Political.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3601, 23 November 1905, Page 2

Political.

MR J. VILE) AT THE PUBLIC HALL.

On Tuesday evening last, Mr Vile addressed a good number of electors at the Fo.xton Public Hall, amongst tho-SS present fceing a fair sprinkling of J a( J ieS B. G. Gower, Esq., (Mayor of Foxton), was in the chaT- in * ew appropriate remarks, briefly ““reduced MV Vile to his audieficS, Mr Vilts, on rising, said he was pleased to say hs always gtft a goo hearing; Possibly if wa* his manu* ’ After trufeS yiWs of politipai life, be was again seeking thtif suffrages. The present elections right tbfdughdtft the colony were to be harder fought than they had ever been before. When rdtilfned to Parliament three years agd lid aflflounced himself strongly o#Osed fo' fh« present Administration.- At fbdf time there was no orgadise'd (jpip’ositiote. Bilt when Parliament met aftef the' eteefions, Mr Massey had be*fl ChoteCti as a leader, and was recognised as such at present. After dealing _ with M r Massey as a man and a politician, the speaker asserted that “ the Government wore more afraid of Massey than dfiy bihef leader they ever had to fight againSt,"' The' Speaker said he wished to confine his Spde’c'h to legislation from the standpoint of an opponent of the Government. He maintained tbit the Government of the day were not doing justice to the country. He dealt with Parliamentary Bills at length. If his predecessor (Mr Stevens) had gone back (9 Parliament, he maintained that the LicehSmg Bill of 1904, which was a wrong measure, may have become law—so close was the’ voting. He referred fo a later Licensing Bill as the Seddon Plot, and had told the Premier that it was a, nail in his own political coffin. As to the Old Age Pesnsidrig Bill, he protested against the Premier' saying.that Opposition members Voted agaiUst the Bill, What he had voted against Wtis the principle. The country could not afford the increase in pensions asked for. The Bill ought to provide for a superannuation scheme, such as teachers, railways, &c. Mr Stevens, speaking at Marton the other day, said that he (Mr Vilel mentioned that if the Opposition got into power they would repeal that law. He denied ever saying it. He did not believe the Workmen’s Homes Bill would be a success, although be bad voted for the measure, because he did not think t thefe would be any benefit received by workers. The object of the Land* for Settlements Bill was to empower Government to borrow £250,000 to improve the homes and conditions of workers. Here the speaker wandered into a lengthy delivery on freehold verges leasehold, in which he ridiculed the Premier for having spoked against the freehold, and then having played fast and loose with the whole position, voting for the freehold and then dropping the bill. Mr Stevens was a freeholder in 1881, but when the Landfe for Settlement Act was brought down in 1897, his vote on a clause in that Act proved that he was not. Personally, he would not give Mr Stevens one inch on this question. He (the speaker) admitted that thousands of people had benefitted under the Lands for Settlement Act, but they had benefit! ed because the dairying and generally market conditions were favourable. He did not see why Govern ment could take the credit of it. The land was what we depended on. Why our exports, including flax, totalled somewhere like from 12 to 14 million pounds worth annually. Personally, he voted for the freehold. He contended that the Premier had been afraid to face the people himself on the question, and so on had the Land Commission Farce—a Royal Commission set up touring the country at great expense. Nothing had really been done with the Land question and would not if the Premier could help it. He would be a leaseholder, The Criminal Code Act was brought down in the dying moments of the session, when they were asked to legislate on it, and it could not be thoroughly and judiciously dealt with. It was a serious Bill, and provided that any slanderer at all would be subject to criminal prosecution. As to the Importation of Agricultural Machinery Bill, he had opposed it because he did not believe in protection. The Civil Servants Bill was wrong because it provided for 601 temporary civil servants, who had not really qualified, being classed as civil servants. The Government evidently left they were doomed, and brought down this Bill to provide for their friends. The Civil Service Superannuation Bill had been dropped because they wanted to bring these 601 persons under the Act. Referring to private railways, he did not believe in the principle of acceding to the wishes of syndicates, and granting subsidies for erecting private railways. “ You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours," was the game played in the House, If the system was judicious and right the Manawatu people should form a syndicate on similar lines to construct the Levin-Marton line, which would entail an expenditure of £250,000. He strongly objected "to bills being passed providing for compulsory payment by Government of large sums to the Motueka, Nelson, and Hokitika Harbour Boards. In forsaking the bills, Mr Vile said if the people of the colony were ot the same opinion as him, the present Government would not be allowed to place another law on the statute book. As to general administration, 1 the speaker asserted that not one half of the £700,600 voted on the Estimates would be spent. They were only thrown out as dust at election time to blind the eyes of the electors. These estimates specially favoured Nelson and +he West Coast, and it was wrong, Mr Vile had taken trouble to arrange figures, which set forth that the grant per head on the West Coast was ridiculously high compared with the rest oi the colony, and especially the North Island. Fancy one fourth of the funds allocated to Public Works was voted to be expended in Westland, Marlborough and Nelson.

If we had our fair share, over £1,000,000 more would have been ex- , pended in this Island. As to the Public Revenues Act, the Premier had said that this act alone was Opposition comment and criticism. Wa* it? He (speaker) did not favour it; it was a disgrace as at present to any Parliament. Speaking generally, ho thought laws were made that were over bearing and over riding. Wo were doing wrong in allowing It. Touching on the Ministry’s work, oven a member of the Government (Mr Hogg) had ridiculed it when ho referred to it as dropsical. When ho I (Mr Vile) was travelling with tbo feader of the Government the other *; fe the course of conversation, bo t aakeri s P°k e °* Ministerial £IO.OOO in one'day, bn. - Mr ™ e danced that he had alsd .®° st colony £15,000 in one day by £15,000 to Queen’s Memorial, would have been quite sufficient UP such a grant. Mr Vile did not thmlc the surplus spoken of really existed,. If it did, why was our tax per head in*creasing? Many votes were included which should be charged to the consolidated revenue, and not to Public Works. He said it was wrong of the Government to ask the House to rush through the estimates as had Jbeea done at the last moments ol tho session, after four and half •olid months sitting, Mr Vile had at Afferent times aiked the Minister Ipr Agriculture to set up a dairying school Agriculture was producing «* more than coal aodjgoal. and as these industries bad theif schools to aid them, why not agriculture. The Department could not yet sea its way Clear. The whole system of public works expenditure is wrong. He bes lieved that at present £1 is bemjr spent for 13s worth of work, due not to the workman but to the system. He contended that £12,000,000 had been spent, 3 millions of which had been wasted by the present Government ~in this manner. Our public: debt was about £60,000,000, and they had authority to borrow over £\',o°o,000 more, the Government cUv® to have saved over a million -'pound* by reduction on duties. Notwithstanding this condition, the peoplO were taxed £1 is more per head than before these concessions were made. He (speakert was prepared to admit that some our debt money was interest bearing",but not as much as Mr Stevens contended.. Mr Vile was fen times more opposed to the present Government than he was three years ago. If he considered his personal interests, he would stay on his farm. But he offered himself tor Parliament to try and stay the rule of autocracy. The Goverment were doing their best te prevent the' return of Mr Herdman to the Honse, because they feared him. They were offering bribes in the way of concession ß - He coul d go more into the Government’s ways but he did not prefer to. Mr Y>l?, said that he three years ago had salt* that ***** not expect anything for the district to far as the loaves and fishes con * cerned. He had done his best, ii u d indifferent parts of the district had got concessions and various requirements. Re the Shannon Bridge he had fought hard, but without avail. He had told the Minister that he would have to provide for it in the Estimates, and had asked him publicly why the grant was not there. The answer was that the Engineer** estimate of the work was £BOOO while Local bodies was £SOOO and the work could not be undertaken. He had been accused of belonging to a Party who tavoured paying the forking man 5s a day. This was untrue, and be had ever paid other than a fair wage. The Opposition Party of the present day was totally different to the Tory Parly of 20 years ago. Still, in justice to Sir Harry Atkinson, he mentioned that the times of depression ruling in Atkinson’s leadership, compelled the low rate of wages paid. If returned, be would support Mr Massey and his party, and if he could not make a better Minister of Lands or Agriculture than the colony had at present, he did not wish to be returned. (Applause.) QUESTIONS. On a question put as to the Island*, ‘rip, Mr Vile considered he had the right to undertake the journey, as he wished to become acquainted with what they (the people) were governing, I.i reply to Mr Simnson, the speaker asserted he did not say £30,000 would be spent in the district during hi* three years. What he did say wa* that the district was entitled to that amount. Mr F. W. Frankland inquired re compensation to hotel-keeper* in case of no-license being carried. Mr Vile was not in favour of any compensation whatever, though be thought a certain proportion of licensing feet could be used in that way.

Here Mr A. Shadbolt put a question re the reduction of the honorarium, and spoke generally in disapproval of Mr Vile's action with regard to Old Age Pensions. Mr Vile replied that he thought £l5O sufficient to receive as honorarium. In tact, he bad moved a reduction, but it was not to be. Then Mr Shadbolt wished to know whether Vile had opened his mouth in the House or not.

In reply to this, Mr Vile said be. believed he had, as the questioner could see by reading '* Hansard.’’ As to a question put re Labour laws, he was in favour of the Arbitration Court as at present constituted, and the present mode of dealing with dispute. Mr G. A. Simpson wished to know whether 'he candidate was a Crown tenant or a freeholder ? Mr Vile maintained he was a free*' holder, though he was at present A Crown tenant, through having had to come to the rescue of the Government and tenant the place totally ignored by others. Mr Vile was nof in favour of the manner in which Meikle bad been treated by Government. Thoogbi ■ , t special committees had urged thW 1 the removal of Meikle’s name from the'

criminal books, still (he Government refused.

The speaker was in favour ot a plebescit regarding the Bible reading in schools.

Mr F. W. Frankland wished to know whether Mr Vile was in favour of 200 feet extension to boxton Wharf. The candidate was in favour of such extension.

As to the abolition of (he totalisator, questioned by Mr Speirs, (lie speaker said he was opposed to all forms of legalised gambling. Mr G. Simpson questioned as to the railway to the Heads, and Mr Vile saw no reason why the line should not be extended. If a large and influential deputation had petitioned and waited on Parliament in the proper manner, something may have been done long ere this. Replying further to Mr Simpson, the candidate thought a Harbour Board should control the river, and also thought they should get a subsidy such as granted Molueka, if necessary. Mr Simpson brought up the gallon ol private railways, but Mr Vile still contended Jbat the system, was wrong , Mr F. Y<. Frankland wished to know whether tha candidate was in favour 0* tftie educational system of the present Gove/mment. "Mf Vile; Yes, but I think more Inoney should be spent In primary, and less in higher education.

Mr J. T. Levett proposed a vote of thanks to the speaker for his address, but said if they wished any grants for the district, it was plain a Government man should be returned.

Mr Gm* Goley objected to this motion,, Hud proposed that Mr Vile be given a vote of thanks and confidence ifoe his address. This was seconded Mr T. East, and carried by acchma* tion.

A vote of thanks to the chair con eluded the meeting.

Mr J. Stevens has had very successful meetings at Shannon andTokomaru, over 200 Wng present at Shannon, while the Tokoraara Sohooihouse was crowded. At both places, the candidate received enthusiastic votes of thank'd and confidence. Three cheers werq given for the present Liberal Administration at Shannon. Mr John Stevens addresses the •lectors at the Foxton Public Hall tonight, When there is likely to be a large attendance-