Political Address.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3582, 7 October 1905, Page 2

Political Address.

MR GARDNER BEFORE HIS*

CONSTITUENTS.

At the Masonic Hall last evening, Mr Oswald Gardner addressed a fair number of Ills constituents, the Mayor (Mr B. G.iGower) being in the chair. The speaker dealt at length with the present system of Party Admin* istration denouncing same. He was an Independent Liberal and thought members should go in the House to I Support measures rather than men. He was strongly against members pledging themselves to support one man” whether that man was Seddon or Massey. They ought to be able to go iato tbs House with a free hand, lirid thus vote as their convictions guided, not as they were directed, for the sake of saving the party motions defeat. Under the present system Government was kept in power because it was right in one particular subject, even though it might be wrong in other parts of its general policy. The Government could do as it liked for three _ years under the present state of affairs. Abetter system would be an Elective Executive, under which would be responsible directly t° the House. He approved of the GOfarn- [ nieflt Labour policy, and on the latid question said he was a freeholderVbelieving that the aggregation of large estates should l? prevented. Figures were quoted shoeing the State was 1 actually losing money over the per pet-nSI lease system. He was against Customs duties on the necessaries of life, and favoured a continuance off the present lidcwsiog laws. The speaker favoured ; abolishing the totaiisator, developing the water power of the country, and opening , new markets, especially regarding the fla* industry. He strongly deprecated , the use of personalities in election contests. i Mr F. W. Frankland, on behalf of* Foxton Chamber of Commerce, asked the speaker the following questions:— (i) Are you in favour of urging upoa the Government the formation of a Harbour Board at Foxton in wbfef» shall bo vested the Wharf at present used by the Railway Department together with the control of the harbour and river.

(2) Are you in favour of urging upon , the Government the necessity of ex- 3, tending the Foxton Wharf 200 feet to the South or North to allow the accom- ■ modation of more vessels, and thus prevent the delay arising through -the vessels having to wait ic berths ? (3) Are you in favour of urging upon the Government the necessity of keeping the channel of the MSfl.awatu River clear so as to prevent the steamers being delayed by grounding/ And also for strengthening the _ banks# so as to prevent the river altering its course or silting up its channel ? (4) Are you in favour ot advocating the speedy taking in hand and completing of the proposed railway from Foxton to the Manawatu heads ?

(5) Are you in favour of supporting: any application to the Government to erect a bridge over the Manawatu River on the road between Foxton and Shannon ?

(6) Are you in favour of urging upon > the Department of Lands ,apd Survey the question of improving and extending the Wharangi Sanatorium -at the Manawatu Heads ?

The speaker answered ail the above questio is in the affirmative. He would always be found favouring any proposal which may tend to the advancement of the district.

Mr O. Austin wished t iknow, seeing ha termed himself a Liberal, why id the interests of true liberalism, he had elected to run against the other Liberal candidate, and thus work against the interests of the party in attempting to gain the seat. The speaker replied that he considered every elector had a right to stand for election, and seeing that Mr Stevens had been defeated at last election, he had decided as an elector, t > come forward. Mr F W. Frankland wished to know how the candidate proposed to elect the Executive, and what relation the Elective Executive would beat towards the! Governor sent out from Horae ?

Mr Gardner said he had not gone into that matter fully, but thought each minister should be responsible to the House.

In replyihg to Mr F. W. Frankland he said he did not favour compensation for the abolition of licenses, because it was not • practicable. Neither did he favour a State Bank. At the conclusion of his address, Mr Hennessy moved a vote of thanks and confidence in favour of Mr Gardner’s candidature. This was seconded and earned. V A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the proceedings.