PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 199, 29 May 1914, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

Mi 1 E. Allan Elected as Premier.

Notwithstanding tvo or llirco strong counter attractions there w;u an excellent attendance nt l,:st night's metting cf the Pukekohe Pa; liameniury Union. There were some 38 numbers present, hecidts a dozen or ?o in the auditorium, Mr •J. A, Comrie | resided. lhe principal bufincs was the election of a Prime Minister, tor which ollice there were eix candidate. The names were drawn to determine the ord.r in which the candidates would speak. Mr H. H. 1). Wily introduce 1 a Labour programm> designed to sweep away the conservative policies of the Wards and Masseys. Me would reduce the time ot latojr to six hourj a day, which woulJ increase the opportunity for occupation. Me attacked the operations of the monied classes and speculators. Me would rccuve r what belonged to the State by determining what the selling value oi land was in 11100 end, after allowing all improvements to the owner, the State would take the increased value since that year. Ms would have a State bark and provide that other banks sh;:uld have overdrafts and deposits at the same rate of interest. He would wipe away taxes on food and tobacco and still keep those on jewellery und luxuries. A comprehensive are! free eJucatioi for all, free travelling in tccond-class railway carriages, the hicrease in teachers' salaries and other beneficent, measures, according to the Labour idea were outlined.

Mr R. J. Eames pleaded for the adoption by the Umor. of a policy to dis.uss local alfairs. Besides'-giving practice in public speech he wanted th 3 wotk oi this Union to be such that it would stimulate the menial activities of mtmbers and enlarge the peneral information of all upon matters which clo3clv and vitally affect the borough, the county and the constituency of Frnnklip. He would introduce bills to provide fir a municipal gasworks for Pukekohe, public parks, a division of t'.e Franklin county, the creation of a Beautifying Society, the aephalting of our main streets, the establishment of a Migh bchcol in Pukekohe, the construction of a public swimming baths at the schor.l, and similar measures, He would throw the o'itire financial responsibility and the management ol (he U.>inn s affairs ur.on the Ministry of the Day- - (The t.n minute bell then rarg).

Mr J, T. Stembri :ge also urged that the Ministry should control the Union's finances. Me urged that prison labour should be employed upon public works, and that racing clubs and totalisator investments should be taxed for the tenefit and rel.ef cf (he Charitable Aid. He would abolish prohibition orders which did not prohibit. For the lirst oll'ence of drunkenness there would be a warning, the seco d time n fine, and the third time the photograph of the offender wool I be exhibit.d in every hotel bar in the district. He open up the back country by means of light rail • ways. Me would abolish Government grants and in their stead lend money to Leal bodies free of interest, repayments only being made for sinking fund. He was against the establishment of a local navy, Like the two previous speakers and those who followed, Mr Stembridge's polity had its tail cut off by the chairman's bell.

Mr C. K, Lawrie declared liims.-If a very Red Fed, out and out. Ma-aey was only the tool of the capitalist. He would have State banks, with share and share alike. The profits from shipping should tjelong to the people and all the coal mines ought to belong to the people. The price of coal since the strike had gone up from 2-1 ? to 303, Uut who got the money? Not the miners, only the capitalists. He would liberalise education, giving a free passage from the kindergarten to the University. So far as the land system was concerned Massey was worae than Ward. Nobody should own more than 200 acres of first-class land or 100 acres of second-class land; the rest should be taken from tliem. He would repeal the Defence Act and have a Right to Work Bill, so that there should be nu unemployed. There should be a 55 por cent, majority on the liq'ior question. Mr F. E. Simpson prcs-nted a careiully prepared policy running along the accepted lines of the Reform Party's programme, but with suggested improvements A roading policy should be vigorously pursued, the bark-blocks should be opened, aggregation of large estates should be prevented, and the o.r.p. system of land tenure should be continued with the l:ase as the stepping stone to the freehold. Only bona lide ratepayers should have a vote on loan questions on any local body. The old age pensions should be on a contributing basis so that the taint of charity would te removed and the pension could be claimed as a right. He had i;o tim2 for objectors to the universal training - conscientious objectors or otherwise, We should be prepared to defend ourselves. He objected to a local navy as the war- j ships sj soon become obsolete. Mr E. Allan claimed that his , policy was progressive and comprehensive. He was a freeholder, but there was no need to talk of bursting j up big estates; what they needed | w;n the opening up of the millions ' of acrfs of 1 ind now lying waste. ; The Government should take over I the main roads. The pioneers should | not be neglected; medical attendance | should be given to them free of i cost. He would mive bonuses for

fruit canning, for the best method <>f disposing of surplui potatoes, for 1 every acre that was planted in forest trees, and tor the profiled* of the wheat best adapted for growing on .hit po.ir soils with limited manuring. He would remcck'l education, pay not less to teachers than .L'2so with a free house, and take a referendum on Bibl:-in-School3. School committees should be reinstated in their former position of power. There should be a s"> per cent, majority for prohibition an I he would abolish the totalisator. for labour th:re would b; a fair lit IJ and m fa\our. Fish tupply, cost of living, railwa; reform, parcel post reform, increase of duty on beei and nritor rare. .1 d a bachelor lax went to cimplete the programme which, sail the ep; aker, "would make New Zealand l'ie brightest jewel in the crosn of cur Empire. Iho addres3Ea were followed throughout with close at'ention, and laught t and aoplause were frequent.

Upon a vota being taken it resulted as follows: Allan 14, Eames S. Simpr.oti 4, Wily 4, Lnwric J, S tembr After Mr Allan hail returned thanks lie was cordially coigratuluted up iii liij t Jcrtion hy Messrs h'anica a'd Wily, who wished him a successful and profitable term of Ofl'lCi'.

Air Alljn agreed to form his Cabinet and mvet the Mouse on Thursday evening next, in the Oddfellows' hall. Thereafter, it was arranged, the meetings of Parliament would be held fortnightly. On Thursday there will be the election of a Speaker, the Governor 8 Speech, and tie Address iii-Ueply, L> which latter it is smid tn be probable that an amendment will be moved.