POLITICAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3023, 21 October 1908, Page 5

POLITICAL.

; THE PREMIER AT FEILDING, | By Tefegraph—Press Association., FEEDING, October 20. The IhriH Hall was packed this evening when Sir Joseph Ward delivered a policy speech generally on the lines of the one at Palmerston North last night, but several newmatters were dealt with. Keferring to the progress of the Dominion Sir ' Joseph quoted statistics showing that I during the seven years from 1890 to i 1897 the population had increased by 48.60 per cent.; imports by 170.97, exports by 109.65, NewZealand produce exports 190.82 per cent, Customs revenue 99.78, excise duties 100.11,. butter exports increase|B43.36, cheese 485.48, frozen meat 131.97. He considered that special efforts should be made by the Government on the lines they had: already initiated of setting workmen employed on the public works on land in the vicinity of where they were working. Two years ago in the Financial St?tement this had been odtlined. No rent would be paid for the first three years, after that the rental to be paid in the usual manner. The land would he leased to workmen for 66 years, and thev would thus be encouraged to settle in the vicinity of the land instead of drifting back to the towns. There was nothing, said the Premier, that did more harm to New Zealand than the cry of "stinking fish" set up by people who ought to know better—especially when the financial position of the country is strong and impregnable. The Government was not leaning on its bankers, and the Government was/ never in a stronger position than it was to-day. The elections were-fixed for a date somewhat similar tn the usual time after the rising of Parliament,, and in doing so all that had been looked up was that the day should not conflict with the Shows at Palmerston, Christchurch, Oamaru. and Dunedin, and should not bring the second ballot too close to Christmas. He said he had many times posed as a prophet in matters financial, and a successful prophet at that, and he was gcirg to again. This time he formulated the opinion that the existing stringency in the money market would be over by December next, and he based thtt upon the belief that the productiveness of the Dominion in the direction of butter, sheep, and other produce would have brought to market such a large output, that "an enormous, amount of the indebetedne! s to the Banks would have been paid. In addition to pthat, he personally knew of very large sums of were coming to New Zealand in the near future for investment. In connection with the question of defence, he pointed out that there was a development going' on ui the Old World that they could not shut their eyes to —the race for tha supremacy in commerce. In our smal. way we should do our part zs effectually as we could. First of all we have carried out a .system of rv*> fentia! trade to the Old Work', which had not gone as far as it *shouiu but it showed we were earnest in our desire to do our share, and for the reason 1 that the real protection to our products was to be obtained from th» British Navy. We had given £li 0,00(* a year towards it. He was certain that the heart of New Zealand was in favour of that grant, but we had to guard against any insidious system of militarism in this country in the shape of compulsory military training being driven down the threats of the people of the Dominion. We should be practical to recognise there is need for internal defence. The existing Volunteer system was not as good as it might be, and it was our duty to see that it was effective, and that our young men were trained to be effective soldiers, to reduce the aire of Volunteers to sixteen, and to see that our school cadets passed into the Volunteer corps. It was unon those lines they ought to work, and upon those lines the Government is working. He referred briefly for the necessity to keep New Zealand for the white race. . The people were de- ! termined to keep out the Asiatic races, to keep the white race of the Dominion pure, and the only way to ensure that was to make sure that the Dominion was strong in de-* fence; that the men of the Dominion were trained for its defence, and that nothing likely to strengthen the position of the Dominion was neglected. ■ A vote of thanks to the Premier and confidence in the Government was carried with enthusiasm.

(WELLINGTON, October 20. Mr F. M.-B. Fisher opened his campaign for Wellington Central to-night. He had a good hearing, and was given a vote of confidence. Mr David McLaren, Labour candidate for Wellington East, spoke to a large gathering to-night. He was well received. Mr F. T. Moore, a Wellington suburbs candidate, spoke at Kaiwarra to-night. The chief item in his platform is a State Bank. A vote of confidence was passed to him. Mr Hogg, Socialist candidate for Wellington South,, addressed a fairly large meeting at Newtown to-night. At the desire of the candidate, who was given an attentive hearing, no vote was passed.