little more preseore in the way of agitating they secured an extra mile or bo. The subject of finance was perhaps a dry odo to the many ladies present, but as they were equally interested with the men it was his duty to point it out to them, as taxation fell upon both alike. The ladies had to pay their share on every article which they purchased and therefore were in no small measure concerned. After referring at same length to the increased taxation per head, whioh has resulted from receDt legislation Mr Clayton !went on to refer to the extravagance of Ministers. Dp to 1602 the personal expenses of the Premier amounted to £42,000, whioh was beyond all reason and out of all proportion to tho amount paid to the Prime Minister of England. Ministers’ Island trips and general expenses showed their contemptable greed, as much as thirty shillings a day beiDg charged for days when they were on board ateamers. Speaking of tbe army of inspeotorg and Government officers, Mr Clayton stated that 3 large proportion of those appointments went to friends of Ministers only. Unless a mau was of the right color he had absolutely no ohanoe of galtiog a position and might just as well save himself the trouble of applying. This was wrong, and if ho were returned he would deem it his duty to soe that suoh matters were removed out[qf the hands of ministers and dealt with by a Civil Servioa Board. Ministers should have no say in the dismissal of servants, and all positions in the State should be open te everyone from the highest to the lowest—from the son of the rich man down to tho son of the most humble laborer. (Applause.) The latter should have the same opportunity to rise to the top of the tree os young Captain Seddon. (Cheers.) Dealing with the question of land valuations, the candidate stated that Government valuers throughout the colony had reoeived instructions to value the land as high as they oould. He urged tho necessity of having an independent tribunal to hear objections to valuations, and suggested that tho Court should comprise one appointment by Government, another by the County Oouoe'il, and a third by the Borough Council, At the present time farmers reoognieed that it was useless to take any objections into Court as tbe Bench comprised all Government nominees, and there was little chance of getting their assessments reduced. They deemed it ;only a waste of time to go to Court. The Advanoes to Settlers Act he considered an excellent measure, but its administration had been bad.

Upon the question of local option Mr Clayton said: " This a subject whioh I do not propose to deal with, although many of you might think I should do so. No doubt those in favor of license would like mo to be ooe way, aud those against to be the other. I think it is the duty of tbe politician to be independent on this question, and as you know the matter is entirely in your own bands. If you want prohibition you must Vote for it. Personally! I confer that it is rather detrimental to a politician to take any stand on that question. The will of the people oan be ascertained when the poll is taken. So long aa a clear expression of.the will of the people ia given, I do not believe in-teobni-cal irregularities upsetting it.” Keveriing to the matter of his candidature, Mr Clayton said, “ There are some people who say that I intend to withdraw from this contest, but let me assure them thatsuohis not the oase. Onoe I have put my hand to the plough I do not turn back,' L would not cab if the whole of Poverty Bay got up and howled at me, I would go to the poll. I am not built that way. (Applause.) In conclusion, I mjght eay that I ask for no sympathy from anyone. I ebull aak no man for bia vote, I have expressed my views, and if those views are your own, you will no 1 doubt vote for ms; if you do not we shall bi (to worse friend, If you think that I

am representing your prinoiplos, that I am -honest and fair with you, und doing my best to savo tho colony from the ourso of Tammany Hall, which is fast overshadowing it, you will support mo. My

oauso is your oauae, and I am not going to degrado inysolf by asking any man or woman for a vote. I thauk you for tho attentive bearing you have givon mo. (Loud and continued applause.)" Mr A. Tuohy asked Mr Clayton if ho was in favor of having Government value- I tions made twieo a year, so that proportios

would bo inspeotod in tho wintor season as well as tho summer. Only by doing this oould tho true value bo obtained.

Mr Clayton ngrood with Mr Tuohy that the Slate should endeavour to got as fair a value as possible and tho valuers should be Inßttuotod accordingly. Mr 0. Gallaghor: If eleotod would you be in favor of amending tho female fran- I ohiso so as to onablo ladies to compote with men in ovory possible position in this oolooy ? I Mr Clayton: That is rathor a delicate question. My idea is that ladies should I ocoupy tbe position they at present bold I and so long as they do that they will always command our respect and affection. I On the motion of Mr A.Tuohy.sooonded I by Mr Rogers, a hearty vote of thanks was I aooordod to tho oandidato for his address, 1 1

and a vote of thanks to the chair ter-

minated one of the most snooessfal mee! iogs held in Patutabi.