ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 412, 8 November 1911, Page 5

ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

MR WILSON AT OTOROHANGA

Mr C. K. Wilson, the selected Opposition candidate, addressed a large audience at Otorobanga on Monday evening. The candidate had an enthusiastic hearing.

Mr Wilson again declared himself as an out-and-out Oppositionist, ami defended the policy of the Reform Party. He at ali times reserved the right of exercising his judgment in regard to the making of legislation. He stated that the Government had lost the confidence of the country, and «ere only retained by a servile majority. The Government had taken men into the Cabinet who were Socialists and single-taxers. Dealing with native lands he said that there were enormous areas lying idle, and it was not the native people who kept it so. It was necessary to formulate a comprehensive scheme tu settle the question once and for all. The Native Minister's policy was one of cleverness, and had an injurious effect on natives and White people alike. The only chance of the Maoris' salvation was to put them on an equal footing with their European brother. The Hon. Mr Ngata had told them a few days ago that there were 4,000,000 acres of native lands in occupation. If taking the small rental of Is 6d per acre for these lands the:; every man, woman and child would be in receipt on an average of £l5O per annum, besides which large sums were received for timber and flax cutting rights. He advocated the' compulsory taking of native townships in order that residents might be able to acquire the freehold. With regard to the Public Works Department ths speaker said that the roads in the King Country were a disgrace. lie related that during his travels through the backblocks a few days ago, he had found settlers carting cream to the factory on pack horae3 for a distance of 13 miles. Material for building purposes, fencing wire, and other requirements were to be found scattered all over the country dumped in the mud. The back-block settlers only got promises which were broken. Dealing with the Minister of Public Works he said that he (the speaker) went to Wellington on a deputation regarding roads and bridges, and an example of the courtesy shown by the Miniate- to the deputation was that when they were received the Minister did not think it worth his while to take off his hat or take the pipe out of h;s mouth. Common courtesy was the least that could be expected from a Minister of the Crown. With regard to taxation the cost of living had gone up double in 15 years. He pointed out that last year £IBO,OOO worth of motor cars were imported into the country free, whilst £BOOO worth of perambulators were taxed to the extent of £I3OO. Mr Wilson continued by stating that Education in the back blocks was far from satisfactoy. He did not blame the boards, who were only administering bodies, but the Government for insufficient grants. The conditions in the schools in the back country were very bad. He considered it was the duty of the Government to provide good, healthy, comfortable schools for the children in the backblocks, instead of the ram-shackle ones as at present. Dealing with railways, Mr Wilson contended that the Government had broken faith with the people of Ongarue.in not bringing the Stratford line in at. that point after having had it promised to them. The candidate continued on the lines of his former speeches with regard, to the Electoral Act, Arbitration, Burrowing, Gaming Act, and the Legislative Council.

Questioned as regards the figures quoted in his various speeches in regard to the native land, Mr Wilson said that they were in connection with vested lands. He had not the figures as regards private dealings with the natives through the board, and was not aware of the fact that 400,000 acres had been dealt with by one board since 1900.

A vote of thanks and confidence was accorded the candidate, on the proposition of Mr R. Gregg seconded by Mr H. Quinn.