POLITICAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxii, Issue 6699, 17 October 1905, Page 2

POLITICAL.

MR STUDHOLMR AT ■ ALLENTON,

There was an attendance oE between sixty and seventy electors at the Allenton Schoolroom last evening, when Mr' John j-'tudholme 'delivered a political address. Mr vV. J. Silccck was voted to the chair. The candidate reviewed the various questions at proeent; engaging Attention in the world of politics in a concise rummer, and he was accorded a very attentive heating, while there w»3 frequent applause.

Mr Silcook, in introducing Mr .Studholme, i said he'was sure that they would give him a pstient »»nJ attentive hearing. Mr tjtudholme, who was received with much applause, expressed the great pleasure ir> gave him to address a meofciug of the electors of Allenton. Before last election it was impossible for him to do so, as he was late in the field, and he had to choose bat ween Hampstead and Allenton, and as the former was the stronghold of an opponent, and he thought Allanton was ntarer Ashburton than it is, he had spoken at the former place in preference. * Last election he had suffered a gceat deal from misrepresentation, and such practices were again being indulged in, and one of these he wished to give a most emphatic denial. That was that he would try and screw the working man down as far as wages went, and that he thought 5s a day a fair rate of wages for a man. That was an absolute libel, and there was no truth in it. He had always paid the full current rate of wages, and had never tried to cut down. If anyone considered he was not acting fairly to the men who were working for him let him go to them for information.

He desired that at the conclusion of his speech they should worry him with questions on any points not clear, as, if returned, he did not wish to get in under any misapprehensions. —(Applause). The candidate then briefly touched on the licensing question, and stated that he would do all he could to give np-license a fair trial.

The land question was an all-absorbing topic. Some of them who were not now landholders hoped some day to be so, while they doubtless looked for such opportunities for their sons. There were a great many pointa at issue. Great controversy centred round the question oE lease in perpetuity, and this was the bone of contention and the great difference between the present and past Governments. The Government set enormous store on it, but as soon as they found oontinuance in this system endangered .their power did they stick to their policy ? Not a bit of it. They asked the House to find them a la-ad policy. The truth was the lease in perpetuity had been tried and found wanting. No one had a good word to say for the Government's recent action in the House. The old system of lease in perpetuity was dead as a doornail. What was goingl to be done with all the land held under this system ? Leave macters exactly as they were, and refuso the freehold ? That was the Government's position as far aB it had gone. He advocated acquiring the freehold at original valuation, plus 1 par cent, compound interest, with a time limit on the option. The reaggregation of large estates could be prevented by restrictions. Funds from purchase moneys should be earmarked for the acquisition of further lands for settlement. The aim of the land policy should be the placing on the land of the greatest possible number of small freeholders, and they should stimulate and encourage them in every possible way they could. They might say it was all fudge for him, a large landholder, to expound these views, but he held they showed his sincerity on the

subject. After quoting figures in support of his contentions he said he advocated purchase at the original valuation, because ha wanted to see tenants take land up. What was the best policy to adopt in respect to lands in future acquired for settlement ? He thought occupation with

right of purchase sufficiently comprehensive to meet all cases. He was not wedded to any tenure, but thought it essential that the tenant should be given the opportunity of: beooming his own landlord. He was strongly in favour of the leasehold as a start. After referring to workman's homes in the towns, the candidate dwelt upon the drawbacks married farm labourers had to contend with when working in the country. The suggestions he had made during last election campaign he thought showed a possible and fair way of assisting to remedy this hardship. He never anticipated any objections from the farm labourers but he did from the politicians. He was just as convinced as ever of the wisdom ©f what he proposed, and the need of it, and would do anything fco help them when the farm labourers asked him to do so.

After passing reference to the Bible in schools agitation and the facilities allowed under the Act therefor, Mr Studholme said that when it was considered we spent .£700,000 a year on education, that there were 3000 teachers, and 139,000 children whom we compelled to give up eight or nine years of their lives to school work and its influence, it was not hard to recognise the importance of the Education Department and what depended

on its efficiency. When the late Minister of Education died, the Premier, who then held many offices, cheerfully added this enormous Department to the list. The Cabinet comprised eight members, who controlled twenty-four Departments. Of these, two men had charge of twelve,— (Shame !)— Thus it was impossible for the Department to be properly administered at

present. There was a more important question than this. Were they doing the best possible for the children in the schools and giving them the kind of education they themselves would choose supposing they had their time over again. He thought there was room for improvement in subjects taught and methods of teaching. They relied too exclusively on books. They ought to aim more at training

the eye and hand as well as the memory. There should be a development of the characteristics of children and the training of their powers of observation. They should be taught as much at? possible of their environment. He instanced the

savage races and the keen knowledge they had of the things about them. To him it

appeared the more civilisation the loss knowledge in this respect. They should train the faoulties and have the hand, eye and mind working together—a system of manual training. It was not the value of the things they made, but the facility the children acquired. Domestic economy— the art of living—should be introduced into schools for girls, and the fundamental laws of health should be taught to boys and girls. Were this teaching introduced into the schools it would have a wonderful effect on physique, and also tend to decrease infant mortality. He would like to see physical culture taught nnd children medically examined every year. The speaker then ■ dealt at length with the thorough system of education adopted in schools in the United States and Canada as revealed to him during a recent trip to America, and how far in advance their methods are to those adopted in New Zealand. Mr S^udholme then touched on subjects of general politics on the lines of previous speeches, and concluded amidst applause. QUEST-lONS. " Are you a Liberal or a Conservative ? " was the first question put to the candidate. "It is hard to say," replied Jsr Studholme, " most 'of my friends toll me I am a horrible Eadical, others call me a Conservative. I believe I am a much sounder Liberal than any man on the Government benches. The Conservative party is dead, and is now in a statg of transition." "If elected" would you legislate for the benefit of the large hudholder ?" was the next interroga-fcory. Mr Sfcudholme repliecl that many of his opponents had tried to set up prejudices against him on this question. Whatever a man might be—candlestiok-maker or otherwise—he believed in even-handed justice to all classes. " I would like to ask a question, that is, it' ladies can ask questions." enquired an elector of the fair sex. Continuing she said—-"If you want to please all parties, there are two parties in Ashbutton—license and no-license—but to please both you would have some difficulty. I would like you to stand by the no-licen-e pirfcy." Mr Studholsne said he was not going to make the slightest attempt to please all patties, as it was well known that was impossible. He wished no-license to have a fair trial. He was not convinced nolicense was the better system, but if it succeeded well and good—thea he would be converted. 'fWquld you giyt) preference to local option or colonial option ?" The candidate said, he would rather not express an opinion. Ashburton suffered through the districts cm* either side not being ao-liceose districts'. Ho would hardly like to give a decided opinion yet. but thought the present system was working very well.

" Do you believe in a fair day's pay for a fair day's work ?" came the next question,

" I hope so," was Mr Studholme's reply. " I have never attempted and never wished to cut down wages in any way. lam glad to ccc the existence of the Arbitration Court in this country—a Court presided over by a Judge of the Supreme Court. I challenge uny of niy opponents to say that I do Dot give a fair days-pay to my workers. I pay current rates*, find my atm is to make them coint'ortftble. I am willing to pay trap fare for anyooe to Ooldstreim—if that wasn't bribery—rind if things there uro not as good as they might be, to abide by the consequences." After minor questions, Mr Buxfcon movoa a vote of tbants to Mr StnclhoUne for Ms able .eddross, an-.i in doing sobaid that; from what he know from experience and infovmarnatiou givon by those who had worked for Mr Studholme ho had formed the highest opinion of him. Mr Steel seconded the motion, and on being put it was carried with acclamation.

Mr John Studholnie will address the electors at Hainpstead this evening, at 7.30.