Political. MR J. H. HASELDEN AT MANGAITI

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43386, 12 November 1908, Page 2

Political.

MR J. H. HASELDEN AT MANGAITI

Mil J. H. HASELDEN addressed the electors at Mangaiti, last Monday night, November 9th, in the schoolhouse lbe chair was occupied by Mr F. Strange, and the meeting was an enthusiastic one. Mr Haslcden in addressing the audience pointed out the inconsistency of ministers voting against the Freehold yet holding freehold land themselves. He sail that the present Government’s attitude toward the land question was one of want of policy. He {denounced the extravagance of purchasing estates at enhaiiqgd. prices, and putting settlers on them at t? cost of £1,200 per man, or as on thfc Culverden Estate, £II,OOO to £12,000 pei man. While the Government were buying these estates on the one hand they were selling the freehold °n thedther. , Mr Hazelden referred to Mr Millar s advocacy of the breaking of the 9-J years’ lease, it was, he said, “ a shameful and dishonest proposal to come from any man, much more so from a minister ot the Crown.” Mr Haselden described himself as a freeholder right out. He denounced the financial policy of the present Government and the increased taxation and debt. He deplored the unauthorised expenditure which amounted to 1* million last year, the increase in land taxation, the Government valuers putting up the land for taxation purposes, and undervaluing the improvements. _ Mr Haselden also pointed out the excessive cost to the Dominion of the construction of railways, he deplored the. Southern Railways being apportioned so much more of the public funds than the northern ones, and he dwelt upon the need for roading an bridging the back blocks so as to make them accessible. The native lands, he said, must be acquired and settled, for at present they are simply hot-beds for noxious weeds. -,, Mr Haselden warmly denounced the Government’s electioneering strategy, in offering bribes of roads, bridges, and; J.r. ships to its supporters, and confronting its opponents with threats. He instanced the great excess of the sums placed on the estimates over the sums actually spent. After treating the Education Act and the new dairying legislation, he strongly denounced the Second Ballot Gag clause. ~ . , In conclusion Mr Haselden promised that if returned he would do his best for all classes of the community, and labour to secure the interests of all.