THE TARANAKI SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7918, 6 September 1905, Page 2

THE TARANAKI SEAT.

ADDRESS BY HR TISGH The Theatre Royal was fairly well filled on Tuesday evening, on the occasion of an address by Mr fi. Tisch, • on the political questions of the <lav, the audience including a good proportion of ladies. The chair was taken by the Mayor (Mr R. Cock), who expressed pleasure at introducing! a very valued friend. Though a candidate for the seat himself, if Mr Tisch were the elect of the people at the poll, lie (Mr Cock) would be found, ready and willing to assist him by every means in his power to carry out his Parliamentary duties. (Applause.) At a later period he (Mr Cock) would have pleasure in addressing the electors on his own behalf.

INTRODUCTORY. Mr Tisch, who received a good reception, thanked the Mayor lor his kind remarks on this bis first appearance before the electors. He went on to explain that since he returned from his tour abroad he bad been asked by electors not only of New Plymouth, but also of the country, to contest the Taranaki seat. He replied that he could not expect people to support him until they knew what his views were, the outcome being that a requisition signed by 200 electors was presented to him, asking him to address a public meeting. (Applause.) LAND LAWS.

Commencing wit.lv the land question he said the question of freehold versus leasehold, or the right of Crown tenants to acquire the freehold, was | one of the most important now before the people throughout the colony. Referring to the Commission appointed, he deprecated the soant respect paid to the Taranaki district in only half the members making a visit, and that a hurried one. Neverthc.css, the Commission had collected a considerable amount of evidence, which had been laid on the table of the House, and was now being debated. He did not think the present Parliament, would decide the' question ; it would be left to the new Parliament, and would be one of the principal iSsues on which the election would be fought. Candidates would have to clearly define their views, and, assuming for the purpose .of thf) address that lie was a candidate, lie would follow this course. He was a strong advocate of the freehold (Applause.) What had been the inducement to our sturdy early settlers to leave the Mother Country and embark on a four or six montlis's voyage to this colony/? The inducement held out, was that they would be able to get the freehold and become their; own landlords. He considered that every man who settled in the backblocks and turned the bush land into a smiling homestead, and created a means of livelihood for himself and family, deserved every facility to acquire the freehold. At the same time he was in favour of allowing those who were,so desirous, to lake up Jrown lands on leasehold, anil when they were in a position to take up ilie freehold later on, every reasonable means should be afforded them to do so. He contended that one of the best land tenures ever introduce) was the deferred payment system introduced by the late Hon. William Rolleston. The terms were exceptionally liberal, and many farmers 9wcd their present position to thefact that they were able to take up a selection on that basis. From lvis (the speaker's) observation, he thought that the man who held the freehold farmed, his land better and seemed more prosperous and contented than the man on the leasehold. He referred to the marked success achieved in agricultural pursuits in Denmark and France, which he attributed largely to the policy of close settlement and freehold tenure. The condition of things' in Ireland was being wonderfully improved, also, by the action of the British Government in purchasing estates and throwing the land open on simih r terms to our deferred payment system. Continuing, Mr Tisch dealt at some length with the question of land for closq settlement. The Ballancc Government's measure for the acquisition and cutting up. of large estates for close settlement had proved most '.Vineficial, and the success of the policy was a material factor in the colony's progress. Therefore, provided that land suitable for close settle- 1 inent could be purchased at a reasonable price, he was strongly in favour of a continuance of this policy.

NATIVE LANDS. The question of dealing with the native lands was an important one to Taranak-i and other districts where there were large areas practically tied up and producing nothing except noxious weeds, He held that it would he ito the advantage of the Maori, the pakeha and the State to aeqiuire a portion of these lands for close settlement under the Land for Settlement Act. (Applause.) Ample reserves could be set aside, while the money realised could 'be vested In the Public Trustee for the education ami assistance of the noble Maori. Neither the Native Land Courts nor the Maori Councils had done much good and the present position was that the natives participated in the benefits of all public expenditure or improvements yet their lands were noli liable to taxation, and they paid no rates. Considering there were about, six million aej.es of jiativc land in the North Island, and most of it suitable for close settlement, it was in the interests of all that the State should' step in, IMMIGRATION. Referring to immigration, Mr Tisch saitl that they were told that under the reduced fare system 1757 persons' who arrived in the colony brought with them £94,M0. He admitted that every new settler was an asset to the country, but what a/bout those people who were leaving the country, Dr. ; Fitehett, editor of "Life " spoke about the emigrants from New /Zealand going to Canada and the Argentine, the reason 'being mainly beeaus-ethey could not get tho freehold in New Zealand.

ROADS, J he Question of roads into at length by the speaker. The bad roads and lack of facilities in Taranaki demanded attention. He contended that the roads should bejuade iif advance of setvleincnt, and that the lesitlentiaj clauses should he relaxed until the settlers had rpatls to their holdings,, ply cruel to insist on families residing on sections until this was carried out. He had known settlers who had fought thej'bush and had .had to pay for their roads, and in some instances for bridges as well. Their unimproved sections had been highly valued, and loaded to the extent of lour, five or six shillings per- acre or roads, which in many instancesjian never Been made. The settlers i nad also had to borrow largely under the (.Qvernroeirt loans to'LotSil Bod- "•'» Act, and many nf them.were pay"'g as much in special and general intra to locttl bodies as the amount ot their rents. Outlining the procedure, lie said it was sometimes ten )ears -before the settlers got proper metalled roads, and the whole system required amendment in the direction Stated. He cited the'casc'of the "hangamomona p c ,„i )U , as all inst(lllCc of hardship.

RAILWAYS. The important question of railways aneptpil (ipj, ojtly (lie opening up of' the couirlry, -but also the -develop-) "lent of our timber and mineral resources. The system of railwav construction did not commend itself to /him. The mode appeared ( 0 be to ami s little bit of a railway toe, #n-

other bit iof railway there, and con- | struct an entirely new line somcwlureelse. In this way our railways never approached completion, anil some never arrived at paying point, [the interest being eaten up 'by the long delay in construction. The highly important Main Trunk line should be pushed on more rapidly. About twenty years ago a million of money had been borrowed and specially earmarked for the purpose, but liadj somehow disappeared. Now we were promised that;this line) would be completed in four years, and this was a matter the Auckland and Taranaki members should give attention to. With reference to the Stratford line, after twenty-seven years' agitation there was actually twelve miles of railway open for traffic at Toko; many of those who had started the agitation as young men were now grey-headed. (Laughter.) He thought the North Island Trunk line and till Stratford line should take precedence, over uhe Midland railway, which did not require to be hurried through. (Hear, hear.)

EDUCATION. One of the great objects of our educational system should be to enable children who succeed in equipping themselves, to ■enter the. hjjgher .chools without restrictions of, age, and free of cost, so that the child of humble parents should be on an equality with his more prosperous neighbour. Encouragement should be given to induce our most capable youths and abler students to enter and remain in the teaching profession, and a teacher's salary should not depend upon the school attendance a matter over which he had practically no control. Mr Tisch favoured the teaching of agriculture and dairying generally, as being in the best interests of these industries', and paid a tribute to the work of Chief Inspector Spencer in connection with technical education, which he (the speaker) strongly favoured. He was against the introduction of the Bible in schools. He did not think the State schools should be turned into sectarian institutions to irritate the feelings of a large section of those whose children at/tended the "schools. The clergy and the churches were no t doing all they might in •quickening the sense of parents and guardians as to their responsibilities. He considered that the home influence of the parents laid the foundation of children's character. The issue slKiuld, however, be left to the decision of the electors, and he would favour a i referendum on the question. He thought that so far as possible a uniform sjpf of liooks should 4>c instjtut- ■ ed in the schools, so as to save expense to parents. He congratulated . Hie Premier 011 the teachers' superan • nuation scheme. Teachers in tlu ; past had received very small salaries ; indeed, but he trusted they would now he able to provide for their old igv. He would like to see a super- [ animation scheme for the whole ol tin < Civil Service. With regard to Edu- ' cation Boards he preferred to see | their powers extended, rather than ' to have any further centralisation in " Wellington. As the physique of a nation depended largely upon the train- | ing of its youth, he was a warm advocate ol physical culture being; ex- ■ tended in all the schools. RIFLE CLUBS.

Every encouragement should be given to the cadet movement, also the formation of rifle clubs, which formed the basis of our defence forces ',nd was splendid training for young men. DRINK QUESTION. Though not a prohibitionist, Mr Tisch continued, he was an advocate of temperance, and contended that lie hart done as much' in the interests o) temperance as a great many of the recognised workers. During the time be held a publican's license lie converted the hotel,from a drink shop into a fine residential hotel, at which many prohibitionists, among others, stayed. If the holelkeepers generaliy conducted their hotels on similar lines, \ve would probftltlyfhear a great deal less about prohibition. (Anplausc.) BETTING AND GAMBLING.

The speaker also dealt with the betting and gambling evil Which was becoming more prevalent, and said he was prepared to support any practical measure for its dimunition or suppression.

THE UPPER HOU.SE, Members themselves seemed dissatisfied with the constitution of the Upper House, and tlvc Premier himself said the House was no longer capable of carrying out its functions. Mr Tisch declared himself in favour of electing this Chamber by electors on a certain property valuation.

WORKMEN'S HOMES. Tire speaker expressed his approval of any scheme that would altord cheap homos for workmen, and generally speaking, favoured the principles laid down in Mr Frank Watt's scheme.

GENERAL. Mr Tisch dealt with the need of tree planting to counteract the denuda-* Dion of the forests. lie commended an active policy of advertising the colony's resources far and wide through the High Commissioner, and spoke of the advisablencss of appointing! a Civil Service Board in order that merit ancl examinations should be -the only factor in making appointments, and political influence put a stop to. [(Applause.) If public works, such as roads and railways, were to be carried on with vigour, money must be obtained. He was in favour of borrowing, provided the money could be obtained at a cheap rate, for re-pro-ductive work only. GENERAL SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT.

In conclusion Mr Tisch contcmlcd that it was in their interests to support a Government candidate, and he was prepared to give a general support to the present administration. But if they wanted a candidate pledged to go-ami turn the Premier out of office they would have to look .somewhere else. (Applause.) He would not be a tool in the hands of the electors or the Premier, not if he knew it. (Applause.) He had heard an ex-memter say that most of the work was done in the lobbies o! the House; weli, he thought lie could make himself genial and get along with most people, also assist In getting Taianaki's share of the expendilure. He hoped, if chosen as their representative, to get the New Plymouth deviation passed, to get Opunake connected with the main line of railway, and to bring the Tourist Department to recognise Taranaki's claims as a pleasure and health resort. He would endeavour to get the foreshore vested in the New X'lvjiiouth Borough Council, as the town was the natural watet'irig place for the province; algo llarslaml Hill for the piirpcises of (j rosort, Having heard his views, tho verdicr was with the electors. Mr Tlsch, who resumed his seat amidst loud applause, then answered a number of questions. To the question "Will you retire if Mr Smith comes out ?" Mr Tisch replied "That depends on the electors. I leave it in their hands."

A vote of thanks and confidence was proposed by Mr I'. I). Hoss. Mr licgellis moved an amendment as follows 'That while recognising Mr r I isch's able .vr (--ey on the various local bodies this meeting Is of opinion that the tlmo In inopportune for tho speaker to contest the .seat as a Government candidate, as wo have every confidence in the Kitting member as the Liberal representative."

This was not seconded, and the Chairman declared the voto of confi<k>nce carried.

A vote of thanks to the Chair man concluded the meeting.