MARSDEN ELECTION.

Wairoa Bell, Volume 5, Issue 371, 13 November 1896, Page 5

MARSDEN ELECTION.

MR A. H. MASON AT TE KOPURU. Mr Mason addressed #he electors at Te Kopuru on Saturday < vv.ning, Mr M Cobbald in the chair. Tin re was a good attendance, including several ladies. In opening Mr Mason paid a tribute to the memory of Mr J, M, Dorgaville as one who was well known in the history of Auckland. Proceeding then to explain his position as a candidate he sa id that he was twice asked by the Opposition to contest the present election in Marsden. ant? twice refused, but as no one else would come out he had finally consented to do so. N ow that he was out, the man wfa-> beats him shall graft hard and poll heavy. The first question referred to was that of the land for the people and the people for the land. Good land and good roads were necessary to good settlement. There was very little Crown land available for future settlement, and it was therefore necessary to purchase Native lands In North Auckland this work had been checked by the Bill passed by the present Government ; the natives would not sell at price offered by Government, and are not allowed to sell to private persons, The present system of cutting up blocks and handing them over to County Councils to road was bad, for the thirds allowed will never be sufficient, to make the roads He did not object to the Purchase of Lands for Settlement Bill, but these purchases were being made principally in the South where the blocks purchased were partially roaded. The money paid for these lands was got from taxation of which the North paid a fall share, and the North had a right to better attention in the purchase of lands for settlement. There was a W ages Protection Act passed, considered by both Houses to he for the good of the colony as a whole, but there was a clause in it evidently not intended for gnmdiggers, and he wanted to know why it was not for them,, He knew that the sting of the Act was that under it diggers would be unable to get stalls, but that was no reason why a class should he altogether left out ; some way should have been found to amend the Bill, and, to his mind, the amendment moved by the member for Parlmerstou Nortn would have got at the dishonest digger* The Alien question was not solely a gnmdiggers’ question, for it afficted all. In travelling round he found that we already had an alien population which ii not speedily checked would make life very hard for diggers, and drive old and infirm men to the Charitable Aid Board. He would not attack freehold tenure, but would deal with the matter by the issue of licenses, not with an eye to revenue, but to the checking of evils. Any there might be he would give to the Charitable Aid Board. The matter of Local Self Government had been dealt with in a lengthy Bill, but the Bill would not be accepted, and had been so generally condemned that probably no more would be heard of it. It was perfectly unworkable. Local committees controlled by a Central body, elected by themselves would, lie thought, he a good method of local government. Licensing matters should also be in the hands of the same body. North Auckland was treated very unfairly in the matter of Charitable Aid ; sick men from the city eotne to the gumfields and early become burdens on the Charitable Aid Board. Hospitals should be separated from charitable aid . The present system of scrambling . for monies for public works was bad. An} system which doles out votes I y, politic;); influence is rotten. He would like to see a system 1 y which local beards would know what they were going to get. Government should take over main roa'';-.. especially where there are no radways. j j, q ; iter of Advances to settlers the Gosommerit hi changed front, and the money which had been borrowed to assist bnraii settlers was now being lent out in large sums, ; n that very quickly It was wrong to pus such patronage in the hands of any person. Too much patronage was centered in the Cabinet. He doubted the wisdom ol setting up tie Banking Enquiry* and thought a Royal Commission would have been trie propel

course. The conn try had now the carcase of the Bank on its hands. Local option should have a proper trial. He was glad to see tied houses go, and would vote to bring Clubs under the Act. . t would be unwise to force national prohibition upon a people unprepared for it, and he advised temperance people to continue educating the children. The neglect of the North, and Education were touched upon, and in concluding Mr Mason said that he had not been asked to come out by any 7 Association, and if elected, he would in no case make his principles subservient to party polities. Several questions were asked in reply to which the candidate said he did not approve of the principle of the Mining Bill, he was in favour of free trade, but they could not fight hostile tariffs by free trade ; would like to see Upper House elective; did not object to present Eight Flours Bill, but objected to a compulsory eight hours all round; was not in favour of borrowing, as he did not know how settlers could get on if there was any more taxation. He had been 25 years in the colony ; could not say right off what the amount of the Colony’s debt, or the interest paid yearly amounted to. Mr Gallagher proposed and Mr Andrews seconded a vote of thanks and confidence, which on being put to tb« meeting was carried by about 25 yofes to 10. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.