Political Meeting in Marton.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 29 December 1891, Page 2

Political Meeting in Marton.

There was a large attendance of settlers from the Kangitikei and surrounding districts at the Drill Hall on Wednesday afternoon, to consider the advisability of forming an association which would endeavour to protect the interests of the country settlers in New Zealand politics. Mr 3. W. Marshall was voted to the chair, and stated that the meeting had been summoned because there was a deep and growing conviction throughout the country districts that the policy of the present government was in many points unfavourable to the landowners, and that block votes in towns from what were known as labour unions, had resulted in the return of a certain section of politicians who were quick to perceive to whom they owed their election, and in return favoured those in towns to the detriment of the country settlers. The time had now come when they should unite and have definite political principles. They had been invited to attend there that afternoon to discuss these, and for the forming of an association whose endeavour would be to return candidates who would pro- [ tect the interests of the farming class. Mr Macarthur, M.H.R., was the next to address the meeting. The platform that had- been sketched out to protecD the interests of settlers, had been sketched out on a veiy broad basis. They must, if they wished to unite in action, agree 'on several main questions. The platform planks were as follows : — 1. To promote economy and honesty of administration. 2. To support an equitable system of taxation. The present taxation system, Mr Macarthur said, had been cunningly devised, and if the taxation scheme as originally intended had been made law it would have ended in their going out of office. Mr Ballance's aim was to arrive at a single tax, which was to be put upon the producers and those who had made the country what it is. 3. Freehold tenure against the nationalization of land. The Government had expressed themselves freely on this matter, if only to prevent land being sold. Mr Ballance's aim was the nationalisation of the land. They, the country settlers, would oppose that. What but the hope of some future Government granting the freehold tenure had induced so many to join Small Farm Associations, taking up the land under the perpetual lease system, and the Small Farm Associations knew that they would be able to compel the Government to give them freehold tenure.—-Ap-plause. 4. To oppose the renewing of an extravagant public works borrowing policy. # The word • extravagent ' had been used to make a distinction between expenditure on making roads to open up Crown lands and on the construction of railways to please political supporters and to catch votes in the House. 5. The dual vote. Mr Macarthur expressed his opinion that this was the most important plank of the platform. Every man that paid rates should have two votes - one as residential and one for being a ratepayer, because a man who has no stake in the country, such as " sundowners " and swaggers, should not have as much political power as those who will spend the rest of their days, with generations to follow them, in the country, and they will be the ones who will have to face any difficulties which may arise. " One man one vote " was the system in vogue in New Zealand, and what they had to aim at through the agency of organisation they intended to form was to obtain for those who held property additional political power, because they by thrift and acquirement of property are persons more fit to have the franchise than those who have shown no such qualifications. The other side was arming, and had already appointed a secretary at a salary of £250 per annum to travel the districts in the interests, of a National Liberal Association. It was in the power of the country settlers — by overcoming the difficulties which led to concerted action, the principal of which was being scattered apart — to promote the welfare of their children and of the country. In conclusion, Mr Macarthur expressed his pleasure at such a large attendance and his belief that there were no planks of the platform upon which they could' not all agree. To the above-mentioned points of the resolution was added that " That the executive committee of this association have power to affiliate with any similar associations throughout the colony." Mr Macarthur then moved as a resolution : — That a political Association (with the already mentioned platform) to be called The Rangitikei Political Association be formed. Mr Alex Milne seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr John Bryce spoke to the resolution. It was undeniable that union gave strength, and it behoved the country settlers, by union, to gain as much strength from that source as their

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opponents. Most people in small towns, and also many in the large t centres, would join the association, because all sensible men in towns fecogcise that their prosperity, and also that of the whole colony, de : pends upon the producers, who are the country settlers. Mr Bryce here took the frozen meat trade as an illustration, and stated that all would admit if it had not been started the colony would not have been so prosperous, and yet if the prnsent uncertainty and anxiety as to the future had existed when the trade was started, capitalists would not have had courage to proceed with it. Who was it who first started the trade — of course scientific men invented it—but it was the people who are held up by the Ministry as " social pests," it was that class which Mr Ballance calls parasites and his natural enemies, who did so. These, then, were the men the trade unions are showing hostility to. There is no ill-will existing between country settlers and labourers. . . . . . What was required was a well-sustained effort, and they would know who to elect to Parliament, and they would take precious good care that there was no cutting the throats of each other as there was at last election. Affiliation to other similar associations throughout the colony would be most important and conducive towards success. Some one had said - " It is better to deserve success than to succeed," and they could at anyrate do that. He believed that the settlers and land holders in the colony had sufficient power to govern the country, which was theirs by right. A strong committee Avas formed. — Mo airy*