THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10466, 2 November 1911, Page 5

THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN

MR C. R. SYKES AT MASTERTON.

Mr G. R. Sy-ke9, one of the Opposition candidates for the iirasierton seat, addressed a meeting of about 150 electors, of whom a considerable number .Were ladies, m the Masterton Town Hali last evening, j

The chair was occupied by His Worship the Mayor (Mr <,. M. Coradine) >who briefly introduced the speaker, stating that, having now spoken, throughout the district, lie migiit be regarded as an experienced campaigner.

J.VXI - Sjykes, who was- received with applause, stated that since his first speech in Masterton he Had travelled all over the electorate, and- had been received with enthusiasm. So much so that he felt in good heart in pursuing his candidature. He was struck, in his tour of the district, with the great interest which -was being manifested in the political campaign. This was due, in a meas>ure, to the entire sympathy of the people with the Opposition platform.. ' " THE CONTINUOUS MINISTRY.The candidate? stated that fie did no- condemn the whole of the'policy ~ of the present Government. i?tT utovernment' which had been* in power for a period of twenty years could fail to do some good, and he quite recognised that the present Government had placed some uspfuT meas*ures upon the Statute JBook. At the same time the long tenure of office of the Government had permitted grave abuses to creep in.

FINANCE.

Mr Sykes proceeded, to deal with tiie financial operations, of the present Government. He stated that the national debt now stood at £Bl,000,000, and they had been borrow-, ing at the rate of four millions per year since the Ward Administration came into power. It was computed that tiie last loan had cost the Dominion 45 per cent. The candidate maintained, that the loans raised would not have been required had they expended their revenues econ- \ The railways were costing the. country one-third more than they should do, and money wasoeing j lavished on palatial buildings in the cities. Mr Sykes instanced: trie railway buildings, in;, Du^edin,-;,, owr' which there had been a Ministerial variation of truth. ' RIMjUTAKA DEVIATION., The candidate spoke strongly in favour of the deviation of the Rimutaka railway, which he claimed was necessary in the interests of "the Dominion. MASTEIR/rON-WAIPUKURAU RAILWAY. Mr Sykes stated that he had traversed a good ; deal of the country over which the suggested Masterton to Waipukurau. railway would pass, and ho-was satisfied that it was some of the best pastoral country in the Dominion. He thought that the construction of this Kne would make ; for, tie: development of. the country as a wEole. COMIMEISONS. v ." '■ The/speaker urged that the railway system in New Zealand was hot properly managed, and he expressed the opinion that the railways should be controlled by an independent • and capable Board, ib'igures were quoted to show' that, so far as "freights and fares were there was a disparity between New Zealand and New South Wales, greatly in favour : of the sister State. u\lr Sykes stated that the railway service was seething with discontent. He advocated promotion in the service accor- j ding to merit. SURPLUSES. The caudidate spoke .strongly against the creation of huge surpluses. He said that the miUion of] money which was shown as a surplus would be.better in the pockets.of the | people than, in the hands of the Government.' THE CUSTOMS. The .Customs duty in New Zealand at the present time was excessive. It represented no less than £4 lis lOd per head of the population, whilst in Australia the taxation in this "re-; spect ,was only £3 ,7s 2d per head. He .was in favour of the setting up of a Royal Commission to investigate the fiscal question and the cost of living. PUBLIC WORKS FUND. Mb Sykes stated that, in his opinion, there was urgent need for local government reform. The Govern- 1 intent should not be allowed to administer the public works -fund. There were too maaiy petty little details for Ministers to attend to. The fund should be placed in. the hands of a Public Work's Board, and then it 'would ibe expended economically. (Applause.) PROMISES. The candidate warned his hearers against giving credence to the promises contained in the Budget, and gave illustrations to show how Ministerial promises were broken. LAND. ' Mr Sykes repeated liis: previous statements concerning the land ques-