Political.

Bush Advocate, Volume XI, Issue 861, 21 November 1893, Page 2

Political.

MR G. HUNTER AT DANEVIRKE. There was a very large attendance at the Town Hall on Saturday evening to hear Mr Hunter, a candidate for the Waipawa seat. Tlio weather was most unfavourable, but this did not prevent the hall being well filled. On the platform were'M. ssrs M. Henderson, J. Henderson, C. Hariigan, H. Shannon, Lanet Jensen, J. Huntley, Nolan, Dittmer, and others, also a number of ladies. A large number of ladies wero amongst the audience. Mr G. Wratt was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced the candidate, saying that it would he unnecessary to ask that the same fair play should be accorded to Mr Hunter as had been accorded to other candidates. Mr Hunter, on rising, was received with hearty applause. He said ho hnd first to thank the meeting for placing Mr \\ ratt in the chair, as he was t\Xfe that in his hands the business would be conducted in a satisfactory and capable manner. Ho had also to thank them for attending in such large numbers on such a wretched evening. Mr Hunter's speech was similar to that delivered at Pourere. which has already been published in full, so that it will be unnecessary to fully reproduce il in our columns. Mr Hunter pointed Out the desirability of preventing the introduction of personal feeling into the contest, which should be fought out on the broad grounds of public policy, and in the spirit of fair play that should guide a contest between Britishers. He regretted that his opponent at the last election had been caused to retire owing to ill-health, and said that that gentleman had carefully attended to local requirements and was in many respects an excellent representative. At the last election he promised that if unsuccessful he would came forward again at the earliest opportunity, and in fulfilment of tbat promise nppea*__d before thorn that evening, hut when he made that promise he hardly realised what it involved, or he might never have made it. He referred to the alterations of the electoral boundaries. Tbe alterations had cut oil a number of electors who had supported liim at last election, but if elected he would endeavor to watch over their interests and represent the district as a whole. The constant changes in the electoral boundaries mado it almost impossible for any man to mako the personal acquaintance of tho electors in a district like this, but lie hoped that when the election was ovor he would have had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the majority of the electors. He spoke at considerable length upon

TUB T.AND AXD IXCOSIE TAX, with the prioiples of which ho quite agreed, but he disagreed entirely with tho manner in which the proceeds had been admistered. The Government said they intended to continue the present taxation so as to carry out a self-reliant non-borrowing policy, and to find work for tho unemployed. At the present time ther were a greater numberof unemployed in the district and tho colony than there had been for twelve years. He had many opportunies of judging on this matter. He thought that taxation upon the necessaries of life should be reduced. The system of taxing the employer to find work for the unemployed had nothing to recommond it, and there was a great deal to be said against it, for under heavy taxation less labor wasomployed. The Government had done their bost to deal with the unemployed, but thero wero responsible for its niagnitudo, and Mr Seddon by his indiscreet speeches and utterances had done much to increase their number and discourage enterprise. Tho Government took great credit for having beeen able to bring forward ft surplus of £283,000. That would have been very satisfactory if it had really existed, but if it did exist it had beon extracted from the pockets of the people themselves, and the policy of extracting more than was required must provo injurious. He referred to the tax on mortgagos, which ho said was unfair inasmuch as a borrower had to pay the taxation, while tho lender escaped the tax. A man should be taxed on what he was worth, not on what he owed. He referred to tho effects of the increase of death duties, which had led capitalists to invest their money throught tho medium of financial companies at increased cost to borrowers and tho capitalists should be induced to lond their own money in the colony, and not be placod at a disadvantage as compared with tho companies. Under the present system the banks paid £3308 less in taxation than previously, and he thought the largo financial institutions shonld bo made to bear a fair proportion of taxation.

ECONOMY. A great deal had heen heard about tho economy of the present Government, and it was snid thnt they had reduce i taxation considerably. According to the Financial StatemeiiG tho public debt increased lust year by £468,804. That was a large increase to be made by a Government thnt said it hnd ndministered affairs in an economical manner. The public expenditure was —in 90-91, ±11,175,000; in 1)1-92, £1,192,097; in 92-93, £-1,295,313 ; aud tho estimate for 93-94 wns £4,4GG,548. That was also a large increase for nn economical Government. Taxation had in less thnn three years increased by 2s lOd per head of population, a very direct answer to the claims that the Government were the friends of the peoplo (applauso). The Government said tho country wns in a stato of prosperity, but how did tliey account for the fact that the banks were increasing the rate of interest, overdrafts being called in, nnd the disinclination to invest money. He accounted for it by the gonernl feeling of insecurity, owing to it being impossible to ascortnin

THE Tl*U_ FINANCIAL I'OSITION OV Tim COLONY. The Government had a majority, and refused to allow the public accounts to bu placed hefore tha Public Accounts Committee, and when the Public Revenues Bill was before the House they refused to allow it to bo examined by the committeo. This was tho first time in the history of tho colony that a Government wouldnol allow an examination of tho publio occounts ; last session they wore examined on tho authority of tho lato Mr Ballance. A detailed account of Ministerial traveling expenses had also beon applied for again and again, but had never been supplied. 110 had the greatest curiosity to sco the details of those expenses, and many in that hall were of the same mind (applause).

NATIVK LAND LAWS. Thia was a most important question to the colony and this district in particular, and ho had thought tho Government would bring forward a comprehensive scheme to doul with the native land dilliculty, hut no real attempt had been mnde. To satisfactorily denl with the question nil existing laws would have to bo repealed, and only tho Government allowed to deal in native land. He did not so much blame the peoplo concerned in native lnnd transactions which hnd taken place in this neighbourhood n3 the laws that allowed these trnnsnetions to tnko place. Wlion lands were required for settlement notice should be given to the nntives and a valuation made. Reasonable time should bo given the nntives to say whether thoy were prepared to accept that value. If it was not accepted in a reasonable time the Government should step in und take the land, which should bo cut up into moderate sized blocks, under conditions to prevent it being taken up in largo areas. The interests of the nativoß should be conserved, but they could not be allowed to keep land that vms bndly required for settlement. Under the present law the natives did not receivo full bonorit from the land, while those who bought from the middlemen in many cases pnid more than tho land was worth, and if privnte doaling was stopped sottlers could buy frora tho Government at a reasonable price.

ACQUISITION OF NATIVE LANDS. Tho Government had not exerted themselves to nny great extent to acquire nntive lands. In reply to a question iv the House a3 to what had been done during tiio Inst three years in tho direction of acquiring tho Wnikopiro Blook, Mr MoKenzio said that 37 sharos, representing 9,300 acreß hnd been acquired, and that the interests of those whose shares had been purchased would be ascertained at an early date. That was all that had been done up to 20th Sept., 1893, and he did not think the people would be satisfied with such a small result.

THB LAND LAWS. He disagreed with many things in Mr MclCenzie's land bills. Ono tbat ho alluded to was that under which associations were formed in large towns to take up land in the neighborhood of settlements before the settlers had any idea that the land was open for settlement. The settlers should be put on tlie same footing as tho people in large towns. He referred to block Puketoi No. 0 as a case in point. FEMALE FRANCHISE. When he last addressed them he advocated the extension of the franchise to women, with certain restrictions. Ho did so on the principle that half a lonf was hetter than no bread, as he had r.o idea that there was any prospect of universal suffrage being given to women. He must congratulate tho ladies on being enfranchised, and he believed they would have a beneficial effect on politics. The eyes of the whole world were upon them, and if they returned to Parliament men upright, honorable, and capable, they would for ever silence those who had opposed what he believed was an excellent reform. If they listened carefully to the utterances of the different candidates, and exercised their votes with care, moderation, and discretion, he for one did not fear the result. THE T„MrEIUJ"CF. MOVEMENT. He Was now advocating what he had practised all his life, moderation. He was not an extremist, and had never expressed an opinion in favor of prohibition, but quite agreed with the temperance people in the matter of the direct veto, which was a fair and just means of deciding whether the people wished to have a certain trade in their midst. According to the decisions in »he Sydenham licensing cases tho people had not the power to say whether a certain trade should be carried on. The principle of the direct veto was a Liberal one. A curious feature in this connection was that he, a so-called Conservative, was advocating the Liboral principle, while tho accepted Liberal candidate, on whom had beeu placed the Hall-mark, was saying that a three-fifths majority should rule. If a th'-eo-fifths majority were required on this question it should be required on the question of electing or rejecting a representative.

EDUCATION. Since he last addressed the electors he had given the education question a great deal of thought and care, and if elected he would support fhe present system of free and secular education. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. He was sorry the Government had not been able to deal with the question of local govortnmeut. Ho thought that either the County Councils or the Hoard Boards should be done away with, and the powers of the bodies abolished given to the remaining local bodios. THE CHKVOT ESTATE. The purchase of this estato was not in tha interests of tlie colony. Apart from the proprioty of the Government expending such a lorge sum of money without the authority of the House, the money* could have been much better expended in the purchase of Native lands, in making roads or in completing tho railway from Eketahuna to Woodville. And he had it on tho authority of one of the trustees of thn lato Hon. W. Bobinson that tho trustees made a very good bargain in selling the estate.

"railway cojnnssioNF.ua. The Premier said tho Commissioners threw their estimates on the table of the Houso and did not give the Government an opportunity to mako themselves acquainted with them. Tim statement, to put it mildly, was incorrect, as Parliamentary returns or papers could only be placed on the table by Ministers or members. Another statement made by Mr Seddon that the Commissioners refused to take over tho line from Eketahuna to Woodville was not one of absolute fact, as the Commissioners had no power to refuse to take over any line. He thought the Commissioners wore favorable to the line mentioned, for in their report ot 1893 they recommended the Government to push on with the work and have it completed at the eorliest possiblo moment. Tho Commissioners had increased the railway revenue by £118,89*>, while the expenses only inoreased by £2-1,591. He was a firm believer in the management of the railways by a non-political board. BOIIROWINO. He was not in favor cf borrowing to carry on works to a paying point. That Eoint might not be arrived at in our time, ut we should have to pay the interest. It was said that if the Government went back with a majority they were going in for a three million loan, but the present was uot the time to go on the London market. He hoped the Government would not go back with a majority behind them, if for no other reason tnan to prevent tho floating of a the three million loan. THE HONOBAIUUM. The increase in the houorarium appeared to have produced a prolific crop of candidates for Parliamentary honors. Xbc fact that there wero so many men anxious to serve their country might mean a loss of seats to the Government, and he hoped that would be the result. r-AnTY GOVERNMENT. Tho system of party Government was said by some to be an evil, but he thought that was a good deal the fault of thoso who administered it. If they returned a capable party and honost men they would bring about a ohange that would stop a great deal of what was said about the evils of party government, and assist inmaking tho colony worthy of the name of Greater Britain.

rEKSONAL. Attempts had boen made to influence them in their choice of a candidate, and he believed that as free and independent electors tliey would resent tho attempts made. He was not supported by any party or faction, yot he had the whole weight of Government influence brought against him, and exercised to defeat him. His strength laid in his ability to speak for himself and to ask them to record their votes for ono who aspired to a position nnd wished to lend men, not lo be led hy men. He claimed the right, if elected, to think for himself, and to represent the people ho had lived with and the country ho was born in. It had been said and repeated in this town that nt Inst election he made pledges and statements that he would not have given effeot to if ho had boen elected. That wns a manifestly unfair thing to say of any man. lio was quite propared to believe that those opposed to liim were honest, if mistaken, nnd others should do the same. He dolied anyone to say that he had over broken a pledge given to man, woman, or child. (Loud applause.)

AN EXPLANATION. Mr Hunter then read three letters that had pnssod between himself and Mr Ruddick as to his position in regard to prohibition. He oxplaiud that prior to writing the first letter he had met Mr Crosse at Wnipukarau and thnt gentleman had asked him his viows on prohibition and the direct veto. Ho roplied that he was in favor of the derect veto by a majority, but was not in favor of prohibition. Mr Crosse told him that he did not want his views for his own benefit, but that Mr Ruddick had put the questions to him, and Mr Crosse advised tho speaker to drophim a line on tho subject. After rending the letter], he said he would leave them to judge if he was guilty of tho charge of insincerity. Mr Hunter then resumed his seat amidst applause. In reply to a question us to the increased taxation per head, Mr Hunter said ho had taken his figures from tho offioial handbook of the Government.

Mr Raynor asked if the oandidate was in f nvor of abolishing tho totalisator ? — Mr Hunter said ho had no special feeling iv the matter. As far as ho was concerned he had no objection to it being abolished, as it waß not in the intoreit of owners who ran their horses straight out. In reply to Mr Athy, the candidate was in favor of retaining the railway commissioners, and was certainly not in favor of removing the railway terminus from Danevirke to Woodville. In roply to Mr Dittmer, Mr Hunter said he was in favor of reducing the taxation on the necessaries of lifo. It was the first duty of the Government to make remissions through the oustoms, and this should have been done before exempting improvements from taxation.

Replying to a question, Mr Hunter was not in favor of putting a tax on Cinnamon, as there were so few Chinamen that the tax would not be worth collecting. In answer to another question Mr Hunter thought it would be a very good thing

if sweeps were legalised in tho colony. The fact of making them illegal had sent a lot of money out of the colony, which would have been belter kept here. In reply to Mr Berkahn, Mr Hunter said he was in favor of the Government lending nione. to settlers, and under his scheme the Government would be able to lend a portion of the purchase money to the settlers. Questioned as to the Cheviot estate, Mr Hunter said that only a small portion of it had been sold ; the inferior portions had not been offered, and it could not be known whether it was a good bargain until it was all sold. Replying to Mr Dittmer Mr Hunter thought there could be no objection to bringing education reserves under the lease in perpetuity. He further replied that he was in favor of forming roads through bush districts before the land was offered for settlement, and under his scheme 2;*> per cent of the purchase money would be devoted to making roads. In replying to a question Mr Hunter said ho believed there were real grounds for the report that tho Government intended to go in for a three million loan. It was reported in well-informed circles. Asked whether he was in favor of taxing barmaids, Mr Hunter said that he was decidedly not, and that a number of them would probably vote for him (laughter). As to taxing bachelors, Mr Hunter took that as a personal question, but he would answer it, to the effect that it would be manifestly unfair to tax some bachelors because they had been unfortunate. Mr Hunter was asked to explain the difference between the direct veto and prohibition, and this he did. Another question was whelhor he would be in favor of reducing the duty upon tobacco when reducing taxation, and Mr Hunter thought it would bo very fair to do so. Mr M. Henderson moved a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Hunter. Mrs Burmester rose to second the proposition, and s.iid it gave her great pleasure to do so. In the course of a few remarks Mrs Burmester asked whether Mr Hunter's opponent would be able to show that ho had done as much for the working man as Mr Hunter, and if they went to Porangahou they would find that not one of his opponents there had a bad word to say about him.

Mr Athy moved an amendment for a vote of thanks only. Mr D. Barry seconded. The amendmont and motion were put, and the latter carried. Mr Hunter returned thanks, and said that if they did him the honor to elect him he would endeavor to represent them fairly, faithfully, honestly, and to the bost of his ability. (Applause and cheering.)