THIS HON. A. J. CADMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 29, 4 February 1896, Page 5

THIS HON. A. J. CADMAN.

W, ADDRESS AT HAMILTON.

Last evening Che Hon. A. J. Cadman addressed a largo meeting of his constituents in the Oddfellows' Hall, Hamilton East. Mr W. Dey, JMuyor of Hamilton, presided. Mr Cadman's speech was in the main similartothatdelivered atHuntlylately. He touched chiefly on agricultural subjects and then went on to refor to politics in goneral. He contended that the preeent Government had in reality reduced the public debt by the conversion of loans. If, however, money was not borrowed somewhere there would soon be nothing left to carry on public works with, and the necessity of borrowing shortly tnusb be looked in the face. It was shown that they had some good assets. The railway lines, the hon. gentleman stated, wore at least worth twenty millions, and the telegraph and public buildinga were also good assets. Regarding the Ban»k of New Zealand, Mr Cadman explained that wlmt had been dona was for the benefit of the colony. With regard to the assets of the Bank, of which there are a number in this district, in tho sbapo of largo estates, it would be much better if the Government could ace their way to purchase and settle people on them. He said it would be cheaper to buy lands in tho Waikato than to purchase land in the King Country, for the reason that the railway wbb alreudy there. Roads and bridges were there, and, naturally, aa soon as thu population was increased by settlement on the land the revenue would be proportionately increased. He spoke highly in favour of the present Minister of Agriculture, and quoted figures to chow the state of the colony's produce export trade. He said that nearly 2,000,000 bushels of wheao less were exported in 1895 than in tho previous year, as well as decreases in the export of other produce. The export of frozen meat and wool was steadily increasing, though ' the returns for the former were not increasing proportionately. The exporb of grain had jfallen very considerably, and on the whole fche products were not increasing as they onght, and he thought it was time these things were looked into. Referring to the present tariff as affecting the farmer, he quoted a number of articles which were now brought into the country free, or the tax on which had been increased to benefit the agriculturalist. A3 to the concessions on fares on tho railways for the benefit of the country settlers, he showed t.hat since the Government had control of the railways, large concessions on farming implements and produce had boon made. Tl-e rates for milk and cream had also been largely reduced. The carriage of butter »on the Auckland railways last year was 481 tons, of which the freight was a trifle over \£l a ton, and be thought it would not be expedient to make any further reduction, as it would nob benefib the farmer, bub only the middleman. A reduction of 20 per leant, made on the carriage of cheep was testimatod to bring n loss of £7,500, but, contrary to all expectations, the result for nine months of the year had resulted in a gain of £735 ; but, on the other side, the carnage of the extra quantity of stock had necessitated the expenditure of something like £10,000 on rolling stock. Regarding the bonus of £50,000 for the first 10,000 tone of beet sugar produced in the colony, ho expected that the Bill would be again brought forward, when perhaps it would have a better fate. If the beet root scheme for the Waikato was going to be a big affair, and not a wild cat scheme, he would require to have some definite information .on the subject before he could go into the matter of railway freight. Mr Cadman was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, on tho motion of Mr Thos. Chappell, seconded by Mr J. Steadman.