Mr J. G. Wilson at Foxton.

Manawatu Herald, 21 November 1893, Page 2

Mr J. G. Wilson at Foxton.

Last night Mr J. G. Wilson addressed the largest and most orderly meeting that he has ever faced in this town. The meeting was graced by some thirty or forty ladies. The speaker was frequently applauded, and he held his hearers attention from first to last though he spoke for close -on ctwo hours. Hitf : -'Worship- the Mayor took the chair. He said that it afforded him much, pleasure in taking the chair that evening for Mr Wilson. It was unnecessary for him to introduce Mr Wilson as he was so well known. Mr Wilson, on rising, was received with applause. , He said he was., exceedingly -pleased to see so • xnany ladies present, it showed they were taking an interest in politics. He need not say that he had always been I in favour of women's franchise and | had always supported it. He believed jO the...mfasu}'e.- J ,wfts > Jih^ .most liberal one that had ever been passed, but it must be remembered that Our Sovereign whose reign had been so glorious was also a woman. Me appeared in a dual capacity, as an old member and as a candidate. He alluded 4 td the 1 " Wribus policies of the Government. The Land

policy of the Hon. Mr McKenzie was one of honest endeavor to settle people on the land, and if all Ministers had been like Mr McKenxie he might have been found supporting the Government. The question of settlement of land should not be a JParty question He, however, thought differently to Mr McKenzie on some points of "his land policy and that was that the freehold tenure should be retained. He had always advocated the continuance of the freehold system. He could not agree, however, with Mr McKenzie's last Settlement Bill, it was the most drastic measure he had seen introduced into the House since he had been a member of it. It was not necessary in this island to buy private land there being enough public land, but in the South Island it was not so easy to get public land and therefore the Bill might be reasonable so far as to acquire private land in that part of the colony, at any rate in the proximity of towns Under ordinary conditions it was but right that we should settle the land that., way* but not by Government agency, 'which might/ be open to jobbery, but if; should be done I through the aid of local bodies. These would know the values of the lands and would have no private object to serve in purchasing them. This last Bill of . the Minister's was going further, it was asking a right to- take land compulsory. He was surprised to sec that Sir Robert Stout, who was accustomed to go far in a Liberal direction, had agreed with his views, and he quoted Sir Robert Stont's vemarks. [This. Bill gave the power to the Government to enter upon any man's farm and take possession of it without any regard to the size of the holding. He did not think that Mr McKenzie would have used this power unfairly but was it right to let &.ny man have this power ? With these exceptions he was in favour of Mr McKenzie's land policy. RAILWAY MANAOKMENT.

Ho turned then to the Government proposals as to railways and quoted statistics of percentages which showed that not only have our railways been more economically managed by the Commissioners by getting a larger profit, but the colonists received great reductions in freights and fares. In theory it might be wrong to hand oiu- railways over to three Commissioners, but in practice it was seen that the public had been better served by the Commissioners than by the Government. It might be urged that this handing over a large property to three Commissioners was a new departure but our Public Trust office is managed by a person qnite outside of the control of the Government, so also was the Govern ment Life Insurance Department™ Every one must admit that the men employed on the railway were civil and trustworthy servants and- we have to consider whether they have been properly treated by the Commissioners. Some of the servants favoured the Commissioners some did not. If it was a benefit to the { public to retain the Commissioners if was ten times more important to the railway servants. It was well known that some Ministers were got at by private interest and it was possible for a railway servant to suffer so as to make room for a friend of such Minister, but in the case of the Commissioners they had no object to gain by favouritism. There had been friction between the Government and the railway Com missioners and it certainly must be reduced. He had advocated the establishment of a railway Committee to be set up every Session in the House and the Labour Members had viewed the -proposal; ;^dth : .favour. The members of the Committee would learn more about the working of the lines on that Committee than they could learn in any other way and would thus enable them to speak authoritatively on. all the subjects of contention. The Commissioners could appear and answer questions and. explain their proposals and the railway servants Would hate an opportunity to bring their grievances before the Committee. Thus the Commissioners and the servants, would be heard and differences thus properly ventilated; A great number ot the difficulties between the Commissioners and the Ministers arose from simple misunderstandings and he believed the railway Committee would help to smooth such difficulties: over.

LABOUR BILLS. The Conciliation and Arbitration Bill had had his support. He always had desired to do away with strikes. "We know the trouble and sorrow occassioned by strikes and we ought to do our best to avoid them. He believed such a Bill would be of service. We expect from our Supreme Courts, justice, and we put our best men there, therefore why should we not' have a high paid official to adjmini9ter th& Bill, but we^ulFtb^jßfe^l^^aithe man 'WHo* administers the jBilT" must have full power. He believed the very fact of such a Bill being passed would do much to stop any need to resort to its-use, tv" WCENSmtP QTJESiTOJf. Sir Bobert Stout it will be remembered entered the Hou3e last session, and during his whole career

had been an advocate uf temperance. He introduced an amendment of the Licensing Act granting local option and the Premier had said that if the House passed the second reading of Sir Robert Stout's Bill he would understand the House desired him to bring in a Bill, which he thought, he could so as to please both sides. He (the speaker); could not support the Bill introduced by the Premier. He looked upon the Bill as a country representative. He found the size of Licensing districts were made equal to the electoral districts. Taking this electorate as an example, it would be a district of 120 miles in length and publicans in Sandon would have to go to Otaki as well as those from the Upper Hutt to obtain their licenses; this making the application for a license very expensive ; then the local bodies had to take the poll which would also entail a heavy burden upon them. Another proposal was the half of the electors would have to vote or a poll would be void. This was an important question and must be considered ■fairly if ronr both points ot view. It is an unreasonable thing to say one half of the people must vote, but at the same time we must be careful not to give a bare majority the power they ask. It woud not be even to the advantage of the party who seeks this power, as they might by a catch vote obtain a victory, which would be against the real wishes of the majority and thus raise a strong opposition to any future legislation. His view was that if we ! ore fo have local option we ought to J doal with the questjoft^y a three-fifths j majority and notlby a bare majority. riNAKCE. The financial aspect of our colony is of importance to all. The Government had declared they were a non borrowing and self-reliant body. To show differently he would review the Treasurer's last statement. He there stated that his government had no intention to resort to borrowing. He 'the speaker) thought that bor-. rowing if necessary for a useful work was a wise proceeding, as for instance to buy Native lands, &c. For certain objects and spent in certain directions he was not against borrowing. If it was true the Government was not borrowing it should be found thafc the debt was not increasing. The debt was increased by £800,000. The interest paid on loans for 1892-98 was £1,821,000, and for 1893 94 the estimate is £1,901,000, or £80,000 more. An estimate of revenue is doubtful* ?but an estimate of interest due is easily calculated. Mr Ward showed that we had to pay £80.000 a, year more, why should we have to if we have decreased interest and not borrowed? The Conversion schemes. was very interesting. Sir William Fitzherberfc went Home and squared accounts with the English Government which resulted in our having to pay £500,000, which, having no money, we paid in debentures at 4 per cent. A Sinking Fund was set aside to pay off the loan, and the interest on the Sinking Fund was so well invested that it paid all the interest on this loan. It appeared to be unwise therefore to interfere with this loan. The Government wanted money and asked the AgentGeneral to convert this loan, and he had strongly advised their not doing so. They insisted, so we had to float £610,0000 of debentures to repay the English Government the £500, 000 borrowed ;• . Previously r we< .had to pay no interest, but i now we ! j bafl to pay interest on £640,000 at 3^ per cent, and yet the Government say they have not borrowed ! and have increased the interest we have to pay! Proposals had been made to" raise a loan in the-O(pl|p|^^ndj he would ask j^h»%j^»o^^^^o-io borrow in the colbiyj^i^i^Biici) to going to liondori ? •';. He t^Hpght differently from ttie Gover^eht and believed it; was unwise nolstp^ go to the London market. B>ir'JuJius Yogel, an authoritjotr^ia robject, had written ve^Btr<ri^p||l^St,^uch proposals. ■■-." - : ;-- ;^&S^^§W' ■ .:.;•■- .; . ; ?AXKSi^:^^:^r : ' The great point last ejaptiop waa the Property Tax v. the L#!*a and Income Tax. He was returned as a supporter of the Propdrfcjr Ts& Land and Income Tax Bill ajbojished the Property Tax by a large majority, and he therefore thought it'wonld be unwise to go back to th^pl| system. It was not the amouM~6f;t'ax that made the mischief, but tfie feeling of distrust which a change in .the incidence of taxation^ oreated.^and ,h<3 therefore-" did Jtioti : desire' 1 to. see any" further alterations. There were certain anomalies in the Land Tax Act which needed alteration. It took off all improvem^ntsrb^ @e§ were" two classes orimprbvements. A man builds a house in town, and when his outlay is finished all advantage to the community is lost. ;. Now observe the difference in improver ments in land. The , settler _ falls bush, thug benefittjng the people r wfco do the work ifor him, and then when TgVft^sed^^bafr^mp^venTßiit Arings in -%b#&- amount continually circulates which makes a deal of difference t& the colony. But^ by the Act both men arfe relieved 'ofl further by a stroke of the £ Ip onitnlirection it is a wise provements in the country, but he doubted if it was a wise thing to relieve improvements in towns.

uttf position. v ; i He was not standing in the- interest of the^overnment-. .He pointed out that an. Opposition, Was just as necessary as a Government party and if they thought he had made them a good member previously he trusted they will fidll^retnrn him , He hoped they weW goiifi|;to, return i him aa ; then* member. . .'J lie 'signs of j the tfittes slf6*W(Kl the 'Government ! waa.going.to be.beaten, it. may... not-] b^:^p«real&?iafc the electidn^Wi it j would be? geeiwhen the House nafct. i He-would say he die not want to go \ to the" House without his position being clearly understood. Supposing \ the Government was beaten, and he i was against the Government, but; he j could not tell what would then ; happen. Sir Robert Stout may not i be returned. He expected there would fee three parties in the HouseTherefore, all he could say was that there appeared to be another party rising, but he did not know what they would be called, and if he was sent to the House he could not say what party he would join. Ho hadserved them 18 years and he trusted they would leave the question to be. settled by-' him when the time arrived. f.OCAIi JXDTJSTRTKS. Recognising, as every ons knows, that Foxton is largely dependent on the flax industry and that their member should take an interest in it he had in the House made some remarks about it, but unfortunately it was at a very late hour. His remarks were well received which showed that much interest was being taken in the industry by other members. The following day to his speech a member moved that his name be added to the Industries Committee. He felt tbat enough had not been done by the Government and had year after year brought up the question of a bonus before the Government but year after year the Government had ignored it. At last he was glad to inform them we have got the promise of the £2000 bonus, chiefly, he thought owing to his being upon the committee and thus being able to explain the position. He believed very shortly the conditions would be advertised. I'I'TURK. He reminded the meeting that there were advantages and disadvantages in Party Govern ment. An Opposition kept the Government up to the mark. He believed that Ministers would rather retain office more from not wishing to be beaten than for any other object, . the. , Opposition^ - also desired to^ia fqi; the stahe reason. Honestly ife was jpleasanter to ; be in | Opposition^fdr as k Party man you ; have to vote at; party calls. He! believed ladies were going to have a . far greater effect on- politics and he i was now" not near so strong a party : manager fcf«4" beeW , There Ja x&eyl littleSljtte of demarcation between j the tifflp&rties. and there seems- to : be »vtfty little need for party i Government, Sir Robert Stout had \ pointed this out very clearly, and i advocated that the best men of the j House should form a Government. | He did not believe it would, however, i answer the purpose. Supposing thi9 prinoiple was adopted and the Government went hack, a caucus would be called, and it would only be a majority of the majority of the House which elected a Government and therefore the proposal would have no effect. If this could be got over how are are yon going to get a po icy ? Supposing you had Sir George Grey, Sir Robert Stout, Mr Seddon, and Captain Bussell elected, how coald they form a policy ? He thought the electors would have to find a policy for them and instanced the Swiss' method by referendum. Lately the Swiss had improved their > methods so that they can petition the House to consider a question, whioh the House must discuss and report upon. 'He would say Party Government had not succeeded in New Zealand, but he would have a difficulty in proposing anything in its place. It was a very difficult matter to leave a party. The question of the Upper House was a very important matter. Ihe Government had obtained, an opinion from Downing Street that it was tho duty of the Governor to appoint" any number of persons' to the Legislative Counoil the Government might desire. It. might happen continual and large' addjtions could be made and thus nearly everybody might become Councillors. The, Premier had developed a_ new ideVttmWwas objectionable, and (hi* was to travel about and brand his candidates. These*eandidates it might be certain have not been branded without promises having been a&jured, and thus they could not be free representatives of the electors, and he , did not desire to become anyone's candidate noopt thji electors. He thanked them for the great attention accorded to him. (Applause). Mr Dudson proposed a vote of thanks v and confidence be accorded to Mr Wilson, Mrs Wright Stewart seconded. As an amendment, Mr Spring proposed, and Mr Hurley, seconded, a vote of thanks. The amendment was lost. The original resolution was therefore earned. ... Mr Wilson proposed the usual vote of thanks i to th« chair.