HON. F. M. B. FISHER

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 April 1914, Page 6

HON. F. M. B. FISHER

VISIT TO HELENSVILLE

THE Hon. F. M. B. Fisher (Minister for Marine), ■ paid an official visit to Helensville last Tuesday. In the early part of the day he was busily occupied by receiving deputations, and in the afternoon he was taken to the Hot Springs Domain, and further deputationised on matters of concern to the district. In the evening he was entertained at dinner by residents of the town and district at the Kaipara Hotel, and at a later hour gave a political address to a large audience at the Star Theatre. POLITICAL ADDRESS The interest taken in politics locally and in the visit of the Minister for Marine was evidenced'by the large audience in attendance at the Star Theatre. The Town Board Chairman (Mr Jas. McLeod), who presided, welcomed the Minister to the district on behalf of the electors, and also asked for the fair hearing for him customary with a Helensville audience. Mr J. Gordon Coates, M.P., also welcomed the Minister to Kaipara and made eulogistic references to his administrative capacity. The Hon. Minister, who was warmly applauded on rising, proceeded to outline the. reason for his Party's campaigning in that they were on the track of the Flying Quartette," the four Opposition members who had been touring round strewing their pathway with half truths ; and he proposed to give the people the other half. He dealt with the Liberal regime of a few years ago when that Party had a majority of 48 members in the House, and asserted that the Party had been rent asunder by the jealousees of its own members and the bad leadership of Sir Joseph Ward, which produced discord in their ranks. The present Opposition leader had also tried to legislate to suit everybody, of which the speaker gave some instances, and this constant succession of blunders brought about the defeat of many men who had been supporters of the Party ; and the crisis of 1912 was brought about entirely by bad leadership. He then showed that the feeling of the country was still against that Party at the by-elections, by their losing further ground. Mr Fisher contrasted very unfavourably the Opposition leader's attitude on the strike question with that taken up by the Opposition leader in South Africa, and contended that the ready manner in which the last New Zealand loan was subscribed in London was solely on account of the effective way in which the Government had dealt with the strike.

Continuing, Mr Fisher ridiculed Opposition statements in regard to the Govt. having stolen their policy, as other Opposition members stated the Govt. had no policy, whilst still others said the. Opposition had a policy but it was up their sleeve. He instanced the disappointment of their opponents because of the practical and progressive legislation his Party supported instead of going on lines the Opposition predicted. The speaker showed that the Reform Party had improved the Old Age Pensions Act very considerably ; also pointed to their adoption of the Military Pensions Act by which 1.300 old soldiers now benefitted, and regarded it as a crying shame that their opponents had not recognised the services of these men in their long term of 21 years of office. In regard to Sir Joseph Ward's criticism of their borrowing 12 millions in two years, Mr Russell said the Govt. should have borrowed two millions more, but he would point out that of this sum £4,500,000 was to repay the Myers loan; the balance had gone in advances to settlers and workers, loans to local bodies, etc. He refuted the statement that the Govt. was not settling the land, showing that in their 18 months of office Mr Massey had put 3.193 people on the Crown lands. In reference to Native lands he argued that the native should use the land or let someone else. On the question of homes for workers, Mr Fisher showed that the Govt. had built 118 sinoe they took offiice, being more than half as many as the Liberal party had erected, £10, during their long term of power. He dealt with the fishing industry and the securing of Professor Prince, a highly qualified expert, to inspect and report on our fisheries, and instanced the necessity for placing this industry in a better position. The speaker outlined a scheme for helping fisherman to buy their boats, nets, etc, also would endeavour to establish an insurance scheme for those engaged in this industry. In re,ga,r-d' to Opposition statements that the Government intended to sell the national endowment, this had never been proposed except by one of their

own members ; and this was far from the Government's intention.

Mr Fisher then instanced the establishing: of a Board of Agriculture to encourage the farming industry, and outlined proposals for further advancing agricultural interests by providing agricultural colleges which would enable scientific farming instruction to be given all boys who had brains enough to win scholarships whether rich or poor, whereas the present Lincoln College was accessible only to those who had plenty of money to spare. The statement that the Govment was against State enterprise Mr Fisher showed to be wrong. He pointed to a profit of £29,000 on the State Fire Insurance Department in their 18 months of office, against £13,000 profit during the last two years of the Liberal term. The accumulated funds had also increased from 48 to 65 thousand pounds. Other departments also were showing marked progress, among which he mentioned the Advances to Settlers, in which the maximum advance had been increased from £750 to £1250.

Mr Fisher advocated a more vigorous policy of technical education; and he pointed to provision made by him for the Union Steamship Company -to take boys from the Amok lira to train for the mercantile service.

The Government recognised the good work being done by Friendly Societies in providing pensions for their members, and it was proposed to subsidise these societies. Other matters of general interest were touched on by the speaker to show that the trend of their legislation was for the welfare of the people. He strongly denounced the " Red Feds." and their lawless attitude, and highly complimented the specials. The alteration of the United States tariff he indicated to be of great importance to this country, and showed that the opening up of markets in America for our produce would mean great prosperity for New Zealand.

Loud and continuous applause greeted Mr Fisher at the close of his address. He gave his political opponents the benefit of a biting sarcasm throughout, kept his audience closely interested, dealt with his subject matter and a few interjectors good humouredly and effectively, many rounds of applause during his remarks, and on the whole was very successful without in any way committing his Party. On the motion of Mr E. S. Masters, seconded by Mr E. T. Field, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Fisher for his able address and of confidence in the Government, was carried,' with one dissentient.