POLITICAL.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9386, 9 April 1896, Page 6

POLITICAL.

MR CADMAN AT TE AROHA.

(press association telegram.)

AUCKLAND, April 8. The Hon. A. J. Cadtnan, Minister of Mines and Railways, addressed a large meeting of bin constituents at Te Aroha last evening. OPPOSITION CHARGES. Mr Cadmau referred to the Conservative prophecies that the Government were going to ruin the country, but they were not able to make any dehnite charges or point out any specific legislation that was going to have any sucti disastrous effect on the country. Touching ou mining matters, he said there were at present some 1200 more men at work on the goldfields than there were a year ago. Uβ referred to the introduction of capital for jniDing purposes, and said that this was a complete reply to all those who said the Government was driving capital out of the colony. The Government had given facilities to enable the people to borrow at reduced rates, and other people had to charge in proportion. The establishment of the beet sugar, iron and petroleum industries with the help of foreign capital was another proof that the legislation of the present Government was encouraging rather than frightening capital from the country. TAXATION. Proceeding to the question of taxation, Mr C&dman a&id no one would have the hardihood to propose a return to the old property tax, which had pressed with great eeverity on the mining industry. THE LAND. There was nothing to warrant the statements of their opponents that the Government intended to take away the laud from one set of people simply to give it to another. They had not yet come to taking compuUorily, bub if the public interest demanded id why should they nob take it in the same way as they took laud for railways or other public works ? The export trade must be encouraged, and for this purpose the people must have cheap land and cheap transit, or they would not be able to compete with other places in the market of the world. The more people they placed on the land the more revenue j they might expect from the railways. A member of the late Government had admitted to him that the land policy of the present Government was a real strength, whereas the land administration of the late Government proved its ruin.

LABOUR LEGISLATION. Referring to labour legislation he said that their opponents had endeavoured to ridicule the Undesirable Immigrants Bill out of existence, but only recently they found that the Premiers of Australia had come to the conclusion that some such measure was becoming an absolute necessity, aud the Medical Conference at Dunedin had also declared that the Government would be wise ia legislating to prevent the introduction of certain diseases into this colony. Iα dealing with the labour question they must look ahead and cousider what might happen when the country became more densely populated. They must take care to prevent; the growing up of sweating and other evils which ever prevailed in the Old Country. There was .the dust question in connection with the workiog of batteries. Lives were endangered by this, and if the Companies did noc take the matter up and take steps to lessen the danger to workmen, he intended to introduca an amendment to the Mining Act dealing with this dust question, and he did cot care whether this Bill was called a labour measure or not. XHE PUBLIC DEBT. Mr Cad man next referred to the public debt. He said that by far the greater portion of the money recently raised was casting the country nothing at all. The people who actually benefited were paying

the interest. He explained the recent loan conversions, an * I that the Government finance w*s .!«••„ .-casing the burdens of th? people. MIHISG. After referring to the Brunnerton mining disaster, Mr Cadaiau again touched on the mining industry, aud said that if ever labour and capital should go hand in baud, it was in connection with miniDg. Applications for special claims had beeu coining in ao fast that he sometimes wondered whether there would be any mining lacd in the Auckland district. Tue present legialaiion appeared to be on the whole satisiactory. He did not think the 100 acre limit wa3 too small, and as to those who desired freeholds he would say they would have to wait until some other Government came into office. MiCaoman procededto explain the ad vantages of the provision in the recent Mining Act for extended prospecting areas, and aaii that most of the objections raised were the outcome of ignoranc9 as to the measuie. Communications from Mr Ziman led to the introduction of the provision. It had been stud that these t ;v ended areas would lock up the whole couutry. When they saw enormous districts far from w. kig claims remaining untouched since urn tinya of Captain Cook, surely such an r>-y>.>rtumt.y foi capital was a very wise stt {>. i~ would be a grand thing for Auckland if a dozen or so of these areas, upon each of which about £20.000 a year would be spent, were tukea up. Besides these areas were only given for two years, and if gold were found claims would have to b« pegged out ia the ordinary way, aud the holder could not retain tin whoie area for himself to the exclusion of all others. Mr Oadmau then explained other points of recent mining legislation at coueiderable length. The Companies which had been formed would soon h*ve to be worked, after a reasonable tune had been given them for floating in London, or for a breathing space But, this breathing time over, the Government would insist upon the work heiug proceeded with. The Government, intended to make provision for au-iiting Companies' accounts by the State audit department under csrUiu camiuipns, Ac regards the recent orosecutions uuder the Stamp Act in connection with mining transactions, he need only say to shov , what had been going on, that since the prosecutions the stiimp revenue had increased by £1000 a month. the r.ur.WATS. Mr C&dman went on. to -lefeiul the railwa}' t'dministratiois, and &&M that the demand iv the country seemed to be rather for cheap freights than for eh o passenger rales. In spite of many inactions ho believed the revenue ot the present yea*: would about equal that of last year. Attempts had been made to encourage people to uae the railwaya, and if these departures paid bure expeuseethe Government would be sixribtii'd. la conclusion Mr Chum-m said he would like to sets more applications for aaaisU>.aco to prospectors. As fo? himself he had no in ten iion of leaving the Government, or of contesting any other seat. If any Liberate were disauuisned with the Government they should not waste their vote by voting for Conservatives, but they should replace the present Ministry by other liberal meu, in whom they had more confidence. A vote of thanks to Mr Cadman for Ma address, and of confidence both ia ATr C*dman aud the present Government was carried by acclamation.