THE KAIPARA ELECTION.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 22 November 1911, Page 3

THE KAIPARA ELECTION.

MR J. GORDON COATES AT

HELENSVILLE

Mr Gordon Coates, the Independent Liberal Candidate for the Kaipara seat at the general elections, addressed a very large and representative meeting in the Foresters' Hall on Thursday evening, 16th inst., when he received a patient hearing throughout. Mr Jas. McLeod, Chairman of the Waitemata County Council, was in the chair, and introducing the speaker, said it afforded him much pleasure in doing so. He had known Mr Gordon Coates all his life, and his mother and father before him, also his uncle —-two of the most respected gentlemen in the district. He had met Mr Coates at County Conferences, and he had shown himself a capable man. I am certain (continued Mr McLeod) that if Mr Coates is returned, we will have someone with energy to work for us,

Mr Coates, on rising, was well received. He wished first of all to thank the Chairman for giving him such a good introduction, and to drive away from the minds of the audience that he was a prac~ tical ,and capable speaker. He was a farmer, born and bred on a farm, a young New Zealander who had faith in New Zealand and its people. It had been stated, and stated freely that he was a capitalist and monopolist. That was not true. He had been brought forward by Government as well as.Opposition men who had known him all his life, and thought there was sufficient energy and life in him to represent the Kaipara electorate in Parliament. He was standing as an Independent Liberal. He had always been a supporter of the Liberal Party, and had always voted for Mr Stallworthy and found him an honest and true friend. It was not Mr Stallworthy he was opposing, but the Government. Liberalism affords equal opportunities to every man, and he wanted his hearers to notice that he wished to give every man, irrespective of his station in life, equal opportunities of following his calling.

In his opinion, this country of ours is prosperous, —it is to be hoped it always will be. He had confidence in the'country andj in the people. They had great mineral wealth, and he was sure the country could not go back. The total exports were £19,462,000 for 1909, £21,491,000 for 1910, and £21,543,000 for 1911; the imports for 1911 were £17,713,009, an increase on the previous year of £2,359,000. The total debt was approximately £79,839,000, and the total assets £98,300,000. He was in favour of the Public State Distinction Act, it was reasonable that they could pay off the debt in 75 years. The amount required to be paid out of the consolidated fund for the liquidation of the public debt during this year would be £144,885. You will note there has been a marvellous increase in our borrowing. He was not against borrowing and thought we should have to continue borrowing, but it should be on sound and business-like lines. Since you and I have to pay interest on the sinking fund, he thought the people should know where and how the Government are borrowing the money. There should be full publicity, it -might cost more perhaps, but there was no 'reason why the people should not have it. LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT. He was of opinion that the present administration was not in the best interests of the people. He beleived. it was necessary to split up the large blocks of land for closer settlement. The population had increased during the last few years, but they had lost to Australia 5301 persons in 1908, 3447 m 1909, 2598 in 1910, and 4365 in 191,1, a total of 15,700 in four years. The total gain in population last year was 2894 ; the number of assisted immigrants alone had exceeded that total. He had no objection to immigration, but we must consider our own first. There were numbers of New Zealanders who had left New Zealand for Australia and other countries, and it was a well known fact that they had gone in search Qf land. We are losing people whom we require, our own flesh and blood, and those who know New Zealand from A to Z.

Under ordinary Crown Lands there were 163 less selectors last year than the previous year; and there were 436,00.0. acre?> Iqss land settled. The tqtaj area, of land open during 1910,11 was 2,355,996 acres, of which 122,844 acres are under the optional system, and 2003 acres were spjd for cash or auctioned. Lands for settlement showed a considerable falling off, only 28,000 acres having been taker}, up as against 90.000 acres. The total Crown Lands remaining for settlement purposes for future disposal are 1,900,000 acrgs, and for pastoral pur-po,ses, 2,06b,00Q; and in addition to this tfyer-e a,re open for selection at 31st March, 1,300,000 a,G£es, The future supply of laud for settlement rau^pos-

es may be augmented from two sources : Ist: Purchase of private estates for sub-division; and 2nd : Purchase of Maori Lands under provisions of the Native Land Act. He was not agreeable to the sale of one acre of Endowment Land.

If the Government wants to secure a piece of land for closer settlement, the owner is served with a notice; then the valuer goes along, and finally it goes before the Land Purchase Board. In the meantime the owner takes care that he gets good outside offers, and as a result the Government, if they decide to purchase the land, have to pay from £2 to £3 an acre more than they would have done had the work been carried out by an agent. All that was needed was that when the Government required a piece of land an agent should be sent along (no one need know who he was) and get a price, and the Government would have the' option of taking it at the price offered. He considered the present Land Boards but a useless piece of machinery which had done nothing but raise prices. Blocks of land in their, own district have been offered to the Government, and they had refused to take them. Those blocks should now be at their disposal for closer settlement. Instead of going into the hands of the settler it had gone into the hands of a few capitalists. They would not go ahead so long as they allowed speculators to secure the land. He did not want to offend anyone, but these were his candid views. The Government have not been alive to the fact that in the Kaipara we have one of the most fertile districts in New Zealand, partly due to the climate, waterways and railways, etc., and the ■ land in, the district should be opened up. True Liberalism was wanted in the Kaipara. NATIVE LANDS. He contended that they would have to borrow for the purpose of opening up Native Land. It was quite reasonable to want to open as much as possible for cultivattion. The area of land carrying stock and lying empty can be summed up as follows; —500,000 acres being worked by Maoris, 2,000,000 acres leased, leaving a balance of 5,000,000 acres unoccupied in native hands. The total area of Native land was 7,500---0-000 acres. He wanted to know what the Maori was doing with the remaining five million acres, The latest (1910) census showed the number of sheep to be 252,404 cattle 54,960, pigs 42,473, and the area under cultivation, 40,608 acres. On an estimate of one sheep to the acre and one beast to ten acres, the whole of the stock could be carried on 300,000 acres. Adding the area under crop brings the total up to 340,000 acres under effective occupation. In order to allow for grazing, for no figures are given for Maori horses, and also for expansion since 1906, add 50%, which brings the total up to 500,000 acres. Since the inauguration of the land for settlement policy in 1894, the sum used for the purchase of large estates was (up to 191o) £5,407,792. The amount of native lands taken during the same period was 2,171,187 acres at a cost of L 676.245. To the poor man the procuring of a piece of native land was impossible, the door was only thrown open to rich speculators who were mopping up all they could. The whole thing needed re-modelling, so that a considerable area would be available for the landless —a constructive policy would surmount the difficulty. Freetrade in native lands was only open to those Avho have the knowledge and the money —in short the speculator. As an illustration, a native block was to be divided into five or six sections under Part XVIII of Ihe Native Land Act; they could be dealt with by application to the Native Land Board. If there were more than ten owners you make your terms, which were- confirmed by the Land Board. A meeting cjf owners voted whether the price was acceptable or not, the majority ruling and a decision was arrived at. The five or six sections were lumped, irrespective of what the individual partitions were worth, and sqld at fsojn' 2*j 6d to 3os per acre, fie contended that this kind of traffic should cease. The land should be for the landless, and the native should be justly treated. FREEHOLD, ||c was a fpeehojdg]- tQ tho ha^hone. Evp'ry man shqulcl qavp a rjglit to make his land 'freehold if tie waited to. What we want is small farmers and sm.aU holders. He had always noticed that leasehold talkers tca^c good, care to have a big piece of freehold' for themselves. He could see no reasonable objection to the freehold, if people wanted it, there was no reason why they should not ges it, AaRiQIJLTUIIB He did not consider they- were moving fast enough in agricultural -matters, ar\d contended that tin^e h,ad aj^jved w ; hefci an Agricultural College should be erected in tj\e North Island. "Farmers were throwing a-vvay a considerable amount of money yearly by using the wrong- manures, etc., he was qf opinion that the rudiments o.f agriculture should als.ol/e taughti'u country schools, 'would the

young farmers to start on a sound footing.

The export business of the Dominion should be worked on better lines than at present.- It was time that an expert was appointed at Home for the purpose of inspecting and looking after New Zealand produce. The time was coming when they would have to depend on the agriculturist for the success of their country. When it was found that the exports were not of a sufficient high standard, then it was time for the Legislature to deal with the matter. STATE NOTE ISSUE. He was in favour of the Government treating a monoply in regard to the state note issue; but there was one thing they would have to take care of, and that was that they had a sufficient reserve of gold. If they did not they would be creating a mortgage which would eventually have to be paid off. The state tax is 3% at the present time, and the value of notes in circulation is £1600,000. The state would lose this, but would gain in other ways such as loss of notes. CREDIT BANKS. The scheme for assisting new settlers who need money is reaUy good, but' its success will depend on the way it is carried out. The prosperity of New Zealand depends so much upon the Agriculturist and the more wealth we can win from the soil the more scope there will be for every worker in the Dominion. The qualifications of a small farmer for his business becomes in' a large measure the security on which he can borrow and the Government action in advancing them money is a good and sound one and worthy of support. The Kaipara district has some valuable assets. Here in Helensville there are valuable mineral waters within easy range of the city, which could be made the sanitsrium of Auckland, and if elected he would push the matter. Further north, hydraulic' and agriculcultural lime was to be found in large quantities, and as the ranges were benuded of timber, concrete must become the order of the day. ■ STATE GEOLOGIST. The Kaipara district should have the services of a state geologist, and all mineral deposits should be minutely examined and reported upon. Steps should be taken to get a comprehensive report and assist those pioneers, who from time to time put their money up to try and exploit their deposits. It had, ; been stated that when the timber had been cut out they would be ruined. He was of opinion that when the timber was done they would bea more prosperous district; they had one of the best climates in the world, and their river could be called the Missisipi of Australasia, everything was suitable for closer settlement. TELEPHONE SYSTEM. Improved telephonic connection should have been in vogue throughout the district years ago. People could hardly credit the lonely life of the backblack settler and for most part the woman are left entirely alone. In time of accident the telephone was a valuable asset and it was often the means of saving life. He said it had been brought under his notice that some medical practitioners had refused to attend country people in poor circumstances, the medical men weresubsidised by the state and it was only to ensure that the poorer classes of the community might obtain full opportunities of being skillfully attended to, there should be no distinction between rich and poor. LABOUR. He was in sympathty with the labourer Referring to strikes he stated it was not always the men who caused the strikes, but the agitator and candle-box orator. The Arbitration Court was a valuable help to the worker, but there were too many technicalities. EDUCATION. They could be proud of the present Education System; still it was not altogeththe best they may get. He beleived in primary, secondary, and University education. As to scholarships, he thought it was hardly fair that the town child, whose home was in the town, and the country child, who had to pay board, should be on the same footing. £40 would not clothe, feed, and board them. The country child does not have the samo advantages as the town child, and that should not bo bo. Our success depends greatly on the education of our people. RACING. In regard to racing, he was not against it. In the olden days in this district the race days were the great meeting days of the country side, whero you would go to meet old friends. In Kaipara to-day there was not a single day's racing, while Auckland had 33 days. There was too much centralisation taking all the money to the towns, and he took exception to the principal of the thing. If totalisator permits were not distributed freely throughout the country districts, he would be in favour of voting the totalisator right put Q1" New Zealand, UPPER HOUSE. He considered that while we elect our representatives, we should also have the right to elect our Upper House. He was a free-trader, and thought it necessary to have protection. Money fop niach.in.ery, etc., not manufactured in. New Zealand, should all go. to the Mather Country. ASSISTANCE TO WIDOWS. He was agreeable to this, as he theught they should help those in poor circumstances, in the way of pensions for widows. GUM DIGGERS. In his oj),ir,icr; an expert at his work was always worthy his hire in whatever channel. He thought a system of village homesteads should be introduced. Give the gumdigger a stake in tlie land and he will become a valuable asset. PRISON REFORM. He. considered itjija.r.d. thatmen'2s years of age a^d "uiidov-i w-ere unfortunate enough to got ivita trouble, should have to bear the stigma of gaol life forever. Some form of education should be offered these people. Education was the surest way to improve everybody, even to the criminal. Time was arriving when this system should be in the three largest centres of New Zealand. MILITARY TRA£NJ;NQ.. He (\\c\ \\o\, believe in. compulsory training, lyiit believed/ in universal training, lie hadbern connectod with the volunteer force for a considerable time. He was of opinion that every New Zealander, worthy of the name, would be only tqo ready., to step forward to kelp defend his, country j if necessary.. ♦ POLIHCAL INFLUENCE, He "was opposed to Pojiifridal patronage in regard \o civil -service appointments. RAILWAYS. He believed that there should be a reduction in railway freights for losg distances,, and that the back-.tyqckerii should be gjiven .nvpr-e.■(^^ajgt& l ft would be an advantage ; to the country \&'&m?i graduated subsidy.in connection

with local bodies. He believed in grants for the backblocks being spent among the new settlers, who could not expect any profit from their holdings for the first year or two.

In concluding Mr Coates said he had touched on some of the matters which he believed in. He wished to remind them he was not a practised speaker, but if he had a little more practice, and if they gave him three years in Parliament, he hoped to come back a polished and practised speaker. [A voice : You'll get there all right.—Laughter]. He intended to go to the poll, never mind what happened, and he hoped to be there at the finish. He thanked them for their patient hearing, and took his seat amidst applause. QUESTIONS. Do you think it necessary that we should earn the interest before we can have a better railway service than that which we now have between Auckland and Helensville.—Mr Coates: In the South Island it was £16 per mile, in the North Island £34 per mile. In regard to the Railway service he considered it inadequate. The system wants altering altogether. Could the candidate-suggest any way in which party government could be avoided?—ln regard to Party Government he was not enamoured with the party system. Can the candidate point out where any further extension of the franchise is likely ? —He was not in favour •of any furthter extension in any local bodies franchise. Ladies should be allowed to offer themselves for Parliamentary honours however [laughter]. In answer to a question about proportionate representation, .Mr Coates stated he was not very clear on the subject. Would you be in favour of denying a vote to any young fellow who was excused from compulsory training on account of conscientious objections ?—No We offer liberty to everyone who comes to this country. Would the candidate propose to interfere in any way with the present Government National Endowment. Scheme ?— 1 would not be in favour of reducing the endowment by 1 acre. What attitude would he take towards Friendly Societies ?—He was a member of a friendly society himself, and would assist them in every way possible to maintain their rights. Re Prohibition.—He was not brought up to favour prohibition, but supported' local option by a 3-sth majority Mr Coates "stated he would vote on a no-confidence motion to turn any party out^ but would keep his independence He had sympathy with the workers He was in favour of allowing the leasehold to be made freehold plus 1%. A number of minor questions were also answered. After several remarks Mr Nicholla proposed "That a vote of thanks be accorded Mr. Coates for his address." Seconded by Mr Rae. (1 Mr Laßoche moved as an amendment -that a vote of thanks and confidence be given to Mr Coates as being a fit and proper person to represent this electorate. Seconded by Mr J. Newman. Ihe amendment was declared carried on the show of hands. Mr Coates thanked them for the vote and proposed a vote of thanks to the cnairman which was carried by acclamation. Ihe meeting then termination.