MR MASLIN AT WAIMATE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12364, 1 December 1905, Page 5

MR MASLIN AT WAIMATE.

AN OPPOSITION ADDRESS. Thero was a larso aad ej-mpatftptic audience at Wannate on Monday night to hear an nddrea. by Mr Maslin, an Opposition candidate for "Waitaki. In tho absence of tho Mayor, Mr R. Meredith was voted to the chair and introduced the speaker. Mr Maelin first dealt with the statement that tho Opposition wished to eet back tho hands of the clock. Tho HallAtkinson Government had taken charge tvhen the exports and imports almcßt balanced, and the country was almcst in a statu of pauperism. Thoy had Mt it in a financially sound condition, and brought about the turn in the tide ot affaire that made possible the prosperity of to-day. They introduced the manhood snffnrge and the Freo Education Act. (Applause.) Ho was not going to rail against tho Premier, but would point out a fow defects. They boasted of a democracy, but no oountry was more autocratically governed than New Zealand, members being more nonentities. He would like to oeo each one taking an active part. Tho trouble was largely the fault of the constitution which allowed government to bo by 0:10 man. Ho believed in members of tho Houeo electing their Ministers, and only then would they havo government ty tho people through tho roprcsen.tath'os. Tho man at tho head of affairs oaid "Trust tho people." How long would ho trust thorn? Just as long as ho could hoodwink them. Tho Premier's attitude Was practically an insult to the people. Ho had 6aid the Legislative Council must, bo either ended cr mended —a reflection on himself, who created it. Tho speaker maintained that tho Council should be elected by the people, and it could bo dono without such an amending of tho constitution as to need an Imperial Act. They could not dUoIIrIi tho Counc.l, as the constitution provided for two Hou-scs. Ho did uot believe in motions, say for important returns, being talked out. The very speech members m.ido apparently for such motions killed them by exhausting the time at their disposal. They watted more straightfcTwarrinoa. in their'political life. Ho knew that large interestearning assets stood between the p?oplo and their public debt, otherwise they could not carry on. The railways were a valuable asset, and ho wanted _to S2O tho main trunk lines finished, sb that they would get tho revenue. But to-day they were the mest highly taxed of the colonies. Ho was surprised to see that a gentleman had made a return to tho effect that tho bulk of the taxes wero paid by the working people. Tho Customs taxation was derived largely from luxuries and to the Government taxation ou land should bo added the local rates, with a possibility of a large increase in tho future in accordance with tho higher rating powers of local bodies. Ho viewed this with alarm. What did it mean? That as scon as tho shoe pinched tho subsidies would ho reduced, and tho local bodies would be called upon to exerciso tho power* they held. Tho Premier w..s astute enough to do this iv tho time of prespDiitv, when (he people's eyes were closed.' Ho was surprised to see that tho Premier had spoken of a freo breakfast table. As a matter of fact only ••ugar was dutiable. Last year, when announcing the largo surplus, the Opposition asked that tho Jd per lb or £212,000 duty on sugar bo removed, and the Premier "opposed the request. As a matter of fact the Premier wanted no ono to got any credit but himself, and corsequently ho opposed this, and would prabablv pr oose it himself later. In regard "to duties only plums -and currants carried Id per lb, and no duty pressed bard on the people. It was all very well for a man to stand up and talk about taking off the duty on the nectaries of life, but what were they.-' There was 25 per cent, on ready-made clothing, and 22J per «*nfc. on British boots. In these things there could be a reduction, yet the people who talked opposed these reductions. If they went on valuing land as they did now, a farm of 300 acres would pay graduated - tax. Fcr £2000 they paid land fcix on the full amount, and for £5000 they paid land ond graduated tax, a mortgage of £4900 not allowing them any rebato from the graduated tax. If £6000 wore invested at 5 p€T cent they j paid no tax. but put it in land, and thoy paid £50. Why should the greatest industry in tho colony bo so hampered? And to increase the tax was to cripple the foundation of their prosperity. Ho was a strong believer in the'fi*eehold. for the present system was not paying. They had leased 1*200,000 acres of land at 4 J per cent, less a rebate, which gavo 3i per cent, less cost of administration. yaw they wero paving interest of i\ per cent, on £36.000,000 of borrowed money. Did this pay? It did not, and

it would be better to give tbe Crown tenants.the freehold off the'money market, and let them come tinder direct taxation, which they now escaped. The la<t loan cost £5000 to raise, and a full half-year's interest fcr a few months' use.brindng tho cost to 4J per cent. Thus they pain for what they got 4J per cent, gross. The total amount lost in land tax was £82.000, so "that they lost nothing by giving the freehold at tbe original value. He was not in favour oi State intervention in any shape or form for the teaching of religion in our school.-. The Premier br.n_.tcd that; pubic work- could bo carried on cut of rovenuo, which was a mi-take, for it meant unduly handicapping ths present generation for the beneSt cf posterity. Tiio way funds were allocate.] wns unfair. Waitaki had ccn'iibuted £01.000 extra taxation during t!.. 1 time the system was in vogue. Thr-y got somo buck, but not much, and, in fact, all tliat was spent during the last fin in ci a I year was £100 at Dugdale's creek. The Hon. Hall-Jones had raid .it. Timaru that he took it as a compliment that the Public Works Statement of two and a quarter millions was passed in two. hours. The reason was, however, that the people's representatives hud no rrnl power, as any ono of the votes might bs transferred to anything else. In conclusion, Mr Ma«lin said that it was in the interest of tbe colony that thero should be a change of od ministration.