POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 442, 14 November 1908, Page 2

POLITICAL.

Mr Field at Moutoa.

Mr W. H. Field, M.P., addressed a largely attended meeting at Moutoa on Thursday night last, Mr Alexander Saunders presiding. The candidate referred to the depression in the country, and to his interest in the farming, timber and flax industries. It had been said that the depression was due to the Government, but a change would not put up the price of wool, and it was a bad plan to change in crossing a stream. More depression was felt in the Wellington district than in any other. Referring to Mr Byron Brown’s statement that money had been voted, on the eve oflast election, to secure Mr Field’s return to Parliament, he said that all grants to the electorate had been expended, and read. letters from local bodies to prove it. Mr Brown hacF said that under £6OOO had been expended in three years in the electorate, whereas the correct amount allocated was ,£12,000 odd. Recently the Advances to Settlers Office had got into a bit of a mess, owing:to the large number of ap J plicants, but Mr Brown bad exaggerated the state of affairs. He denied that he had said, at Maranui, that a flax hand should not get more than 6s a day, though he had advocated a sliding scale of wages. He also contradicted the statement, credited to him, _ that married men should get higher wages than single. He referred to the labour legislation introduced by the Government as humane, necessary and just. Referring to the Arbitration Act, he said that recent strikes had cost the workers about £30,000 in wages. He contradicted his opponent’s statement that Government could have bought the Bank of New Zealand shares when they were about is each. So excellent were the Premier’s methods of conversion that in one year alone the country was saved £160,000. The present depression might be a blessing in disguise, as it would make people more thrifty. To take the taxation off flour meant death to the wheat growing in this country, and he had voted for Mr Hogg’s Bill in order to ask the Government to admit flour and such staple products free when prices were high. Mr Brown said that he sympathised with the Manawatu railway workers who were to be taken on by the Government as casual

labourers, and yet eve. y man was to be taken on by the Government and placed on the superannuation fund. A vote of thanks and confidence concluded the meeting. Mr Stevens at Parawanul. (By telegraph—Special reporter.) Mr John Stevens addressed a largely attended meeting at the schoolhouse, Parawauui, on Thursday night last. There were present a large number of ladies, including Mrs McDonell, the oldest woman in the Wanganui district. Mr Aeneas McDonell was voted to the chair. Mr Stevens dealt fully with the political questions of the day, and 111 answer to questions, traced the influence of the Wall Street financial collapse, on the finance of New Zealand. New Zealand products having gone down with a slump because there was no money in circulation with which to buy them. To guard against a possible panic, the Government had bought ,£BOO,OOO ol liquid assets in England. The other side of the picture showed the London wool market to be firm and buoyant, with a five to 10 per cent, advance, and it was well known in financial circles that very large sums of money were coming into the Dominion in December, and would be available for persons who wished to use them. A vote of thanks and confidence was proposed by Mr Archibald McDonell, seconded by Mr Julius Goile, and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting. Mr Stevens at Carnarvon. [by telegraph—special to HERALD.J Mr Stevens addressed a well attended meeting of electors at Carnarvon last night, at which there were included several ladies. Mr Herman Rockel occupied the chair. Mr Stevens touched upon the leading topics of the day, and dealt very exhaustively with them and also referred to the proposed UevinGreatford railway, and the Foxton Harbour Board Act. Mr Rockel, in moving a vote of thanks, which was carried unanimously, said that Mr Stevens’ speech was a very lucid and a very clear one and expressed in the best language he had heard for many a day. Mr Stevens had now addressed 17 meetings in different parts of the electorate, at all of which there have been large attendances and the greatest interest and enthusiasm shown as evidenced by the resolutions carried. Mr Newman at Foxton. Mr Edward Newman, Opposition candidate, addressed his third meeting at Foxton last night, and was accorded an attentive hearing. A person who had been imbibing rather freely, created a little diversion before the meeting commenced, but alter a friendly word or two of advice by the Mayor, he leit. There were about 60 electors present. The Mayor presided.

Mr Newman said he felt he was a stranger in Foxton, and he was anxious to win their confiieuce. He hoped his perseverance would be rewarded, lie had travelled ad over the electorate, and they would be glad to hear that the prospects of the Opposition were decidedly good. He recapitulated what has been previously reported in the Herald. Mr Stevens had stated in Rougotea that the accusation of nationalising the land were calumnies against the Government, but he (the speaker) held that the facts showed that the Government were land nationalism's. It would be the endeavour of the Opposition party to give eve'ry settler in New Zealand the right of acquiring his land, and he would use every legitimate means to bring this about if elected. Our railways had not been managed as efficiently as they might have been, and he would support a Royal Commission to enquire into the whole matter and free them from political influence. Referring to the public debt, he stated that about r,250,000 of it had been borrowed in Eondon, in Australia and milhou sterling in New Zealand. He believed there was never a a worse step taken by the Government than that of borrowing money locally. It the Government would leave our money alone it would find its way naturally into the right channels. It was a significant fact that while money was very tight here at present, it was cheap in Eondou. Financiers were afraid to invest money in New Zealand because they had no confidence in the Government. A change of Government would alter this. He was, however, not in favour of ceasing to borrow altogether, as it was necessary to have a certain amount for expenditure in necessary works. He would like to see the Advances to Workers Act extended to such an k exteut that all landless people would be enabled to get land. He noticed by the papers that the Government had announced a grant to be expended on roads. This he held was simply a bribe. Alluding to the depression at present obtaining he felt confident that it was only temporary. He looked upon both the totalisatpr and bookmakers as evils but as it was not possible to reform people by legislation he would favour the totalisator as a necessary evil kud would do away with the bookmakers. Mr Henuessy had said that he would support Mr Stevens because it would take two or three years to educate a new candidate in reference to the Harbour Board Bill. He had quite sufficient intelligence to master the bill in a

couple of hours and it would give him pleasure to assist the Harbour Board movement. (Applause.

Mr Stevens had referred to him (Mr Newman) as belonging to a patty that Was not progressive. The Government bad peculiar ideas of what constituted pro* gression. True, our public debt had progressed, but the settlement of lands hid not progressed as it should. Our railway had not progressed under the present Government. Our roads had not progressed to any material extent although the expenditure on public buildings bad progressed. No new industries had been started. Interest had progressed from about 4! per cent to 7 per cent during the last few months. There was dissatisfaction among the railway and civil servants, due mainly to political interference. This was the Government’s idea of progression. He would like to see the waste lands settled with a happy and contented people who owned their hirT. He would like to see the exports increased. He compared llie rapid manner in which works had been completed by private enterprise as compared with works carried out by the Government. Tight railways were wanted all over New Zealand, especially in the Noith Island, where it was necessary to open up bush lands. There was no reason why these should not be constructed by private enterprise. He was confident if the Government would hand over to the County Councils the tight to make their roads and supply them with money at a reasonable rate better progress should be made. He alluded to the proposal to increase the honorarium to members of Parliament, to which he was opposed. The Atkinson Government had reduced the honorariums con siderably. The Ballance Govern ment raised them and Mr Seddon raised them still further. This was a case where progression was uot good (applause). The Upper House was not constituted as it should be. A seat in it should be held as the highest honour a man could aspire to. At present it was unfortunately looked upon as a place to put men who had dune some service to the Party. There was no system of equity or justice in it. The district from Otaki to Hawera had no representative in the Upper House. He wanted to see an Opposition returned sufficiently strong to insist upon careful finance and the administration composed of men who by their integrity would make New Zealand the brightest jewel in the Empire’s Crown.

In reply to questions, he said he was opposed to raising the honoriarium of members. They should not enter Parliament to make money. The law the aggregation of large estates. He was in favour of allowing Crown tenants the right of purchase at the original price, plus 4 or 5 per cent interest during the period of occupancy. Was not in favour of increasing the duty on O.e 4011 timber. Was opposed to allowing the press to publish lotalisator dividends in connection with race meetings.

Mr Haggerty proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker but that Foxton has no sympathy with the Opposition Party. After a wait Mr Tozer seconded. Mr Hennessy moved a vote of thanks to the speaker and Mr Perreau seconded. The amendment was carried only the mover and seconder of the resolution opposed it.

Mr Newman returned thank and the usual compliment to the chair terminated the meeting.

Mr Franklaud will address the electors at Oroua Bridge on Monday evening next in the Hall. Mr Byron Brown addressed the Otaki electors at this end in the Masonic Hall on Thursday night. The Mayor, presided. There were about 50 electors present. The candidate adversely criticised the Ward administration on similar lines to his previous speeches. He concluded by stating that Mr Feild had never made a speech in Parliament and was not an able man. In reply to Mr Hughes the candidate said he was a freeholder but was not in favour of giving Crown tenants the options of the freehold at the original value. He was not in fayjQur of the Second Ballot because it wa« an attempt to crush the labour party. He held that he was a better man than his opponent and the electors should not only vote for measures but progressive men. He adversely critisied the dairy regulators and said the man who drew them up didn’t know one end of a cow from the other. The speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks on the motion of the Chairman seconded by Mr E. E. Reade.