POLITICAL ADDRESS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6667, 8 September 1905, Page 2

POLITICAL ADDRESS.

MR J. IVESS AT METHVEN.

Last night Mr J. Ivess, a candidate for the Selwyn seat, addressed a meeting of electors at the Fchoolhouse, Methven. Mr Diokie occupied the chair. Mr Ivess said that, encouraged by the liberal support aocorded to him at tin last contest, he was nerved to present himself occe mere t> the electors of Selwyn. At the last election he was the victim of a triangular duel. Had the fifjht be-in a fair stand up one he believed he would have been sitting as their representative that day. Tho coming battle was not likely to be ve3ted with more than ordinary iutereat. There wore two strong parties in the House and country, viz., the Great Liberal Party and the Opposition, Certainly a new party, known as the " New Liborale," bad couie iuto prominence of late, but they had not succeeded in covering themselves with glory. There was also the New Independent Labour League, engineered by the Hon. Mr Rigg. These new parties aimed at bringing about a split in the Liberal camp. At the close of the battle they would doubtless range themselves under one leader. The impotency of the third party was seen in the Federal House of Representatives in Australia, where Mr Watson and his followers were powerless to effect legislation in the interests of their party. Some people took exception to the long reign which Mr Seddon enjoyed, arguing that a Democratic Premier, who exercised unlimited powers was likely to assume the tone of an autocrat. No matter how eminent a man might be there came a time in his life when a Bign for a change was heard. The Opposition had assured the country that in the event of their turning Mr Seddon off the Treasury benches they would not seek to repeal one of his measures. Mr Ivess held that the authors of these measures were most entitled to be entrusted with their administration. Prior to the Ballaace Government assuming the reins of office stagnation was very marked throughout the countr.y • In those days the Treasurer was accustomed to meet Parliament with a deficit, to meet which a tax was imposed on the thrift and industry of the people. The advent of the Ballance Government to power brought about a new era. The Property Tax was promptly repealed, and the Land and Income Tax substituted. Population was quiokly attracted to our shores, and ever since has been steadily

increasing. Mr Ivess then reviewed the financial condition of the colony during the 14 years that the Liberal Government has been in power, showing that the legislation of the Seddon Government had brought about an increase of a quarter of a million of population, and had appreciably increased the volume of the colony's exports. The Lands for Settlement Act was mainly responsible for this improved oondition of affairs. The bird's eye light of the Land Purchase Board was being turned upon the few remaining big estates. The present Government bad given a fillip to the frozen mutton and dairy industry. Some people were ungenerous enough to withhold credit for our prosperity from the Seddon Government. They argued if " broomstioks" were on the Treasury benuhes we would have enjoyed the same measure of prosperity, and they were prepared to renounce Mr Seddon and all his good works. Mr Ivess declared that no administration was perfect. All past Governments could be charged with sins of omission and commission. A Government was generally reflected by its supporters. Every three years the team was carefully overhauled, the old screws, crooks, and those accustomed to hang back in tbe shafts were weeded out.

The Premier had said that the Legislative Council must be " mended or ended." It was hardly, likely that the Council would support its own extinction. It now consisted of 41 members, 29 of whom had been nominated by the Government for a term of seven years; and twelve held office for life. It was monstrous that a nominated body should have power to veto laws passed by the popular chamber. The Council should be made elective on somevirhat similar lines to the Senate of the Commonwealth. '

Lands brought under the scope of the Lands for Settlement Act had materially aided settlement, but the tenants placed upon these lands were increasing the strength o£ the Opposition. Discontent had been raised by Mr Massey re the leasehold. A majority of the Royal Commission had reported in favour of giving the Crown tenants the freehold. The colony had borrowed £3,362,013 to purchase 136 estates, comprising an area of 716,224 acres, upon which were settled 3131 tenants. The assets of the colony had been pledged fco the English bondholders for this money. The G-overnment had lost the whole of the land tax levied upon the former owners of these estates. It had been seriously proposed by Mr Massey and his party to permit these Crown tenants to break their solemn contract by permitting them to purchase at the sum on which they were paying 4£ per cent on the assessed capital value. The Government purchased the Cheviot estate from the executors of the late Henry Robinson for £260,220. Today the laud was worth quite one million. It would be unfair, and manifestly unfair to the t-"tate, to permit these tenants to acquire the;r holdings at the original Co3fc to the Government. Whilst holding these views on land leased under the Lands for Settlement Act, Mr Ivess was willing to concede the freehold to Crown tenants who held laud under the Land Act, 1892. The colony borrowed no money to these lands, and many settlers went back to settle upon unroaded lands, and were subjected to many trials and hardships. There was an earth huntjer in the colony which could only be appeased by acquiring the huge native blooks in the North Island, which were blooking settlement. He did not advocate a violation of the Treaty of Waitangi. Sufficient lands could be set aside for the requirements of the Natives, and the balance could be purchased under the Lands for Settlement Act and invested iv debentures for the benefit of the Natives. They could draw their share of the accrued interest from timo to time.

Mr Ivess next dealt with tha unfounded charges made by Mr Fisher, and congratulated the Liberal party on the complete vindication of the Premier.

Dealing with railways and public works, Mr Ivesa advocated the speedy completion of tho Midland line, He said he was a member of the House which granted power to nn English company to build the line. Tt was a mistake that the colony did not in the first instauoe assume the power. The Midland and the North Island Main Trunk must be pushed on with all speed.

Mr Ivesa held that all Government; employees should be brought under the arbitration awards of the oniony. What was ?aucefor the goo?e was sauce for the gntider. The Government railway labourers weve underpaid. They wore entitled to 8s per day. New Zealand bad reason to feel proud of its excellent education system. He was in favour of a free, secular and compulsory system of education. The teachers' salaries should be placed upon a more assured footing than the average I attendance. He would support a superannuation scheme, and college?; for the training of teachers, Iv sparsely'populated districts the system of covered vans, as in vogue in America, for the conveyance of children to and from school from distances of from three to five miles, could be adodted in this country with advantage. He congratulated the old age pensioners on being made more comfortable in the evening of their lives. He favoured the second ballot, and as an alternative would support Mr McNab's Absolute Majority B'.l). Ho pointed out the increasing evil of minority representation. There were 13 minori'.y representatives in the present House, Selwyn being one of the nuraboi-, Tho people-had the power in their own hands to 'deal as they thought fit with tha liquor question. Mr l7t}3S dealt at length with the Elective Executive, of which measure he declared himsolf a warm supporter. Dealing with the question of freights to tho Old Country, Mr Ivess showed the meeting how unfairly the farmers of New Zealand were being treated. Thoy were paying 50s a, ton to London, while they ro-.ild command freight and American ports for 12s 6d, They were subsidising the Federal line to the amount of £30,000 a year to carry our produce to South Africa and England by way ot Australia. This company collected produce along the Australian coast, which was conveyed to London at a lower 'rate of freight, to enter into competition with our farmers' products. The time had arrived when the colony should turn its attention to the acquisition ef? a direct steam service which would carry our products expeditiously to the world's most profitable market The farmers during the past 20 years had paid excess of freight which would have purchased the necessary steam-1 At the close a number of questions were asked and satisfactorily answered. A motion of confidence -against one of

thanks only—was carried almost unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the largest meeting ever held in Methven.