POLITICAL NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7945, 7 October 1905, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES

Pet Press Association. Ashburton, October 5. Mr John Studholme, who unsuccessfully contested the Ashburton seat at thu last election in the Opposition interests, uddre.ssed the electors at Ashburton last night. He approved of much of the Government legislation, but found it impossible to support the Government, as the country urgently needs a change. He was opposed to the old system of licensing, but not as a prohibitionist. He would not alter the licensing lows during the next Parliament. He opposed the lease-in-pcrpetuity, and would give tenants the option to purchase their holdings at the original value, plus one per cent. He was a believer in the freehold and closer land settlement, and would part with the remaining Crown lands for cash or lease with the option to purchase, the moneys so obtained to be reinvested in town and suburban lands to- provide workers' homes. He opposed Bible reading in schools, and advocated taking full advantage of the act for giving voluntary religious teaching in schools. He strongly opposed party government, and would support an Elective Executive. On questions of finance, he denounced the system of expenditure whereby the Public W<)rks Fund would become a weapon for party purposes and a bribe to constituents. He was run by no party ; neither the prohibitionist nor the trade, the Farmers' Union or any other union. He was standing against a huge organised system' of government by bribery, against the centralisation of all powers in one mivi. and for the purity of administration.