POLITICAL ADDRESS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2584, 21 November 1893, Page 4

POLITICAL ADDRESS.

Mr S. Buxton addressed a meeting on political subjects in the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, last Saturday evening. There was a large attendance. Mr Blyth occupied the chair, and explained that Mr Buxton was not a candidate, but wanted to make some explanation. Mr Buxton said he was in the happy position of not being a candidate, but wished to explain something to set himself right. He claimed to have a good many friends in Temuka, and wished to explain to them his position. He was informed he would have a rough time of it, but he felt they would treat him with respect. In the first place he wished to speak of the Female Franchise, which he had always advocated. He was glad the women had the franchise, which was only a right. He would suggest to women to vote early, but he did not think they would be annoyed if they came in the evening. Sir John Hall worked for the franchise, and he prayed that God’s blessing would rest upon him and his future generations. He had been told he (the speaker) was brought into contempt by the working men for speaking against the Eight Hours Bill. The Eight Hours Bill which was introduced was that 8 hours should constitute a day’s work, and 48 hours a week’s work. That was all that was in it, and if. it passed no one could work even in his own garden longer. He then read his speech in Hansard, from which it appeared that he objected to the bill on the ground that it would be inconvenient to farmers. During his 23 years in New Zealand he found the men satisfied with the hours. Men who worked horses had to attend to them, and in the harvest time they had to work longer hours, but they got Is per hour. He did not believe in regulating the hours by Act of Parliament while it was a settled custom in the country. Now he appealed to the intelligence of men whether what he said was not reasonable. When he employed men he found it difficult to stop them in harvest time. If they ever complained it was of the shortness of the hours. How could it be possible to get on with farming if they could work only for 8 hours ? They could not feed horses before 8 o’clock, and they would have to knock off at 5 o’clock. Domestic servants got up at 6 a.m., would they knock off at 2 o’clock? He could not support the bill because it would not work, and if they condemned him he believed he was doing what was best for the working people and the colony as a whole. (Applause.) With regard to the Private (Schools Bill he lost the last election through it, but he intended not to vote for it again. He had not alteied his opinion, for he held that the Bible should be read in the schools, and that private schools should have a grant. That was what he believed in, but as the people were against it he would submit to the will of the people. He considered they were not doing right to treat the Catholics as they did. There were from 10,000 to 12,000 Catholic children in their own schools, and yet Catholics had to pay taxes without getting any benefit from them. Their religion was dear to them, and they do not send their children to common school:. Supposing they turned them into the public schools it would take £60,000 to £70,000 to increase school accommodation, and between £30,000 and £40,000 a year to pay for their education. Mr Buxton then read the bill, showing that a grant would not be given to any school which had not an attendance of 100 children or more. He also read the speech he made on the bill. From this it appeared that he supported the bill on the ground that he was a true Liberal, and wished to do unto others as he wished others to do unto himself. He had never been asked by a Catholic to vote for it, but many of his friends had asked him to vote against it. He would do his best to be fair and just to all. That was his principle, and it would be to the end of his life, as he would like to banish bigotry from tl>e land. In the eyes of God and man he thought they were doing wrong to the Catholics, because they as Protestants, were in the majority. (Great applause.) He hoped the time would come when something like this Hill would be carried. He thought they ought to be thoroughly satisfied with the present Liquor Bill, The temperance people ought to be thoroughly satisfied with it, considering there was not a total abstainer between Dunedin and Christchurch a member of the House, except Mr Saunders, who wanted the Government to start distilleries. He considered the Government did wonders in carrying this bill. He thought they ought not to be so severe as a great many of them were, and that they should not expect the public houses to be shut in one day. If he had been in Parliament he would not turn the Government out because they would not give the simple majority in the Liquor Bill. He believed in Party Government, and also in the Land for Settlement Bill. He also believed in cheap money to settle the people on the land. The present Government understood their business, and he had not the doubt about it that they would safeguard the people’s interests if entrusted with the handling of money to settle people on the land. There was a farm in his own neighborhood valued at ,£7 per acre for Land Tax purposes, but ' the owner would not sell it to the Government unless be got £ll per acre for it. Mr John McKenzie understood land and would not give such a price. With regard to the present Government, six years ago the Hon. Frederick Whitaker said wp were almost bankrupt. The Stout-Vogel Government brought down a proposal to increase the Biriff, but they were turned out of office, mi Sir Harry Atkinson brought in the same proposal £ nc * raised two millions to save us. Many Liberals went to the assistance of Sir Harry, while his own freetrade supporters went against him. It was the loyal Liberals that supports! the carrying of the measure that saved the the colony. Then came in the present Government, and they were leading on step by step io prosperity until we are at the bead of all the polonies, and it would be a great misfortune to turn them out now. He hoped they would be restored again with a stronger following than before. He believed that Mr Flatman was a straightforward, honest, honorable man, and only that he had faith in him he would have been a can didate himself. Mr Flalwnu bad been a most straightforward man tm jaII Jo cal bodies, and he hoped they would ,a!i combine together to put him in, Fur Mr Rhodes he had a great respect, but he was in the wrong company, and consequently he was opposed to him in polities, (Applause.) Mr J. Crow moved, and Mr E Crow seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr Buxton, and it was carried by acclamation, Mr Buxton thanked them, and moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried, and the meeting terminated.