THE MASTERTON SEAT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9182, 3 September 1908, Page 5

THE MASTERTON SEAT.

MR J. HUNTER AT EKETAHUNA

SUCCESSFUL MEETING

(From Our Special Reporter.)

EKETAHUNA, September 2. There was a good attendance at the Eketahuna Hall this evening, when Mr John Hunter opened the political campaign in connection with the Masterton seat.' Mr A. H. Herbert (Mayor) occupied the chair, and in introducing Mr Hunter to the audience he said that the candidate was a Borough Councillor at Masterton, and was well and favourably known there. He himself had known Mr Hunter for many years, when thai latter was a resident of Wellington, and that as a practical man m all things. Mr Hunter had undertaken a large task perhaps, but he had a broad platform, and the electorate was to be congratulated on having such a capable gentleman to come forward and oiler himself as a candidate for their suffrages for Parliament. He anticipated that Mr Hunter would put up a good fight, and he ha:l much pleasure in introducing Mr Hunter to his first audience in connection with the campaign. Mr Hunter, in opening his speech, I said that the first point which imI pressed itself most prominently was that he was seeking the suffrages of a farming electorate chiefly, and he wished the electors to understand distinctly that his knowledge of farming was not altogether theoretical. He was brought up on a farm, and at a very early age he knew what it was to turn out parly in the morning and milk cows. Also, at fourteen years of age, he knew what it was to take a team of horses and assist in general farm work. The question which might present itself to the average elector m naturally be, "Is the candidate worthy, and If he is, is he then capable of fulfilling the important post to which he aspires?" If he could satisfy the electors before election day on these two points, he might hope to be sueceesfull It had been suggested to him by his friends that in contesting an election it was necessary to "play the game." He had made industrious inquiries as to the meaning of such an obscure phrase, and found that varioua replies had been given, not altogether coherent. His own answer was that if "playing the game" meant anything but doing what was square and above board, then he,was not on tor "playlug the game," as he had a higher conception of public life than to try and drag politics into the gutter. He realised that in the contest at present he was greatly handicapped, inasmuch as he was a comparative stranger to the electors, but he hoped to eliminate entirely this before election day, and start "off the mark."

What were the essential constituents for a successful public man? He claimed that to be successful in public life the mind must be free from personal interests, and he claimed that through his own exertions ha had attained that position. He was therefore in a position to give to the electors his whole devotion,'without the fear of his own personal interests —or any other private individuals —intruding in any shape or form. The question thefi arose, what Arere the needs of this district?

CLOSER SETTLEMENT,

The speaker claimed that closer settlement was one cf the chief requirements of the Masterton electorate. The only manner in which this all-important matter was to be effectively attended to was by a vigorous and sustained campaign in the House of Parliament itself. The speakcr promised that he would give this question very terioys attention, aa he recognised that the back country was languishing for population, and the towns suffered proportionately by stagnation of business. In the present speech he could not hope to deal analytically with every question, but he proposed to give a general outline of his platform. In future addresses which he proposed to give he would go into the details of how closer settlement anl other .objects could best be achieved. (Applause).

LAND TENURE,

In reference to the question of land tenure the speaker said the freehold tenure had stood the test of a thousand years, and it was the only tenure which would give universal content. He had noticed that a large number of people had been leaving to go to Queensland lately, and he had taken the trouble to inquire as to their system of land laws there. On investigation he found that at first absolute leasehold was tried, afterwards a modified tenure of leasehold and in the finish the freehold tenure was finally adopted. Experience had shown Queensland what was the right tenure for the people of the country. (Hear, hear). The land laws of tHe Dominion had been tinkered with since 1892, and in looking over the Land Act since th"n he found that it would take a Philadelphian lawyer to understand them. There had been no less than 68 amendments to the 1892 Act, and yet Parliament was supposed to represent the intelI lect of the country. (Applajse). In referenco to the 1892 Act, the three tenures under which land could be taken up were (!) cash, subject to certain improvements; (,2) lease, with a purchasing clause at a 5 per cent, rental on a capital value with right to purchase at the original value after ten years; (3) lease-in-perpetuity, now the renewaole lease at 4 per cent, or, the capital value. Up to March 31st, 1!)08, the total area of land acquired under this Act was 1,122,135 acres, at a total cost to the State, of £5 217,254. This was bringing in a total annual income of £230,857. It was necessary to analyse these figures carefully to apprec'ate the benefits that ha/e been derived from the Act of 1892. At the same time he wished to point out that if we continued the earlier Land Acts, particularly that, of 1885, and the Amendment Act of 1888, a better result would have been produced, and he ventured to Bay that the farming community would have been more benefited and contented than they are to-day, when the question of tenure was such a bitter one. Every man who wished to succeed in life must have an ideal, and what better ideal could a farmer have than to know that when he was in a position to pay for his ground he could acquire the freehold. It was interest-

ing to make comparisons in connection with the taking up of land in the whole Dominion and that taken up in the Masterton electorate. During the year ended March 31st, 1908, 114,150 acres were taken up by 420 tenants. How many of these represented of the Masterton constituency. Absolutely

none to the speaker's knowledge. The total area of land leased to March 31st last, to 4,217 tenants, was 979,080 acres. Of this 679,410 acres was held by lease-in-perpe-tuity tenants, 67,017 acres under renewable lease, and 229,495 acres under small grazing runs and miscellaneous leases. The proportion of theie in the Masterton constituency was out of all ratio to its size and importance. The amount of land acquired up to March 31st (16 estates), comprised 126,868 acres, at a total cost of £613,696. How many of these estates were in this electorate? None! During the last ten years there had not been a single estate resumed. If the commitments for the current year were taken it was found they included eight estates containing 101,634 acres, at a cost to the State of £336,155, and there are several other large estates under consideration which will require for the year not less than £500,000. If we compare these figures with last year's, and apply them to the Masterton electorate, we get the same result as in previous years—that is, no estates are to be taken. The speaker drew attention to the fact that there are now practically no Crown lands left in the Masterton electorate, and we are now absolutely dependent on resumption. The a:ea of land in each land district advertised in the Government land guides at the time of the passing of the Land Laws Act Amendment, 1907, and which had to be withdrawn and re-opened under the renewable lease, 1907 Act was as follows Auckland, 633,791 acres; Hawke's Bay, 19,797 acres; Taranaki, 35,974; Wellington, 5,980 acres; Nelson 254,576 acres; Marlborough, 138,132 acres; VVestland, 881,199 acres; Canterbury, 45,673 acres; Otago, 49,024 acres; Southland, 54,040 acres; total, 2,118,188 acres. This showed what a very small proportion of Crown land remained for taking up in the Wellington Land District, and assisted to show how dependent we were for resumption of estates to assist in closer settlement. The Premier, in his financial statement of this year, stated that it was correct* to add the amount that had been borrowed for the acquisition of estates (£5,217,254) to the gross debt of the country, but the time had arrived when he considered these accounts should be handed over to the Advances to Settlers Office, and not appear as a debit against the Dominion in a general way. The speaker contended that if settlers were given the right to acquire the treehold, and not more than 10 per cent —a low estimate —were converted in any one year, that would realise £521,725. At present, the rate of expenditure in acquiring estates in any one year was half a million, and if the set lers were given the ripfht to acquire the freehold there would be sufficient return for the Government to carry oi its lands for settlement policy and leave a balance over. The speaker also traversed other questions in regard to the returns from leasehold and freehold lands, and from his figures showed that on general facts the right to acquire the freehold would prove bentficial to the finances of the country. Tbe money derived from the conversion of land being re invested in closer settlement areas would, he contended, obviate any necessity from the Government to boirow atal! ;n pursuing its land policy. LAND. ENDOWMENTS. The Government had set apart about 8,000,000 acres for the purpose of old age pensions and education endowments. The member for Mastprton. in his presessional address mentioned those endowments and told his audience that at present they were not of much value, and he passed on to the next subject. Mr Hunter said that if these endowments are of very little value to-day, how are we going to make them valuable. The answer was obvious. Some means would have to be devised to bring these lands into the fullest profits, by peopling them to the utmost capacity, and generally making them as productive as possible, otherwise this huge area would be not only useless for the object for which it was set aside, but it would mean that the general prosperity of the country would be affected. SOCIALISM. Mr Hunter prefaced his remarks under this head by stating that he was not a Socialist, but a social reformer. He thought it should ne impressed on youths fcnat it was no disgrace to work. He gave industrial agitators some warm 1 criticism, and said that if the Socialism, so greatly disired by them, came about next week they would decry it, unless they were made the captains of industry. (Applause.) Social reform we have with us, and always will have, and what we require to-day is men who will keep social reform in its proper groove. The word Socialism was one which lent itself to a hundred different interpretations. That night h$ was not going to apply the definition of Socialism as laid down by Carl Marx, Morrison, Davidson, or other eminent writers on social and poiltieal economy. The definition he did propose to take was that given by the recent Trades Council Conference in Wellington, and here he mentioned that the member for Masterton had said in Masterton that "he saw no harm in Socialism." The definition he referred to was "the con'rol by the State of all means of pro luction, distribution and exchange." The speaker- submitted that that definition was all that the people of the Dominion today had to go by. How was this socialistic ideal to be attained? There were three ways; the first by confiscation, the second purchase by 1.0.U.'5, and the third, raise the amount by loan, which would require not less than £300,000,000. If the State decided on the first proposition it would be necessary for every private individual to hand over to the State all their land and other possessions. Is the good sense of the community going to tolerate for a, moment such an idea? If not, and the State decided to adopt the second proposition, it would be

■ necessary for it to start in its own printing office in Wellington and print three hundred million 1.0.U.'s at £1 each. Was it likely that the people would part with their valuable possessions for such a security on the off-chance of the communistic idea being sucessful? If they rejected this idea then the last proposition would necessitate the Government going on to the money market for the enormous capital required to carry out the socialistic idea. When many people already held up our national debt as something to be concerned over, what would they say if an attempt were made to yaise five times its sum total for the sake of an experimental socialistic scheme. If it were not possible for the State to acquire the whole of the private possessions under any of the three heads mentioned, then why should time be wasted over discuasing such absurd questions as those raised by socialists of the nature mentioned. The speaker's own idea of social reform was that we should accept the position as it is to-day. and try and improve it to-morrow. Seeing that the State is made up of units we should devote the 'whole of oui attention to building up the individual If the latter were reformed there was no need for any concern about the welfare of the State. Seeing that Nature never intended mankind, nor anything else for that matter, to be on a footing of absolute equality, why should man endeavour to mould the divine idea to suit his own finite views. CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT. Mr Hunter had a few remarks to make on the subject of labour laws. He contended that the administration of these laws was costing the country about £9,000 per annum, at a low estimate, and he asked what was the country getting in return? More dissatisfaction than ever after 14 years' operation of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act He claimed to be able to speak with some authority on the question under review, seeing that he had been an employer of labour Bince the Act came in almost down , to the present, and had worked under seven different awards at one and the same time. It was his intention to give his opinion fearlessly in connection with the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, as he was not afraid ot the workers accusing him of ever attempting to cut down ■ wages. Seeing that the Act was costing so much to administer, and Wa3 giving no satisfaction to either side, why should it be retained on the Statue Book. What the speaker believev. in was the repealing of the Act i i its entirety, as it was evidently beyond the "patching-up" stage, and in lieu thereof he favoured placing »n the Statute Book an Act in more general terms, that would prevent sweating and the working of more than a maximum number of hours in o'ie week. He did not approve of Courts and Boards at all, bdt in an n lustrial union constituted of employe.* and employees, in whose hands the q 'estions at issue should be placed. Je contended that men were reason :i Me, and if treated in a fair and just way would be amenable to any agreement which held the baluice fairly bjetween worker and employer. It was apparent that compulsion had failed, and he believed that if the agitator element were eliminated there would be more industrial amicv. If there were no positions carrying emolument, the agitator -nust die a natural death. Compulsory laws had been set at defiance when it suited certain malcontents, and only a radical change in the methods of the labour laws •,v mid be effective. (Hear, hear). THE DUTY ON FLOUR. The speaker had read with interest the remarks of the member for Masterton when he moved the second reading of the Flour Duty Abolition Bill, and he could find no reasons given to indicate that it would be of any benefit to the people to abolish the duty. If it were proposed to abolish the duty on any article, there should be a reasonable hope that some tangible benefit would be the outcome. If not, why abolish the duty at all? Mr Hunter said that a very careful perusal of Mr Hogg's speech had convinced him that there was nothing in it whatever which wouli justify t'.ie House adopting the proposed measure, in spite of the somewhat fiery rhetor,ic of the member for Mastertun. The terms applied to tne persons —legitimate commercial people—who dealt in flour, timber, butter, and so forth, were in Mr Hogg's opinion, "brigands anc| freebooters " The&e strictures were quite uncalled for, in fact, thay were harsh beyond expressio •, and if Mr Hopg had gone to the trouble of observing whether the previous remission of taxation on household necessaries had had the eflect of cheapening them, he would have seen that such was not the case. Kerosene had for instance been the subject of a remitted tax to the ! aggregate extent of £115,380 per annum, and in spite of this the wholesale price to-day was fuliy 10 per cent, higher. The remission of the sugar duty ha-' likewise caused colonial sugar to' be increased in price. The position as regarded flour was that the Dominion required 116,776 tons of flour for home consumption, and it produced a slight excess of this (the product of about bushels of wheat), and if the remission of the duty meant that home gro.vn wheat would not be produced at all, as was quite anticipated by Mr Hogg, the "freebooters and brigands" woild simply receive a present of £116,776 —or £1 pel' ton on the amount of flour which would require to be imported. Seventyseven mills, employing 540 hands, would also be thrown idle. THE LIQUOR QUESTION. On this subject Mr Hunter said the "electors of the Dominion had three 'issues—Continuance, Redaction, and No-License. The first proposition was (/tie which he declared himself against at the outset. The second one he was still more opposed to as being quite ineffective to achieve any material lessening of the drinking curse, and this left him with the only alternative of No-License. Personally, he had always voted NoLicense, and would continue to do so, believing that on economic grounds the loss to the Dominion was millions annually. The speaker said that he would go more fully into this vital question at\a future meeting, but his hearers could take

it from him there and then that lie favoured No-License. Hearty sympathy was shown to the speaker on his remarks in regard to this matter. SCRIPTURE READING IN SCHOOLS. The speaker expressed no sympathy with the movement to read scripture lessons in schools. He did not consider it right that the present secular education should be endangered by the intrusion of matters which were really the duty of parents and special teachers to impart. From very standpoint—denominational, national, and from the point of view of the teacher and the scholar—it was manifestly wrong to now interfere in a matter where only trouble seemed the outcome if changes were made. Tne church and the home were the places for scripture reading, where the surroundings were in keeping with the 1 nattire of the theme to be taught.

PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

The Government had made a statement of what it intended to do in regard to rebuilding Parliament House. One scheme was to rebuild on the former site, and the other was to utilise the Government House site. In the speaker's opinion, the latter site would be the one chosen. The speaker contended that it would be highly advisable to abandon their present ideas and go more fully into the question of laying out a political capital at a suitable place in the country. The Government was already cramped for room in Wellington, and so was commerce, and as the metropolis was increasing in size and importance at a very great rate, it would probably not be many years before they would be compelled to seek further afield than Wellington City for accommodation. The speaker went fully into details of his ideas regarding the erection of a new building. (Applause). •. "NOT BOUND HAND AND FOOT." \ He had been spoken of by various newspapers as the Opposition candidate, but this was wrong. He did not see eye to eye with the Government nor eye to eye with the Opposition. One of the curses of New Zealand politics was that a man was after he had been returned tied down hand and foot to vote for the Government. He could never reconcile himself to such a position. He was nut as an Independent Government candidate, and so long as the Government kept on those lines, which appeared to the speaker to be in the best interests of the Dominion, he would support it. Any opposition the Government might encounter in the future must corrle from its indapendfnt supporters. (Prolonged applause). Mr Hunter renamed his seat apid prolonged applause. ' , QUESTIONS. "Has Mr Hogg done his best for the electorate, and if not, what has he done?" asked a member of the audience. , Mr Hunter replied that as far as closer settlement went he had done very little. In fact if the speaker had not done better in naif the time Mr Hogg had been at it he world consider himself a dead f ulure. Again, Mr Hogg, by his friendly attitude towards Socialism, was jeopardising the interests of the farming community. Notwithstanding anything that Mr Hogg might say to the contrary. In reply to Mr Matheson the candidate expressed himself as favourable to Crown tenant? acquiring the fee simple of their lands at the original valuation. To the same questioner he said he wa3 strongly opposed to the attitude of the Government in regard to the recent strikes and compared its attitude with that of Premier Wade, of New South Wales, who said to the strikers "go back to work before you come to the Government." In further answer, to Mr Matheson, Mr Hunter said he thought that because he might be opposed to the Govern msnt on that question, he should not be in opposition to it on all points. Mr Baillie asked if-Mr Hunter would vote for the overthrow of the Government if the motion before the Rouse met with his approval. Mr Hunter said that he would not hesitate to record his vote according to his conviction even though the Government did go out. It was difficult for any candidate to reply in general terni3 to a question regard- j ing a substantive motion of no-confi-dence. Every replv given by Mr Hunter met with demonstrations of approval. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr Hunter, who received a most attentive and appreciative hearing, Was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks proposed by Mr Baillie, and second ad by Mr Aulin.