PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11279, 21 May 1902, Page 10

PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

MR BUDDO AT KAIAPOI

jvfr T>. Buddo, M.H.R., addressed about 120 electors at tlie Oddfellows' Hall, Kaiapoi, on Monday night Mr J. Daly, Mayor, briefly introduced the speaker. Mr Buddo, who was well received, congratulated the Mayor and town on Mr Daly's ra-election, and then made passmg reference to the deaths of Sir J. M'Kenae and Mt Cecil Rhodes, to the war, aM the approaching Coronation festivities, -peaking on colonial finance, he said no better indication of the prosperity oould be riven than the annoxmcement by tbe Acting-Pre-mier last- month that there was a surplus of £277,489,.and this in face of the fact that large reductions had been made in the interests of tlie people. Every item of revenue had increased except the territorial receipts. Ths "Customs for 1900 returned £2,189,862, and for 1901 £2,201,116, although there were remissions on tea, rice, kerosene, and other it-ems. The increase in railway revenue u__ £148,847, and in land tax £13.251. The'advances of money made to settlers to March, 1901, totalled £2,697,520. Though some might look on tl is as petting into debt, it was, according to modern ideas, a progressive mode of business. Lands for settlement Wt-_ being provided, and in the North I*'and, as tlie result of a recent- visit, he saw large tracts which were available. The prices of pastoral lands purchased in Hawke's Hay nnd Canterbury, be considered to be dangerously high. In the matter of the Fc ..st f_it_ estate, the Government offer was £3 8s 6d, the owner's price £4, 10s, and the Court's award £5 10s, so that it was not okays an easy matter to fix exact j i ices. There was a good deal of trafficking in lands ft-r settlement which he desired to st-. checked; For instance,* persons who j.ainc . allotments were ft_ind selling their ii't. rest in such a way that the land to tlie In•!>:•, tide settler, who set to work on it. c.st nrtii_lv f«. high a price as if he had bought it from a private speculator. Though there seemed no ntfsans of checking this, .io be'.ieved if every transaction had to b e submitted for approval to the Land Board, who would only allow a transfer on the origin-il condition.*, plus the actual improvements, it would minimise the traffic. (Applause.) He pointed out that Canterbury. had profited much by hind, purchased, a. the returns showed that tii. purchases were:—Auckland £895,000, Hawke's Bay £347.996, 0ta.,.0 £336,300, i.mt Cant.rhury £774,660. Referring to the question of arbitration, and conciliation, lie -aid he considered tlie system liad been ii kuc-cc*-, and that tihe impression in England that arbitration was -always against the wtrkert* was nut borne out. The factories had increased from 6458 in tlie previous y_ur to 6744 last year, and the workers from 48,938 to 53,460. Alluding to the increase of taxation, tne Opposition, ho mid, seemed to have tired itself out in its jibes that the State working roan was paying the bill. Out of a population of 8_3,137, the Customs returns gave £2 12s lOd per head a. the taxation only in that i .spect, while they had practically a free breok_a.it table. Articles of luxury and protective duties to encourage local industries were practically the chief factors in the Customs duties, and the State charged nothing to the people for education, police, and defence. Regarding trusts and syndicates, the power of capital, he considered, needed watching. He had a keen sympathy with those who had to depend on cibeab bread, and he thought prices should be fair—_ desideratum that would be brought about by competition without the intervention of any law. If the duty was taken off flour it would regulate matters. He spoke in complimentary terms of the Fanners' Union, whioh, he thought, would be a power for good. With reference to trade and interchange, he pointed out that the import* last year were £11,353,416, and the exports £12,869,810. From . the Oc_amonwea_th States the colony took £2,379,322, and sent to them £1,993,831' worth of me_-___-_i_e. The great trade to the British Isles showed an increase of ___t~-s_ven millions last year, and proved ' to be the greatest volume of business don. | in any one year. He favoured an Im- j perial ZoUvereio. Regarding colonial finance, tile neb debt of the colony was £48,557,751, ooinpared with Victoria's fifty millions, and N«_• South Wales's sixty-three __i__on_, bob the'-older countriesdid not afford a fair comparison, as in New Zealand the Gov-«-_me_- was _ao___r-le-___r,- landlord, railway __-_-rpok_t, stock breeder, farmer, g_rd_a_r, poultiy raiser, and donor of pensions to the ' aged, etc. Be advocated) P-___s_ce and care in borrowing, and in the execution of public works, pointing out , that if these works suddenly ceased trouble With the unemployed was the result. Among the Bills dealt with last session,. the Companies Act, Factories Act, Mortgages o_ l___d and Public School Teachers, were some of the most important. . Speaking on the last-named, he said that while it would meet the status and qualifi__t-o__ of teachers, its effect "had been to shorten, the mote for incidantal allowances. . But in this respect, and regarding .technical and m_n__l eduoation, he expect--! the' Home would have to make a more liberal vote. On tho question of ___rea_ed payment for members, which he said he had not supported, he still thought that in the North Island, where the members were called on tb -perid nearly all their time in their* duties, the vote was not excessive. In this conclusion he mentioned that in New South' Wales, where matters were not more prosperous, *ihe payment was £300 a year. With reference to the mail subsidies, he favoured an all-red line, via Vancouver or Suez, and said , the ?._tter would assist their connection with Australia and Africa, either by transhipment or perhaps a direct servioe. (Applause.) He congr-tut.ated the Postmaster-General on the success of the penny postage. Although extensive remi».ion. had"been made, on the railways for passengere and freights, tlie paying returns were equal to 3 per cent., and the increase in ieceipts was £148,000 over the previous year. He added, inter alia, that the (Minister had. promised a new station at Kaiapoi at an early date. Relative to the advancement of the Lyttelton Haihour Board, and its reductions of wharf and other charges, he thought there was a necessity for better representation oh the -Board on the population and valuation bases, of the Counties of Selwyn, Ashburton, and Ashley. (Applause.) He regretted that railway construction on the Cheviot "ine had been suspended, and pointed out that in the centres, except Canterbury, the people were clamorous for public works expenditure. If the Qorvernroeni were to'be forced into priMio works that did not pay, the country shottd make a law setting out an annual limit for expenditure on work., and say from what source the expenditure should be taken After touching on the defence question, regarding which, he said, he favoured more encouragement to volunteers, he concluded by referring to the triumphant progress of the colony, and to the fact that there were no unemployed. (Applause.) In reply to questions, ho said he had sent a reply to the worlanen at'Waikari as to rates of pay at ballast waggons. If had not received the letter, it must have miscarried. On the licensing question, he would be in favour of tne sals of liquors at dubs being restrict**, to the hours of boensed houses in the locality. •Mr Isaac Wilson moved a hearty vote of thank- to air Buddo for his c*om__re__en. sive and able address. Mr H. Elder seconded the motion, which was carried .with acclamation.