MR STEVENS AT BUNNYTHORPE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 434, 10 September 1908, Page 3

MR STEVENS AT BUNNYTHORPE.

On Monday night the Bunnythorpe electors, who have been cut off from the Palmerston electorate by the recent re-arrangement by the Commissioners, entertained their member, Mr W. T. Wood, at a complimentary banquet. Prior to that, however, a public meeting was held and addressed by Messrs Wood, Stevens, and Laurenson, M.P.’s, and Mr 0. Pleasant. Mr Stevens, M.P. for Manawatu, expressed the pleasure he felt at being present, and pointed out that, unlike Mr Wood, he was not taking leave of the electors, but was going to do his best to ingratiate himself with them. He mentioned the interesting fact—-to show that he was no stranger to the district—that he had first passed through the district in 1850, and subsequently in 1863. It was the first occasion on which he had addressed a public meeting on this side of the Oroua river, owing to the alteration of the electoral boundaries. He claimed that he had represented his district reasonably well, and physically was just as well as when he contested his election some years ago. He emphasised his ability to perform all his Parliamentary duties reasonably well. As to his political convictions, he said he belonged to the respectable democracy, and had no time for those who endeavoured to build up a shoddy aristocracy. (Applause). He spoke strongly upon the desirability of giving full opportunity for individual effort, and said he was a strong believer in the efficacy of a farming community. Wealth all came from the land, and it was therefore very necessary to foster all industries that manufactured the implements used in developing the resources of the country. He said the Dominion, when properly tilled and under a proper Government, was easily capable of supporting ten million of people. He mentioned that he had commenced his political career under Sir William Fox, and, passing on to the present Administration, said it was a continuation from the time Sir George Grey put forward ideas too advanced for the people of that day, but which had since been realised as in the best interests of the many instead of the few. He eulogised the land laws of the late John Ballance, particularly as opposed to the procedure of the Land Boards of that period, which were not conducive to the interests of the poor. He believed in the freehold tenure, together with the option of leasehold. He knew of numerous instances of people prospering under the leasehold, and thought it should be the province of the person who worked the land to determine the tenure. (Applause.) He eulogised the present old age pension scheme, which he thought was a right of those who enjoyed it, and infinitely preferable to private charity, however liberal that had been. He paid a tribute of praise to the good liberal convictions of Mr Laurenson, despite the fact that he had been described by some of the northern Opposition papers as an ultra-Socialist. To his knowledge, neither Sir Joseph Ward nor the Government had any intion of disturbing the even tenor of the political policy of the day, and considered he would be acting in the best interests of the settlers to support the Government, which had done, and was likely to do, so much for the people. No Government in any ot the colonies had done so much for the farmers as the present Administration. He mentioned the veterinary, poultry, and pomologist departments as cases in point, and referring to the departure of Mr Gilruth for the professorial chair in Melbourne, and said he was one of the most capable officers the Dominion had ever possessed, and well deserved the high honour that had come to him. In Mr Reakes, the Dominion had a worthy successor, an officer who had worked with Mr Gilruth in some of his best work, and was a very capable man indeed. As to the labour laws, he thought they required a law that would produce harmony between employers and, employees. He deprecated the work of the agitator, and said no sensible man would deny the right of the employee to a full day’s pay fora full day’s work. He hoped that during the present session an amendment would be brought down that would permit of the amicable arrangement of disputes without the intervention of persons who knew nothing about the matter in hand, as, for instance, Mr Andrew Collins’ action in connection with the shearers’ dispute. (Applause). He had the greatest admiration for Mr Collins, but what did he know about the shearing of sheep or when they should shorn ? (Applause). It was only necessary that men should understand one another throughout New Zealand for the disputes that at _ times existed to be amicably adjusted. (Applause), Mr Stevens concluded by expressing his thanks for the appreciative hearing, and he assured them that if elected he would consider he represented every shade of political opinion. (Applause).