THE GENERAL ELECTION

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11283, 26 May 1902, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTION

THE ASHLEY SEAT. At the Town Hall, M'Kenzie, on Friday night, Mr George Pulley, a candidate for the Ashley seat at the next general election, addressed the electors. There was a large attendance, Mr J. Vaughan in the chair. Mr Puley, in giving his address, said that it gave ___ much pleasure to see such a large number present. He explained that ms intention in calling the meeting was to definitely announce to the electorate that he is a candidate for the coming election, and to place before the electors his views on some of the important questions of the day. At i«_e present time, he said, there were two principal parties in the House oi Representatives, namely the Conservatives led by Captain Russell, and the Liberals led by the Right Hon. Richard *S?ddon, and if elected he (the speaker) would be found on the side ci the House led by Mr Seddon. (Applause.) A late tive of his (t_e speaker's) was for twenty years a Liberal member of the House of Commons at Home, and a staunch supporter of the administration of the late Mr Gladstone, and if returned he (Mr Pulley) had no doubt that the AsHey electorate would find him a true "chip of the old block." (Applause.) He support-- the present ! Govern_>e_t's land for settlement policy. In his opinion the system of land settlement did away' with soup-kit-chens in the towns and swaggers in the country. He was in favour of the acquisition of more land for settlement, according to the demand, and stated that he knew of hundreds clamouring for Land at the present moment. The speaker expressed himself in favour of a compulsory Dili to take the land required, twelve months' notice oeing given and no arbitration. In regard to tenures, Mr Pulley said he would tike to take more time* before committing himself definitely, and prc__sed to give tbe electors his views of this question at a later date. He strongly defended 1 the action of the Government in cc_nectioi_ with the Bank of New Zealand. Regarding the question of cheap'money, he said the Government were directly responsible for the reductions in the rate of interest, and that farmers and labourers who received the -enefit therefrom should support the ,Gov_rn_aant. He advocated further borrowing in order to complete the Main Trunk railway lines, bridge the rivers and push on other necessary "works. ~ln this connection he quoted figures to show what had been done by the Government, stating that 2/)06,000 acres of land had bean cut up and settled, 3160 miles of roadconstructed, 2500 miles of bridle-paths formed, and 730 bridges constructed of over 30ft in length. He considered the money had been laid out to splendid advantage. Comparing tbe positions of the New Zealand Crown -tenant with that of Australia, he maintained that the baf.anoe was largely in favour of the local farmer. He aLso instanced the liberal manner in which the Government had treated the Ofefci runholders at the time of the disastrous snowstorm, and maintained that very different treatment would have been meted out under any Australian administration. If elected, he would make it.his special business to guard the interests of the farmers, and would specially give his attention to opening new markets. Another matter which would claim his attention was the construction of the railway through from Waipara to Blenheim a work that he considered an urgent one. A bridge over the Waiau river at Cheviot was likewise needed. To sum up, his principal planks would be more money, more railway, and more 'land. He quoted.statistics with regard to the increase of small flock-holders during late years, and the de- ; crease of flock-holders of 20,000 sheep and upwards, stating that he would like to see these results further extended. (Applause.) With regard to tho labour question, the bpeaker was in favour of a fair day's work for a fair day's wage, and would support this principle in all departments. He considered that workers with wives and families had "hard lines to make both ends meet. Speaking of local matters, the candidate said that in his opinion the farmers of Cheviot were too closely to the sheep industry, and in view of the approaching railway, he would % advise more attention being driven to fat cattSe' and pigs. The want of a local flourmi_\ was also keenly felt, and he, if elected, would see if it was not possible to establish a. flourmill, and have a reserve set apart for thatrpurpose. (Applause.) The present system of education, without alteration of any kind, feund favour with him. He was also a strong supporter of a • State Bank, and favoured an extensive system of State ooal mines. He was not in favour of federation, and thought that the questions of income tax, graduated and single tax, ■ could be safely left as they were. Replying to questions regarding village settlements, be considered that these settla's had not had fair play in the past, a_3 he would, if possible, extend their holdings and otherwise assist them. He considered that 50 acres of first-class land and 150 acres of land of lesser value should be the smallest holdings cut up in future.

A vote of thanks for the address and confidence in Mr Pulley was proposed, seconded, and declared carried by the chairman.

At a well-attended meeting of Sockhurn residents, in the rooms of the Midland Saleyards, en Saturday evening, Mr C. E. T. Hill being in the chair, it .was decided to ask Mr Georiie Witty, of Templeton, to stand for tbe Ricsarton electorate.