WAITEMATA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 273, 17 November 1902, Page 3

WAITEMATA.

ADDRESS BY ME HATFIELD.

Mr A J. Hatfield, jun., the Governja°nt candidate for this electoraie, opened his election campaign at the Xanahu School on Wednesday night. There was a well-attended meeting, despite the unfavourable weather. Mr T. Kelly was voted to the chair, and in his "introductory remarks referred to Mr Hatfield's nine years service on the County Council, during which time he had given every possible satisfaction to the electors of the county. The candidate was enthusiastically received on rising. In the course of his address he dwelt at length on the Advances to Settlers Act passed in the year 1894. "When this measure was before the House it met with strong condemnation from the members of the Opposition. It was freely asserted that the colony would meet with serious losses by" settlers getting into arrears, and properties Sailing into the hands of the Government. In 1894 farmers could not obtain money on their farms for less than 8 to 10 per cent., and the charges the settlers had to pay for procuration fees, and the preparation of deeds, was another serious item. The Government stepped in, and lent money at 5 per cent., and reduced the charges for deeds to a mere nominal sum. Since 1894 the Government has lent out large sums of money with beneficial results to the settlers, and no loss to the country. In the newspaper report of Mr Alison's speech he made a strong point of the large increase of the public debt, and skilfully included the amount borrowed by the Government under the Advances to 6ettlers Act as part of the public debt. No doubt it is, in a sense, as the Government have borrowed the money, and are responsible for its repayment, but at the same time the Government have security over all the farms of the settlers who have harrowed the money. He approved of increasing the public debt in this ■way, and if they could profitably »pend public money in reproductive works he would also support the Government in obtaining further Honeys for these purposes. As a jnember of the Waitemata County Council he had always strenuously Tirged that representations be made to the Government for money to be spent on roads and bridges in thi». electorate, and had succeeded in getting a good many grants for those purposes. If elected he would be able to make much stronger representations to the Government, and hoped to obtain substantial grants to make good roads. This district, he considered, had not in the past received its fair share of public moneys. Having no railway lines in this electoral district was a strong reason for more money being spent on our roads. He considered the Government should take over the main North road and metal it. Too much importance could not be giveD to the question of roads. He spoke strongly in favour of a more vigorous policy for opening up Crown and Native lands, and trusted that the new Maori Land Administration Act ■would do away with the difficulties of opening the Native lands in the North. In his opinion these lands should be sold under the same system as the Crown lands are at present, and was strongly in favour of all purchasers of Crown lands having the right to acquire the freehold at some period. He was strongly in favour of the present educational system, and would urge the Government to establish more schools in the scattered country districts. He favoured the exemption of farmers under the Workers' Compensation Act. The Act originated in England, but there only applied to persons following hazardous occupations, and did not affect farmers. In this country he considered that farmers had sufficient burdens to hear.

Numerous questions were put to the candidate, one, among others, asking whether he would be in favour of altering the main coach road from North Shore to Warkworth via Dairy Flat, this being the old route, to which the candidate pledged his support, saying he favoured the main North road being through the most populous districts. He also said that if elected he should endeavour to get the Government to take over the main North road and metal it. In answer to another question, he said he was in favour of altering certain roads in the vicinity of Riverhead. holding that it was of the utmost importance that residents should have well graded main roads in a district so close to the chief town of the colony. With regard to Bible reading in State schools, he said that the question should be referred to the electors, under the provisions of the referendum. He expressed himself in favour of the abolition of the Kauri Gum Industry Act, saying that the Act was put into force too late in the day to be of any practical utility, as at present enforced, and owing to costs of collection, etc., it wa9 of no real benefit to the districts in which it was levied. With regard to rating on unimproved values, he was in favour of .the pre-

sent system. Questioned as to whether he was in favour ol local option or colonial option, he said that he was in favour of colonial option, the question of a bare or three-fifths majority being decided by the electors under the Referendum. A vote of confidence in the candidate was carried unanimously, and the meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman. Mr Hatfield addressed the electors of Puhoi on Thursday, at the Wade on Friday, and Albany on Saturday.

Mr Hatfield addressed a meeting of electors at the Wade on Friday, over one hundred settlers and otlier-s being present, He gave a very able address,, which was received with great applause. Numerous questions were answered, after which a vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. Mr K. Bruntin occupied the chair.