Mr Stevens at Foxton.

Manawatu Herald, 25 November 1899, Page 2

Mr Stevens at Foxton.

Last night Mr John Stevens* a candidate for the representation of Manawatu in parliament, addresser! the electors in the Public Hall. The attendance was better than the night, whLa was wet and blowings promised, and that it was entirely in accord w ; ih the speaker* was testified iiO L>y uiKlUcujia Ul aupiaUHP. Mr S. eve. i-< upuktf welt auu developed great, fluency and warmth when exposing the unfounded charges of scandals and corruption that had been made against the Premier and Ministers in ihe last parliament. The Mayor took the chair, and °poke eloquently of Mr Stevens as one of the best members that the district had had for many years. (Applause.) m Mr Stevens, on rising, was Warmly welcomed. tie said hi would show reasons why he claimed their support ' for re-election. The residents of Foxton bad always paid him all the compliment they could, and if they were proud of him as their representative he was more proud of having been their member.

In referring to the late legislation he said it had beeu in favour of those who required it. The Aids to Public Works and Land Settlement Act wag needed to push on the opening up of the country, and it was necessary that certain works should be made to payable points. The North Island railway was an important one, it was not a local bub a national q-iea- • ion. The lino was needed for .nails and would be useful for defence. Mtiny objected to borrowing md said the government had got in on their non-borrowing policy. This was so as long as the revenue Was ->raall, but the ootony had prospered and now the Government was in* tending to carry out certain works. The advantage of the " L«nd Settlement Bill " was also noted, as it was l-opsaary for the Government to . qiire palates for sub-di vision. The mrchase of these lands really cost be colony nothing, as the pur* hasttrs immediately on settling paid ill costs. The " Employment of boys and girls without payment Vet " bad been found necessary, aa many young people were employed without their being taught anything m lieu of pay. The " Government Advances to Settlers Act Amendwent Act " increased the usefulness of the original Act, as it enables the Government to reduce the rent from 5 per cent to 4} pnr cent. It gives he borrowers of cheap money some .iron for their labour. Tne diys of 8. 9, and 10 per c^nt had pissed v.jv, or will have passed away if •*?.r p-' s nt G v rnmn*. v. raiin? in )owpr The 4> L-ind-* for S tl^menl; \ct Amendm*nt Act" gave the Government power to purchase land »Har ihe cities and subdivide into « !o-m nts. This is another step in hf. right direciion, and people who i-->ire tha prosperity of the country vill agrfte with it. The •* Pacific

Itble Act" made it possible to i-cui'H a cable across the Pacific and

bu Q secure better and cheaper cable vnumunication. The " Payment of Jurors Bill " removed th^.wrong of unn not bt'iner paid for their Bervicea. PhR workman should not be taken from hjs work and not be paid for nis time. The Bill was very desirible, as it brought into line all who served Her Majesty, whether aa a soldier or a juror. The "Police Provident Fund " enabled the police •o contribute towards a fund, and hp members of the force secured a opnsion on lpaving it. The fl Pro-« action of Wages Act " secured the workmen from the deduction of wage* for p>emium?, end thus brings ■■ into line with the Truck Act. Hf intimated rha*; hp did not inrnnd to make any psr^onai references < his Hdvernary, and all b" would would b<? in reply to aasertiona he had madp. Th^ Opposition described h -Rt. Hon. Mr S'ddon, Premier of he colony, in the moat opprobrious tni-ms. Had it not been said that he was saturated with corruption ? Evpryfhing had been done to • aduce tbp Govern men t. Mr George l ii 'chiton had had a letter trans« afpd into Chinese, and circulated as •figinal, and if it bud been true it would h*ve cond mn^d Mr Saddom

nd hi* family for their lives A Government pirlian^ntary commifc- ..'« enquired into the matter, anil found no foundation for the charges, m3 Mr Hutchison did not dare to face the enquiry Another charge was rhp Bu-hy Park qu>«tion. Ifc wi-> rais< d against the Hon John McKpnzie. It wis asserted that the Bashy Park e»tnte had been sold to his two sons by collusion with the

Assets Board. The sons dealt direcfc with the Board, and the Hon. John MiX 'nzi« had no more to do with ifc :xci-pting in advhing his sons to have nothing to do with it. The ea fcate had^he^n op^n for pu-cha^e bnfc no 0112 had cfLred so much a3 they j;d, and so r.hey got it. It wh* said the people wpre anxious to get ihs land cut tip but the Government, had nothing to do with the land, and Mr Fraser, a member of parliament, and \ strong opponent of the Government; siid the transaction was perfectly fair md above hoard. It wag paid the i'remer and Mr H«i!-J<mpf> ouuht to hiVf 1 been turn d om of th» Ministrfflji tv-ca I*1 '*-- Capain Jones obtained a c^tificn. 1 . The position wra that when tb° Premier wus leaving tba colony Captain Fairchild said "don'l; "}!

yoii forget to telegraph that Captain Jones should be examined as I consider him a fit mm." The Pi-prnier wired, and Mr Hall-Jones noted an Envelope. A Captain Von Schoer, Who "is proved an unmitigated scoundrel (Voice — " You are ri?b' there,") was mixod up in it, and thp Royal Commissioners (Jn/'.se "Ward and Dr Gil^s), stud thpy wore surprised ho much had b^-n raMi* o.u of ih" ens'. T'^ O-^os'^n-.-.j'^'i t.li report being disclosed, turned round and abused the judges. This was the position we were placed in. having to explain away these absurd charges and td stand up for right and justice (cheers.) As to the expenditure on the Police Commission of /"6,000, he thought the Premier had been wrong in agreeing to the demands of Mr Taylor or Mr Pirani in setting up the Commission. Not one of these scandals had been proved. The Government being on its trial and himself on his trial, he hoped they would believe Satan was not so black as he was painted or so black as his adversary had lately painted them in his address. If the Opposition had told the people that what had been done was wrong, and had told them what they thought better and would endeavour to carry out would have been better and the right course to pursue. If the Opposition came into power would they repeal the various Acts passed ir the last eight or nine years ? He said they dare not do that. What do they want.? To get into nffic* to administer the Acts which they di not agree with. Those who passed the laws are those who can best administer them. Give them the position, and allow the Opposition to remain where they are. The Opposition are doing more good where they are than if they were on the Ministerial benches.

The settlement of Crown Lands for the year ending 31st March, 1899, was that 1,357,466 acres were disposed of by cash sales, lease in perpetuity, occupation with right of purchase, and various other systems to 2,542 settlers. Under the Lands for Settlement Act from the commencement of the Act up to 30th September last the Government have acquired 250,151 acres, and disposed of it to 1,472 settlers. The annual rental now being received is £62,---128, the number of houses built upon the various holdings is 840, and the number of persons actually resident on the land is 4,160. The value of the improvements is £134,331, and the total amount of money received as rent is £111,751, and the total amount paid away as capital value of the land is £1.339,466. This shows the Government had not been neglecting the best interests of this country, but had been assisting the settling of the population. It has not led to people leaving the colony as in 1887-88, 1889, when about 12,000 per annum lett the colony, but our population has since iSqo increased by about 70,000, and is still increasing, and the people are more contented and prosperous than at any time previous, owing greatly to the settlement of Crown lands. The interest is beine paid, and the cl^ny is nn loser lv.it decidedly a gainer by the people who are on the land to the few prior to purchase.

In the dairying industry profit strides had heen made. In 1897-98 thp.re were 106,841 cwt. of butter exported, to the value of £429,407, and in 1898-99 there were 102,479 cwt. of the value of £433,481, and though 4,361 cwts. less were exported this year it realised more by £4,074, and showed that the improvement in quality was largely due to the instruction given by the experts introduced by the Government to aid the industry. In this locality we have a large estate which should be acquired to enable people to secure a piece of land to increase their own and the colony's prosperity. If returned he would use his best endeavours to induce the Assets Board to cut up and dispose of this land. (Applause.) A great deal had been said by the Opposition that it is high time the railways were plicpd under a non-political Board. The railways have been under a Board, and what did we get but strikes. Under the present Minister the railways earnings, after pnv'nsr interest on capital cost, would be handed back in reduction of freights. As the railways belong to the peohle of the country the people were entitled to the fullest advantages. The mileage of open lines is 2,090, as compared with 2,035 last year. The revenue for 1898-99 was £1,469,668, being an increase of £93.675 over the previous year. The working expenses were £949,738, being £72,054 higher than previous year. The net revenue is £539,928, being £21,111 higher than the previous year. The capital cost of the railways is £16,404,076, the rate of earning for 1898 was 3.24 per cent, and for 1899 was 3.29 per cent. The earnings of the railways were greater this year than last year.

In conclusion he thanked the meeting for the very kind attention given him. He invited any questions. He would do in the future what he had in the past if returned. (Applause.)