Political.

Bush Advocate, Volume XI, Issue 862, 23 November 1893, Page 2

Political.

MR C. HALL AT ORMONDVILLE,

Mr Hall addressed a large gathering of electors in the Ormondville Town Hall on Tuesday evening. On the platform were — Messrs D. Vaughan, W. Pike, G. Grant, G. Henson, D. Davis, E. T. Olsen, Arthur, Prescott, and Forward. A large number of ladies were among the andioncf*.

Mr Groom, who occupied the chair, said that Sir Hall, who was soliciting their suffrages at the forthcoming election, was tho Government candidate. The issues of the election wero quite clear and well defined, and the electors could not make any mistake. The Government candidate was the one who was prepared to support the present Government. He would like to make a fesv observations on Mv Hall's coming forward as a candidate. A great ninny people had been blaming tho Government for putting lip their candidates, but it was known for a fact that the Governmont had not put up Mr Hall. When Mr Smith had retired a large and representative meeting of Liberals had been held at Danevirke, and after the merits of different gontlemen were discussed, Mr Hall had been selected as the strongest man, and tho man with tho greatest claims on his party. Ho had been a consistent Liberal for a great many years, and had a great amount of weight in the district, where he was well known. After he had been nominated the Premier had been asked to endorse their action and accept Mr Hall as the Government candidate. That was how Mr Hall had como to stand as the Liberal candidate. Ho would ask chem to give Mr Hall a patient and attentive hearing. This was that gentleman's first appearance in Ormondville. Although personally unknown he had been heard of as a County Councillor and. member of the Land Board, and as Mayor of Woodville, and in all tlsreo capacities he had carried out his duties in an exemplary, straightforward, and honorablo manner. (Hear, hoar.) He would now call upon Mr Hall for his address.

Mr Hall, who was very cordially received, said be was glad to see such a large attendance of Onnondvillo people, and he hoped that Ormondyille would have a great many people living in it when tho land became availahlo (or settlement purposes. He was very much obliged to Mr Groom for thn good lift he had given him, and for the way in which he had explained his reasons for offering liini3elf as a candidate. He had been a Liberal for the last 30 years, and now he liked Liberalism best as it accorded best with his own nature. During every part of his life he had fought for the weak against the strong, and he was not going to desert his rarty now. One thing tint made him declare for Liberalism in New Zealand was the way the continuous and Conservative Ministry had believed in getting as much land as they could and letting others get as little as they could. He had followed Sir George Grey, Sir Hobert Stout, Mr McAndrcw, Mr Montgomery, the late John Biillanco, and finally a man who by his untiring pertinacity and perseverance had worked himself up to his present position, Mr Bichard Seddon. (Hear, hear.) \. great many of the Liberal candidates were not going to take honorarium. He was not, as he could do without it. He had worked for his living since he was 9 years of age, and he now had not to work so hard for his living as he had done. He thought that every man no matter how poor, had a right to come forward to represent them. They would find that the wealthy men who talked about refusing the honorarium c'id not do ho at the election. He had to congratulate the women in New Zealand on the acquisition of tho franchise, and he hoped they would use it wisely. This \va» not a Conservative measure but had been first brought up by the Chartists of 18-10. Party Government had been cried down a good deal but he would liko to know what they were to have instead. He believed in this sort of Government, as next to a good strong Govermuont a good opposition was necessary. His party would be the Liberal party. He thought the working people were taxed very heavily as they paid a good deal more in proprlion than tho wealthor people. The taxation of the necossarias was very unjust. They did not feel the taxation so heavy &b it really was, as they got it in an indirect way. Tho property tax had been introduced by the continuous Ministry, who considered it a fair thing to tax a man's improvements. The present , Government had thought this system uu. fair, so they had tried to abolish it. Lacd should be taxed on the unimproved value, as if th id is not done tho large areas of taken up by speculators increased in value by the labors of their poor neighbours. The Government provided that the tax should bo on tho unimproved valuo of the land. He was in favor of a gradnatcd land tax. There was another form of taxation which had boen to a great extent neglected, that waß the Graduated Succession tax, which would have the effect of levelling down tho largo monopolists. He then referred to the great fortune left by Mr Jay Gould and appliod this form of taxation to that and showed what results it would have. He was sure it would be a blessing in the future. In local taxation as in general he was in .favor of exempting improvements from taxation, and taxing the land on the unimproved valuo. Tin's made the valuation easier, and when it was once made it was made for good. It greatly reduced ■the taxation on the small holdings. There was Borne change needed in tho local elections. The plurality of votes should be reduced from live to two or three, then perhaps in time to one. He rockoned that it was very unfair that a number of voters in a district who had, say, five votes each should control the affairs of that district. Under the present system the settlement was hindered and monopolies favored. They heard from tims to time of disagreements betwoen masters and men, and strikes were the result of them. Ho thought that these things should be settled amicably by arbitration. If anything could be invented in this direction he thought it would be a blessing in the future, and perhaps in the near future too. It was in the interests of humanity that something like this should ho done in this way as the effect of ft strike was always widely felt. He explained tho Alcoholic Liquors Bill, and said that at one stroke the Government hod done awiiy with tho small licensing districts and given every man and woman over 21 the right to vote on this question. The measure should, in his opinion, he givon a fair trial, although not perfect, yet as it suited neither party it must havo sprao merits. It could be seen that something must be done to amend local government. County Councils had done good work, but they were getting 100 old fashioned. He would not abolish the road boards, but concentrate them tv

bit, as they were local and knew all the local wants. He had taken a gre;it interest in dairying as that was the thing that was going to find employment for the young settlers, and Now Zealand butter was going to be a staple produce at Home. He thought tho Government should erect cool chambers at the ports in which the butter could be stored before shipping, and thus [o:-ter the industry. Tho Government had handed over tho management of the railways, which cost over £15,000,000, to three men for a term of five years, and now when they (the Government) want to know how things are going on they are told to go about their business. The time had come, however, when the Commissioners would have to go about their business, and the Government would take over the management of all the railways again. Ihe Commissioners had no right to impose more than eight hom-s work upon their men. He thought no more borrowing should be done until tho finking funds had been a'l used on public works, and then borrowing should only be gone into for carrying on or finishing public works, so that they could begin to pay the interest. At the treaty of Waitangi the pro-emptivo right of dealing in Native lands had been reserved to the Crown. This right had been lost for a time, but finally re-instituted by tho present Government. They had in three years secured USo.OOO acres of Native land, while the Atkinson Government only got 80,000. He thought tho Maoris should be taxed the same as Europeans. It would make them a better and moie prosperous race, and a happier one, too. The Government had got 18,000 acres in the Waikopiro bkek, which it was impossible for anyone else to touch. He hnd always been a warm supporter of settlement, and if returned he would be just as warm a supporter of it generally. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Tli« Upper House needed a change. The seven years appointment was a good thing, as it kept tin House moving. The land question was beginning to te very important, as the settlers were beginning to look abput for land to settle thoir children on. He thought it would be quite right to go to some of those who had 100 much and get some for tho people, giving the present owners a fair rate of compensation. There ought to be some provision mada, too, so that settlers could get on the land without a great deal of capital. The Government could borrow on roads and railways ; then surely settlers ought to be ablo to borrow easier on land, as that should bo a bolter security. Those holding perpetual leases should bo allowed to divide their leaseholds and sell their interest in half if thoy get into straitened circumstances, and let the one who bought step into their shoes in the difficulty, whatever it was. Mr Hall also touched on tho way tho Cheviot estate had come into tho Government's hands. Ho askod them if they were going to reject the Government which had done so much for them, and accopt a Conservative Government. He mentioned a number of measures passed by the Government, including the Shop Hours Bill, Truck Act, Female Franohise, Workman's. Lien Act, and many others, and resumed Ills seat amid applause. Mr Plank .• Are you a Protectionist or a Freotrnde :— Mr Hall : lam a Freetrader, that is, I would take tho tax off the imported necessaries. It is necessary to levy a customs duty. Mr Smith : How many members are thero in the Upper House?— Mr Hall: I couldn't say, but I think there are fur too many. (Laughter) Mr Smith : That is not answering my question. I asked how many members thero arc? — Mr Hall: 1 really don't know. — Mr Smith : Aren't there about 40. How many of these have been nominated by tho Liberal party.— Mr Hall : I really oan't roply to that question.— Mr Smith : How in it that they threw out the Liberal measures ? — To this question Mr Hall didn't reply. Mr Plank : Don't Liberal members tend to become Conservative when nominated to the Upper House ?— Mr Hall : Yes, there is a tendency in that direction. That is one reason \vh) the seven years' term will bo such an improvement. Mr Baines : Arc you interested in the Palmerston butter factory? — Mr Hall: No, I wish I was. I have nevor been iuintorested in any dairy factory. Mr Andrews moved that a vote of thanks bo accorded Mr Hall for his able address, and also a vote of confidence in Mr Hall be passed. — Seconded by Mr Olsen and carried. Mr Hall thanked them for their kind votes. If returned he would endeavor to represent them to the best of his ability, and do his best for friend or foe, so long as consistent with his principles. The usual vote of thanks to the chair brought tho meeting to a close.