BACK FROM THE WEST.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, 13 January 1913, Page 8

BACK FROM THE WEST.

ONE-TIME ELTHAM RESIDENT,

NOW MINISTER OF THE CROWN IN WESTRALIA.

The Hon. W. D. Johnson worked as a carpenter in Eltham in the early 90’s, and it is but natural to suppose that on his return under such distinguished auspices the town would mark the occasion of his visit in a suitable manner. Eltham does most things well, and it added another wreath to its laurel crown by the reception and the heartiness of its welcome to a man who had risen from the ranks.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr T. B. Crump) occupied the chair in the Town Hall on Friday night at one of the most representative gatherings that, according to the local paper, over met in Eltham. Light refreshments were provided, and a pleasant and instructive evening was passed, the speeches being interspersed with song and recitation by the leading musical and histrionic artists. For the People, by the People. Mr Johnson declared himself astounded at the progress the town had

made. New Zealand, and especially (Eltham, had shown what could bo done in the way of progress if it was set about in the right manner. Eltham was a credit to Taranaki, and a credit to the municipal body, in their road, footpaths, in fact in every way. Ho was very proud to see that they had worked on most modern lines in their undertakings, in that they had municipalised those things which should be worked for the people by the people. When he talked to those who laughed at municipal socialism he should be proud to point out what had been done in Eltham. Mr John-

son congratulated them on the great progress they had made, which he sincerely hoped would be maintained. The progress he had noticed throughout the Dominion was enormous, and he should like to mention the vast difference he had noticed in Dannevirko. That place and Eltham he had thought of and spoken of as little bush camps, but he had found two fine progressive towns. Hands Across the Sea. New Zealanders were on© and the same people as the Australians, and they had the same responsibilities in every part of the Empire. He was pleased to see that the very important question of defence was being taken up in a proper manner. Although part of the Empire, they must not leave the defence of the Empire entirely to the Old Country’ and should the need over arrive he did not doubt but that New Zealand and Australia would do their part willingly. An Elective Second Chamber. Mr Johnson viewed very favourably the fact that Mr Massey was proposing to make the Legislative Council an elected body. It would bring them into closer touch with the community. He had heard many of his Labour friends expressing disappointment and disapproval, but he declared that the monied man had no advantage in an elective Council. In West Australia the election of their Senators had been even more succesful than the election of the members of Parliament. In his country what they lacked in finance they made up for in organisation, and further he declared that the democratic thought that was expressed in Auckland would be identical with that expressed in Wellington. The move merit to introduce an elective second chamber would be viewed with favour by many who had worked so hard ir this direction in Australia. The Land of His Adoption.

When Mr Johnson first went to West Australia, ho said he thought it was a desert in which the only profitable business was mining. It had been called the country of sin, sorrow, sand, and sore eyes; and, some unkindly folk added, Sir John Jforrest. It was not very encouraging to New Zealanders, when compared with the green fields of Taranaki, but the soil, which he at first considered was little better than desert land was fertile, and could be made to grow good crops. A part of the country ho had previously passed through and had designated as desert, he was now farming, and getting good results from. They considered then that they were essentially a mining country, and even to-day it would b© wrong to lead anyone to think they were not a mining country, but mining had taken a somewhat secondary place and agriculture they had improved greatly, and meant, to still further improve. , In their endeavours to push West Australia ahead they had started with Encouraging the Farmer.

He thought perhaps that the general opinion was that those who held very advanced views did not consider the farmer, but that was entirely wrong. They had a great deal of sympathy with those who were struggling to get on in any way, and they started to remove the greatest burden from the farmer. This was not taxation, land taxation, but the middle-men, who were living on the farmers’ shoulders. They started to remove the middleman, who reaped all these profits by commencing to manufacture machinery themselves. The big man controlled the sales of the produce of the land, controlling even the production of the small men; they had put a stop to that. They had also dealt with the shipping combination in the world, by running steamships of their own, and he was proud to say that although they had received much adverse criticism they’ had been successful in all their efforts, and he believed that these efforts would be copied by the other States in the Commonwealth. On the question of providing monetary assistance for farmers, Mr Johnson said the one weak point in it was that they were inclined to lean too much on these institutions and the benefits they provided. They must learn to build up a reserve fund in their prosperous times and to fall back on the institutions only in time of real need.