MR. R. M. HOUSTON M.H.R. AT ARATAPU.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 197, 12 May 1893, Page 2

MR. R. M. HOUSTON M.H.R. AT ARATAPU.

According to advertisement Mr Houston met the in the Aratapu Hall on Saturday evening. The notice given had been very short and the number of electors present did not exceed forty. Mr F Bradley was voted to the chair and in his opening remarks regretted that there were not more present, and thought it strange that when so many had votes so few should attend to hear what had been done by their member. He was glad to see one lady at least present, for if women’s franchise were desired the ladies should show an interest in these meetings. Mr Houston who was well received throughout sx>oke for a considerable time. He intended to have addressed the electors earlier in the year but was x>revented. He did not think it necessary for a member to tour his electorate after every session for newspajjers were so plentiful that electors had good opportunities of learning all that was done by him. ; and the post and telegrax>h systems were so advanced that their member could he easily communicated with. In this electorate there were 61 places to be visited and often with great distances between ; he had been already four weeks from home and he was not more than half throughhis work. He was quite willing- that the electors should be his judges, and lie was there to be called to account for what he had done and what he had not done. He had supported I he Ballance Ministry because in all his colonial he knew of no Government that had done so much for the country. Ho had supported the rexieal ot the Prox>erty Tax and the substitution of a Land Tax. The Government had been called the enemies of the small farmers; they were blamed for the exodus, and then for the influx. They were blamed for reckless finance hut they had secured a surplus each year, and th/s year the largest in the history of the colony. This was greatly due to the wise policy of the present Government and it was disgraceful that the leading papers should withhold from them their due. The g-reat exemptions under the Land Tax had shown the Government to he the friend of the small farmers. Under the present tax many will have to pay more but the great majority will have to pay less. Many gentlemen to whom he had spoker. admitted that though they paid more the present tax was the fairer one. Mr Houston th en referred to the well thrashed out theme of the ax>pointmeitts to the Upper House : he believed in an elective Upper Chamber. One important change in this matter was the reduction of the term of appointment from life to oue of seven years, One of the most inrportant Bills of the last session was the Land Bill ; the principle running through the Bill was the settlement of the land by the people as against the land speculation of the past. The freehold tenure was not destroyed for anyone can purchase up to a certain amount of land, hut he does not. get his title till after seven years, or until he has become a bona fide settler. Under another clause a man could purohase the land in his occupation, at its upset x^'i o6 ) after the tenth year and he had until the twenty-fifth year to do it in. He (the speaker) managed to introduce a clause iu the Bill extending the Village Settlement sections from 50 to 100 acres ; and also a clause whereby a Homestead settler is now able at his death to transfer his interests to his wife and children. Under a Bill of ISSS persons had to pay ten shillings for digging gum on Crown lands ; he had got that chiuse struck out of the present Bill. In this matter he had been much misrepresented ; instead of introducing the clause as had been said of him, he had been instrumental in having it struck out The tax was now five shillings. In the Auctioneers’ Bill a general license fee of £4O per year was imposed, but on his suggestion an alteration was secured making special districts in the North with a much ■ lower license fee In the Truck Bill of IS9I he had objected to one clause. He voted, for the

second reading of the Bill because he favoured the principle contained. It was owing to tbo representations made by some Southern Labour members that the Bill was introduced. He saw no objection to a storekeeper giving a man a month’s stax-t on the gumfields, so he objected to the clause taking from such storekeeper the right of recovering by legal process for the goods thus supplied. He would again oppose such a clause even though it cost him his seat. He heartily svqjported the Land for Settlement Bill which was to enable the Government to take land for settlement at a fair valuation. He would endeavour to induce the Government to extend the principle of the Bill to Native lands ; but any move in regard to Native matters always roused the Southern members and the lawyers in the House. He considered there would he wiser and better legislation without lawyers, they were often a great hindrance to the work of Parliament. The Natives Lands Titles Validation Bill had been strongly opiposed by the lawyers. Many titles were today valueless although thousands of pounds had been spent on the lands. Here Mr Houston instanced the case of Studholme Bros. The Contractors and Workmen’s Lien Bill was explained and then the Conciliation Bill was referred to. In this Bill the machinery was provided for the prevention of the great strikes that had taken place. He considered the clauses making arbitration compulsory the main X>art of the Bill, the principle was just and necessary. He supported the establishment of Labour Bureaux and lie considered the Co-operative system adopted on Public works a wise one. The Engineers (who had been appointed by the party now in Oxposition) reported very favorably on the work done. He was sorry to say that members were often judged by the amount of money they got from the Treasury to he expended in their districts. He had a better opinion of those present than to think they would adopt such a low standpoint. A sum of £IO,OOO was available for North Auckland and of that £6,000 had come to this electorate, and he did not think this district had cause to complain as it had received over £2,000. After referring to the death of the Premier and eulogising his life work the speaker took his seat. A vote of sympathy with the widow atjd colleagues of the late Premier was passed aud Mr Houston was directed to forward the same.

In answer to questions Mr Houston said he was not in favour of selling the railways. He thought those in trade were able to and would settle the half day for a holiday. He had urged the giving of a bonus for preserved fish, but he did not consider the exportation of fruit would be the success some people anticipated, and was not, in favour of giving a bonus for fruit delivered in Home markets in good condition. He had not ignored this district, it had got £2150 from money voted, and he had never left a y communications unanswered ; he had endeavoured to deal fairly with all parts and had done all in his power to further requests made. He had endeavoured to make the honorvrium £2OO, but was defeated ; he then voted for £240 as it was shown that £l5O was not sufficient. He was not in favour of paying labour members at a different rate toothers. He was in favour of making Eight hours a day’s work and of the payment at an extra rate for overtime. He understood that the lave of the land prevented men being asked to work on Good Friday and Xmas days ; he would support a measure making these days close holidays, This was a free country and the Premier was unable to shut out Austrians under present law, hut he would promise to bring the matter before the Premier and the House aud endeavour to have them shut out. The matter of the Peria telephone came before him by pe it ion from that district and he as the representative of the people was in duty bound to jiresent it. The line laid out by Dr. Lemon only passed by two houses, whereas by 1 eria it would pass four post offices. The “ Wanderer ” had wandered very fir Crom bome in writing on this matter. He was in favour of making Native land 6 contribute to County revenue. The Boundary Commissioners were alone responsible for the unnatural division of the Wairoa electors. The Treaty of Waitangi had been broken by both parties and he xilaced no importance whatever to it. He did not consider it wise that, short sentence men should be kept in the country districts to work on roads ; it would be expensive. He would enquire why the port of Kaipara dues were higher than elsewhere ; if they were so it was unjust to the port. Mr Slater in moving a vote of thanks to Mr Houston said he had a feeling of disappointment in the member which he could not express. Mr Barbour seconded the vote and hoped the speaker would make himself more heard in Parliament. Mr Stallworthy did not like the manner in which the vote had been proposed by the mover and seconder who had expressed adverse ooinions. He had been much pleased with Mr Houston’s account of his work. Mr Corkill said he was agreeably surprised and pleased with Mr Houston. As a young member he had turned out much better than he had expected. He had read of his action in the House and had heard his address and he considered his record a very good one. M r Houston in replying said it was impossible to xffease evetyone. He had endeavoured to do his duty ; in 1891 he was present at all meetings and all divisions and in 1892 he was absent only through illness for a fortnight, one week of which he spent in bed Daring the coming session he would do his best for the district. He intended to contest the next election.

AT DARGAVILLE; Mr Houston met the electors at Dargaville on Tuesday evening. His address was similar to that given at Aratapu. The audience was a fairly good one and very orderly. Only three questions were asked at the conclusion of the address, and a hearty vote of thanks proposed by Mr Smith and seconded by Mr Passell was accorded the speaker, Mr Nowfiery was in the chair-