Political.

Manawatu Herald, 25 April 1896, Page 2

Political.

Mr J. G. Wilson, M.H.R., met his constituents at the Public Hall last night. There Was a very large attendance, many ladies being among the audience.

His Worship the Mayor took the chair punctually at 8 o clock and in introducing Mr Wilson drew hii attention to what he considered were two vital questions to Foxton, that of subdividing the Motoa Estate and the construction of the Levin-Great* ford railway. Mr Wilson was received with applause and regretted that the slib* division of the Motoa Estate Was not as yet an accomplished fact, but this matter as well as the Levin-Great-ford railway did not rest with him* did it; it would not be long before ife was satisfactorily settled. The last time Mr McKerrow reported on the Motoa Bstate to the Government he had not visited the adjacent small properties to notice what was being done thereon, but he had promised him (Mr Wilson) to have a thorough inspection when he next had time to make a visit, and the Mayor, Mr Nye, had also promised to accompany him. Mr McKerrow had been away to the Marlborough district and had promised to visit Foxton on his return. The Levin -Greatford railway wholly depended on Mr McKerrow 'a report and this was what we could not find out though the County and Borough Councils had written for the information. He would enquire when next in Wellington. Speaking as to the policy of the future it must be remembered it was greatly guided by the past, and to improve it from lessons learnt, admitting errors which had been made. One of the ablest statesmen of the day, Lord Salisbury had through his Under-Secretary in the House admitted the mistake of excluding Russia from Turkey and was prepared to let Armenia be managed by that country rather than the Ar» menians should be massacred. It takes a strong man to admit his errors and there wbs nothing Beddonian in the process. It would be remembered that when Mr Ballance introduced his non»borrowing policy his supporters were jubilant. He also proposed to change the incident of taxation. Then his Minister for Public Work 3 introduced the scheme of co-operative work 3 and wanted all the world to come and participate in it. Reviewing these works by the light of experience he doubted its advantage when applied to towns at any rate. He heard that the Otaki Courthouse which cost some £400 had cost £60 for overseeing ! Ha though!; that the labour law* had not been a success as it did not ap» pear as though they had done much for the workers or anyone else. He looked upon the land administration of the Government as being much more satistactory, and the Minister of Lands was one who bad done good service and were all Ministers like him he would not be opposed to them. He had always felt that it was to everyone's interest that people should occupy our waste lands and every man who goes on to the land is a gain to the colony, if not to the man. The Lands for Settlement Act has not been the oomplete success expected, but now that Mr McKerrow had been placed at the head, mistakes previously arising out of inexperienoe were not likely to be made. The Minister has really very little to do with the., properties, the Board determining matters. The late Mr Ballance's policy raised great expectations, and the question arises, j have they been fulfilled ? After five ; years have we become any better off? Ministers must travel but it is very much to the detriment of the public service. We have two instances in Ministers, Mr Seddon, big, burly and full of work, restless and meddlesome to a degree, who willingly takes up any work fend travelling constantly, leaves the departments under his care improperly administered ; on the other hand there is Mr Cadman, who, unfortunately is in indifferent health, sticks to his office and sees that the work ia properly carried out. He held this was of much more consequence than running about the country. (The remainder of the report is unavoidably held over to next issue.)

The following questions were asked and answered : —

Mr Stansell : I want to know Mr Wilson's opinion whether the Government should not appoint public auditors for banks and pnblio companies? Frequently we have read cbe balance-sheets of companies showing their flourishing position, and when put to actual test they were insolvent. Look at the case of Leonard Harper, was there not^ a miscarriage of justice when the principal got off whilst his managing clerk got imprisoned ? Mr Wilson : I think the miscarriage of justice referred to by Mr Stansell was a great scandal. # I cannot, however, see how auditing accounts of bank 3 would have been of service in Harper's case as the firm was not a public company. My views run pretty much in the same direction as Mr Stansell's and I brought forward an amendment to a Bill in the House last session making it impossible for a bank to recover by law any money lent by it to any director. It was not possible to get this proposal carried, and I gave way

- ■• . -, l l . . . r-- ■* > — to ft clause proposed by Mr Duthie in the Bill making it illegal for any director of the Bank of New Zealand to obtain any overdraft from the bank. However, the first principles of banking were to inspire confidence and 1 think it is most clear that directors should not use the bank's money for their private benefit. There must be confidence between a customer and his banker. Therefore I think my suggestion was * better than what Mr Stansell proposed, and I thus could not promise to go the whole way he desires. ' Mr Barnett : I wish to ask what provision the Government make for the deaf, dumb, or blind children of poor parent 3 ? Mr Wilson ! Mr Reevea had explained in Parliament to a similar question that children could go the deaf and dumb institution at Sumner, and the blind to Auckland. I believe also that they are supported free if their parents are too poor. I am of the opinion that the State should not always maintain these children but should certainly do so until they had been taught to earn their own living: Mr Weatwood : Is the Government likely to give a bonus on flax. It would be an excellent thing and help to support a large number of people ? Mr Wilson : I am afraid that there is not the slightest chance of the Government doing such a thing. They had offered a bonus for the improvement of machinery to reduce the cost of manufacture but the amount wag much too small. No doubt it would pay the country well to offer £10,000 to get such machinery and, just before the late Sir Harry Atkinson left office he had stated his willingness to offer such sum. I am, however, more in favour of assistance for machinery than for a bonus on fibre produced as the market for fibre was so unreliable. I am assured that had a large bonus as 1 had suggested a few years ago been given the flax -industry would now have been on an established footing. Mr Stansell : Would you be in favour of a tax on bachelors, and of giving a bonus of say 100 acres of land to parents of large families ? Mr Wilson : I cannot say I am in favour of a tax on bachelors — (Mr Staneell : Why net ?) Because it was not always the bachelor's fault he was one. As to granting land the question arose as to the • number ' of a large family, and 100 acres of land would not ba a profitable spot on which to place them. Mrs Timmins : Will Mr Wilson tell us how many clauses there are in the Government Licensing Act ? Mr Wilson : I cannot from memory say how many. Mrs Timmins : Perhaps Mr Wilson can tell us how many he voted for ? Mr Wilson : I believe I voted on all divisions on the clauses except two. Mr Jonson : Is there any show of getting a piece of land set apart for a seaside resort on the beach at the mouth of the rivejr ? Mr Wilson : I cannot say but I will make further enquiries when I go to Wellington next week, and will let Mr Jon3on know. Mr Stewart : What are your views on teaching religion in public Bchools? Mr Wilson : I would never be a party, to teaching religion in the public schools. There is another matter which will crop up and that is reading the Irish Text Book in schools, bat before I can say anything on that I should have to read that book very carefully, which I have not done, but I shall make it my duty to do bo. Mr Spring ; Will you tell me how many votes the 2 Government candidates polled to what the Opposition man did at the Christchurch election? Mr Wilson : Mr Spring is evidently under a mistake as there were 2 Opposition candidates standing at that election and only one Govern* menfc one.. Mr T. M. Taylor had declared he was a Liberal, but not a Government supporter, and he would not -Support either Mr Seddon or the present Government. Mr Stansell then rose and moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Wilson for his kind and able address. He was suffering from a bad hand which made his task an unpleasant one. Though he did not agree with Mr Wilson's political views he respected him as a man and a settler. Mr Howan seconded the motion. Mr Gibson moved as an amendment, That a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Wilson and also qne of confidence in him as our member for the future. Mr T. P. Williams seconded it. Mr Spring rose to move a further amendment, but the Mayor ruled it out of order. On the amendment being put by the Mayor it was carried almost unanimously and amidst loud applause. A vote of thanks to the chair, proposed by Mr Wilson, brought a capital meeting to a close.