POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 441, 10 November 1908, Page 3

POLITICAL.

Mr. Stevens at Bulls.

Mr John Stevens addressed a very large and most enthusiastic meeting of electors in the Town Hall, Bulls, on Saturnay night. Mr J. E. Walker, chairman of the Town Board, occupied the chair, and introduced Mr Stevens as a veteran Parliamentarian who had represented the district for many years during the past quarter of a century, a supporter of the present administration, and the Government nominee for the Manawatu electorate.

Mr Stevens, who was received with great applause, said that it was three years since he had the honor of addressing a political meeting in Bulls, and during that time he had, as they were all aware, been endeavouring to do his duty to the Dominion as their representative in Parliament tor the Manawatu district; and so far as he personally was concerned he could say with great safety that his physical condition was better than when he had addressed them three years ago, and such being the case, he hoped that the electors would have no misgivings as to his ability to represent them provided be kept as well as he was now (prolonged applause). There were a great number of persons who did not wish him ill —he said so because he did not believe any: one did—but there were a number of persons who were so sympathetic that he always felt an inclination to ask them how long they had been ill, because he himself was not ill. He therefore desired to impress on the electors not to have the least apprehension as to whether he was able to conduct the business of the constituency in Parliament. If he were not physically able to do it, be was old enough to have sufficient commoniense to say “ Why am I going to do that which will do me an injury.’: . On the contrary, it would do him no physical injury. He was seeking election again because he liked the work, because he had represented the district for so many years, because he was able to afford to represent the district, and because he had never made anything out of politics and never wished to make anything out of politics (applause). He bad on the other hand given his time and his services freely, and it was with great pleasure he had done so, and now he was going to adopt the role of wearing out in politics rattier than rusting out. (Hear, hear, and applause). Mr Newman, the Opposition candidate, belonged to the party of retrogression. Their motto was to “ conserve that which was good,” but it retrogression took place they would have nothing to conserve. They had no ideas of advancement. It was an inexorable rule that there was no such thing as standing still. • Consequently a party that did not aim at advancement must go backwards. They must progress if they wished to succeed, and move with the dictates of science. The Conservative party had endeavoured on the introduction of one man one vote to give every landowner an extra vote on account of the laud that he owned. That would have had the effect of taking the vote away from the working man. That is what they would do tomorrow if in power (applause). There were half a dozen men in the few followers that Mr Massey had who were better leaders and more capable men politically than Mr Massey. Mr Herries was head and shoulders above Mr Massey, and yet Mr Massey sought to get control of the Government and oust a man like the Prime Minister—it was a monument of satire. Those who thought that the Conservative party were going to get into power were supporting something chimerical he assured them. The Opposition would force the hands of the present Government to such an extent, if they could, as tc allow the socialistic party to gain power. What would happen if this were done ? They would then have a new cabinet once every month as they did in Queensland, and he said to every elector that at the present juncture matters required just to be left alone in the meantime, until they settled down in a reasonably progressive groove. After a passing reference to the Twelve Apostles of the Opposition faith, Mr Stevens dealt with the political qualification which Mr Frankland claimed and remarked that Mr Frankland omitted to add when declaring himself a Government supporter, that the Government were not supporting Mr Frankland. Mr Stevens was the candidate selected by the Government. Mr Gardner had polled 233 votes at last election, and he was therefore very courageous to come forward a second time against himself, who had polled 2404 on that occasion. Regarding the land question, Mr Stevens said that he would defy any man, candidate, elector, or anyone else, to come on to a public platform and prove the assertions that had been made concerning him, directly or by inuendo, to the effect that he was supporting land nationalisation. The statements were unjust and incorrect, Mr Stevens fully refuted such statements. The first giving of the right to purchase to Crown lessees was through his instrumentality in Parliament, (hear, hear). There was no Government in the world which, in proportion to the magnitude of the Dominion, had done so much for the farming community. The present Liberal Government had a pastoral and agricultural department. The old Conservative party could not afford funds enough to 'establish one (laughter). Up to date scientific men were retained

in every department to give instruction to the farmers on every conceivable point in connection with the cultivation of the land and the production of stock, butter, and cheese. The Opposition could claim no credit for it. On the contrary, they had tried in every possible way to make the farmers believe they were being injured by the very benefits that are now conferred upon them. Such tactics were discreditable to intelligent men. Instead of doing that, they hould as a community stand shoulder to shoulder and protect themselves, and the great good fair name of our Dominion, and not let a few politicians spread throughout the world the foolish remarks that we were on the eve of bankruptcy. Mr John Duthie when he was in politics had said the Liberal Government knew nothing of finance, and that unless he became Colonial Treasurer ruin must ensue. Where was Mr John Duthie to-day ? It would require a microscope to find him among political financiers (laughter). Mr Stevens instanced the Advances to Settlers’ Act. There had been . nine million pounds advanced and a profit of ,£313,900 bad been made, while at the same time the borrowers had been saved nine millions in fees and by reduced interest. Mr Stevens tombed upon the dairy regulations, Gopernraent buildings, and defence. In answer to a question, he said he was not in a position to consider the question of suppressing agitators at present because he bad a little agitating to do himself before the election was over (laughter and applause.). A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Stevens for his able address and confidence in him as member for Manawatu was carried with great enthusiasm. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.