POLITICAL ADDRESSES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 42, 18 August 1908, Page 7

POLITICAL ADDRESSES.

AN EGMONT CANDIDATE. [BT TELEGBAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ELTHAM, This Day.? Mr. G. P. Wake, a Liberal candidate for the Egmont seat, addressed a meeting at Eltbam last night. Ho defended the Government finance, combatted the idea that the Government was opposed to the farmers, and suggested an amendment of the Arbitration Act by making unions deposit a sum with the Government before they registered, and by automatic cancellation of unions that offended. In reply to a question he said that he was a prohibitionist, and favoured retention of the present three-fifths majority. A vote of thanks was given the candidate. MR. FRASER AT WAIROA. COUNTY STATISTICS. WAIROA, This Day. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser delivered a political address last evening to a large audience, dealing optimistically with the progress of the Dominion. Referring to the Wairoa County statistics for the year he showed that in 1898 the valuation of the land and improvements was £1,040,61S (capital value), and it was now £2,699,807 ; improvements increased from £739,735 to "£1,834,436; the number of occupied holdings 240 to 287 ; cattle; 6,970 to 24,936 ; trust lands leased to Maori boards, 344,625 acres ; lands leased by consent Maori board, 410,333 acnes; lands in respect to which restrictions were removed to permit of sale, lease, or mortgage, 410, 101 acres; trust lands leased to the East Coast Board, 6-3,676 acres; lands sold to the same board, about 50,000 acres; trust lands leased under Mangatu Act 51,294 acres; native lands purchased by the Crown, 263,001 acres; area under completion, 85.534 acres; taken for Crown liens, 21,791. In addition the areas reported on by the Native Land Commission have • yet to be operated on. The Hon. Carroll is putting on a large party of surveyors, and predicts the ■onming season will be one of activity.