The Approaching General Election.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43387, 20 October 1908, Page 2

The Approaching General Election.

THE TAURANGA ELECTORATE.

MR W. H. HERRIES, M.P., AT TE AROHA..

Thf Public Hall was crowded to overlowing on Saturday evening last, when Mr W. H. Herries, M.P. for Bay ot Plenty, and who is now, owing to th" (Iteration in the boundaries of the electorates, contesting the Tauranga seat, which includes Te Aroha, Waihou, Morrinsville, Cambridge, Matamata, Tauranga, and the intervening districts. Amongst those present in the Hall was quite a number of ladies, some- of whom had travelled a good distance in order to listen to Mr Herries. On maldng his appearance on the platform, accompanied by the Mayor of Te Aroha (R. L. Somers, Esq.), Mr Herries was greeted -with rounds of applause and shouts of welcome. - Shortly after S o’clock, the time fixed for starting, the meeting was set in motion by the Mayor, who presided. Mr Somers said it was his pleasant duty not to have to introduce Mr Herries to those present, as that gentleman was only too well-known by all present, ' as he had been a resident in their midst for many years past. He felt sure that Mr Herries would be given a patient hearing, and he trusted those present would show thenappreciation of Mr Herries’ worth at the ballot box, and that it would not be the last occasion he would have the honour ot representing them in the Parliament of | the Dominion, , Mr Herries on rising to commence his address was loudly applauded. He said it was the first time he had the pnviledgc of delivering a political address at lo Aroha, but he was well-known to them and amongst those present he could see many old friends, whom he had known for years and years. They were all conversant with his views. Although he had never represented Te Aroha in Parliament, he had for twelve years represented the country all round, and was thoroughly acquainted with their needs, in fact he had repeatedly worked for the interests of Te Aroha and neighbourhood when in Wellington, and did all m his power to push the place ahead and to attend to its wants He was contesting the Tauranga seat as an Opposition candidate, and he would endeavour to place before those present his reasons for being an Oppositionist. He was not an Oppositionist just for the sake of being against the Government, and when in Parliament he did not oppose everything brought forward by the other side whether it was right 01 wrong. He was quite ready to assist any Government measure, if he consider edit was for the good of the country. He had often supported the last Premier, and later Sir Joseph Ward, and he had also opposed them and sometimes successfully—to the best of his ability (cheers). Doubtless some would couple the Opposition of to day with that ot many years ago, things were altogether diffeient, it would just be as feasible to go back to the time of the Reformation. The Government ot Sir Joseph Ward was not the Government of the late Rt. Hon. R. J. Scddon-not , by a very long way. He admitted opposing certain Bills brought forward by the late Mr Seddon, one ot which the Old Age Pensions, he now acknowledges to be a just Bill. What he took exception to was the manner in which the money was to be found to meet the payments. The < dd Age Pensions had not proved a burden to the State, and it had gone a long way towards relieving the necessities of the necessituous poor He was not present to point out and uphold any good work the present Government might have done—doubtless the other candidate would do that—he was there that night to _ support the cause of the Opposition, and to point out their right to claim the support of the electors. Eveiyone must admit that there could be no good Government unless there was a strong Opposition. Unless the opposition was alive and on the alert, measures would be rushed through the House in a slip-shod way, and Acts would be passed that would bring discredit ou the Dominion. It was far better to have fewer and better Acts. The Opposition party of to-day were not retrograde ; quite the contrary. Any impartial person must admit that measures had been put forward that were anything but a credit to the Goverdment, viz., the famous Dairying regulations and the Shearers’ Accommodation Act, which were farcial in the extreme, and required a good deal of pruning. As far as the farmers weie concerned they had not a representative in the Ministry, at least one that knew anything about farming. He could not pass without paying a compliment to the late Premier. The Opposition knew his strength ; and there was no greater statesman throughout the Australasian colonies. Take the Seddon Ministry of a few years ago: Reeves, Cadman, Sir John McKenzie, and others, men of ability, intellect, and personality, aud compare with those at present in office. The Seddon and Ward Administration were as far apart as the two poles. As far as the Mining and Farming industries were concerned the Government had retarded rather than assisted these two great industries, which were inimicable to the welfare of the Dominion, As regards the Dairying Regulations. They were simply ridiculous. Mr Herries proceeded to read these famous and much - discussed re°Tilations, from time to time during the reading loud laughter was to be heard and interjections of a very unfavourable nature. Mr Herries went on to state that the Dairving industry was one that we could not afford to harrass, at the present time it was parrying the whole of the Dominion on its back. No doubt regulations were required, but there was a between reasonable and drastic regulations. A good many farmers had stated that if the regulations were put into force as first framed they would have to sell all their cows. (Mr Timmins 1 What about the milking sheds floating with mud.) Yes, said Mr Herries, there is reason in all things, but there is no use going to extremes. Mr Timmins continued to interject j remarks, and was of an argumentative , turn of mind. Those present took exception to Mr Timmins’ monopolising, the evening. The Ohiiirman 3-sked Timmins to desist, as he would have an opportunity later on in the evening. Mr Herries, proceeding, said they must excuse seme of thp Government supporters, as they felt they must back up a bad cause. Some time back the Government hud taken oft the sheep tax and like lightning change artists a cowtax is proposed, which fie considered a oreat injustice. Why should the dairy farmers bo charged a cow-tax to keep an ■inny of Inspectors who they did not want. Such ridiculous Regulations were the result of Ministers who did not utidors and their business. Mr Herries next dealt with the ,

shortage of the money banner ha fast was evidenced by the mmn which the Banks and .mone} -lenders were squeezing their clients and pub g n the overdrafts. Interest h*d gone m from o, si, 6 and 7 per cent. advances to Settlers Depart shott of funds, and continuous com plaints had been leccived. In mar y cases farmers had applied for tlicir farms had been valued and the loans approved; but owing to ba financing on the part' of the present administration, the funds of the Advances to Settlers’ Department had run out. 'he Government had not looked far enough ahead, hence the trouble. 'lhere was no cash available iust at the time when the uhfortunatc settlers required it. The fund had been mismanaged. The Tariff Bill was next dealt with, the speaker stating that of all the industries mining and farming had been ■ hit the hardest. The tariff suited the ! people residing in the town. Agricul- | tural and Mining machinery had been S taxed up to 20 per cent. There appeared to be a want of sympathy between the present Government and the Mining and Farming communities The sum of £30,500 had been put on the Estimates to develop Mining. The grant was alright, but only £8,622 had been expended. Then again the Government said that , every encouragement would be given to I prospecting, £IO,OOO was voted, and only £1,740 spent; £IOOO was voted towards assisting prospecting othef than gold-mining, and yet nothing at all was

b oent. The money was voted all right; but under such conditious that it was impossible to get it; it was useless to vote money and then block the way of getting it with red tape (cheers)* Regulations brought in by the Ministers f. r Mines and Agriculture went to show that they were doiug more harm than good to these industries and that the farmers and miners would be better without either. Ref erring to the Land Policy of the Government Sir Joseph Ward intimated that he was going to bring down a brand new land policy. The Premier said there would be no more freehold, all would be Crown land in future ; lands would be leased instead of getting the freehold. The breaking up of big estates would be made compulsory. It was his (Mr Herrie/s) good fortune or bad fortune, to follow Mr MeNab in his speech, as he prophesied that the ideas propounded would be abandoned. This had eventually resulted as prophesied. While listening to Sir Joseph Ward coursing on the Policy “ Compromise appeared to be the keynote to his remarks. Everything should be submitted to “ Compromise.” It appeared to him (Mr Herries) that the present Ministry had no fixed policy. They had no fixed ideas. Unlike the late Premier, they did not appear to know what to do. What was wanted was men who put down a policy and stuck to it, not so much “ compromising.” A Government with a fixed policy was the one that would maintain the confidence of the people (cheers).' The Hon. MeNab made a tour through the North in an endeavour to convert the people, and returned converted himself. The years lease was alright, but a sort of. a hybrid 6(5 years lease was brought m. What the people wanted was either a leasehold or freehold. The people should be given a chance to purchase the freehold of their land at its original value. He was in f >vour of a graduated land tax. The small farmei I would not pay it. Only a , amount of freehold should be granted to any one person. There is ; no doubt that a freeholder would Ret far • more out of his land than a leaseholder. Ho was in favour of settling the countiy with small and prosperous yeoman m preference to big estate holders, who would prove of strength and wealth to the Dominion. . . The Native Land Policy, as in forcqgjy the Government, was a huge mas<tof , contradictions, and had proved to be unworkable, and this was proved by the fact that notwithstanding special Commissions (Mr Ngata and Sir Robert i '‘tout) not an acre of land had changed ! hands and the native land question appeared to be just as far off a settlement as ever. He (Mr Herries) contended the ; only way to solve the difficulty would be to individualise the native titles. ihe ■ Maori preferred to deal with his own , land and money. The Maoris must be o-ot out of the system of commission. _ ° The Second Ballott showed another m- ■ stance of funk on the part of the Minis- . trv He explained the much-talked of ’ Ga" Clause in connection with elections [ -an attempt to prevent free speech and dag the press. ~ , Mr Herries pointed out how the ju—ling had taken place in connection with the back block road grants. The Premier reckoned on spending £1,000,000 in four years, £200,000 each year, but nothing approaching this amount had been voted, much less spent. . „

—Local patters - Mr Herries next dealt with mattery affecting the immediate surroundings qi Te Aroha. He had been atgongst thenx for many years and bad watched the growth of the district f . r ?^ He spoke of the way in wbi°b the Tognst Department had managed the Domain, •nvin°- it as his opinion that if any local body had had the same amount of mopey to expend thereon it could have done the work as well, (A voice: Yes, and better!. An argument often used against him was that if be was elected they would get no money for the dmtrict from the Government as he was on the wrong side of the House. During the time he represented the Way of Plenty electorate (which included Rotorua) did it prevent him getting money for public works, etc. On Ihe contrary, he secured as much, if not more, for bis constituents than any other man in the House Some £< o 000 had been voted for the Bay of Ple , during his term of office. The next mentioning the faet that he noticed during the last few days that Aroha was well supplied with date boarding-houses, tea and refreshment rooms etc., for the use of tourists and visitors, and yet the Tourist Department wSe expending some. £BOO in and fitting up rooms m th eDomai, enter into competition with the local lesi dents and businesspeople. Was right ? He said emphatically no. The £BOO referred to could h^? i . been . far better in making additions to the present Post Office, or go a long way towards building a new and up-to-date office. If elected he would do his utmost for Te Aroha atid neighbourhood, I live among you, and will see that your interests are mine. Mr Herries resumed his seat amid prolonged applause.' The Chairmanstated that Mr Hemes would be uleased to answer any bueetiona jwked. _ . Mr J. Wood asked Mr Hemes if there wag anything in New Zealand a man could do without being taxed. Everything was taxed, even a man’s cow is taxed nowadays p This question and others of a hke nature, bearing on the actions of the present Government, created a good deal of laughter. Mr Hubbard, stepping on the platform,

said if him very great pleasure in moving a hearty vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Henries. Although he (the speaker) had only resided in Te Aroha a few yean, he had watched Mr Ferries’ career for many years pnst, and whatever he had undertaken he had carried it out straight and above board. The supporters of the Government besides the Opposition party, recognised that Mr Hemes’ retirement from politics would be a calamity. He was indeed a politician and a statesmen. He hoped that all present would show their confidence in Mr Herries at the hallot box. Mr Jas. Brown seconded, and in doing sd referred to Mr Herries’ good qualities. It required a good strong Opposition to keep the Government in check. There was an old saying “ An Old Dog for a Hard Road,’’ and Mr Herries was the man for this electorate. The motion on being put was declared carried, only one person voting against it. Mi Herries thanked those present for their token of appreciation. He proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman, whioh was carried by acclamation.

Mr Herries held a meeting ut Aratiatia schoolroom on Friday evening. The room was well filled. MrW. F. Ward was voted to the chair, and referred in no stinted terms to Mr Herries abilities, and the need for a strong Opposition. Mr Herries, in his address, which was very similar to that delivered at Te Aroha, was attentively listened to. His remarks were punctuated with applause of approval. On the motion of Mr Geo. Fanner, seconded by Mr Gage-Brown. Mr Herries was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.