THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2340, 5 November 1908, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THE GiSBORNE SEAT.

THE HON. JAMES CARROLL IN

THE THEATRE,

The Minister for Native Affairs, the Hon. James Carroll,., delivered his first campaign address in Gisborne in His Majesty’s Theatre last eve'ning. The building was crowded- to excess, a number of electors being--accommo-dated on the stage. The. Mayor" (Air. AY. D. Lysnar) occupied the chair, and on: tlie stage were ,a number of Air. Carroll’s- committee.

The Hon. James Carroll, who was well received, said that he was glad to meet a Gisborne .audience again, for it was the proudest time of his life when ho came back to the district where he was born to meet old friends and make new acquaintances. He had represented Gisborne in Parliament- for about 15 years, a-nck again stood before them to offer his services. Again lie was being opposed by two candidates,' who had crossed swords with him on a former occasion, but he hoped the contest would be carried l out in a fair and friendly spirit. Air. Carroll said that he was identified with the present Administration, which had Hold the confidence of the people for the pas HI 7 years. The present Administration had mi file the land- laws so liberal that closer settlement had been encouraged. The present Administration had also improved the labor conditions for the people, and had tried to elevate the working classes to a -highor piano, and tho labor -laws that had been passed had met with the approval of tho workers. The Government, by' passing the _ Advances to Settlers Act, had studied the welfare of the small ■farmer and tho settler. It had also given attention to the protection of infant life, -and had' established, maternity homes. He would show that the present Administration had done magnificent work to settle the Native -land question. There was a time when it was almost impossible to get a title to a block of Native land, through the faulty laws that were in existence. The present Gov-, eminent had set its-e-lf the task .to grapple with the question, and during the past six years 1,549,320 acres had been thrown -open for settlement. Two years ago the Native Lands Commission, consisting of Sir Robert iS'tout and Air. Ngaia, M.P., had been appointed to go into the question of the whole of the Native lands of the North Island, and the Commission bid already reported upon 1,295,268 acres, -of which 643,574 acres were recommended to bo reserved for tlie use of the Natives, and 651,694 acres for general settlement, so that Europeans- could get land. The ATaoris had shown great magnanimity* in allowing half their lands to be" taken away for closer settlement by Europeans, and in future all Native holdings worfd be on the same footing as the holdings of Europeans, anil would be responsible for rates and taxe-s. Referring to the leases of the Native lands that had been granted to- the members of the Williams family, Air. Carroll said that before those leases could be .granted the leaseholders had to make a sworn declaration that they were taking up the land for themselves, and were not acting on behaSf of any other person, and there was nothing* in tlie law tc prevent anyone else who desired tc settle on the land from applying for the land when it was offered for settlement. Another charge that had been made against the Alaori was that the Native children were given greater educational advantages than white children. That was not so. The only advantage was that the Native children were provided with free books, but that was compensated for by tlie fact that no allowance was made for cleaning Native schools. Capital bad -a 1 ’so been made out of the fact- that Native children had been provided with biscuits at school. The biscuits were not paid for out of the education grant, but out of a special fund under the control of the Department of Native Affairs. Dealing with the Second Ballot Act, Mr. Carroll said that the gag clause was not forced upon Parliament secretly, and had passed the House without an adverse rote. It was not until the matter wis taken up by the press that so much opposition was raised to the Government, being indifferent on the matter, allowed it to be struck out. The clause was not intended to stifle free speech, but- to give candidates who had gone through the trial of a campaign a chance to rest before the second ballot was taken. Mr.-Carroll quoted from a speech made by Air. Alassey in 1906 to show that the Lender of the Opposition advocated the principle of the Second 'Ballot Act. Referring to land tenure the speaker said the Government had not killed the freehold, and it still, allowed the purchase of renewable leases. Some* 8,000,000 acres had been set aside for national endowments. He believed in national endowments, for they provided means for education and old age pension purposes. The national endowments would make a valuable asset in. time to come. It was necessary and desirable that young people should be educated, and education was a costly matter, but ail were proud of the present system of universal education. Education at the present time was costing the country £BOO,OOO per -year. This sum would increase as tlio years went by, and l provision had to-be mado'jso that the system should not be weakened. He thought that, as the population increased .and civilisation advanced, the assets niust be increased, and the -revenue from the- national endowments would l be highly appreciated by future generations. The question of labor, said Mr. Carroll, * was an important one, and the Government had made the position as easy as possible -for those who were workers. There had, of course, been weak links in the chain of legislation, but these had been- strengthened by subsequent amendments. There ,had, within recent dates, been some discontent, and no doubt there had been many reasons for it, but the Government had endeavored, by means of the Industrial Arbitration and Concililation Act, to remedy the defects. He showed the differences between the old labor legislation and that passed last session, and -pointed out the advantages which, he said, would result from tlie .new amendments. * If industrial peace could' not bo obtained from these laws; then better-have strikes. He believed the new Act was better tihaif the old one.. a?id he iiskodi that it be-given a ,fair i trial. •

The Government wanted to make the country a good producing country, and as the population increased, it'must'depend upon.the increase in its' producing capacity, and the value of its products. It was the duty of the Government to assist the producers and to help all industries. He -referred to the work that had been done in this direction by the Government, and to tho legislation it had placed -on tho statutes during the last two sessions. No worker, he claimed, would say the Advances to Workers Act had been of no -use, and it had already been acted on on several occasions. The second ballot, the speaker said, was the only thing in the recent legislation to which he was opposed. All this legislation had been thought out on national lines, and was well grounded. Time alone would show the weaknesses, but the principles were right, and would mover be /repealed. Taxation* the Alinister said, was supposed to be increasing per head, but it was unfair to spread the various taxes over every unit of the population . For example, £240,000 ivas collected in death duties each year, lint- it was only those who possessed large estates who were called upon to pay that. Tlie graduated l land tax was -another instance. When the many , exemptions and concessions which had been, granted in- connection with tho railways and the concessions on the commodities of life were taken into consideration, they would be found to be in excess of any extra duties which had been imposed. Referring to public works expenditure, the speaker said that more provision was being made each year. By last year’s Act £250,000 had been earmarked for four years for tho construction of reads and bridges. The Gisborne railway was going on apace, and last session a vote of £60,000 had been granted. There were now 250 men employed upon the construction works, .and he predicted that the line woidd reach Alotu within an incredibly short time. Tho section to Gold Greek would have been opened this year but for. tho delays the bridges contractor -had met with. He referred to the valuable assistance that had been Tendered by the local Railway League, and paid a tribute to «the excellent support which had been given to this important work by Air. W. Herries, an Opposition, member. The number of men employed would shortly bo increased to 300, and with the vast timber assets which would be tapped by the line, it would be a suicidal policy not to push on with it.

The speaker then referred to his past work, and asked for a continuance of the electors’ support. He would, lie's aid, continue toigivo every attention to the interests of this district, and, in conclusion, ho thanked them for their kind attention and the patient hearing they had given him. (Applause.) Air. Carroll then sat down, after a speech of 2A hours’ duration. In replying to questions, the Minister said that he was in favor of the Government providing a rifle .range for the district. He considered' that the non-elective members of the Harbor Board’ should be in a lesser propro port ion . Tlio present Ministry, was responsible for the restrictions on the delivery of. letters to Tattersall’s, Tasmania, and also on tlie totalisutor and bookmakers. If gambling.was to be permittee! as an. -adjunct to- sport, it. must be under rigid conditions. 'He did not consider that Air. Black was being treated in a shabby manner oyer his grazing run, asi lie was being granted compensation amounting to over £13,000 for his improvements. He was dn favor of making Land Boards elective, as then every district would have representation. He sympathised with those who had -misread the ’BS-Act regarding grazing runs, and thought that something might be considered for them. He did not think that: Air. Frederick Hall was a genuine settler by living on his land, but lie did know tlia-t- lie had spent enough money on it to make it producible. He was not prepared to say t-liat tlie act of the Harbor Board, as a public body, in joining the Employers’ Federation was constitutional, but ns employers they had a right- to do &o. If State socialism meant tlie ownership of railways, telegraphs*, etc., ho was a firm believer in it. -The *l5O additional men on the Gisborne railway had not been put there to catch votes, but to carry on the work. He did not think the time was ripe for the Government to subsidise a daily steam service between Gisborne and Napier. Touching on the liquor question, ho said he was not a prohibitionist, and was a member of tho Government which was re. ponsible for the present licensing la tvs. If nolicense carried prohibition with it there was nothing to mice ei cptio to, but toil great trouble v as flint, m_ license may not mean uromb t.on. Dio there was nothing to take exception to, but tlie great l trouble was that nood’ that State control was ! .”o ulti.nate solution of the liquor j.rcl «m. as that -meant tlie elimination ].■; <".*>. to interests. - ... Upon Air. \V. L. Rees* rising to propose a vote of confidence, there was considerable- uproar, and tlie speaker could not make himself beard for several -minutes. Eventually tlie noise subsided a little, and Air. Rees was heard, though indistinctly. He proposed a vote of thanks and- confidence, and asked the meeting to pledge itself to secure the Hon. Air. Carroll s return to Parliament. . Airs. Maynard, seconded tlie motion, which, on- being put to tlie meeting, was received with mingled acclamation and - 'disapproval, but ay<lc~ clared carried by the chairman.. A vote of thanks to the chairman was proposed by the Minister) and tlie meeting terminated.

The Hon. J. Carroll will give an address to the electors at Murewai to-night. Air. AY. Lissant Clayton, Opposition candidate, will' speak at Crerar’s Hal-1, AVairoa, this evening. Mr. iD-arton will address the electors at Moliaka to-night, Frasertown toi morrow, and Nuhaka on Saturday.

THE GISBORNE SEAT

[Press Association.]

WAIROA, Nov. 4. Mr W. Lissant Clayton, Opposition candidate, addressed i.a* well-attended, meeting at Frasertown last night. Mr D. O’lSoill presided. The candidate referred to the good work- done by the Opposition in the last three years. The party had initiated many measures which the Government fad

adopted. The party had y also saved tilie country from the disaster tnrea-tene-d' by the Land Bill of 1906. He contended that the freehold was rn the best interest -of the country. He adversely criticised the Native land policy, and condemned' the present system of special representation of Maoris in Parliament. He thought the Natives should be-placed on the same footing as Europeans. He also dealt with the roads and l bridges grants, socialism, Arbitration Act, wages problem, and cost of ' living. He considered no-license outside the political arena. He received u very hearty vote of thanks.

THE BAY OF PLENTY SEAT

AIR D. LUND ON AT ORMOND

Air D. Lund-on, who is contesting tlio Bay of Plenty seat as an Independent Liberal candidate, addressed the electors at Ormond on Tuesday evening. There was a fair attendance. '

Mr A. Parsons occupied tlie chair, and briefly introduced the candidate. Mr Luudon, who was well received, said he came before the electors of Ormond as u, stranger, and as that was a. disadvantage to a candidate., ho would toll them that he already had some experience in. local politics, having"- been mayor of a.—borough, chairman of a country council, and had sat on various school committees, and other local bodies, besides having represented the Crown Lands tenants on tlio Auckland Land Board. He had twice., been requisitioned by the electors of the, Rotorua -district to contest the Bay of Plenty seat. At -first he refused, but a deputation of influential electors waited upon him and pressed him to consent. Noiv that he had entered the campaign he would assure tho electors that he intended to go to the poll. This ivas the third occasion on which he had stood for Parliament, for he had twice contested the Bay of Plenty electorate against Air Herries. On tlie first occasion he ran Air Herries to within 92 votes, and on tho second he held that had the Liberal vote not been split or had the Second Ballot Bill been- in force, he would have beaten tlie Opposition candidate. When he first stood for Parliament he was not the nominee of the Government, but the nominee of tlie people, -and the Government bestowed their patronage upon him. Referring to the need for pushing on - tho Gisborne-Rotorua railway works. Air. Luudon said that he had been -through the Alotu country and had seen the wealth of the timber there. The district- was lagging -behind for want of a railway service. At tlie present time the work was being pushed on at a fair rate of sliced -and a large gang of men employed on the works. He would, however, warn the electors that' those men might be discharged after the election and if such a thing was done tlie electors should show their -indignation at the action. He was informed that- private enterprise was waiting to lay down tramways to develop the timber resources *as soon as the railway -line reached Rakauroa, and hedioped it'would not be long before the great timber reserves were peel, for when timber -could be got cheaply more building would be done and more labor employed. The Government piit an export duty on all unsawed timber sent out of the Dominion, and he (Air. Luudon) was of opinion that a heavy duty should he put upon trimmed Oregon pine L so that local labor would be protected, and there would be- inducements to develop the Dominion’s timber industry. AVhen the East Coast Railway was connected with Rotorua, Gisborne would be linked with every important point in the North Island, and he would advocate the desirability of having the railway work pushed on from the Rotorua terminus as well as on the East Coast *side, so- that there would be -as little delay as possible in completing the work. Such a railway would allow tlie. produce from the East Coast to reach the markets at Rotorua, Waikato, Auckland, and the important towns on the goldfields.

Dealing with the land question, AJr. Luudon said ho was an advocate of the .freehold tenure and was not friendly disposed towards the renewable lease unless that lease gave the tenant the right to acquire the freehold. He thought, every man should be entitled to the freehold, even if tho land was only a quarter of an acre. lie would not object to the leasehold if ffie leUsShold led to' the freehold., but he could not- advocate the leasehold * as -a desirable tenure for attracting settlement. There was plenty of room in the country for the right class of immigrant, but people would never leave their homes in England to take up land on leasehold. Referring to the Native -land problem Mr Luudon said the question of settling tlio native lands had been before tho country for many years. At the present time the native land laws were so complicated that even the judges of the native land court did not understand them, and the machinery for acquiring native lands was so cumbersome that settlers would not deal with the natives.. The difficulty in getting a title to native lands was a- disadvantage to the Alaori as well as the European, and ho thought a law shoift’d bo passed to give individual titles to the land, and communal ownership, discouraged. Tho natives now enjoyed many advantages from the whites. They wore not liable to county councils for rates or taxes, the Government roaded and improved tho value of their properties, railways were put through their lands, medical men were engaged to look after tlieir health, they were given freo education, and old ago pensions, and it was only right the native* should pay . for theso benefits. If individual titles were given to tho native blocks the land could he rated and the native's would be forced to cultivate tlieir holdings. The natives should also ho -represented in Parliament by tlie member for tlie district in which they resided, and native representation abolished. That would cause the! members of" the House to take a keener interest in •native affairs.

Labor legislation was briefly touched upon by the candidate, who said that he - recognized that it was desirable to have laws to prevent, strikes. He held that every man was worthy of his hire and that tlie country should be kept as white as it was possible to keep'it- He was In sympathy with the organisation-of labor for mutual benefits, equally so as with farmers unions for he had .found' that 'unionism develops a ]ietter class

of loon.. Ho also- held, that where 'a train had to undergo a special training' to become proficient in his occupation or where there was a risk of the Jose> of his life, he Should' be well paid.' Mr. Lundon said he was not a croaker over the finances of the country, for though the national debt was £66,500,000, he thought the money had been will spent, and that even further should be borrowed to develop the railways. In the matter of defence he thought more encouragement should be given to volunteer corps, and that all children attending schools should undergo ■a useful military training up to the time they left school, and should then bo drafted into the volunteer corps 1 to train until they reached 21 years of ago. He ecu’ld not favor any system of conscription, but thought an effective defence force could be got together by encouraging volunteering. In conclusion Mr London said that if elected ho would advocate a more vigorous scheme lor providing lands for settlement, and the bursting up of the largo freehold estates. He did not agree with the scheme of erecting a number of workmen’s homes in one corner of the town, because such a system cast a stigma upon the people who lived in the houses. He thought the- Government should /end money to workmen and allow the borrower to build where he chose. He was in favor of the three-fifths majority >as applied to local option, as that was the only majority that would give any stability to the polls. In reply to questions the candidate said that he considered that all the benefits of the lease in perpetuity were to the leaseholder, and that if there was any injustice it was to the rest of the people in giving the tenant a perpetual lease. He was also in favor of elective land boards. He would- not favor the compulsory training of young men over the age of 21 for military service, and he thought a superannuation scheme would' he better than the system of old age pensions. On the motion of Mr McLeod, seconded by Mr J. I). Benson, the candidate was accorded a vote -of thanks for. his address.

DEPUTY RETURNING OFFICERS

The following deputy returning officers have been appointed, for the Bay of Plenty electorate by Mr. G. J. A. Johnsthne, assistant returning officer

AVaimnta Valley—Electoral, Mr. C H. Morris; .licensing, Mr. E. B Ma rtin.

AVaioliika (Bruce’s store) —Mr. "\V. D. Bruce —Mr. W. S. AlcCreedie., Ormond —Mr. J. McLeod —Major McCreedie. Lavenham—Mr Hair—Mr. F. Bull. Karaka—Mr. P. J. Sefton—Mr. G. T. Sefton.

Kanakanaia —Mr. AY. H. Powell — Air. T. Barker. ' AYhatatutu —Air. AI. Poole —Air. R. A. Alorbhv.

AVillow Crossing t(Hill’s house) — Air. Hill—Air. C. W. Sefton.

AVaihuka (Public AA’orks camp)— Air. J. Nutting—Air. J. A. S. Ross. AYhakarau —Air. G. A. Smith —Air. iShaw. — — Rakauroa —Air. A. H. Alket —Air. T. Elliott.

Rakauroa (Kotie's) —Air. H. Ivorte —Air.! G. Redpath.

Mutawai (Neal’s store) —Air. Neal, junr. Plot'll —Air. H. F. Ralph—Mr.' H. M. Jackson. Whangara-—Air. AY. Fraser —Air. A. Douglas. "Wigan—Mr. T. Utting—Mr. AY. Caldwell. Tuar.ua —Mr. J. B. Morris —Air. B. Nevill.

Tologa Bay—Mr. AY. E. Holder. Mangatokerau—Air. G. H. -"Wil-liams-—Mr. J. M. Nelson.

Araro —Mr. A. TulFock. Tokomaru —Air. AA r . Oates —Miss J M. Burn ess. Te Puia —Aliss AI. Tuohy —Air. H Coventry.

AYaipiro—Air. L. E. Pole —Air. A P. D arrant.

Ihungia—Air. A. E. Cowley-—Mr C. Alalio-nev.

Tuparoa—Mr. H. AY. Brodricli— Airs. Aloss. Awanui—Aliss A. H. Barnett. Kahukura—Air. H. AY. Geissler— Air. L. .Manning. To Araroa —Air. AI. Downey. Bexhaven —Air. G. Tucker—Air. J. A. Perry.

Appointments for the following booths are not yet definitely fixed-: AYaimata (Holden’s), AYheturau, Alan-gat-u, AAdiarekopae, and Okitu. THE MAORI ELECTIONS. The election for the representatives in Parliament of the Maori race M ill be held on December 2nd. THE AYAIPAAYA SEAT. [Press Association.] DANNEAMRKE, Nov. 4. Air. Charles Hall, the sitting member,’ has been nominated: for the AYaipawa seat in the Government inter"est. ■HAWKE’S BAY NOMINATIONS. [Press Association.] HASTINGS, Nov. 4. Sir AVilliam Russell was nominated this morning for Hawke’s Bay. DUNEDIN NORTH SEAT. [Press Association.] DUNEDIN, Nov. 4. Air-Isaac Green, candidate for Dunedin North, declared himself a Liberal, but is n supporter of the freehold, with limited holdings. He was accorded a vote- of thanks and confidence. "

and he did not think much good was going to come of it; not an acre had yet been- settled. A vote- of • thanks and confidence was accorded. It is expected the Premier will accept an invitation to address a- meeting here on the 9th of November. - TIMARU ELECTION. [Panes Association.] TIAIARU,. Nov. 4. Air J. Mahoney, Labor candidate for Tirnaru, addressing the electors, said he had no sect, league-, or party behind him, and in ~ that'sense was forlorn. He did not believe either in the Government or the Opposition, as both belonged to a wealthy class, and wop Id not give legislation in the interest of the masses. If,returned, ho would be one of the third or Independent party. The speech dealt more with, hieal than national politics! He was accorded a vote of thanks. The audience hardly took him seriously.