POLITICAL ADDRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10231, 6 May 1911, Page 5

POLITICAL ADDRESS.

MR W. C. BUCHANAN AT CARTERTON.

Mr W. C. Buchanan, ml P., addressed the electors of Wairarapa i.i the Victoria Hall, Carterton, 'asc evening. About a. huilvd personi were present, including a number of ladies. The chair was occupied by His Worship the Mayor (Mr Frank Feist). Tim chairman stated that he war; phased indeed: that on the first occasion that he should meet the public of Carterton in his capacity of Mayor, ho should have the pleasure of introducing Mr Buchanan. Mr Buchanan, who was receive:! with applause, stated that the com-' iiig election would be the eleventh at which he had had the pleasure h'' contesting a seat in Parliament. At the declaration of the last poll, a paragraph had appeared in the Carterton paper, stating that he had decided not to again, content election. The statement contained in this paragraph lie had at once denied, and ho now came before the elect;-.:, for '-\-?. pWorth time.

TJ2E LAST SESSION.

Referring to the last session oi Parliament, Mr Buchanan stated that it was the longest in the history of the Dominion. A lot of delay had, been caused at the beginning of the session in consequence of the Government not having the business ready. Measures were rushed into the House at the middle of the session, and of 180 Bills introduced, 117 had been passed. A large number of these had been amendments of Acts which were the result of hasty legislation. The next session of Parliament would not meet until the first of August, because the Prime Minister would not trust his colleagues. He (the speaker) expected that the session would be a fruitless one.

LEGISLATION PASSED,

Mr Buchanan pointed out that he had supported the Bill to prevent the existence and operation of combines. ' He had also supported the Crimes Act.. In.regard to the Defence Bill, this had met with his approval, as did also the Education Act, the chief object of which was to provide increased funds for School Committees. The Act by which Education Reserves were placed ir. the hands of the Land Boards would have a benehoial effeofc. The Government had been forced to amend itf previous legislation, which had been opposed by the Opposition . party, and abolish bookmakers from the racecourse. Bottle licenses had beer abolished, together with barmaid*! and lockers. On the whole, be thought that the Licensing Act would be. beneficial, and that it should be given a trial. The Opposition had supported .the Public Debt Extinction Bill, notwith standi ncr that it was somewhat crude. The Workers' Dwellings Act should prove useful df it was properly adininisteTed. Anything which 'tended to improve the .position of the working man had the support of the Opposition. The National Provident Act had been stolen from the Opposition. It had been introduced many years before by Sir Harry Atkinson. The measure had been supported by the Opposition. It had been said that the Opposition's policy was to raise factious opposition. So far as he (the speaker) was concerned, he supported everything which was good, and opposed everything that he considered bad. (Applause.)

■ FINANCE. . Mr Buchanan proceeded to discuss the finances of the country. Be claimed that the Government had departed from the policy of the late •Mr John Ballance. The national debt was now-, about £80.000,000. They had borrowed £6.850,000. 'last year. The interest on the national debt amounted to £BOOO per day, or about, £3,000,000 per year, which ©quailed the value of last yeai*3 dairy output. He (the speaker) had been called, a pessimist. He yielded to no person in his confidence in the future of New Zealand, but he would be failing in his duty were he not to issue a note of warning concerning the extent of the borrowing operations. He admitted that a oerbaini amount of borrowing was necessary, but they should see that the money was (borrowed antt expended to advantage. Mr Buchanan quoted the opinion of Home papers concerning the five million loan. With prudent management, the credit of New Zealand should be second to none: Unfortunately, however, it was second to Victoria and other countries. The people of New Zealand were, paying 10s 6d per head.more in. Customs duties last year than' they were in Australia. One in every seven or eight of the people of this country were dependent upon tlie Government for a living. The speaker quoted from the New Zealand Times to show the condition of the country when the retrenchment scheme had been introduced. (At this stage a man interjected, and asked Mr Buchanan to let the papers alone, and give them some of his own view's.) Mr Buchanan, continuing, complained that details of the retrenchment scheme had not been given. There was, in fact, no retrenchment to speak of, excepting in the capitation for School Committees. Mr Hornsby had recently stated that he opposed the reduction of the duty on tea, sugar and kerosene. Hansard showed that these reductions were made whilst Mr Hornsby was a member of Parliament, but he. had not opposed the reduction in any shape or form. THE LAND-QUESTION.

Mr Buchanan briefly reviewed the :ljtnstquestion, and the measures

I fvhich had been introduced ny the present Government. T 1 :? Government was, lie said, being gradually forced towards the freehold, though they were a good way from it. The speaker said ho could not conceive a more outrageous proposal than that made last year to take a man's property on lease for thirty-three years and give him only the rent. Mr Homshy had said in Masterton that he would give the freehold at the original value, plus one per cent. But ■what had been said in the House? Mr Hornsby, according to Hansard, had stated that he would not allow another inch of Crown land to be parted with. The ipresent Government had been opposed to the freehold all through the piece, and this in face of the fact that the country demanded it. Would the people return to Parliament a man who would support a Government which opposed the granting of the freehold, or one who would do all in his power to secure the right of freehold? (Applause.) Mr Buchanan claimed that if the right of the freehold were conceded, money would be forthcoming with which to purchase further lands •for settlement. The Opposition had supported the Government in the passing of the Land Settlement Finance Act. The speaker maintained that the Government had utterly failed to settle the Native land question, which was one of very gm*t importance to the country.

THE RAILWAYS. Dealing with the railway question, Mr Buchanan said it "was a disgrace to the. Government that the Wairarapa, district should hare been treated' in the manner it was. Deputation, after deputation had waited upon the Minister, but practically no concession had been given. He claimed that the original railway time-table should have been reverted to. (Applause.) The rimming' times of the trains to-day ware slower than they were twenty years ago, and they might just as well be without a timetable. He hoped that the district would never cease in its agitation until there was an improvement in the railway system. (Applause VMr Buchanan proceeded to criticise the votes made for the Kawa Kawa, Kailn, Nelson, Picton and other lines of railway, none of which were paying interest. He contrasted these votes with the treatment of the Wairarapa, in respect to the deviation of the Rimutaka railway, the construction of the Martdnborough line, and the Master ton - Pongaroa connection. "Let us continue agitating," said Mr Buchanan, "until we get our rights, .even if we have to turn, the (government out to get them." (Applause.) ' DEFENCE.

Mr Buchanan stated that he had supported the Government m its defence policy. If the country was worth living in, it was worth defending. (Applause.) Sir Joseph Ward had gone Home on an important mission, and Mi- Buchanan hoped that his efforts would result in tiie strengthening of the ties of Empire. (Applause.) > THE BLACK PAMPHLET. In concluding his speech, Mr Buchanan (resented the attempt which had been made to saddle the responsibility for the "Black" pamphkt upon the Opposition. It had been a-sked why the Opposition newspapers did not repudiate the pamphlet. He.'answered this question by asking another. Why did the Government papers and members not repudiate it? He was again a candidate for the Buff rages of the people, and he would accept 'their verdict in November next, be it for or against. (Apphvuse.)

QUESTIONS. In'answer'to a question as to whose fault it was that the timetable was unsatisfactory, Mr Buchanan", said it was undoubtedly the Minister's fault. He declined, in answer to another question, to discuss the salary of the Chief Justice. He said he would do his best to get Garter's Run and any other run which, might be necessary for settlement thrown open. He was of opinion that the three-fifths majority was a fair one in regard to the licensing question, because it made for permanency. THANKS. On the motion of Mr H. R. Bunay, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded' Mr Buchanan for In's address. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated" the proceedings.