THE TARANAKI SEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 7 May 1907, Page 3

THE TARANAKI SEAT.

MR OKEVS CANDIDATURE

I A large crowd assembled at the (Theatre Royal las', evening, when Mv 11. jOkey, the Opposition candidate, addressed the electors, the proportion of ladies j being a noteworthy feature. Mr W. F. Brooking presitled, and the speaker received an impartial hearing.

Mr 11. Okey, who opened his speech with a reference to the circumstances [necessitating the election pod a tribute to the memory of ihe hue Mr h. 'M. Smith. The candidate's announcement that he stood in the direct OPPOSITION INTEREST

(was greeted wiii applause by a large section. He held that the counlvy wanted not only a strong Government (but a strong Oppo-ii'on. Still he was | not a strong "pat.y" man in. the sense lin which the words were generally used, especially, he added, under the present system of party Government. As an indication thai it did not meet with his entire approbation he .;.-

danced, as had b'en known, that a man might speak his "convictions' in the House and then go and vote against th-m. Urieily touching upon the Covernmen's claims to he solely responsible for so much Lib/ral legislation, the speaker joined issue with his political opponent; on the question. CREDIT FOR LEGISLATION.

Mr Dockrill hail claimed credit for all the good measures passed by the present. Government but hj (Alt' Okey) could point to many in which the Opposition party had been the first ana most prominent advocates. If the Government claimed credit in connection with the Shops and Factories Act, men equal credit must be accorded the Opposition, as all must admit that it was Sir John Hall, a member of that party, who brought the measure forward. Also, when the division was called the late !ilr Seddon and many of his party walked out of the House before they would vote lor it (cries of "No," "Yes/ "It i 3 true,' and laughter). Mr Okey took exception to the way in which the Act was being construed and administered by the present Government, the Department's actions being "ridiculous." A tradesman who had a few employees at the back of his shop had to close his shop; likewise '"a butcher making a lew sausages" Laughter). One of the main questions at this election—despite Messrs Dockrill's and Malone's assertions to the contrary—was THE LAND BILL QUESTION. As that matter had been so much before the electors of late, he would conline himself to dealing with one or two of its main features. When Dr Findlay addressed a meeting here a resolution had been carried to the effect, "We like you, Dr findlay, but we don't like your j Land Bill. Please go and amend it and then we may deal with it." The I doctor had replied in effect, "I am not very taken with the Bill myself, although I must stick to the principle." Mr Masscy had dealt with the Bill in a very fair way (applause), and ho (Mr Okey) was satisfied to agree with most of his views on the subject. '"There is not time to go into it from the differ ent points of view,' continued the speaker, "but I tell you straight I am an out and out freeholder." (Applause). He had preached the same gospel to them for years, long before .the Laud Bill was heard of. It was his intention to vote for the freehold on every occasion. He favored giving the optional tenure, not doing away with the leasehold, but using it as a ladder for the purpose of attaining the freehold. (Applause). He believed in extending this to the working man who required a home, as well as to the former who required a farm. It was dread of the "everlasting rent" that had prevented many a person from getting together a home. Together with the optional tenure he was a supporter of the limitation of areas, and favored re introducing the

DEFERRED PAYMENT.

system. (Applause). Under that interest and principle had to be paid oil' iu ten years, but lie saw no reason wily that time should not be extended to twenty years in order to reduce -tin; periodical payments. It was a system which had helped many a struggling man to. secure a competency iu later year:;. The young man must be encouraged Iu every possible way to take up land, and ibis was one of the best methods to that end. The candidate pointed out tlia t leasehold was not looked upon as the same security as freehold for moneyborrowing purposes, and this would hamper many a man from making the further improvements he desired. On the other hand, with a freehold property the lender was more liberal, looking at it from this view: '-Well, if the worst comes to the worst I cm take the land." (A voice: That is all he wants. Laughter). Even the Department administering the Advances to Settlers Act made a big distinction between freehold and leasehold, in regard to advance, al» though things Iw-a not been quite io baoj since the Laud Commis-ion sal. Where there was no outright ownership the lender wanted a higher rate of interest, and in times of scarcity there was a difficulty iu getting any advance at all upon leasehold. The majority of our pioneers would never have come to the colony to be tied down to the landlord; they left that behind in the Old Country. (A voice: They can buy I freehold in the Old Country). Yes; by paying for it. (The same voice, more insistent: Well, we have to pay for it here, haven't we?) Supposing the Government carried the leasehold, of course the rents wouhl be depended upon and used for carrying on affairs of State, and if the colony got a few bad seasons—as hacl happened in the pastthere was no doubt there would be great difficulty in keeping up the land revenue. Then the money to carry ou would have to be found somewhere, and the l-iovernment would be compelled to increase the Customs duties and taxes, , and thus hand ihe burden on to the shoulders less able to bear it. The history of the We-t Coast Settlement Ueserves was related by the speaker, who advocated more just treatment being accorded the settlers in the matter of their improvements and re vahutions. , The settlers could see trouble ahead, and the matter required clearing up by men who understood it. A great many of them were in this electorate, and this question was "one of the troubles thai these other members, Messrs Jlalone and Doekrill, know nothing about." (Laughter and applause). "I was in the a>--trict when the land was thrown open,' added the speaker, ".Mr Jlalon: knows nothing ajjout it." lie considered that the value of the improvements which had been made should go in the sellers' pockets, and lie favored setting tip a Commission to arrive at a fair bargain between them and the natives. The settlers had no wish to do thy natives out of any portion of the land referred to, but they did not want iu be trea.ed like some settlers iu l'.-ihiatua. as quoted by Air Jlassey in his speech hist week. With resnect to NATIVE LANDS

generally it was high time some finality was aiifred at; it was time the native.? were put on the same footing as the Europeans. The Maoris receive! Tie same biaefits from roads, public works and other evidences of civilisation as the pakeha, and he maintained that the natives should bear a fair proportion of the rates and uixes. Tile lir.-t thing nee-vKary was to have tie- native la>:d> individualised, -ullicieiid land for the use of the natives to be set aside and Tie balanc sold or leased to t,-.e bc-t adavnlage. H,. did not altogether agree with the idea of the Young Native Party to put .If natives on farms and lend them money under the Advances to Settlers Act beenn-e of their Uiriftlossness and primi.ive idias of making use of money. It wis probildc that some of the money, at least, might be spent on tangis and other frivolities dear to the Maori heart. Before any deci-ion was arrived at in regard to trusting mtives with advances the matter required careful consideration, and proper safe guards arrived at. YVORKJIKX'S HOMES. on this subject Mr Okey said he would 1* found supporting any scheme that would as-ist working men in providing homes for themselves, always with a view to making it a .freehold, lie had brought up ihis matter some four and a-haif vears ago when he suggested that the Advances to Settlers Act should be iw'il for this purpose. The Government of the dav iliought thev could go one heller, and said, "We will buy land ami JbuilU a home for you.'-' This they did,

[hut lio thought the electors must iulinit jit was not a success, lie was ag.iin-t building homes and binding men clown to certain distrie.s. Why should a man owning a section in a town and wanting assi-tanec not have the same assistance, afforded him as was granted for a section at Spotswood. lie maintained that the Government could afford to lend up to a fair amount on workmen's homes wherever situated; repayments of say Ills per week should he suilieient, on an expenditure of .C4UC) or £3OO, to pay rent and reduce the principal, .lie favored granting

PENSIONS.

to any person attaining 05 years of age, and those disabled through' accident before reaching that age. The pension-, he considered, should be made universal, with a method of contributing towards the same.. This would do'away wiib any semblance of charily and •■;>- courage our people lo be thrifty. To reduce a person's pension because lie or she had properly to the value of C 270 was distinctly wrong. People should be encouraged -to get a home together. 'What could present a belter picture than an old couple in their own home drawing a pension that they had provided for themselves. "We provide for - client teachers, and civil servants, aided Ji ■ candidate, "and why no( for those who have borne the heat ami burden of (he day?'' (A voice: That's pivlly rough on the teachers. Laugh,cr) .

CIVIL SERYICI

With reference to the Civil Service, Mr. Okey demanded equal opportunities for all, the member's son to have no advantage over the laborer's son, the sole test to be ability. He denounced the "wire-pulling" so frequently brought to light, instancing a recent case where the (lovernment seemed powerless to "sack" some dispensible Civil Servants. How could any private business last on these lines. A (lovernment "governed by the Civil Service" was a ludicrous sight. A Hill providing for a Board of three members, one to he elected by the Civil Service ami two by (he Government of the day, was the remedy advocated.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT,

Reform in the direction of giving local governing bodies greater powers and increased borrowing facilities was advocated by the speaker. He favored the Government taking over the main roads, especially where the were railways. The question should be gone into thoroughly, and he was satisfied the Government could effect a considerable saving to the taxpayers. Local bodies liaiAo pay too high rates of interest for any money borrowed. As they were really carrying on one of the functions of the Government it was the duty of the Government to introduce cheap money for the purpose of carrying on these works. He considered the Government should push on with the railway from

STRATFORD TO ONGARUh

as this was a most important matter to the whole district. Ongarue was only 130 miles from New Plymouth, and the line lay through some of the best land in the province. If the line were pushed along it would draw trade to the port. It would also, in a great measure, solve the Ohura road problem. The ActingPremiers proposal to hand the road oyer to the Stratford County Council was against the interests of the people. But. with an election pending he had turned a complete somersault. Mr. Okey referred to the necessitv for

HARBOR EXTENSION

at Xew Plymouth. The present loan uf £200,1)00 was at li per cent, which meant a payment of £12,000 a year in interest. The loan, however, had been reduced to .€140,000 by tile Harbor Board buying its own debentures. Upon the extinction of the present loan the Hoard would be able to borrow up to £300,000 without increasing tiie rate, for. with (he (iovernnient at the hack of the loan, the money could be got at 4 per cent. He considered a loan for harbor extension wharves, and a dredge would be the very best financial proposition that could be put to the ratepayers. With the transhipment «]ied now in course of erection, and dee]) sea vessels calling, the prosperity of the district was assured. The question of

NO-LLCEXSE

was now removed from political control. 11 was 11 social and not a political question, nurf it sliould be left entirely to the will of the people. The colony could not prosper without I'.OIiHOWINti for roads, railways, and advances (o settiers, and for opening up new hinds. Hue of (he functions of the (hivcrniuciil was to introduce cheap money for speeilicd purposes. Jt must pay them to carry on works for the improvement of the colony. .Although in (he past much borrowed money had lieou squandered, he was satislied and could show that the money borrowed had been expended in a fair and reasonable way, ami had good asseis to show for the. liability. He had promised to reply to a letter signed ••J''it7.roy'' in the Daily Xews of a few dags ago, asking if Mr. Massey had voted against the ADVANCES TO SETTLERS' RJLL when il lirst came before Parliament. His reply was in the allirmativo. All the Auckland members had been returned tlr.it vear pledged (o oppose any further borrowing. When the Advances to Settlers' Hill'came down, Mr. Massey said if the Covcrnmcnt would use fund's of the llovenimeul institutions to lend out to the settlers, he would support it, but he and other members had been returned pledged to support no further borrowing. Major Harris alone broke that pledge, and he alone was rejected at the next election.

PERSONAL. lie intended to carry on the contest openly, mid in tin? best of spirits, wit limit ma kill"; all enemy, lie knew personalties were not polities, ami lie liclieved in people being allowed to exercise their votes according to their own free will. (Applause.) He, K aw an einphalie denial to a statenieut, now being circulated In the effect that he had always been one to cut down wages, lie had lieen on local bodies for about thirty years, and if anyone could bring a single iustance of such nil ait on his part he would willin-lv retire from the present contend. (Applause.) lie had had one man working for liim for ten years. I.\ video: What about fix bob a day and 2.is a week?) Mr. Okcy:Ft's quiie certain that some of you are not worth that. lie was a friend of the working-man. He was willing to discuss matters with them, lie knew that the working-men's votes were being used bv (Jovenuueiit ollicials to hold t'heir positions. And the working men were too blind to see it. j ( Interruption, and cries of "Order.") lie considered a man miw hive full wages, for the cost of living was high.

POSITION OF Till. COUIXY. Concluding, ilr. Okey said the colony was never in a bettor position than now. Tin.- staple products, wool, butter, ami cheese, were bringing liigk prices, ami there was no indieation of any drop. 'J'licv wanted now a Oovernment that would help local hollies l>y -i-ttini,' them cheat) money; a iMiverniuout to assist local industries, to open up roads and settle lauds; ami wiili these they would he in a position to call lliis. as Hi., late Premier loved to call it, "tioilS own country." IiUES'JTONS. Tu answer to ipieslions that were relevant to tlie iwsne, Mr. (!key said he Mtpporicd the policy of limiting ownership ol' land to a value of <TidOi)!), and would make the limit even lower. (An elector: .Mr. Okey, von-ve. killed the goose.) lie, however, would not adopt the Land Kill's method of limiting areas, considering the Covorn--1-...111 should lie prepared to buv any sur-plu-ig. m markcl value.

"Are von in favor of the superannuation scheme, and will vou support a Bill to make it apply to both branches of the l.cgi-lature';" queried another.

much about superannuation, and considered lit" members of Parliament were lon well paid lo require anv pavment after leaving the House. Ile'was in favor of uiving men and women equal pay for equal work". lie would prohibit women from .-cfvin- behind public bars in holds, lie his opinion that the State should not encourage gambling in anv wav, and for I hat reason would vote for h'iiv Bill bavin- for its objocl I he abolition of the totalisator. A freehold, even a mind-raged freehold, was better than a leasehold. He had no lime for the leasehold, lie knew many a man who had been compelled lo borrow money on his freehold in order lo improve and stock it. And they had succeeded in paying oil' the mortgage. Of course, with the leasehold, there would be no mortgage. He would rather see people borrow to improve their land titan leave it lo run to waste. "Do workers receive full value for I heir labor under present conditions of life?" The working man did not always received full pay, and he needed every

penny of if. Five or six shillings a day twenty years ago was better than the eight or nine shillings received now, for the cost of living had increased.

lie believed clubs should come under the same conditions as hotels, and fully believed that they were subject to the

ante rules.

As a lifelong total abstainer, his sympathies were with the temperance and prohibitionist party. "What experience have you had on local bodies and other matters concerning the district i" was a question that Mr. Okev answered a I some length, stating that twenty-three years ago he had joined the Frankley Road Hoard, ami had been a member ever since, for twenty years its chairman. For ten years he was chairman and secretary both. Thirteen years ago he joined the T'aranaki County Council. Then the roads in the country were almost impas-

sable from end to end. The funds were such I bat the Council could not draw a clique, and the members had to guarantee the bank before the workmen's wages could he paid. After 12 years on the Council, nine years as chairman, he had retired, never having missed a meetinu'. lie was not ashamed of his career on'local bodies. (Applause.) The Political Reform League, was an Opposition organisation. The statement that the Opposition party would cut down wages was only an election crv, and contrary to fact. The Opposition had not yet had a chance to treat Ihe working men—(A voice at the hack: And you never will)—so they did not know where their true friends were.

lie was opposed to the proposal to bring cheese and butler factories under the Factories' Act. That would kill the indusirv.

Although he stood now as an Oppositionist, he was as Liberal as when he stood as an Independent Liberal. He was no more Conservative now than he

was then. An elector said he was not satisfied with the answers given to his questions. If the workers got full value for their labor, how was it that Carnegie piled up his millions' (Laughter.) lie was in favor of giving leasehold tenants the right to acquire the freehold at the original valuation, on his paying the difference in the interest rate between 4 per cent for l.i.p. and 5 per cent for o.r.p. Mr. .1. W. Boon moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Okey for his able and practical address, and for the manner in which he hail answered questions. In the midst of considerable uproar, Mr. Chadwick mounted the platform and seconded the motion, concluding with the hope that Mr. Okey would never go to Parliament. (Laughter.) The motion was put and carried amidst loud cheers' and counter-cheers..

Mr E. Dockrill has been nominated by the following electors: Mary Ann Smith, Devon street, widow. Ann Knott, Devon street, widow. Daniel Berry, Queen street, ironmonger.

Gustav Tisch, Young street, settler. Mary Bullot, Barrett street. Aaron Marsh, Egmont road, flft'mer. Dr Hugh Cleland, Vivian street.

Toolm H. Allan, Kent road, farmer. Carl iSorrensen, Smart road, farmer. Alfred Charles Case, Pendarves street, lail>orer.

John Searl, Fitzroy, settler. Amanda Bullot, New Plymouth.

George Williams, Maud road, farmer.

Daniel Penwarden, Oiuata, farmer. John Martin, Upland road, farmer. Charles Emanuel Bellringer, hardwareman, Devon street.

George Griffiths, tailor, Lemon street. Fred Joseph Morris, Oakura. farmer. Hans Chris Hansen, Fitzroy, findowner.

George Davy, Dorset road, farmer. Leslie Steel, Fi-.zroy, builder.

David Gordon, MauJ road, farmer. William Chellings, Egmont road, far mer.

Robert Coleman. Gill street, builder. Thos. Parker, Dorset road, farmer , Jno. W. Lye, Cut-field road, express' man.

Noble Walter Hill, Upper Egmont road, farmer.