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Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 464, 19 April 1890, Page 6

Yeo ! It is certainly true. Aek any of your friends who haye purchased there. Garlick and Cranwellhave numerous unasked for and very favourable commendations from country customers on their excellent packing of Furniture, Crockery, arid Glass, &c. Ladies and gentlemen about to furnish should remember that Garlick and Cran well’s is the Cheap Furnishing Warehouse oi Auckland. Furnlfcure to suit all classes ;;also Carpets, Floor oioths and all House 'Necessaries; If your new house is nearly finished, or you are going to, get married, visit Garlick and Cranwell, Queen-street and Lorne-atreet, Auckland. * Intending % caWoirua seat fj^

und L : boml statesmen alike now value the Colonies, and know how to prize them. It is j nWt as when an old man begins to f**l rome of the first si "ns of weakness end decrepitude, tie begins to value and prize strong ana stalwart sons that are jrrotfing up around Tiinl. Nothingjiroiight koine to flie minds of Englishmen, Irishmen, and Scotchmen, how great, how Eowerfnl, and how valuable to Great iritriin, wereher colonies, as that wonderful Colonial Exhibition that was held in London some few j'ents ago. When you gazed ,on th.it magnificent Exhibition, it showed yon how great the British Empire really was,and Ido not be'ievethatany man could have stood in that Exhibition and •een the productions from different parts of the Empire, all brought together in that splendid building, without a feeling of pride thrilling his breast, that he was a member of that great Empire which has a-j its heart and centre the Old Fatherland, with its grand history-, its vast trade, its ■worldembracing commerce, and its manufacturing greatness; its old churchyards where many of our fathers me now sleeping ; which also includes Canada, with its great forests, its noble lakes, and its boundless extent of territory ; Australia, with its goldfields, vust pasture plains, and noble harbours; which includes the beautiful islands of New Zealand with all her agricultural and ali tier mineral wealth; which includes tho British settlements in southern and western Africa, which give Englishmen, Irishmen, and Scotchmen, access to the markets of that mighty continent ; which includes the beautiful islands of the West Indies, with their grand scenery, and varied tropic.il productions; which includes that wonderful empire of India, with its two hundred and, forty millions of men, of different faiths, different races, different speech and differ ent colour, but all living in peace and harmony beneath the rule of the British Viceroy. I trust nothing will ever break up that glorious Empire because, I believe it would be a disaster to each part of the Empire, and would be a disaster to the world at large, (loud upplause). Now, gentlemen, I must draw to a conclusion. You have been wonderfully kind and wonderfully patient with me, but I am not going to trespass on your patience too long. When I was here in New Zealand three years ago, a ‘ime of deep depression wx.* coming on. As time went on the depression got deeoer anil deeper, and the cloud grow blacker and blacker, hut I am thankful to see that the gloom and depression are now passi ug a way, and that the sun is shining again. Tuere is one thing, however, which is a veryserious mutter, especi 'ally for the North Island of Now Zealand. This is a matter that was alluded to once Kir twice by that able statesman Mr John Bryce, and that is the amount of PitIVATE IISDEBTEDN 3SS in this Colony. According to Mr Bryce’s figures, while the public debt is thirty—soVeu millions, the private indebtedness in the way of mortgages is more than forty millions. For the public (loot of New Zealand you pay interest at it may be 4 or it may lie 44 cent, Imt, unh ppib, for most of these mortgagee, yon pay 0 or 7, or in some cases [ believe as much as 8 per cent. (A voice, twenty-five per cent). Well that was the exception of 'nurse. d’iiiK J recognise, is not a matter that the State can deal with, but it is n r<*rv K«ri->us question, nevertheless, and umpiesiionubiy for »ome years it will keep New Zealand from prospering, as she would if it was not for tliiu tefrible burden. A PROMISING OUTLOOK.

I have, however, firm faith in the future of New Zealand, There are numv hopeful eigiiH. One sign particularly struck me, alitl that is, that in the New Zealand Saving’* Batiks you have no less than 100,000 depositors, who have deposited about three millions of money. There is another very hopeful sign, and that is that in New Zealand you have between seventy and eighty thousand freeholders. After all the strength of a State depends, not on a few largelanded-proprietors, hut in having as large a number as possible of men who are owners of the soil, and as «tieh diiectly interested in the well being of the country, (applause). Then there is another sign of prosperity, the population is increasing (laughter). Somebody behind me says “ hear, hear,” with deep feeling (renewed laughter). Then again your frozen meat trade is developing with marvellous rapidity. I can tell you this, ns a matter of fact, that New Zealand frozen mutton stands the best in the London market of any frozen mutton in the world, (applause), and it deserves to do ro. Now, gentlemen, I have done. A few weeks ago you celebrated your Jubilee. The first fifty years of your national life hnvecoino and gone, and what a fifty years of progress they have been ! There are men now living:' in New Zealand who can remember wlien the gragd old Maori race were the lords of the soil, and the white men were few and far between. Now, all is changed. The grand old Maori race, I am sorry to eay, appears to be dying away, but the white man is everywhere to be found, and wherever you go, you see marks of his industry and enterprise. Depend upon it, as I said years before I came to the .ahores of this beautiful land. New Zealand lias a great and glorious future before St, And you, the electors of New Zealand, may make the futuro what you will, /(applause). But whatever j’ou do, don’t trust the destinies of those glorious islands to unscrupulous and unprincipled political adventurers who will come before you and will fawn, flatter, cringe, and promise you what they can never perform ;and who will lead you on a course of reckless extravagance, which will prove in the end ruinouß and disastrous (applause). It is a very small matter whether you send rue to the House of Representatives or whether you do not. If you can find a better mm, and I daresay you easily can, *end him ji? preference; but, whatever you do, insist on having a strong, firm, and stable Government, that shall command respect, that shull tread onward—turning neithertotheright nor to the left-with firm and upfijltering step in the narrow path of economy, integrity, uprightness, and honesty? (applause). And gentleman, don’t fforget in times of depression, and in times t*f darkness and gloom, these words, which are asure motto for private as well ns for public life : “ For them that be upright there uriseth light in the darkness," AN EXPLANATION, . Would you permit me before the meet ing breaks up to say just one word of explanation. I came out to the CoioDy,

four months ago, expecting that a dissolution would have tiken place isi a few weeks, and it was inv int'-nt.nn. if tin* electors gave me any support, to offer my—self in what \va- ; then the Tsttrungs and Te Arolia division. But */hen I came out Ufound trie dii-so ntion was not going to take place for some months. I waited accordingly,for the Re port of. the Boundary Commissioners, and, us soon as that Repot t was issued, after making enquiries, I resolved to deliver one speech in thiscentral town of Te Arolia, before I left for England, and if I met with sufficient support, I intended, God willing, to return in time for the general election, prior to which I would speak at other places in the constituency. Mr Allen resumed hi-seat amidst loud and prolonged applause QUESTIONS ANSWERED. The Chairman having invited questions, to l>e forwarded in writing or asked orally from the platform, Mr D. Henderson came forward and asked whether Mr Allen was in favour of the Government interfering with private enterprise, as they had done in late years, especially in reference to contracts.

Mr Allen replied as follows : I wish to answer every question as fairly air'd straightforwardly as possible, but I confess I harcßy understand the principle involved to which my friend refers. Of course, taking the sub ject on a broad principle, I believe the less the Government interferes with private enterprise the better, (applause), Mr 0. A. Comes next mounted the platform, stating he had some questions to ask. First of all, Beeing Mr Allen is a new and an untried nmn, will he tell us what claim he has on the mining portion of this community to represent them in parliament ? Mr Cornos went on to explain that tlieie were likely to be a number of other candidates out for this electoral district, and that they should bo on the look out for the best man so far as tho mining interests were concerned. He mentioned the names of Messrs Porter, Muck ay, Cadman, Chepmell, Stewart, Murray, Gill, and Fraser.

Mr Allen replied : I am very much obliged to Mr Comes for having so kindly asked this question. I think I might reply by asking another : What claim have some of these gentlemen whom lie has mentioned to come beforeyou. However, as I said before, I have no claim at, all. I come here, not asking you to send rae to Parliament, hut I simply say if, having heard me, you decide to ask me to contest the seat I will do so, and if elected, I will do my best to serve you. (applause). Mr Comes next asked : Would you use your utmost endeavour, if elected, to have a sum of money placed on the Estimates to start a Government reduction works, or a bonus to the first compan y that starts reduction works in a central position. Mr Allen : I tell you candidly this is a question of detail which I am not in a position to answer to-night, hut this I will say: Everything that an honest fair and just man can do for this constituency, I will do. (applause). Mr Comes insisted on an answer “ yea ” or “ nay.” Mr Allen : My answer to that must he in substance what I said before. I candidly tell you that of these details I have not at present that accurate knowledge that would justify me in speaking out “ yes, or no ” (hear hear). I can tli.-refore only sav that I would act on the broad principle of everything tint was just and right to the community I would be giad to support, (applause). Mr Conn s also asked : Would you he in favour of having a Land Tax in lieu of the Property Tax. Mr Allen : My own opinion is that the electors of the country generally have a clear right to indicate their wishes in the matter of taxation. If the electors of New Zealand say • “ IVe wish the Property Tax continued, ” all right; I do not think it a just tax, but they have to pay the piper olid should be permitted to choose t!m tune. The same remarks apply to a Land fax. Leave the electors to decide. As the money comes out of the pockets of the people they have a right to say liow it should De taken out.

Mr Cornes: Would you support a Land Tax in lieu of the Property Tax ? Mr Allen : I tell you I am not in a position to answer that question till I know what land tax you propose.

Mr Cornes : Are you in favour of secular or denominational education ? Mr Allen : I am in favour of free, secular education, (loudapplause). Mr Cornes : I was going to pub a number of other questions, but after the verv able spesch Mr Allen lias made, I’ll forgo the balance, Other questions were tln-n invited by the Chairman, and there being no response

Mr F- Pavitfc said: Mr Chairman and gentlemen, I should like to propose a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Allen for tho able way in which he has addressed us, and for the kindly manner in which he has come before us to give us his views. I say he ought to have accorded to him a hearty vote of thanks, because he has spoken ably 'and well. I therefore propose a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Aden, (applause). Mr Cornes » I have very much pleasure in seconding tho motion. I had much pleasure in listening to him. A show of hands was then taken, and the Chairman declared the resolution carried unanimously. Mr Allen : I am very muoli obliged to you indeed. I may just remark that in my old constituency in Englaud I had no less than 2,000 miners who were voters, and I think I am speaking within the bouuds of strict truth when I say that 1600 out of that 2000 plumped for me. (applause). I have now very great, pleasure in proposing a cordial and most hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman for the most admirable manner in which he lias conducted this meeting, and for his great kindness in taking the chair. The vote was carried by acclamation, and this brought the proceedings to a elo.-e.