The Taumarunui Election.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 386, 6 November 1908, Page 2

The Taumarunui Election.

(Sr BO IXL TO THE SkTTLEK.) OwmiWAS, Thursday, Since Saturday kit Mr Jennings hue addressed meetings • * Tann. Tnki rime, Mangaroa, Nib . :ibo, Madero and Otaogiwai, ree i ig votes of thanks and confidence a each pl ice The roads are still bad i) many pl ices and the travelling has h d to be done by horseback. The Ohupa district, as at two former election?, will be favour able to the sitting member, who proceeds to Aris to-day.

MR JENNINGS AT KAWHIA. A SUCCESSFUL MEETING. As briefly mentioned in ourlast issue Mr W. T. Jennings sd ke in Sooifc’s hall, Kawhia, on Wedne day, October 28‘b, Cr G. G. Jonsthat-, Chairman of the Kawhia Town Board presiding. The chairman brifly introduced tbe candidate, who was gre ed with applause as he faced the aodtenoe. Mr Jennings said that be regrettf-d that the notice bad been so short. He bad intended coming to Kawhis, which he considered an important centre, by steamer, but tbe Waitangi barbonnd in Raglan upset those arrangements. Since he had spoken at Waiters, he had travailed over 600 miles and addressed 30 meetings, ao he had to travel pretty fast. In the matter of the fight for the Taamarunui seat he onald assuro them that he was going to fight fair, and do nothing underhand. Mr Jennings went on to pays great triba'e to the late Mr Seddoo, ex Dressing regret at the sadden mmaer in which the aseta! career was closed. The Progr-i-ive Libera; Democracy was now b-ing carried on by Sir J. G. Ward. He did not wish to appear biassed, bat it was a wellknown fact that much if the legislation of New Zealand wa- copied world wide. The epeaksr we non to qualify his remarks bv referring to many Acte, and emphasizing »he Advances to Settler’s Act which o*d the effect nf bringing the interest paid down from 12 percent to 4| per cant, the difference in the payment of rates of

interest being a saving to farmers of over £9,000,000. Even that alone shou'd secure for the Ward Govern maul support and res peer. He had never been a very strong party man and recognised that good came from the Opposition party; be had cover hesitated in casting his vote with another party when a measure was for tbe benefit of the Dominion. Mr Jenniog said that in c ptrasiing the progress of the North Id md with that of the South, he did so Mth no parochial spirit, but he tb< ught that in addition to better rep e 3 entalion in tbe House it was entitled to better representation on the Gabi iet. Figareg were quoted from the Year Book to show the growth the North had made in imports and experts. With regard to the land policy, in tbe first place he stated that he was a firm believer in tbe optional tenure. If a man went into the backblocks and by industry and yars of toil brought land into productiveness be should have the option of making it his own at lhe original value. He came from eight generations of tenant farmers in the Old C antry and knew full well the conditions of leasehold. Tbo more a man improved bis place, the more ho had to pay for it. The result was that many of the best men went to new’ countries, where conditions were more favourable, and made now homes for themselves. He had always held that with reasonable restrictions of area the freehold was tbe right tenure. The land was there for taxation and could not be taken away. Tbo spsakor drew a comparison b tween a freehold country like Danmark and a land nationalising one like China, and declared hs would give bis voto eyery time for freehold, irrespective of party, or other conditions. Settlement in the electorate was going ahead very fast on the right lines. If tbe policy of the optional tenure and small areas was pursued it would bo for the benefit of the district and the Dominion.

Referring to native lands, M* Jennings said that unless more vigorous steps were taken th© nrogress and prosperity of the Kawhia district would bo retarded. Thors wore large areas locked up, which was rot to the interest qf either the M iori, or tbo Pakoba, This, must no? bo allowed, as tho people of the King Country were groat sufferers by such a state of affairs. There were hundreds looking for land, yet thousands of acres w.re tietl np, which fact was <etardiog the pi ogress of the North Island and the Kawhia district in particular. The Native Land Act of tbo last session was tne best passed for 25 years. He was keen on opening up Native land. Ho was very pleased to note the new butter factory in tbo town, which be predicted would be a great boon to he district. In connection with tbe dairy regulations, when they first ap paired they ware rather drastic, but agreeing to representation the Govern■ me it modified the regulations which were not now hurtful. It was neaes sary to keep dairying clo oly watched so that tbo high standard c>uld ba retained. Quite 98 per oeo?‘ o£ tbe butter made in New Z jalaod . was graded us first-class.

Tbe reading question was a big one, but they know that this year a large sain had placed on lbs estimates for back block roads. It was impossible to attempt tbe construction of roads out of tbe consolidated revenue, thc efore it was decided tn raise a loan of a million to be expended in four years. The construction of roads was a good asset, as it gave better facilities to the settler, which was a benefit to all. And the money voted was going to be spent, as already the engineers bad their authorisations. He oared not whether L wm before an eieedott or money be Ivi the

benefit of the settlers and the whole Dominion.

. The question of education was one in which every individual was interested and the Government had dune good work io this respect. Tbe Bill passed last session placed matters in a much more satisfactory position as far .s tbe hackbl ick teachers and pupils were concerned and the eystsm of pbn absing pa .pie for living in the backhl cks was done aw*y with. The first duty of tbe state was to provide orimary education for every child in New Zealand. The Djiniaion could not go too far in the matmr of education. The history of education was the history ef progress, and the nation that lagged behind in educational

matters was doomed. With regard to the finances of the c )iony there was a popular cry with the Opposition that we are going too fast ; another fav trite complaint was thyt we are doing rod*little. No doubt tbe.National debt had increased and was increasing, but we had to remem bet that our assets were increasing at a greater rate in prop irtion, and the position was eminently sound, despite tbe increased debt. In * c -a*itry such as oars great deveLipman tai woras were necessary in order to ke p pace with progress io other countries and make the most of our resources. At tbe end of March, 189!, 'he country’s indebtedness was £3B 830,350. In 1907 it was £04,179.010, an increase of over £25,000.000. As a sot off to that increase had to consider that over £29,000,000 was represented by reproductive works and was interest bearing As long as the mfloeys borrowed were administered in this manner tbe country could n>« go wrong. Tbe speaker paid a high tribute to the administratiye abili-.y of th) Executive and said it wie due io the forethought and ability of the Government that the present fioauc'al stringency, bad as it was, bad not been more severely felt. In connection wi.h the present tightn ssa of the money market, he pre dieted that a month or two would see the burden lightened, and more buoyant tone in the market generally. The revenue for rhe half year ending September last showed an increase over that of the previous period and this showed that the Government was going on satisfactorily, This year there was an increase in sheep in the Dominion of one million and a half, and this to some extent would compensate for the drop-in the price of w oL Butter had more then maintained its price, and this season promised to be a record one for dairy mea. Altogether tbe outlook was decidedly cheerful and be claimed renewed support (or an administration which hid proved satisfactory iu the past.

The future prospects of Kawhia were splendid. The Main Trank Dine was to be completed very shortly and then people who bad never seen the King Ooantry would visit this district. There would then ba a big enquiry for land, and he felt that tbe outlook for tbe district would be prosperous and bright. There should be a railway between Kawhia Harbour and the M i i Trunk Line, which be tbo >ght would be an accomplished fact, for be knew that tbe survey would be undertaken in the near "future. In this matter a word was necessary f>r the Hon. W. W. M‘Cardie, M.L.C., who had assisted very materially. With the lands surrounding Kawhia’s grand harbour—cha nearest point to Australia—opened up, he could see freezing works on its shores treating the stock of the King Country. He hoped that these things would come soon, so that the future would appear brighter. The Liberal party bad now been in power for some years and he did not fear the coming contest. He would do iu, the future exactly as be had done in che past. (Applause )

la reply to questions, Mr said he was in favour of patting the Maoris ou the pakaha roll; he was in favour of the Government acquiring the Te Para and Karewa Native townships; be woald favour a scheme whereby when an increase was granted in salaries the names of tbe persona receiving the sameshoald be published ; he was in favour of tbe cooperative system ef labour ; native lands could be rated ;be tbonght that the best way to have national refence was to encourage rifle shooting.

Mr G. H. Mackenzie (Oparau) proposed, a voto of thanks to Mr Jeuuiog? for bis address and of confidence iu him na a Tbo motion was seconded by Mr Gregg (Kiritehere) and carried. Tie meeting closed with a vote of tbauka to tbo chairman.