MR W. S. ALLEN AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2912, 14 March 1891, Page 2

MR W. S. ALLEN AT CAMBRIDGE.

Kullv I'JO electors of the Tu Aroha con itituency assembled iu thu Cambridge Public Hall mi Thursday evening to hear Mr W. S. Allen.and about 15 ladies wore also present. The Mayor (Mr Priestly) was voted to the chair and in a short speech .lie ntroduced Mr Allen. After speaking of the Indies in a flattering manner and thanking them for attending; the meeting, Mr Allen slid ho was net coma to make a violent political speech, but to thank the electors of Cambridge who had helped to secure bis return to the House of Representatives, during his absence. Ho believed such an election was without parallel in the colony, and for it he owed them a debt of gratitude, and for which he thanked them most deeply. At the present time ho believed lie was their representative, and should be so until the Speaker declared the seat vacant. The first news that he had of the election, after he left the Old Country, was at Hobart, wliero he read in the Australasian that the Te Aroha seat had become vacant through the member not attending tho short session, also the unwelcome intelligence that a petition had been lodged against his return. With respect tojthe petitioii'he would not say more than that he intended to fight it to the end. (Cheers.) Many electors would doubtless ask what led him to come to New Zealand? His reply was that in looking over the English colonios, ha thought this the best one in which his sons could settle, for it had advantages that the others did not possess. Again, he might be asked why he wanted to get into the Houso of Representatives ? Certainly not for the honorarium I hut because he felt that ho hud a little energy left in him, and was noi quite upon tho shelf, and having a considerable stake in this part of the country he offered himself for the Te Aroha constituency, which he would be proud to represent. His political opinions lie gave in a speech at To Arona some months ago —a copy of which speech had been forwarded to every elector of the constituency—and by those opinions ho was prepared to stand or fall. Ho did not think it nccessiry to go over tho ground traversed in tho speech rcierrod to, but would say a few words on tho main subjects of tho day. Ten months ago when he spoke at Te Aroha, Sir Harry Atkinson was in power and Sir Julius Vogel was the prima mover of the Opposition ; ho (Mr Allen) preferred tho former as lie had done much to stop the country drifting into national bankruptcy, and in three years hid placed tho finances of the colony in a sound condition. But now Sir Hairy had gone andMr Baliance reigned in his stead. There were five points thnt Mr liallance stated the present Ministry would pay particular attention to ; the first was to make an exhaustive enquiry into tho sate of the finances of the colony. Til it was duobtless a good thing to do, but why did not Mr 'liallance do it when Sir Julius Vogel was in power, for ho had the opportunity. The debt of the colony was £37,000,000, which meant ilO per head for every man, woman and child. If he had tho pleasure of representing them, he should always voto for strict economy.and should most strenuously oppose any further borrowing.—(Cheers.) —Iho Government also eontempated a change in the land laws. Ms was astonished to learn tliero was only about L'.t-00.000 acres of good pastoral land loft in the hanclrf oi tho Government; tho amount was small, but that made it the more imperative that bona tide settlers, who would become beuefaetors to tho country, should be placed upon it, instead of dummies. Mr Baliance pro posed having a Department of Agriculture, with a Minister. This ho thought a step in the right diiection, provided the Minister was n practical man who knew what fanners wanted. Everyone at the present time seemed to think they could settle tho land question, but practical men alone were competent to deal with it, and not those who had some particular fad. He had firm faith in the future of the colony, or ho would not have brought his family to livo in it, and believed that Now Zealand would be the Premier country for supplying England with frozen meat. He commended Mr Baliance for endeavouring to develop the mineral resources of Uie colouy. The prosperity of tho farming and mining industries, wore bound together, and the mote miners there were the better itwould be for the farmers for they would have a better homo market. Mr Baliance also thought of trying to put capital and labour on a better footing, During oO years much had been done in New Zealand. He trusted the Government would bo ablo to legislate so as to avoid strikes aud bring about a happier state of things than at present existed. If he was enabled to take his seat m the llobse, ho should support whatover measures he considered were for the public good, by whomsoever introduced, and should oppose those he did not think would bo for the welfnro of tho colony at large, so he supposed he must be considered an independent member. Mr Allen next referred to untrue reports that had been circulated about him (luring his absence, one of which was tint ho did not wish the workin" children to be educated beyond the fourth standard. This ho emphatically denied. Again they had said he was in favour of a land tax, but 110 was not. What ho did say was that ho would tax thoso capitalists in England who bought large blocks of land and did nothing until roa"js and railways had been made, and enhanced their value. That was very different to taxing fanners who weio ini'ir.iviog the land. He was opposed to tho I'ropoity-tax as he considered it a distinct tax 011 industry and thrift. Ho thought :t well to tell them that ho was a freetrader; but with this reservation, that there might be some struggling industry it would be well to foster and help. During his absence from tho colony many tales had b:on circulated as to his doings, one of which was that he had put up for an English constituency. .There was not a tittle of truth in that statement. It was true he had been asked to stand, but ho had doclined. He had no personal object to servo in seeking their suffrage; and he did not think that men who had failed in every undertaking through life and took up politics as a last resource were calculated to make that a success. If a man was not able to manage his own affairs successfully, he was not likely to provo of much help in managing a country. If they thought fit to setid liiui as their representative he would endeavour to do what was right between man and man, aud class and class. Mr Allen theu took his seat. —The Mayor asked if auyoue desired to question Mr Allen.—Mr H. 11. Hyatt asked how money was to be raised to carry ou the Government if there was to be f reetrade and no Land or Property-taxes ?—Mr Allen replied that he did not mean that the Property tax should be taken oIF all at once, but gradually ; and by freetrade ho did not mean to abolish all duties. They must " cut their coat according to the cloth."— No more questions being asked, the Mayor gave several reasons why he considered lliey should support Mr Allen ; one being that ho had been exceptionally unfortunate in tho last session proving so short.—Mr Allen while thanking the Mayor said he desired no mercy for ho niono was to blame. Ho should have been in the colony ready to take his seat; however, should there be another election, and ho was i... *. 'ill! ■' ho should contest it, aud —to use a expression—" let us go at it, and may tho bast dog win."—On the motion of Mr Thos. Wells, seconded by Mr J. Forrest, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Allen for the address and explanations he had given, which was carried by acclamation.—Mr Allen rctuaned thanks, and in turn proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding, which closed the meeting.