The Electoral Campaign.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 237, 7 October 1890, Page 2

The Electoral Campaign.

MR LENNOX AT NEWMARKET.

Mr J, M. Lennox addressed the electors 6f Parnell at the Newmarket Hall lasb even" ing. There was a crowded audience, a jarge number of those present having to be satisfied with standing room. Mr Morgan, Mayor of the borough, who was voted to the chair, bespoke for Mr Lennox a fair and impartial hearing. Mr Lennox on rising was received with applause. He stated at the outset that he came forward as a candidate not becaiiae he had any axe to grind, not because of any personal objects to serve, bub because he loved hie adopted home, and the people thabresided in it. (Applause.) It had been said that this country was in a hopeless state of bankruptcy, but he was convinced that, the most corrupt Ministry that ever existed could not ruin New Zealand—the most beautiful, the most prolific, and the moet healthy country on the face of God's earth. (Applause.) New Zealand had not reached bankruptcy, and she never would. The reason why people were leaving our shores was on account of our enormous debt, our extravagant administration, and that bane 6f all progress, fehe property tax. The remedy was in their own hands.

RIGID ECONOMY.

They had succeeded in borrowing in this country £37,804,418, bufcthis money had not all besn wasted. He believed that ab best two-thirds of it had been spent wisely and well, notably, the money expended on good, sound public railwaye. As to the other third it was a lamentable faob that the money had been worse than ill spent, to a great extent in the construction of political railways which were unproductive, and in the grabbing of money for unnecessary works by members whose constituents expected them to " grab all they could get." (Laughter and applause.) En passant, Mr Lennox referred to the enormous cost of the Civil Service, and alleged that the " heads." had outgrown the " bodies." They wanted to do away with the drones and get men to do our work. (Loud applause.) A great deal of our money was wasted in Wellington, and it would be iar better if local people were allowed to manage their own business.

As the estimates were now made up, it was hopeless to expect reform in this direction. What they wanted the Government to realise was that there was only a population of 620,000 peoplo in this colony, that they were struggling with an immense: debt, and that everything that involved the expenditure of public money should be done in the cheapest possible way. (Applause.) It was absurd to say that it should cost two millions of money to govern the colony annually, and any Government that would not cut down expenditure by at least £300,000 should vacate their seats and give place to ■eomebody else who would. (Applause.)

THE PROPERTY TAX.

Mr Lennox expressed himself as strongly opposed to the property tax, which he said had driven people out of the country and had prevented both people and money from coming in. (Loud applaiise.) He ridiculed the idea that only the wealthy paid property tax, and showed how the consumer? eventually had this obnoxious tax to pay. (Applause.)

' SETTLEMENT OF WASTE LANDS. After referring to the wretchedness, poverty, and misery of the Old Country, Mr Lennox said" thaVanything that would .prevent that sort of thing in a hew country was worthy of the greatest praise. Mr Ballance's village settlement scheme was a 'good effort in thie direction, but, unfoftutiafely, It was not A Success, the principal reason being that the land was too far away and too poor in quality. (Applause.) He believed the solution, of the working man's difficulty was to be found in two words, "cooperation" and "settlement of the land," by which the surplus population could be removed from our cities. (Applause.) A LAND TAX. A great deal had been said about how jnuch farmers would lose by this taxj but it was, he believed, now admitted the world over that it was a good tax. (Applause;) While the speculator paid twenty shillings an acre for his unimproved land, the honeHt, working farmer who made his land to blossom like the rose, waa called ..upon to pay five pounds per acre. Hβ strongly "rged that every, man should be allowed to get a living out of his land. (Applause.)

THE LABOUR QUESTION

Passing to the much - debated labour Question, Mr Lennox caused much amiise'tneht by relating his own experience as a Iwiker. He said the secretary of the socieby Who bailed him otit was bile very iman who took his place. Hβ did not say iM6 to the discredit of Unionisiia, because there were some black sheep in every flodk. Jtefefring by tlie Way to his experiences in the; olden days in New Zealand, Mr Lennox riaid. he had never been afraid to face the Maoris and he was ribb afraid to face the present labour campaign. (Applause.) Every trade knew its Own troubles, and if they Were ever to have a settlement of the disputes it must be a fair, honesb and reasonable settlement between the men and those whb employed them. He was in fkvour of Boards Of Conciliation for the settlement of labour disputes, and would ixto 5 #11: in: $rts r pov*6i-. to bring about the establishment of.sxich institutions.

: : ;; . education; He cftiitiOned Wiepiebple to bewaro of any Who Would dare to tamper with our splendid sysfeeni of State education, by which the child oi the pooreet man could reach the highest position in the land without it costing its parents one penny. (Applause.) In Conclusion, Mr Lennox Said he had no object to gain in seeking ©lection. Be did tiot want the money, and had a young family requiring his care. His only object in going to Wellington would be for the good of this beautiful colony and of the people amongst whom he lived. (Loud and Jjrblohged applause.) : '

QUESTIONS,

: Questions having been invited, Mr Clarke asked how Mr Lennox proposed to settle tho land Question. - : Mr Lennox replied, ''Give it to the .people." He would'give tho people to settle upon the very beat and moat accessible of our lands. > k i Inanswer to another >. question * Mr Lennox said there was no question at all that , the present system of party government •was. highly unsatisfactory. We had too heavy- machinery for the proportion of our population, and any, alteration in the direc:tich of more economical management would ; hav6 his hearty support. (Applause.) ( •Mr Lennox was next taken k>. task by Mr "Morton for his assertion that education cost ?. the poor mail nob one penny. He explained that fche rich and poor men paid for education alike, while the poor men, with .large families, gob the largest, advantage in iicbnnection with it. = • ■ ■ ! ,!■,ln answer td another;[question, Mr eiio'x said he would nob confiscate any man's \ lan'dj bufc ibWas the duty of .Government t6 j ngiire to the people the wry best land avail' j . able for,the purpose, i; : ' , . . tf c iHe was • asketi if he i>educe*d taxation all 'round and gayd f land away, where was re-1 -•TOBuetocbmefromi; and replied-t-'> If we vcan get people to settle upon our lands it ie ;» very.easy thing t6! get fundsto buy them 7 .*Mr .-A. jCampbeli here rose and asked Mr Lennox whether lie was not a Giby Councillor and also a member of the Grammar School Board, Having received!

an affirmative reply, Mr Campbell asked whether Mr Lenwox was not on the Property Committee which reduced, rents of the wealthy while enforcing payment of rents by the poor. A voice: Arn't you one of Morton's carters? (Laughter.) Mr Campbell: Well, perhaps I am. (Loud laughter and applause.) Mr Lennox said he was glad of this opportunity of explaining his action in connection with these matters, and asserted that the reductions in rents which he supported in Council and Grammar School Board, were made for fehe benefit of the wealthy and poor alike, and he challenged anyone to prove,otherwise. (Applause.) In reply to further questions, Mr Lennox said (1) He would not pledge himself to support any Ministry, , but would support whatever party would give effect to the policy he had enunciated ; (2) He was opposed to further borrowing ; (3) He thought it wise to puts the same tax on improved as on unimproved land; (4) He recognised that a need existed-for railway reform, and anything in that direction would meet with his mosb hearty support; (5) He had not read the Shop Hours Bill, but said that whatever was for the best in teres bs of the masses would receive his support.

Mr Edgerly proposed, " That the electors present thank Mr Lennox for hia speech, and consider him a fit and proper person to represent Parnell in the new Parliament." Mr Wm. Burgess seconded the resolution.

Mr A. Campbell moved an amendment that Mr Lennox be accorded simply a vote of thanks. He thought there might be better men coming forward. Mr Raynes seconded the amendment. The question having been put, the Chairman declared the original motion carried, after which Mr Lennox returned thanks, and the meeting terminated.