WAIKATO ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2999, 3 October 1891, Page 2

WAIKATO ELECTION.

MR. \V. A. MURRAY AT TE AWAMUTU.

Mr W. A. Mdiihav ad.lressnd the electors in the Te Awamutu Public Hall last Tuesday night, and was very well received by the large number who came to hear him. Mr .lames Walton, chairman of the Town Board, was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced the candidate.

Air Murray began by referring briefly to the Bryce episode. While regretting what had occurred, he considered Mr Bryce had actcd unwisely in deserting his post instead of remaining as sentinel to guard the Treasury, and 110 did not like the part he was taking now- canvassing for Mr Lake. He deplored the party strife there was now and always had been in the House. What tho country wanted was statesmanship, not points of order, party strife aud squabbles. He quoted Tennyson's

Ring out the slowly dying cause And ancient forms ot party strife, Ring in the nobler modes of life And sweeter manners, purer laws. He next referred to local self-government, contrasting the colony with the United States, showing what a better plan they had. Local bodies should have greater powers instead nf referring everything to Wellington, and thus increasing tho administrative cost. Ho also showed how in the Uuitnd States they had only nine Supreme Court judges, while in New Zealand we had six with a population less than tho city of New York ; and the lato Government had increased the number of judges instoad of reducing tho Civil Service. He next referred to the public debt, showing how half of it had been simply squandered, and said it was a pity the taxpayer had not more control over the tivsfspender. Tho debt was about £38,000,000, nf which 1115,000,000 was spent in railways. He preferred railways to roads as they cost less to keep up; and if wo spent more money it should be in railways. Railways should be used in the interests of the public and not simply for a prolit. Mr Vaile deserved great thanks for trying to introduce his stags system ; he thought by it freights could bo made more equal and much cheaper. This would be a great boon to settlers, 110 did not advocate cheap passenger fares as they would be going to town too often and not patronising the local tradespeople. He next showed his scheme for relieving us of part of the burden of tho public debt by inducing the Imperial Government to consolidate our debt, as Mr Goschen has lately been doing with tho English debt making the interest 2t per cent. The New Zealand security would be added to the British and the whole of the debt would be taken up at par at this low rate. He had tlireo reasons why the Old Country should thus help the colony. England gave us our constitution which was so badly drawn that it left us to the mercy ot political adventurers and car-pet-bagmct) who raised loans, enriched themselves and then left us. England's mismauagoment brought on the native war which cost us many millions. Another reason was the appreciation of gold, now calculated to be 33 per cent. This meant that it took or.e third more of our produce now to make up the same amount in gold than when the loans were raised. Mr Murray quoted Prof. Wallace on this point. If the Home Government did this we could do without a land and income tax, we could reduce the Custom dnties and could also give some subsidies to local bodies. He also showed us his new _proposal to limit interest or mortgages to 5 per cent and to make it impossible for a mortgagee to call up his money so long as interest is paid regularly. He next referred to native lands and he here makes a really sensible proposal. It is that the Government survey tho outside boundaries of the different blocks and take them over at a valuation allowing the natives certain reserves. The individual interests of the owners can then be fought out afterwards and the purchase money of tho block divided amongst them much easier than the land can bo surveyed and partitioned. The Crown thus acquiring the land can then sell or leasa it as they are doing with their other ordinary Crown lands. If this is nut done it will be fifty years before tho King country is settled. This is of course the scheme of Messrs Rees and Cadman, but he (Mr Murray) claimed to be the originator of it. The present Government he said wished to abolish freehold and to make everybody the tenants of the State, That is, the farmers would be the tenants of the people, of the Liberals who swarmed round the Waiteirata corner in Queenatreet. He wanted to see the country peopled with a yeoman class of farmers each on his own bit of freehold, and not a mob of orown tenants. He had worked out the Land Tax and had come to the conclusion the towns would pay £30,000 less and the country £30,000 more than under the old property tax, and that it made the burden very unequal. He thought twenty per cent should be taken off all improvements so as to encourage people to improve and so davelope the rosources of the country. It was no use putting mora people on the land until those already on seemed in a fair way to prosper. This might bo done by reducing railway freights. Tiie shipping companies might be induced to lower their freights to London by one-half, if tenders were called to carry all produce home. The Victorians had done something like this and were now enjoying cheap freights. He did not beliove in protection as it makes everything dear for the farmer and tended to create exotic industries and to cause population to centre in the towns, and it led to sweating in factories and other evils of town life. We want to induce people to leave the town and settle in the country. As to education ho would not touch the standards but give each an education suitable for his station. He believed in scholarships as thoy enabled tho clever children of poor parents to rise and porhnps become famous. He would not restrict the school age and would endeavour to givo them all that religion which exalted a nation. He was very much in favour of in iking libraries and museums all over the country, and by doing this we could check somswhat the socialistic tendencies that are now undermining the moral health of the people. Mr Murray touched on other matters and was frequently applauded. By racy anecdotes and quotations from well known poets he rahoved the mooting from that dullness so usual at country election meetings. Air Murray concluded his address by offering t<> answer any questions put to him or to explain anything that he had not made clear.

Mr Andrews: Do you approve of tho Payment of Members Bill?

Mr Murray : I signed the petition to the House agaiust it, and seconded the motion at my meeting at Cambridge thanking tho Legislative Council for throwing the Bill out. Mr Andrews: Do you approve of tha general policy of the present Government ? Mr Murray; Only of their native policy, as it was I who suggested it to them ; but I disapprove of everything else. Mr Andrews: As an Independent member, would you have any influence in the House? Mr Murray: I was in the House for eleven years as an Independent member, and my constituents wero so pleased with me that they have been begging me to stand for their district evar since. Mr Boarsley : Will you resign in Mr Bryce's favour if ho should re-enter politic?. Mr Murray : No; certainly not. In answer to tho same gentloman, Mr Murray said thero were plenty of good men in the Houso whom hn would gladly work with, such as Messrs J. W. Thompson, Russell, Rolleston and Cadiuan. He wanted to see a good patty formed of the luest mon in New Zealand, who would work for the welfare of tho country. He had always voted with Mr Rolleston, and the two of thein did their best to cheek Vogel's extravagance. Mr Murray also told the meeting he was instrumental in securing for the Hall Ministry Mr Bryco's services as Native Minister. Mr Teasdale: Would you follow Sir George Grey if he led a party in the House ? Mr Murray, in answer, said he would not, and allowed that no good was done by supporting men who just held the balance of power. Mr John Mandeno : Mr Murray spoke about reducing interest 011 mortgage to 5 percent. Howdi' l he propose to persuade anyone to lend at that rate? Mr Murray: Very easy; a Bill of one olauso would do it. Mr Mandeno : But how could you compel anyone to lend ? Sir Murray: There aro 40,000 mortgaged homes in New Zealand, the owners of which aro now being bled to death, slaving to pay heavy interest on their mortgages. By such an arrangement both mortgagor and mortgagee would be better off, as the latter would bo certain of his money. Mr Mandeno: Is it not unjust thus to set aside a fair contract? Mr Murray: Every mortgagee is now reducing or will have to reduce nia interest.

I havo had to reduce interests from 7 per cent t" I P'*r rent. Ml' Murray also said, being a bachelor, ho was not in favour of taxing them, unless they were reckoned as luxuries, when he supposed they ought to

be. As no mora questions wero forthcoming, after a decent pause, Mr Teasdale moved a vote of thanks to Mr Murray, for his ufole address, saying ho had answered ail the questions in a straightforward manner, and that he liked him all the bettor for being Independent. Mr Bearsley, in seconding tho motion, also praised Mr Murray for his coming out as an Independent member, ami was Ktire he would do his best for the district. Ho was also sorry that ho would not take the vote of confidence, as lie would get it. This was carried unanimously. Mr Murray, in returning thanks, said if elected he would do his best for every part of the district, and urged all the electors to strengthen tho hand of their member by making suggestions whenever they thought fit. He mentioned the gorse question as one on which he would like some help from the local bodies, and, if elected, he wished all his constituents not to be afraid to write to him. A voto of thanks to the chair, proposed by Mr Murray, concluded a very good meeting.

MR W. A. MURRAY AT TE KUITI,

Mr Murray addressed the free and independents here on Monday night in Mr Ferry's new hall. Mr R. Cashell was voted to the chair, there being about 60 people present, mostly natives. Mr Murray's address was of a "very statistical nature and in about half an hour his audience was reduced to about 20, the rest having gone to interview Mr Perry's hop beer barrel to take the dryness away. Like a boom of thunder there came to the ears of those left tho shrill skirl of the Pibroch, which caused a general stampede of tho remainder, not excepting the chairman, Mahuki having arrived during the day the natives thought it was some infernal machine lie had brought to punish them for not sticking to him, and allowing tho police to take him to Mount Eden. However, when they found it did not go off, or attempt to bite, and that ono man could hold it they took courage and returned. Tho gallant Murray could not resist the slogan, but left the hall seized the pipes and in about five minutes he by vigorous walking and blowing round the hall soon had a crowded house, he threw politics to the dogs for.the; B:il(l)ance of the night. A violin having been produced he gave the pipes a rest and kindly played until the wee sma' hours to a very attentive party of 30 couples, and thus ended 0110 of the most original political meetings on record.