EAST COAST NEWS

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1609, 23 November 1905, Page 2

EAST COAST NEWS

MR CARROLL AT. WAIPIRO ’j BAY. (Times Correspondent.) I Mr Carroll’s address on Friday night last was the largest meeting—political or otherwise —ever held in Waipiro ; j and that in spite of tho exceedingly • muddy roads occasioned hy tho lieavy ; rain, Mr W. O’Ryan, as usual, most ably filled tho position as Chairman. : The meeting was a most enthusiastic ], one throughout, aud, assuming more the f oi m of a hearty welcome and a‘|| sociable discussion of the generated- i ministration, contrasted well with the jg> fiery outbursts and hard names which \ characterised the address of Mr Clay- 1 tO Mr Carroll roviewed the policy of the Government, showing that the Opposition were willing to adopt the i same policy, the only point on which they did not agree being the question of freehold; which was for the people r generally to decide. The Government was a working maffis Government, and they had done their best for all parties. In touching on the Advances to Settlers Act and the Lands for Settlement Act, which had practically created a small army of farmers, the Hon. Member, amidst great, applause, explained that these tenants had prospered so well that they were now in a position to want to purchase the free-;; hold. _ k The public debt of 60 millions, i which the Opposition complain is in- • creasing rapidly, was also discussed, ■ and it was shown that the assets were j 1 also increasing proportionately. Of the , , 60 millions 32 millions were self in- : 5 terest paying, whilst the remaining 28 < i millions do not cam interest, and the < s revenue is increasing marvellously. Touching on native land matters Mr ' Carroll briefly explained the new Act,' and the great difficulty he had to get: : 8 it passed. More particularly clause , 8, against which the Oppositionfought very hard, and which was finally com-. promised by being confined to the ' East Coast, theJNative Minister stating that before very long the Opposition would be pleased to accept, it altogether. After dealing with other matters of general importance Mr Carroll turned a his attention to local and county mat- i ia ters.

Respecting the leasing of Te Puia Hot Springs Mr Carroll stated that the local people.. had been 'laboring;; under a wrong impression that he. was aware of the existence of this lease at the time of his political address here three years ago, and which he then denied. The hon, gentleman set this griev* anceatre3t by informing them that the matter was executed through the Lands and Survey Department, and that it was the intention of the Government to determine the lease and make the place a tourist resortJJand sanatorium, which would probably be commenced this summer. In answer to Mr O’Ryan’s query as to whether tbe Waiapu County Council should have representation -cn the Gisborne Harbor Board Mr Carroll replied that they should certainly Have one of the nominated members. When asked if he would consent to give the freehold of the native townships Mr Carroll thought the matter should be looked at in the light of a contract which could not be broken, but if the conditions of the same could be improved he was quite willing that they should he extended. Another elector wished to know if it was not a fact that the principle danse in the new Native Land Act was drafted by Mr A. L. D. Fraser ? Mr Carroll replied in the .negative, and explained how such a misunderstanding had come about. i Other questions of minor importancu were asked and satisfactorily answered; Mr Carroll prophesied that with the a«3urance born of long experience although undoubtedlyindividual changes wbuld: take place the same Govern* meat would again return to power and continue the good work they had been doing. On the proposition of Mr Sherwood, seconded in two or three places, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Carroll, the Chairman, Mr O’Ryan, asking for a r how of hands in his favor, which was responded to unanimously, and with great applause. i Mr Carroll’s vote of thanks to the Chairman was also heartily responded to, thus ending the largest politics 1 gathering ever held in Waipiro.

COASTAL CURRENTS.

K"sfipi«feuji ; _ , | | i4’! 1 J (By u Roma.”) Now that the varions aspects of the politioal situation ace being mouthed by every second person one meets, and tthe different candidates fought and fended preparatory to the final decision, I may bs excused for daring to encroach on this subjeot under the above heading, and mors especially as the trend of laws terrestrial must materially affect the opening up and populating of our district. The. principal points appertaining to an electorate like ours, and those which are undoubtedly the most vital, are in oonneetion with the land, so that legislation on this question must be studied, with a view to deriving the maximum benefit for the electorate and also the maximum benefit to the colony as a whole. The land of New Zealand re the birthright of the people, held in trust by the Government, who should refuse: to alienate the same to the individual, as this would be the firet stop to a oreatiou of absentee landlords. The Farmers' Union of this colony was a splendidly ocnoeived idea as regards production and distribution and the consideration of ways and means; but in allowing a political pro* gramme to subdue all other interests they are altogether overstepping their bonndsThe Colonial President of 'the Farmers' Union mus! be blessed with a great sense of imagination when he remarks that “He

was glad to, think. the publio was taking the side of the farmers in the land question, and that in the near future the freehold wou Jbe granted.” It would be interesting to ieam how Mr J. G. Wilson came to the conclusion that the public bad decided to bury their interests in the land question of the colony in favor of the capitalist. We must give the general public the credit of knowing the disadvantages that would most assuredly accrue by merging the country , into such a state of rank Conservatism. The bulk given before the Laud Commission which, be it noted, was the evidence of farmers, may have been In favor of the freehold ; the remainder, however, were for universal suffrage, and in aooordanoe with the interests of the public. It , must not ba forgotten either that the bplk of evidence before that Commission pointed out that the financial position of the faemors at the present day was wholly due tr. the advantageous terms of tenure whioh have-after a few years enabled them to acquire the freehold should they have the opportunity. The hon. member who haß now represented us for so many years deolared at the • commencement of bis campaign, that the State could not break the oontraots made - with its tenants, and neither was there any possibility of their doiog eo.