POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1601, 14 November 1905, Page 3

POLITICAL.

[(Pen Press Aaiocdatfon. 1 ) Wairoa, last night.

Sir William Euasoll, tho Opposition oandidato for Hawko's Bay, addressed a largo mooting on Saturday. Ho was well ro- . oolvod. Ho showed tho part tbo Opposition took in tho passage of Bills, and doniod that thoy would ropoal any Govern, moot moasuros, Ho severely oritiolsod tho one-man Government, oondomning Mr Soddon as a rail-slUor and showing his want of policy on tho land question. Ho wes opposed to tho compulsory appropria* tion of land. Ho would buy from thoso willing-to sell. Ho favored granting tho freehold to ovory man willing to pay for if and uso tho money to buy further land. Ho favored alteration of the appointment of tho Upper House on on elootive basis. [ Ho oondomnod tho principle of lotting tho

railways pay only 8 per cent., taxpayers who had uo railways being made to pay 1 per cent to those who usod thorn. Tho Native Land Court Judges should not bo peripatetic, bat should remain la their several distriot3 till the pork was completed. Tho lioenßing question had passed from members to the people, and all oould vote as thoy pleased. In the interests of tho oountry, he opposed Bible reading in schools- A vote of thanks and oonfidenoo was oacrlod unanimously.

ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER FOR LANDS. (Per Press Association. 1 ) Oamaru, last night.

Tho Hon. T. Y. Demean, Minister for Lands, addressed a large meeting of ! oleotors to-night, and bad a good hearing. His Bpeoob was mainly a recapitulation of the work done by his department eiuoo be assumed control. He dealt fully with tbe question of land resumption, closer settlement, and with tho work the Government had done in settling the people on the land. At the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks to the Minister and of oonfidenoo in him and tho Government was carried unanimously.

MINISTER FOR MINES. (Pen Pres* Association.) Thames, last night,

The Hod. J. McGowan addressed his constituents at Thames to-night. He detailed tbe benefits accruing to tbe ooiony from tho passing of legislation of the present administration. He said the Opposition had dropped the previous talk of Acts being inimical to tbe best interests of the i colony, and now alleged that not measures but the administration that was so. .He claimed that the colony, under the regime of the Seddon Government, bad done more than any previous administration to plaoe laws upon the Statute Book whioh made for the welfare of the ooiony as a whole, and whioh were ohacaoterised by progressiveness and a dosire to do the greatest good to the greatest number. Ho defended bis administration of the Mmeß Department. He detailed tbe 'provisions of the new Mining Aot, which would do a large amount of good to an important industry, safeguard prospectors, and givo and impetus to gold mining. He said the Opposition members themselves were refuting their own allegations _ that the Government were spoon feeding their own constituencies, the Opposition themselves showing by figures that the Government was doing jnstioe to all districts, irrespective of whether they were represented by Government or Opposition supportersThe speech was well reeeived and a vote of thanks and confidence in the member aud Government were passed.

CAPTAIN RUSSELL'S OPPONENT

(Pet Press ’Association.) Napier, last night. Mr A. DilloD, a oandidate for the Hawke’s Bay seat, addressed a largo audi enee at the Princess Theatre, Hastings, this evening. He announced himself a supporter of the present Government, and in favor of the lands for settlement policy, but with freehold tenure, Joans for settlers, old age pensions, and a superannuation scheme for Civil servants. He expressed himself in favor of maintaining the present free and seoular education system, and in developing the motive power contained in our rivers and waterfalls. He was aooordad a vote of thanks, and a vote of oonfidenoo in the present Government was also passed.

MR H. H. WALL AT WHATATUTU.

There was a large attendance at the meeting held by Mr H. H. Wall at Whatatutu on Saturday evening, and the speaker was accorded a most oordial reception. Mr W. Hay occupied the chair, and stated he had known Mr Wall for 20 years, and oould assure the meating that anything he said the people could rely upon. They were fortunate in being able to heat all three candidates, as they oould then judge for themselves and vote for whom they pleased.' He advocated a branch lino of railway through Whatatutu to connect with tbe East Coast. Hs re* ferred to the statement that he was oallad the road and bridges oandidate, stating that he thought ,it was a rather a good thing to have a roads and bridges oandidate, as they had not had one before. Mr Wall was asked by Mr Leslie if he thought a better man for the Natives could be found than the present Native Minister. He replied that he thought a better man oould be found for both Europeans and Natives. Me Carroll leaned towards the Maoris and forgot the European. Hs advooated that all Native titles should be extinguished. The Natives should be put on exaotly the same footing as European settlers, with land transfer titles, ana should be made to work their lands. He quoted Dr. Pomare, who said that the, salvation of the Maoris lay in the direction of making thorn work. Tho speaker was aooorded a hearty vote of thanks. MR WALL AT WAIMATA,

Mr Wall addressed a large meeting at Waimata last night, Mr J. L. Perry presiding. The speeoh was listened to with close attention, being much on the same lines as theme given elsewhere. Referring to Mr Carroll’s comparison as to the small amount given to the district by the Atkinson Government, he pointed to the great increase in capital value, which had been more than doubled since 1891—an advance whioh was dub to the exports of wool, mutton, and other produoe, and not to the Government, to whom no thanks were due. Sir Harry Atkinson had set himself to restoring tho Guanoes of the colony, and to do this the public votes and other expenditure had been cut down to the lawost point. The comparison was an unfair one. He had been called a roads and bridges oandidats; one of his chief reasons for offering to represent them was to try to obtain roads aDd bridges, as they had been so muoh neglsctod in the past. Tho Chairman, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Wall for his very interesting address, said that his figures in regard to tho expenditure in tho district were very j instructive. He could bear Mr Wall out i in regard to the ease with which money 1 was obtained for the West Coast in com- . parison with this district. ' A motion of thanks was accorded with 2 warm applause.

- MR OARROLL AT ORMOND,

Last night tbc Hon. J. Carroll addressed whnt was pronounced to be the largest meeting ever held in Ormond, end the proceedings throughout were meet enthusiastic. Mr J. A. Caesar presided. Tho Native Minister made an able defence of the Government administration. Regarding grants he said tbo district was never satisfied; like Oliver Twist they were always asking for more, and he would get it too if he could. As it waß be asked for a good deal more than ho coold get. Referring to the days previous to tbs present party coming into power, he eaid only the big farmers could then succeed Laborers were in a poor position and small farmers batdly existed; but under the system inaugurated by the present Government all had done well. As to land tenure he asked why did not Crown tenants, if they had any grievanoe, go

direct to tho Government, who would favorably consider ony representation they had to mako, Thoy could not oxpoot tho freehold at tho original prioo. Tho Opposition tried to frighten tenants by saying that Government wore going to oauße a ro-valuation to bo made, but a contract rnado by tho State mUBt bo' maintained. He explained tho position in rogard to To Araroa and To Puia. Ho referred to tho altorod conditions of labor, tho Bavlng of j tho Bank of Now Zealand, tho polioy of close settlement, tho assistance ta tho dairy industry, and tho subsidy to steamers for opening up markets. After a number of questions hod boon I answered, a volo of coutlnuod oonfidenoo I was passed on tho motion of Mr A. Par-1 sons, seconded by Mr D. Dinan, oheer I after oheer being given for tho Native I Minister. I