POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1602, 15 November 1905, Page 2

POLITICAL.

NATIVE MINISTER AT TRi ARAL

Mr Carroll addressed a crowded and enthusiastic meeting at Te Arai last night, Mr 0. J. Parker presided. Mr Carroll made an able defence of the Government administration, and mentioned some of the benefiosnt measures they had passed.. In regard to the district’s needs he - had, since 1893, done his best to push it along., When the Government of jwhieh he was a member, had taken np the reins they bad immediately .attended {o the wants of the people. They had been pharged with pandering to the truss's. What they wer ( e doing was appealing to the better side of their nature, and as they came to an understanding of their needs they had given legislative effect to desirable measures. He commented on those enactments, and also showed. what a great amount had been done in the interests of the farmers. The Opposition came to them emptyhanded. Sir Wm. Russell at Wairoa had told them that the Opposition would not repeal any'of the Acts passed by the present Government. “Is not -that a testimony,” asked Mr Carroll, “ that those Acts are good ? (Applause.) Audit good and the Opposition will not try to repeal any of them, we mußt have the credit of putting good Acts on the Statute Book during the last 15 years. (Applause.) They charge us with maladministration, but can give no proof.’’ (Hear, hear.) He .showed how the Opposition had resisted every measure which they now admitted they would not think of having repealed. Regarding the move towards a toe breakfast table, he pointed out that the Government had reduced Customs taxation by £1,691,200 ; on the railways ibere had been a reduction of £680,000,-)while the wages of railway servants had beea largely increased.. Of the £68,000, a great proportion was for concessions to farmers, "If," ho said, "wo have been a Government for any particular section, we have been a Government for improving the condition of the yeomanry and peasantry of this country—wo are the Government of the small farmers,” They- had placed more people on the land than any previous .administration, He. contrasted the old world condition of opulence beside abjeot poverty with the condition in this colony. He claimed that he had faithfully served the district and said thqt the other candidates had failed to show that they could do better. (Applause.) Mr Wall had termed himself abroad and bridges member. It was strange this had not dawned on Mr Wall before, and that he had only now discovered that he was a heaven-born road and bridges member. (Laughter.) - -' Several points raised by the other candidates were satisfactorily'replied to by Mr Carroll, and a number of questions wera put and answered. On the motion of Mr Daulton, seconded by Mr Finucane, a vote of confidence was accorded to Mr Carroll with prolonged obeers.

MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS. Per Prasa Association.

Timaru, last night.

Notwithstanding tho wot night there was an overflowing audience at the theatre this evening, when the Hon. HalLJones, Minister for Publio Works, who is a cau T didate for re-eleotion, addressed the electors. His speech v?aß a spirited defenoe of the Government, in wbioh it wbb pointed out that the charges of maladministration were chiefly a repetition of those made three years ago, when all sorts of disasters to the oountry were predicted, and despite suoh predictions the country was never in a more prosperous state than at present. To suoh extent was this the ease that there was difficulty in getting men required for works in hand or about to be undertakeu by the Publio Works Department. In answer to the contention that the Govern* ment had no land policy, he said their polioy was on the' Statutb Book. Personally he was a leaseholder. He combatted the allegations that the public works fund was used for electioneering purposes by the Government, but pointed out that it was being so used by Mr Massey and other Opposition members to boast of the amount they had secured for their respective districts.' He received an attentive and appreciative hearing, and at the conclusion of a 2} hours' address, a, vote of thanks to the speaker and confidence the Government and in Mr Hall-Jones as representative was carried unanimously.