THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 275, 14 November 1908, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Tilli TAIiANAKI (JAXDIDATUS. ■MI!. OK.UV AT ITTZiiOY. Air Harry Okey, candidate, addressed a fairly well attended liurcLilly of electors at Fit/.roy oil Thursday inglit, oil similar lilies to liis N-'W I'lynioulli speech. lie referred to Die necessity of strengthening the (([ijnisition in the House if the various Government measures were to be criticised. Tile only outstanding difference as far as polities were concerned between the Government and the Opposition, was the LAND I'OLICY. Thi! Government favoured the leasehold policy, while the Opposition delieved in giving every mail or woman that took up land, tile right to the freehold. They could take it up on whatever terms they liked, but when they were in a position to tak'c up tile freehold of that land then they should certainly have tluit right. So fur as the workmen in the towns were concerned iic also believed m giving them the opportunity of obtaining the freehold. The policy of the Government in purchasing estates in the past and throwing them open for selection on the leasehold system had been a failure, as was instanced by Spotswood and others. Tiie Government had come round to! the system advocated by the Opposition ; I and now instead of workmen's homes, i they had the Advances to Workmen which enabled any working man who . desired assistance in building a home I to go and borrow the money at 4|/ 2 1 per cent or o per cent, lie considered . there could be no better encouragv ment for a man to build a home for I himself than that now offered. This was the policy of the Opposition, but it had been "cribbed'' by the Government. This was what the Government did from time to time, and beneficial measures came down as though Government measures. He did not want to put the Government out of ollice, but he urged that it was in the best interests of the whole Dominion that the Opposition party in the House should be strengthened. He agreed with the Premier that the Dominion should have a rest from legislation, except in connection with our local bodies, which ought to have more power given "'to them, and also in respect to Native lands . Going back to the Land Settlement policy, he said there was one matter to which he did not refer in his New Plymouth speech. The Premier had brought forward in liis Financial Statement a scheme whereby ten or more men could combine to purchase large estates and the Government, if it agreed upoV) the price asked for that land, could lind the wolile of Die money . amount. At the time the question was before the House—July last—he (M.\ Okey urged that if ten men Had the right to take up land under such ar rangeiiients, live men should also be |

allowed to do so. lie believed n policy like this would be of great advantage in enabling the man living in the to*-* to go and take up an- improved farm. The Premier did not push the proposal, however, simply because there, were a number of members in the House who would not allow any further freehold to be taken up. He (the Premier) told the electors the other night he would bring the matter forward when Parliament next sat and if returned he (Mr Okey) intended to support it because lie contended it was a Liberal measure and in the interests of the settlement of the lands of the Dominion in fairly small settlements and because it wosuu enable a number of residents in J «!3 towns, who were desirous of doing so, lo go on tile laud. So far as IM.MIGRATION

was concerned, he considered it was necessary that there should be new arrivals in the Dominion, but the class of immigrant that we had had coming in of late was not desirable. AYhat was | wanted was men who would go out and I lake up laud—farm labourers with small means who would take up land for themselves. The No-license question was arousing a great deal of interest at the present time, and on this matter lie wished to make himself clear. They knew that duriag the last scssitn of Parliament a Bill was introduced to enable no-license to be carried by a bare majority. That Bill got very little support, and personally lie was not favourable to lio-license being carried by a bare majority. He did not think it wise. Jlr Okey referred to the Premier's remarks relative to the Dairy regulations. lie urged that it was the intention of the Government to bring them forward in the way they had been brought down. This was about the lirst time that the regulations had been placed before tile House. He did lot think that, as they stood at the present lime, they were going to affect th; farmers very much. There was one clause lie intended to get struck out if possibh—that in regard to the registration fee. There should be no sign of a lax in connection with the dairy industry. Dealing with the Customs duty per head of tile population, Ire said the remarks of the Premier were very funny, to say the least of them. From the way Sir Joseph put it, it appeared that the people were not affected, but tile working man had as much 'reason to cry out about tile duty as anyone else. Tile Premier must have forgotten that the duties on silks, satins, and plushes—the luxuries of tile rich—were reduced during the last session, whilst, on tools, books, slashers, and dairy machinery it was increased. He referred to_ breakwater extension and to the importance of tile poll of ratepayers for the new loan. In conclusion, hi! referred to his long connection with local bodies and to the experience he had gained iu Parliament during the last two sessions. If they considered he had represented them satisfactorily and looked after tlreir interests, then he would again ask them to support, his candidature.

Jlr. G. Colson proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Jlr. Okey for his address. He sai(j Jlr. Okey had represented liiem in Parliament in suck a manner that it lielioved tlieni all to support 'him at: this election. Mr. 0. Oxenliam seconded. The motion was carried unammouslv.

Writes our Kent Road correspondent: —Jlr Okey delivered a political address here last Salnnlny night. A good many of the settlers turned out and he received a good hearing. He gave a very good account of his stewardship during the time he Jias represented this constituency. At the close of the meeting a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Jlr Okey for his address and (he able way in which he has represented the electors in Parliament.