THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Waipa Post, Volume II, Issue 60, 10 November 1911, Page 3

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

MR GREENSLADE AT KIHIKIHI. (Own Correspondent.) To a continuous accompaniment of lightning, thunder, and ain, which at times rendered the speaker almost inaudible, Mr Greensiade addressed the electors of Kibikini in the Town Hall last evening. Considering the weather the attendance was good. The audience, too, if not demonstrative, was cordial and appreciative, and such points as reached it through the din and clatter of the storm, were quickly seized and readily applauded.

The chairman of the Town Board, Mr J. G. Eimsly, presided, and fittingly introduced the candidate.

The opening remarks of Mr Greensiade were devoted to the valuable local improvements, throughout the Waikato, in connection with which he had successfully endeavoured to serve the needs of his electorate and enlist the practical sympathy and s'upport of the Government as occasion required and opportunity arose. He had, indeed, been charged with being a “ roads and bridges” member, but lie saw nothing disgraceful in that. Roads and bridges were the life of the agricultural community, and if to identify himself with the necessities of his constituents in this respect was to be a “roads and bridges ” member, then he freely and unhesitatingly accepted the description. As a parliamentary representative Mr Greensiade claimed to have justified the confidence of the people. When the political situation called for independence he had been independent. Though a Government supporter he had sunk neither his individuality nor his freedom to the claims of a party, as the pages of Hansard would abundantly prove. Some criticism had been directed against his votes on the land question, but he was and always had been, an ' unswerving supporter of the freehold tenure. When Mr Massey had submitted a straight-out resolution for the freehold he (the speaker) had voted with him; but, on another occasion, when the obvious and admitted object of a resolution was merely to entrap unwary supporters of the Government, he was thankful to say he had not been sufficiently weak-minded to enter the snare. In support of this contention the speaker quoted freely from Hansard, and declared that he remained, as he always had been, an advocate for the right of the Crown leaseholder to acquire the freehold of his land'at the original valuation. Criticism had been directed also against his endeavour, along with Mr Herries, to secure the remission of rent for the Tautari settlers. In this matter however, he was impenitent. He believed that struggling settlers were entitled to all the support and sympathy, which the Government could give them, and his efforts on behalf of the Tautari settlers were evidence of this belief. Proceeding to deal with the general policy of the Government, Mr Greensiade dealt with questions of finance. There were he said, those both in and out of Parliament who cried out loudly against the borrowing policy of tire Government. So far as the Parliamentarians were concerned this was merely an election cry ; for when a resolution was before the House of Representatives calling for a reduction of votes on £200,000, us an indication of disagreement with the borrowing policy,only 8 members could be found to support it, and of these, six were new members. That fact effectively disposed of the political sincerity of those membejs, who on the platforms of the country denounced borrowing, but in the house quietly voted for its continuance. The fact was that borrowing was a necessity for the development of the country, and no alarm need be felt when it was remembered

that most of our national debt was invested in reproductive en- 1 terprises, and that while our

national indebtedness was about £80,000,000, our public and private wealth was £650,000,000. The policy of the Government was wise and beneficial. A large amount of money had been spent in the resumption of lands for settlement, and this along with large sums advanced as loans'to local bodies had done much to stimulate the undoubted prosperity which the Dominion at present enjoyed. In regard to the question of Native Lands, it was preposterous to suggest that nothing was being done. '. While ghe would be glad to see the rate ;of progress "accelerated by any qpQSsibleitmenns, it was 1 grossly imtrueAo say that no reasonable taking place. He hadiasjired for a return of the area" of "’Native Lands dealt with

by way of sale or lease in the Waikato Maniapoto Land District during the last five years. The return showed that by sale an area of 103,888 acres, and by lease an area of 69,237 acres had been dealt with during the last £5 months. The rapid growth of Te Kuiti and similar towns was due to the steady liberation of land and judicious railway development. Among other questions dealt with by the candidate was the gift of the “Dreadnought.” While the gift of the “Dreadnought” bad his hearty approval he did not agree with the way in which it was done. This, in his opinion, should have been by special session of Parliament. At the same time it was foolish to talk as though this had involved some wanton and unwarranted increase of public expenditure. New Zealand’s commerce depended on the protection of the British Navy and when it was borne in mind that though our trade was worth £35 per head of population, our contribution to Naval Defence (Dreadnought included) was only 3s I id per head, while Great Britain, with a trade per head of £2B contributed 18s lid per head of. population, it could not be urged that we were cair. i >g more than our fair share. Dealing with the humanitarian and ameliorative legislation of the Government, Mr Greensiade expounded the beneficent provision of the “Workers’ Dwellings” and “Widow’s Pensions” Act, In closing he claimed support for the Government for legislation which he believed had tended to the moral and material progress of the Dominion. For himself lie claimed support on the ground of his tried and proved service. While giving a general support to the party in power, he reserved t j himself the right, which lie had never scrupled to exercise, to vote against the Government as principle and conscience dictated. A vote of thanks and confidence moved by Mr J. A. Corboy, and seconded by Mr F. C. PvlcFiinn, was unanimously carried, and the meeting closed with the usual thanks to the Chairman.