Address by Hon. G. Fowlds

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43104, 13 June 1907, Page 2

Address by Hon. G. Fowlds

♦ Auckland, June 12. Addressing his constituents at Grey Lynn lastjnight, the Hon. G. Fowlds said the people ought to be proud of the way Sir Joseph Ward had repre- i sented them at the Imperial Confer- | ence. He had had occasion recently to criticise other delegates, and he had I nothing to regret and nothing to take | | back. He wanted to see the British I Empire consolidated, for it was the greatest force in the world to-day making for peace and justice, liberty and progress. He had to see that we maintained unimpaired our own independence in these colonies, and in doing that we must grant some freedom of action to the people of the Old Country. (Applause.) He referred to the regrettable illness of the Hon. W. Hall-Jones. J The Hon. Mr. Fowlds said that among the reforms cafried out was provision for a sinking fund for some of the old and unproductive loans, and last year out of ordinary revenue £39,950 was provided. There was an item that had stood for years before the present party came into power—£7oo,ooo on debentures and £150,000 was paid off that. The Leader of the Opposition claimed credit for a lot of reforms the Government had carried out, but Mr. Fowlds’ opinion was that if the devil himself was Leader of the Opposition he would be found preaching righteousness. Referring to education, he said great strides had been made. He was very pleased the House had agreed to free education from primary schools to university school, which were no longer preserves of the wealthy. The technical education system and vote had also enormously extended. The number of students holding free places in technical schools last year was 15,051. Expenditure in education amounted to £G3,186. The Government expected sc great advantage to accrue to the colony from the visit of its general inspector to other countries. He defended the School Journal, considering it would be accompanied by extensive benefits. Referring to the outbreak of plague in Auckland, he said the manner in which the Health Department set about combating it justified the existence of that department. As to the Land Bill he denied Mr Massey's assertion that he (Mr Fowlds) was the real author of it. Mr Massey had called him a Socialist among other names. He was not a Socialist, but would rather he one than uphoid the present system. Mr Massey threatened that the Land Bill would not be passed unless he was first carried out of the House. That was the threat of an anarchist. Parliament and Government would do their duty then to the extent of carrying Mr Massey out on a stretcher (Laughter). There' was a good deal of genuine opposition in Auckland to the Bill but much of that was due to misrepresentation. There was not the slightest justification for the assertion that the Bill was an attack on thefreehold already existing.