THE ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1919, Page 7

THE ELECTIONS.

~- THE WAITOMO SEAT. SIR. C. K. WILSON AT TIKORANGI. Mr. C. K. Wilson, a candidate for the Waltomo seat addressed a meeting of .electors..at the Tikorangl Hall, on Tuesday I evening. Considering the short notice there ■ Was a good attendance, some 25 (Including ' a number of ladies) being present-. 'Mr. J. W... Foreman presided, and briefly Introduced ; Mr. Wilson, who, he stated, was well known 'to all, having represented them prior to Uie 'last election. ' '. Mr. Wilson, who spoke at length, was given a very attentive hearing. ~.,,, ~ HIS. POSITION'. Tip till a few weeks ago, he said, there was a general DBllef that the National Government would continue for the purpose of facing the big and urgent problems that required solution. He had announced himself as an Independent, believing that It was the duty of the Parliament of the country to sacrifice, party squabbles and interest itself in the reestablishment of the country under the new conditions. He was asked by Mr. Massey and gave a pledge that, in ■ the event of a noconfidence vote, ho would support him. He would support Mr. Massey because be believed it would be a disaster if Sir Joseph" Ward become the leader of the Government. If he did it would only be. with the assistance of a small section, of the revolutionary • Labor party, and he' would personally sooner' see labor in power, itself than" that labor Should wag the tall of the Government. He believed that labor had its right to a place in the Government, but there was no place for revolutionary labor. It was evident that Sir Joseph Ward had an agreement with labor, because in cases where Labor, Liberal and Reform candidates were standing, he evidently had the power to force the labor candidates out. THE TRANSPORT DIFFICULTY.' One of the greatest difficulties the country had to face in the future was the transport of our produce to the markets of the world. New Zealand had not developed any Indus-' tries to a great extent, and 80 per cent, of Its exports came from the land. Therefore they could see the grave danger that existed If they were hampered in the transport of their goods. There were two urgent, factors that the Government should have handled, viz., the question of exploitation during the war period, and increased production. The former vast a combination of large concerns in order to get greater power and strong finance so as to influence prices and harass the people. THE DANGER OP TRUSTS. He spoke at length on the dangers of permitting the American Meat Trust to get a hold In the country, pointing out that to-day it was endeavoring to dominate the food supply of the world. If It succeeded in getting a hold here farmers would practlcallv have to eat- out of its hands'. . . He read extracts from the Federal Trade Commission of the United States report on the ramifications of the Trust, and considered that President Wilson -desjrvod the thanks of the world for taking' the" drastic action of appointing the Commission. The Meat Trust were operating In Queensland for years, and were operating here to-day. Unless wo forced the Government tc pass legislation to cope with tills peril in its infancy, it would ruin the country. A commission" set up had urged the Government to pass legislation, but, all the Government did was to require that a license must be ljsued for weport. Yet despite this New Zealand meat had been sold in Trust shons. Dairy farmers, being small producers, would be hit by lie trust first. He pointed out that since the trust? handled trice the price had gone up 65 per cent. There i also the danger that fertilisers, so necesy tn.Jhe farmers of New Zealand, would a coma under the operations of the trust. He did not object to organisations used for honest trade, but when used to rob people they ought ?o be suppressed. He showed how trusts affected the country, pointing out that ten years ago America, exported meat, but tn-dar. 'though Is 'population had only Increased 10 ner cent., it imported meat, and its cittle had decreased by 10,01)0,000, and Us sheep by 5,000,000. Trusts were a serious menace t5; farmers, who had no time to, grapple with the question, with the result that they gradually gained hold. THE COMMANDEER. Referring to the fact, that the Government Fare Is 2d for meat in England. lo%d In the Argentine, and 5d In New Zealand, he said that people here would not have complained if the meat was commandeered to feed the troops, but the meat was sold at 2s 2d. giving someone a profit of Is M. The Food Controller said that New Zealand was given such a iow price because they had had to give the Argentine Meat Trust such a high price, and wished to put the meat on the market, at a re'asonaWe price Our wool was sold at Is 3d per pound, and woollen goods cost us ISs per pound, and he thought it was the dutv of th» National Government to have seen, when selling our wool, that we received goods at n reasonable price. A Board of Trade had been set up. but it had been given no powers. It was really a combination of merchants and not the Board of Trade which regulated prices Since the National Government had dissolved all credit was due to Mr Massey. who passed the Board of Trade BUI with its drastic powers, which would have the effect of giving the people a fair deal. NEED FOR INCREASED PRODUCTION. Production must he increased. There had been too much quoting of the amount received for exports, but rarely was attention drawn to the decrease In the volume, and that was the crux of the position. It was the duty of every man, women and child In the ronotry. and also of the Government, to use the best methods to Increase production. Th°rc wcro 1i4.000.000 acres of land, and deducting 0.000.000 acres for roads, lakes, e»o , it. would be seen that *he average prod«ction was 10s tier acre. If the rest of New Zealand was like Taranakl this average would be much greater, but between hero and the King Country there was a gigantic roun'ry unnrortuetlve. there heine Crown iands, Native lands, and large holdings held by speculators lying Idle. NEED FOR SETTLEMENT. This position must be attacked, because there was urgent need to settle soldiers on 'he land, and the claims of the soldiers would receive justice, as they had the weight of public opinion behind them. He was not against the cutting up of large estates, but be wanted firs'. to see the unproductive land taken up The laws had not been made liberal enough. The Government did not. realise what the people of the baokhlocks suffered through Isolation, and production' suffered through want of roads The methods of land settlement were old fashioned and antiquated. There was the same old Land Purchase Board of 20 years ago. causing ton much delay They must, introduce better methods Boards of • rompetent men should ho set up 'n each district to purchase suitable land offered right away. The Farmers' Union had been trying for years to have Boards of practical farmers set up to g've advice and assistance ,to soldiers. It was 'lie duty of farmers to see the land settled, because the more production the less taxi's they would have to pay. MORE SCIENTIFIC METHODS. More scien'iflc methods of farming were necessary. The Government should analyse soils so as to let farmers know the best fertilisers to use He touched on the report of th» Industries Committee, pointing out that in New Zealand 739.000 cows were milked, the average production being lfilHis hutter-fat. This was very low. and must, contain many below 100 lbs It should ho capable of Increase. An increase to, 200 lbs. meant an addl'ional £3.000,000 nrodnctlon: 800 lbs. would mean £15,000,01)0 In this direction Government assistance should be given. It was to be regretted that only 17.000 cows were tested, because money was lost, by keeping cows that did not come up to s'andard. Butter, he said, only cost is 2d tn produce If cows averaged 250 lbs., as against Is Sd at the present srerage. Of course. In many cases finance was the stumbling block, farmers being glad to get any animal. He favowl subdivision of large estates, but did not think this should be forced by the "rnduated land tax, as that would make It too hard to take up The State should assist to finance farmers The advances to settlers was a magnificent Institution, but the advances were on too conservative lines. DEVELOPING OUR RESOURCES. The Government should find other means to develop and increase our exports. Referring to oil. he said the Anglo-Persian Company, one of the strongest, oil companies of >the world, had offered to put up £so.nun providing the Government put up n slinilar iimnunt and their,.exner's would survev New Zealand from end *o end to ascertain ileflnltelv If there ' was oil In the country. If the tests proved satisfactory thev offered to put up* another £250,000. provided the Government did likewise. This would hnve been a direct benefit tn the country, em' he thoueht. no time should hn*-e been lost in accepting that, offer He did pot think that the bonus offered for the production • of iron was sufficient hiducen'.ent to people to launch out on a scheme. There -as, no doibt, deposits of Iron in the coun!rv The Government should endeavor to es"Hlsh the industry, instead n' cartintr all I's iron from Um Old Country. Ha did out r»«h

Into coal nationalisation as the cure for every, thing, though ha did not agree with anyone who held that the Government never made a success of anything. He Instanced the Life Insurance and Public Trust Departments. He agreed that there was too much red ,-tapo in all Departments and that business methods must be introduced. They could not get business men with biff ideas unless they were prepared to pay for them. On the whole ho did not think that nationalisation would overcome the position, which, at present, was intolerable, with the owners on the one side and the miners on the other wrangling and holding up the country. Some definite plan must be Introduced by the Government to settle it. If necessary nationalise the mines, and work them on the co-operative principle for the benefit of the country. He referred to the effect the railway cut had had on the farmers in tie more Tccently settled districts, where It had been Impossible to obtain material for much needed additions, I but while refusing to carry this the Depart- ! men* said it was bound to carry whisky. He was not saying this from a prohibition point of view, but merely to show that there was a force behind the whisky that was not behind the farmers, who would be left in the rear until they got solidity. Farmers should join hands, and then when they asked for something in their own Interests of the country they would get justice. Educational facilities must be provided for farmers, because to-day there were few men capable of producing ay the by-products, such as rennet, casein, sugar of milk, condensed milk, etc. PUBLIC WORKS AND RAILWAYS, The public works' policy of the Government in the past had been of a piecemeal nature. Look at the highway between Taranaki and Auckland I Why did not tins members of both provinces, no matter who was In power, say "now or' never. You get this road completed or out you go!" To-day the road was in a worse condition than ever he bad known It, and the settlers • wore being hit very hard. A sound policy must be introduced, and he believed they would never get it until the power was taken out of the hands ol the Minister and placed In the hands of a board. Counties should be classified, and ,the works mt out In order of urgency by the e'nsineers of the local body, the Government, nad then allocated by the Board for expenditure by the local tiodles, who could do so more economically and efficiently. The Government should also push on with its ■ railway ■ construction by up-to-data. methods, using scientific machinery Instead of puddling along with shovel and barrow. He stressod the importance of completing the East. Coast railway and the Strat-ford-Main Trunk line. He contrasted the money expended in this with that spent on the Otlra, which would never pay. ELECTORAL REFORJf. He was of opinion that some system of electoral reform was necessary, and the sooner the better. He favored proportional representation as giving the true reflex of the people. EDUCATION. One of the necessities of the country was education, and still more education, because on the education of the young depended the future of the nation. Salaries of teachers were mere pittances, and no one was treated worse than backblocks teachers who were given mere shanties to teach in. Higher salaries must he paid to induce the best men to tnke up teaching. WORKERS' HOMES. The war had considerably altered conditions, and in every way the well being of the peopie must be looked after by the Government. Some scheme of workers' homes must be evolved by he Government, so that farmers could provide homes for their employees on a system of rating through the local bodies. Superannuation also must be extended to apply to local bodies, co-operative companies, and all employees. SAMOA AND NAURU ISLAND. Ho did not think the Prlnie Minister and Sir Joseph Ward had any diroctlon from this country to accept the mandate of Samoa which would have been better In the hands of the Old Country. The question of indentured labor would be an nglv one in' the future to handle, and he was afraid It would prove an expensive toy. He considered that farmers should not build any castles In the air as regards cheap phosphates from Nauru Island The company were asking three million for their rights, of which New Zealand would get. a small share. The company, with another Island to work In unfavorable weather, only made E70.000 proi.irr o ™'!, a3 tlle irtnesi on three million was fcT.i.ooo, and owing to anchorage, (tc, Nauru Island would be more difficult to work on Its own. ho was afraid they would get. dearer phosphates, ami New Zealand would have t.ixation to make up the deficiency. THE PRESENT POSITION. *o?m, 0r m ? 1™ elert!on face(l wl "i «io Possibilities of the present. Since the dissolution ot the National Government he believed Mr. Massey had done magnificent work, and from tho grit, he had shown it, mlrtit have been better If there had been no National Government. He then reiterated his reasons for supporting Mr. Massey. Farmers, he said, suffered more than anyone from tho war, and as producers, wanted a policy to save them from revolutionary ideas. What would travo happened in 1013 but for the strong Government? It was the duty of the Government to take the people Into their confidence, and cmplovcrs of labor should take their emplovces into their confidence, and provide better conditions. With a stable Government, there would ho a bright and prosperous future for New Zealand. QUESTIONS. The chairman asked Mr. Wilson his opinion on taxation. Ho pointed out. that a farmer was taxed both on his principal, 1.e., unimproved value over £SOO, and also on his income over 2 300. He pointed out that in assessing income allowance was made for wages paid to employees, but the labor of a man's own family was not allowed for unless a sworn statement was made that wages were ■actually paid. Mr. Wilson said that he had always recognised that the Income tax on farmers In the way It was brought In to-dav was wrong, as fluctuations of prices of stock precluded ah accurate balance sheet being brought out. The whole system of taxation must be revised so as to fall fairly on everyone. The mortgage tax was an anomaly that must be removed The farmer had been treated more harshly and more cruelly than any section of the community during the war. Tho butter tax, for which the. National Government were to blame, was a most iniquitous tax. The statesman-like way to do It. was to take the hut'er from the factory and pay fir it out of the consolidated revenue after which they could dr> what thev liked with it. He did not want, to introduce personalities, but. thev nil knew irho was the first to Introduce the question of providing cheap butler Tor the cities, and It practically cos', him. the election Mr. MclCenzle moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Wilson for his address and of confidence In Mr. Massey as the leader of the Government. This was seconded by Mr. H. Foreman and carried. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting. MR. WILSON'S MOVEMENTS. Mr. Wilson has hart a. busy time during Die past Ihree jvee!;s in the northern portion of his district, when* he has addressed meetings at. Maercti, Wa'tangairttru, Makakofoa, Mangantakl. Aria, Rera, Kaea, Te Mapara. f'lo Plo, Pnemalto, Mahoenul, Mokau. and AwaItlno. At each cenlre ho had good meetings there being splenlid attendances at the larger centres such as Plo fio and Awaklno. Mr. Wilson speaks at Urenui to-night. He has a full programme set. out for every evening and on many afternoons until December 7th. « MR. JENNINGS' CAMPAIGN. Mr. W. T. Jennings will address Iho Waltomo electors at the Clifton Hall, Waitara, to-night at 8 o'clock.