POLITICAL REFORM LEAGUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2108, 17 June 1907, Page 2

POLITICAL REFORM LEAGUE.

ADDRESS BY MR. MARTIN

CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT. BRANCH LEAGUE FORMED IN GISBORNE. Tlioro was a representative gather- I imj of over 40 at>he sample rooms, Lowo-streot, on Saturday afternoon, when Mr. Martin, organising secretary to the Political Reform League, delivered an address on political matters. Mr. Malcolm McLeod was voted to tho chair, and introduced the speaker, who was well received. 1 Mr. Martin, who spoke for upwards of an hour, gave an able exposition or tho policy of tho Opposition—with which the Political Reform League is identical, criticised the Government on many points, and demonsti sited the necessity fur better organisation to “harden up” the Opposition voteb in readiness for tho next genoral election.

THE OPPOSITION’S PROGRESS. Ho quoted that ill 1902 for the 17 I seats in the Auckland province I whence tho organisation of the pai ty sprung —the votm~ showed, that o(i,UUU I electors expressed confidence in the I Government, whilst.2s,ooo supported I tho Opposition candidates, a majority I of 11 000 in tho Government s favor. I At the 1905 election 40,000 supported the Government . candidates and 44 000 threw in their lot with the Opposition. Thus, in the interim the Government gained only 4000 votes, las compared with a net increase or 18 000 Opposition votes. In spite 01 that fact the Opposition wore faced with tho loss ot three —Ohinomuri, Kaipara, and Waikato—seats. The 1 I roason, it was apparent, was perfect organisation on the part of tlieir opI pononts and the total lack ot systeI matic organisation amongst Mr. Massoy’s supporters. The Liberals had lost no opportunity of pushing their I cause; indeed, the secretary of the I Liberal and Labpr League admitted that ho had issued 177,000 circulars lon his party’s behalf. The result, as | stated, was butrThe success the Liberals were justly entitled to for thenefforts. When the election figures I became known the Opposition realised I that there was something radically wrong, that the system of pitting I candidates forward without organisaI tiou courted defeat, and they resolved to emulate the example set by the I Liberals to assist the party’s camI paign.

BENEFITS OF ORGANISATION. A good start was at once made I tluough the medium of the Political I Reform League, the results being ap- I parent at the by-elections since contested. In December last the Reform League was instrumental in bringing out Mr. F. W. Lang for the Manukau seat, rendered vacant by the death of Mr. ICirkbride. The Opposition candidate was so smartly off the mark that lie had actually addressed eleven meetings • before the Government realised that the Reform League had their forces iu anything like order. The Government then put a man forward, and both Mr. McNab and Mr. ] Fowlds addressed meetings on his behalf. On the poll being declared in Mr. Lang’s favor, it was found that tho Opposition majority of 646 in 1902 had been increased to 1248 on this occasicm. When interviewed in Auckland tlic Minister for Education said “lie had not the slightest dould the Opposition victory was due to superior organisation.” Ho (Mr. Martin) ventured jg. say there was another factor in deciding the election i —The bona-fide farmers had become thoroughly dissatisfied wth the Social istic land legislation the Government were attempting to thrust on the House. (Applause.) On the death of Mr. E. M. Smith, M.H.R., the Government- member for Taranaki, Mr. Okev, the Opposition candidate, was promptly in the field addressing meetings, whilst the Government were still wrangling over the choice of a candidate. The Opposition man I eventually secured the seat which, I with the exception perhaps of WanI ganui, had been regarded as the safI est Government seat in the North IsI land'. Mr. Carroll, speaking at New Plymouth, said lie attributed the deI feat to the split 'in the Liberal vote I and- to hotter organisation on the I part of the Opposition. But those I who watched the contest, said Mr. I Martin, recognised that the third candidate did not materially account 'fOil- itliOi result; as a matter of fact, I Mr. Malone, the Independent candiI date, criticised tho policy of tlic GoI vernment even more emphatically I than did the Opposition man, stating that lie would light the Land Bill in all its stages. This gained for him a good many votes from both sides, so Mr. Carroll’s contention would not hold good. Mr. Martin, continuing, ventured to hope that, encouraged by the success so far achieved, organisation in tlio various electorates would result iu candidates subscribing to the Reform League’s platform being selected to contest the seats at the next general election. Organisation was the keynote of success. Some people had said to the speaker : “We appreciate your efforts, but consider you are coming amongst us altogether too soon. What influence you are able to exert will lapse if you start too soon.” Well, if those people were so lukewarm as to allow interest to fall flat before the election, they were not the persons to rely too much upon; if he could influence a. few assiduous workers on behalf of the party his : visit to this district would not be in vain.

FARMERS’ UNIONS TOO . DIVIDED, He was also met with the assertion that it was not necessary to form branches of the Reform League, as there were already branches of the Farmers’ Union established; and that tliev performed practically the .same work. Whilst lie had no desire todfelittle the work of the Farmers’ ;,Union, ho could soqji prove the fallacy of the supposition. The Farmers’ Unions were much weaker than they should bo for election jiurposes. For instance, at a Hawera election, Mr. Major, the Government candidate, Mr. McGuire, the Opposition candidate, and Mr. Robbins, the Prohibitionist candidate, all thoroughly endorsed every plank of the Farmers’ Union when submitted to them. Therefore all the members of the"

t Hawera branch were given a free hand as to how they recorded their ■ votes, and the influence of the Union I as regarded the-election was practica ally nil. The average strength of the ' district Farmers’ Unions was 100. Of ; this number, it was estimated, 70 ' could bo set down as being in accord with the Opposition, and 30 as Gov- ; eminent supporters. How did this ' work out in an election ? Assuming ’ all voted, them it took 30 Oppositon ] votes to equalise the 30 cast for the i Government, thus 60 votes were absolutely wasted, and the voting strength of the Union was only 40 out ; of 100 bona-fide farmers. Farmers must realise ’that-if they wanted to make their votes felt there must he, unison. He did not want to dictate, but did not the instance "-noted show the futility of wasting votes. Hi: advice was that they should seriously consider which of the two parties was most likely to conserve their interests, aiid that having come to a decision

they should vote solidly for that party. In the.cities -anyone who mentioned the Farmers’ Union- as being a political factor was derided; the fact musp bo .faced that divided as at present the Farmers.’ Union was but weak politicajjy. When the farmers realised that the time had arrived when they must take a political stand either one way or another, then, and not till then, would they make their power felL The speaker went on to say he understood there were representatives of both political parties present, and ho was speaking in a perfectly straightforward .manner. It would wake the Liberals up to see that the Oppositionists were emulating their methods, and the result would probably be a more interesting contest.

SELECTION OF LOCAL CANDIDATE. Addressing Qppositiou electors, he would ask them not ‘ io promise support to anv particular man, but to wait until the Reform League, if formed, made the sejectiqn of a candidate after a conference on the subject. Several people, lie added, were under the impression that he had come to Gisborne in the interests of Mr.- Clayton. That was altogether a mistaken idea; his mission was quite independent of any particular man, and was solely to consolidate the party. He had looked up Mr. Clayton simply because he had'letters of introduction to' Jlim- jis the Opposition candidate "at las’t election, and Mr. Clayton very clearly recognised that he (Mr. Martin) cam purely and simply ill the interests of the* Opposition. Mr. Clayton was very ready and grilling to fall into line with'the views he had put before this meeting, Let tlao 'League select the

candidate most likely to <min the Opposition support in this electorat with enhanced chances of victorv at next election, and when tho selection was made, bo it whom it may, Mr. Clayton was prepared to assibt the candidature to the best of bis ahili (Applause.) Mr. Martin took the opportunity of thanking the SentloI man named for the courtesy extended I him and assistance rendered. VVJien I the time camo ho was sure the solectlod candidate would have tho hearty I support of Mr. Clayton, even moueI tarv if necessary. (Applause.)

THE LEAGUE’S PLATFORM. Regarding the Reform League’s platform, Mr. Martin said .tho mat plank was—“To secure businesslike, prudent, and honest administration. If for no other roason than that tlic League deserved the commendation

I of all present. .. ‘"‘The restoration of true ParliaI montary government; government ot all bv all, through their ropresontaI tives freely nominated and electee. 1 without interference on the part ol the Ministry of the day” was the second plank. Under this head lie cntiI oised the action of higlily-paid MinisI tors in leaving their departments, and, accompanied by thoir secretaries, I "oing at the expense of tlic country I to fight on behalf of Government canI didates, especially in tlio case of byelections. No exception could be taI Icon to private members going at their own expense, but tho country did not pay . Ministers £I2OO a -ear and 30s per day expenses (in adcli-

I tion to providing private secretaries) for work of this description. At blew Plymouth Mr. Carroll informed him that Ministers were not paid expenses when on electioneoering business, explaining that these expenses were I provided out of a special private fund of the Liberals. He (Mr, Martin) I informed the public of this stateI meat; it was not liis fault if the public disbelieved it. If the public accounts were properly shown in detail I the Opposition would have no giounds for making any false statement, but at present there was nothing to dis-

prove the statement. . r-r>„,. Next cam© “The restoration of Pailiamentarv control of the public finances; and, to this end, the repeal ot the obnoxious provisions ot the 1 üblie Revenues Act, 1900.’ The Opposition wanted the Auditor-General s powers, so arbitrarily taken away restored. At present when Parliament granted money for a specific purpose the Cabinet had power to allocate the vote for other purposes under the same department. The Opposition desired this power repealed; money should be— expended only for the purpose stipulated by Parliament. (Applause.) “The abolition of the deceptive methods of presenting the public accounts now in use” was a natural corollary to the previous planks. The Opposition favored some

I system similar to that adopted n I Canada, where the financial stateI meht detailed how every cent was expended,' the amount allocated, and spent for each item, and to whom I the money was paid. Such accounts I would clear up matters such as the I alleged 30s per day expenses'for MinI isters’ electioneering. The statemeni I should be such that ever- person of I ordinary intelligence could underI stand it. Now, the'expenses were I shown in a lump sum, and no details I were furnished the House, and monI oys were passed without members I grasping the- purport of the votes. I If the Canadian system were adoptee I a great deal of time now wasted in I futile discussion would be saved. InI dancing the railway accounts, Mr. I Martin said that on one hand the I Government claimed that the railI ways were earning 3 per cent, oil the outla- whilst on the contrary Mr. I Vaile, a reputed authority, of AuckI land, issued a pamphlet, jilleging I that for the last six years there liar; | been an average loss of £621,000 ou I the railway service, Mas not this a I ridiculous state of affairs, showing I the absolute necessity of present ;■ 1 d4ar accounts? The pamphlet, said I to be based on the Government’s own I fi-dires, had been taken up hv the I Chamber of Commerce. That body. I whilst neither affirming nor auestionI ing the accuracy of Mr." Vaile’s figI ires, held that as the pamphlet liaa I Seen circulated it was entitled to conI sideration bv the Government, and I should, for the colony’s credit, be reI futed if untrue. (Applause.) The I figures had been laid on the table of I the House, and up to the 'present I time had not been refuted. I The Opposition advocated reform ill I the method of making appointments I to the Public Service so as to exclude I political influence, to provide prQmoI tion by merit, as well as superannua- | tio- for all Civil servants. The de- | sired control to be handed over to a j non-political board, independent of I any party in power, so as to ensure | tho Tammany system, which it must Ibe admitted was creeping in, being I stamped out. 1 I In reference to local government, | the League aimed at—“ The reform I of local government by the establish-l-meiit of a sound and assured system lof local finance, with a view to the I substitution of the equitable distribuI tion and economical expenditure of I public money in place of the present I system of arbitrarily varied Ministe- | rial grants and doles.” The OpposiI tion considered the maintenance of | all arterial roads should be uudertaI ken by the Public Works DepartI meht, and that there should be a I system of graduated subsidies to loI cal bodies. Some of the party advocated also the setting up of a Public Works Board to deal with works required, allocation of votes, etc., and make recommendations on these matters to the House. The statement made at Whangarei some time back by one of the Ministers “that it could not be expected the Government would- look with the same kindly eye upon an Opposition constituency,” showed the necessity of some alteration. As if the politics of-the member returned had any bearing upon the works required in a constituency' On tlio important land question, the Opposition (and League) advoca--ate“The reform of the land laws: the encouragement of land settlement by leasehold tenure on the homestead system, and by giving Crown tenants the right to acquire the freehold on equitable terms, with provisions for preventing the creation of large holdings.” Ministers

had repeatedly stated, said Mr. Martin, that there was not on© clause in the whole of the Land Rill attacking the freehold, but'clause 3 was a direct contradiction to that. Ho congratulated the Union on their united stand, for once, in fighting the Bill; it was an object lesson on the value of unity. (Applause.) He ventured to say the Government had not the slightest intention of passing the Bill in its present form, and notwithstanding Mr. Carroll’s recent utterance ho would back up liis assertion with a £5 wager, the proceeds to go to the Gisborne Hospital. (Applause.)

As would be seen from Mr. Mas sey’s speech, _ the Opposition advocated the individualising of native land titles,, the setting aside of sufficient land for the .Maoris’ requirements, ’he balance to be thrown open for occupation. Another plank was—“ The maintenance and improvement of our national system of education, includ’-• the more perfect co-ordination of prim.rry, secondary, and University education ■ the extension and improvement of technical education; the counteracting of the present tendency to centralisation the providin'*' of a system of superannuation I for teachers; aiul the introduction of such other improvements in the status and- remuneration of teachers as

are necessary to attract men of the highest ability and .character.” In this connection Mr. Martin acknowledged the good work done by the Government, and said the Opposition would always support any progressive measure, no. matter by whom introduced. It woiiid. be better, lie remarked, if the Minster in charge of I tins portfolio devoted more of his time to the. work'and left land legislation severely alone. (Laughter.) An important plank was—“Tli e reduction of duties oil the necessaries of life.” In spite of oil announced surplus of £777,000. the people of New Zealand were taxed to the utmost- limit on the necessaries of' life. The taxation pea: head in Australia varied from £2 13s in Victoria to £3 3s 6d in Western Australia, whereas “GocFs own country” levied £4 8s 6d per head. There must he something radically wrong when such a burden was imposed oil the . people. Mr. Martin quoted instances of extravagance and wasteful expenditure that had come under liis own. notice in Taranaki. In the last 14 -ears £120.000 had been spent on the Ohura road, and with the exception, of the first 20 miles it was still unmet-

alled. Some of the holes, lie remarked. must have been filled up with golden sovereigns. Over £52.000 had been spent oil 11 miles and 18 chains of railway. Over-two vears a"0 the construction of a_lino of rail to Mt. Egmont for procuring metal supplies was started. More than £13.000 was spent on it, cottages erected, and crushing plant provided. . Tile cottages were still unoccupied and rotting by the wayside, and tlie crushing gear overgrown with rank grass, whilst there was no attempt to go on with the work. Those who travelled through.the colony and saw the waste on all sides ceased to marvel at the high taxation. “Tlio plaster of Paris rubbish” at the Exhibition, costing £2200. was quoted by the speaker' as another instance of nsoless extravagauce, tfefr a deputation sailers

protecting food's rt we re told

the, 3 same measure of Hecdoin and security as is enjoyed by tlio t ress lit England;. !ta£“‘„d“ed C urtlcc and consistent with liberty, without diminishing the slope for private enterprise and genuine progress, or impairing th onSof responsibility; to advance and en courage by every proper. means tho candidature for Parliament of honorable and capable moil, so as to ensuro purit - of politics and honesty of administration. CONCLUSION. =

in conclusion, Mr. Martin hammered homo Ids arguments concerning Die need bl a League lor consolula ini' the Opposition vote. the Kai jiara seat was only lost by seven votes, and the Waikato seat by 78 iho increase in the .Y^iMti ttv and the wresting of the laianaki seat already had a good moral effect n hardening up the Opposition supporters. Many of them had begun to Ulink it was no use fighting any longer, that the Government with then- Tammany system were .too strong, and had too many political favors to bestow. But the b>-election results showed that there was a fbqiiPfi corning over the community, fhat the thinking population were beginning to realise tlse Government mire -not all that could be desired. It was no longer a Seddon Government: the late Premier would have been the last man in tho worid to brine down such a Land Bill. vAP clause) The present Government appeared to have no definite pohev, therefore his. remarks had lieon mamIv upon administration. He thought tliev would agree that it was honest criticism, and that the reforms suggested were based on sound democratic lines. (Applause.) Could, the Government be called democratic m making their appointments. toi the Upper House? The majority or the appointments wore open to .criticism. The calibre of the. Council as- a whole was indicated by the fact that noton* of the 28 members could be entrusted as Government leader m tbe Council when the late Col. Pitt died. The Government admitted the weakness of the Council bv appointing a new mail in Dr. Findlay. The hitter wa a man of undoubted ability, hut. Ins only experience urns that helmd stood and been defeated for the Wellington seat. (Laughter.) Tbe qualifications of one member, the Hon. McArdle, consisted of his having been rejected , six times when standino- for the. Assembly. (Laughter.) (A voice, jocu- ; larly: Will that be Mr. Clayton s ■ list before he gets into Parliament?)

_ hope the first defeat Mr Clayton has met with will h© his Hrt defeat, and that if he. stands again .the public will recognise what a thoroughly sterling, hard-working, and energetic man.he is. I trusu they will support him or whoever the League may put forward to supersede him. (Applause.) If fny remarks are appreciated, the Oppositionists of this district will see the necessity of forming such, an organisation, with branches, I hope, to work in other parts of the electorate.A hearty rote of thanks was accorded the speaker, who, in - some further remarks, disclaimed any intention of assuming the role of an agitator. He did not com© n©re to sow discord, and believed lie would leave Gisborne, as lie liad done elsewhere, without making enemies or losing a friend. Life was too short to quarrel; he recognised that. men would always hold divergent views;

Pvfc them agree to differ and be none the less friends. ' (Applause.) After some discussion it was resolved to form a branch of the Politi-. cal Reform League in Gisborne. Some 10 or 12 gentlemen were, appointed a provisional committee, with Mr. McLean secretary pro tern. Mr. Martin advised the committee how to proceed, and when members have been enrolled a further meeting will be held. Mr. Martin promised to pay another visit and address a meeting at centre where it might be desired to form another branch. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.