MR CARLILE AT DANEVIRKE.

Bush Advocate, Volume XI, Issue 863, 25 November 1893, Page 2

MR CARLILE AT DANEVIRKE.

The attendance at Mr Carlile's meeting at Danovirke last evening was not so large as at his previous meeting, still it fairly numerous. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair. Mr Carlile dealt first with what he said was fhe vexed question of the removal of the EAILWAY TERMINUS from Woodville to Danevirke. When the Bailway Commissioners decided to remove the terminus to Danevirke he was one of a deputation from Woodvillo who went to Wellington and tried to got the Commissioners to alter their decision, nnd pointed out the folly of the alterations to the time-table which wore then proposed. If he were to tell thorn that he had sinoe altered his opinion they would not believe him, and ho would not expect them to, and he would not attempt to get votes by false pretences. He had beon told that if he offered to support the claims of tho Catholics to aid for education he would get mauy more votes, but he looked upon it as a small matter to become a member of tho House, but it was a great matter to get a reputation of having gone straight in the contest. He noticed that one of the candidates for the Waipawa seat had said that ho would be for keeping the terminus here. Some of that gentleman's committee had told the people in Woodville that of course he liad to say something liko that in Danevirke, but that it would he alright when he got into the House. If the candidate in question were elected he would find himself in an awkward position, for if the terminus wern not romoved ho would be blamed by the Woodville people for having thrown them over, and if the terminus were removed Danevirke people would complain that they had bceii thrown over. TAXATION. On this subject Mr Carlilo quoted illustrations to show that the Land and Income lax was felt more lightly by most of the small land holdors than waa the property tax. As to what was received under the tax, the Government had maintained that it would bring in £350,000, while tho opponents of the Government haid said that it would not realise that amount. The Government had proved to be right, the receipts being £365,000. There was no question that the indebtedness of the colony had been considerably increased duriug the last three years, but the colony had not seriously gone to leeward, as there had been a large expenditure on tho improvement of our estate, and the indebtedness per head had not been increased. There wa3 no doubt that the expedients resorted to to avoid raising a loan had been more injurious than if a loan had beeu openly raised. Those expedients wero not in the first instance resorted to by the present Government, but by the opposite |parly, still the Government had pursued it iv an undesirable manner. Lately £250,000 had been raised by the Government, who in so doing incurred au indebtedness of more than double the amount, and thoy would presently have to face the question of open borrowing. Ono candidate for the district said that he would be in favor of reducing the customs taxation, and also expressed the opinion that the surplus was illusory. If the customs were reduced the surplus would be converted into a very roal deficit. The candidate referred to was opposed to bori rowing and had a soheme for the purohase of native lands. It was very pleasant to bo able to promise to support these matters, but he did not see where the money was to come from to purchase native lands if tbe customs were reduced and borrowing stopped. Mr Carlilo then spoke on the necessity of roading lands to be oflered for settlement, and pointed out that tliis question made it necessary that the member for the district should be ia favor of borrowing. He supported the aotion of the Government iv endeavoring to take the man-

agement of the railways out of the hands of the Commissioners. He was in favor of the theory of the native policy of the Government. The Umutaoroa block was now valued at perhaps £7 per acre — (Voice; Would you like to give £7 an acre for it) — whereas about 30 years ago it might have been bought for about 2s tid or Cs an acre, and its value had been given it by the construction of roads and railways. As to the land tenure, he said people could not get land, while lands were allowed to fall into the hands of those who should not get them. He wag in favor of Liberalising tho local body franchise to the utmost. He disagreed with the action of the Government in fighting the battle of a land speculatorand taking him to their bosom again when the light was over. Beference was made to the increasing crop of Independ- I ent candidates, and the speaker said that the Government had taken away the right of the electors to nominate their own candidate. If a, member followed his chief into the lobby without consideiing his action that member had an axe to grind, and his ultimate actions would amaze thoso who had put him in the House. The proposal of tho Government to lend money to tenants of tho Crown on the improvements made on land held under perpetual lease was a good one for newly settled distiicts, but would necessitate borrowing. As to forming land associations, it was necessary to have at their head someone who knew the run of the roi es and had the ear of the Minister for Lands. He was in favor of maintaining! the present educational system in its integrity. The co-operative works system depended when the way it was administered, and there was a good deal to find fault with. It had been said here . that the female franchise would have a refining influence on politics, and that influenc* was wanted to item tlie tide of corruption that was flowing on us like a river. As to licensing, the intention of the promters of tho Local Option Bill had been to give people the right to say whether they would have publichouses or net, and it was thought that they had that power untill it was decided in the Sydenham cases that they had not. As to the difference between a direct vetoist and a prohibtionist, he could not see the difference as, if the veto were granted, it must bo expected that it was possible that it wouhl one day be put in force. For himself, he thought that the country would be better off if there was not a drop of liquor in it. These were the mainpoints of Mr Carlile's address, which, owing to the limited space at our command, we have to greatly condense.

In answer to a question as to whether he would follow the Government, Mr Carlile said that the leader he proposed to follow was Sir Robert Stout, though he did not agree with hira iv his proposal to abolish party government. Sir Bobert was a man of high attainments and a man who had the good of the colony at heort. He would prefer to soe Sir Bobert in power rather than the present Government, but he would not vote against the Government if the effect would be to put Captain Russell and his party in power, mainly because|of the latter's views on the Native land question. Asked by Mr McPhee if he would favor the removal of the railway terminus to Woodville, Mr Carlile said he had already dealt with that subject, and if he had left it to the last he might have got a better hearing than had been the case.

A question by Mr Dittmer as to placing education reserves under the perpetual lease caused some interruption. Mr Carlile's reply was to the effect that to do so would be to rob the education department. Replying to Mr Cullinane Mr Carlile said there was a surplus of revenuo over the estimate, but the question was whether there was a surplus of revenue over expenditure. However, it was a good sign that the Government's finance was well spoken of at Home. In reply to Mr Quinlan Mr Carlile was not prepared to say that he was in favor of reducing the exemptions under tho Land and Income Tax. In reply to Mr Dittmer as to whether he was in favor of reducing the duty on tea, sugar, and moleskins, Mr Carlile said that if it could be done without reducing the expenditure, it would bo a good thing to do so. Even in this district moro expenditure was required than was going on at present. Mr Carlile was not in favor of an elective Governor, and as to an elective Upper House he was in favor of some change to make it more in accord with the public will.

Mr Hose asked, if Mr Carlile was not olected, who he would rather see gain the seat, Mr Hunter or Mr Hall. In reply Mr Carlile said that if the questioner had been nt some of his meetings he would not have thought he had no chance of being elected. He himself thought that ho was in a fair way to spoiling the chances of both the other candidates. On this matter he would refer to au entirely false statement which had appeared in the Bush Advocate with regard to his meeting at Mangatinoka. For this he did nofc blame Mr Clayton, who was the only man in this part of the district who knew how to conduct a paper. The statemennt mentioned was sent to the Advocate by the editor of the Woodville paper, who had virtually admitted having sent it, and was to the effect that at Mangatinoka a motion was passed asking him to retire. He did not think that motion was seconded, and it was certainly not put to the meeting. A vote of thanks was proposed, and also a vote of confidence, and the ohairman had declared tho former carried, but the proposer and seconder of the vote of confidence said they wero perfectly certain that their motion was carried, and he waa under the same impression himself. As to the Cheviot purchase, Mr Carlile said tho money could have boen spent to immensely better advantage, and it would be some time yet before it could be known whether the purchase was a good one. Mr Quinlan moved that the meeting sympathise with Mr Carlile in the position he held, and request him to retire, and thereby save himself from an ignominious defeat. Mr Rose seconded.

The Chaiman said that Mr Carlile should he accorded a vote of thanks, and referred to the political eduoation gained by the electors in hearing the candidates. Mr Cullinaue moved a voto of thanks to Mr Carlile. Seconded by Mr Dittmer. On a division being taken tho chairman hesitated to decide as to whioh motion was carried. There were calls that tbe amendment was carried, and this was declared to be tho result.